The most important environmental- and health-related issue facing us when embarking on a house-painting project is the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the materials. Take this quiz to learn more about low-VOC paints!
It used to be easy to decide how to construct a deck. You could make it out of wood -- or wood. Nowadays, some decking material doesn't even have a trace of wood in it. See more »
Fluorescent lighting uses less energy than incandescent bulbs, but there's no replacing the sun for efficiency and for lifting your spirits. Is it possible to bring natural sunlight indoors? See more »
The Energy Star program helps cut down on the energy drain from computers and home appliances. But how much energy do Energy Star products save? And how much money will they save you? See more »
It seems simple enough -- a skylight is a window in your roof. But skylights do more than just light up your room. They can have a profound affect on your mood, too. See more »
With energy bills on the rise, homeowners are looking for new ways to use less power around the house. A cutting-edge window technology called the "smart window" allows consumers to fully or partially block light by turning a knob or pressing a button. See more »
People in the market for new homes usually have their eyes on key features during the search for their perfect potential abodes: location, space, a pretty yard. Others look for the green factor -- something Enertia Building Systems may provide. See more »
Xeriscaping uses native plants to make living sustainable in dry climates, but can it be put to use in a whole town? The developers behind Xeritown sure hope so. See more »
OSB stands for oriented strand board -- it's a competitor for plywood. So how do the two products stack up? See more »
Here's something that might surprise you -- after water, concrete is the second most consumed substance on Earth. But now it looks like we might have an environmentally friendly replacement for the concrete block. See more »
Does living in a house with no cold drafts, no temperature variations, and, virtually no heating or cooling bills sound too good to be true? Well it's possible in a passive house. See what some of the other benefits of this building standard are. See more »
