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A surprisingly large number of appliances—from computer peripherals to cable TV boxes to radios—continue to consume electricity even after they have been switched off. Other appliances, such as cordless telephones, remote garage door openers, and battery chargers don't get switched off but draw power even when they are not performing their principal functions. The energy used while the... Read more

None of the three Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) we tested showed any clear relationship between the predicted and actual energy cost of a rated house. While accuracy does not appear to be major concern of the HERS industry or lenders who participate in HERS programs, it is important for consumers who invest based on HERS ratings. Accuracy can be improved with additional research and possibly... Read more

A large fraction of the energy consumed inside a "high-tech factory" is much like that of an office building. Why is this important? Office-like energy use is often overlooked because the building is officially a factory. The high-tech sector is the fastest-growing part of the US economy, so the number office buildings hiding in these factories will increase.... Read more

It should be. The EPA has worked with manufacturers of office equipment (including PCs and Monitors) so that much new equipment can enter low-power ("sleep") modes when not in active use. This has the potential to save significant amounts of energy, but only when the feature is properly enabled and working. The Building Energy Analysis Group has produced a "User Guide" to help people understand... Read more

An important aspect of comparing energy efficiency standards on refrigerators is the impact of energy test procedures. Two years ago, Japan implemented a new test procedure. As a result, the listed energy use of Japanese refrigerators suddenly jumped 40 percent.... Read more

Aerosol sealing is a new technology for internally sealing air leaks in heating and cooling ducts. This technology blows aerosolized adhesive particles into the duct system and deposits them at the leakage sites, sealing the leaks without depositing on duct surfaces. Visit the Aerosol Duct Sealing Technology web site to find a section which takes you on a tour, showing the ducts of a house being... Read more

The insurance industry has taken interest in global climate change as a source of losses. This web site describes how selected energy-efficiency strategies bear the benefit of simultaneously reducing the likelihood of catastrophic climate-related insurance losses as well as ordinary losses due to fire, freeze damage, professional liability, and the like.... Read more

Laboratory-type facilities use a considerable amount of energy resources. They are also important to the local and state economy, and energy costs are a factor in the overall competitiveness of industries utilizing laboratory-type facilities. Although the potential for energy savings is considerable, improving energy efficiency in laboratory-type facilities is no easy task, and there are many... Read more