Increasing the energy efficiency of a house is a smart and affordable home improvement. Learn about ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home.
While the term "green building" may bring to mind such extreme tactics as harnessing wind power or lining our roofs with solar panels, it's actually much simpler than that. And it can save you a ton of money. See more »
If you've been overly saturated with green tips and all the green products on the market today, rest assured our tips are straightforward and truly environmentally friendly. You can toss the other ideas in the compost bin.
See more »
Air conditioning with ice blocks is taking root among some of the world's most powerful companies. Learn how air conditioning with ice blocks works.
See more »
Everything around you is going green from cars to laundry detergent. Unfortunately, your windows let in a draft and your heater pumps twice as hard. Can you force your landlord to fix it?
See more »
Is there anything worse than an inbox clogged with spam? How about a mailbox stuffed with take-out menus, furniture catalogs and grocery store circulars? Once and for all, how can you stop junk mail from piling up in your life?
See more »
The initial costs of installing a green roof are much more expensive than the costs of other roofing methods. But a green roof could save you money -- while saving the environment -- in the end.
See more »
Studies have shown that sustainable buildings cost only about 2 percent more to build than traditional buildings do -- and they'll pay you back many times over in energy savings. So how much do you know about building green?
See more »
There are many ways to make a "green" home. Test your knowledge on different green home techniques with this green home quiz at HowStuffWorks.
See more »
HowStuffWorks' Home Improvement Quizzes test your knowledge and know-how on home improvement, home safety and home maintenance. Take a variety of Home Improvement quizzes on this page.
See more »
Just when you thought soybeans were grown mainly for soy burgers and hot dogs, products made from those lively legumes seem to be everywhere in the home and beyond. And it just may save you some green.
See more »
Almost all Americans come into contact with household cleaners, some several times a day. And most of those cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can be dangerous for your health and your home.
See more »
What can you get with a huge mound of dirt, a bunch of bags and some barbed wire? An earthbag home. Building one of these eco-friendly, beehive-shaped dwellings isn't as hard as you think.
See more »
As the green lifestyle becomes more mainstream, the EarthCraft House program takes the lead by providing eco-friendly homes to everyday homeowners.
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 »
If you haven't heard of exterior insulation before, chances are you've seen it without knowing it. But what makes it different from interior insulation (besides where it's located)? And what does it have to do with post-World War II Germany?
See more »
"Green" is one of the hottest buzzwords in construction. Proponents say green building is environmentally friendly -- and also healthier and more cost-efficient.
See more »
Do you think you're pretty green? Would you be willing to trade your comfortable flushing throne for a composting toilet? We thought not. But they might not be as bad as you think.
See more »
Home energy audits find the drafty cracks, power-hungry light fixtures and outdated appliances that make a home less efficient. Do energy audits make a difference, and can you do one yourself?
See more »
About 17 percent of a home's energy usage stems from its water heater. Hybrid water heaters could save the average family hundreds -- possibly even thousands -- each year.
See more »
Let's say you're building a house. You want to "build green," but where do you start? Most likely, you'll turn to LEED.
See more »
How many solar cells would I need in order to provide all of the electricity that my house needs?
See more »
