Detect Energy

An Energy Spy Membership has some real power and money saving

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn on August 17 signed legislation that boosts the use of solar power by individuals and by state utilities. One law requires the two state utilities, Commonwealth Edison and Ameren, begin purchasing solar power as part of their renewable energy portfolios starting in 2012, three years earlier than previously required by state

It is the States determination to develop renewable energy sources that is going to dictate that power is going to cost more in the years to come.

Once installed, there is no cheaper way to heat and cool a home then with this type of whole house system. I suppose if you have your own forest and like to stay in shape chopping wood, you can heat your home cheaper with a wood stove than a heat pump, but you still do not have cooling and you probably have not placed a cost on the sweat investment involved with providing fire wood.

With good planning, we might witness a prisoner, wearing an eco-fashion, pedaling a stationary bike, providing power to a victim of the gulf oil

Let's see, one household with five people each flushing the toilet 5 times per day at 1.6 gallons per flush equals about 14,600 gallons per year. Save water and you save power and money at your

Your water heater uses somewhere between 15% and 25% of all the power your home uses. It is one of your base load appliances. Setting the water temperature to 120 degrees will save you power and

During the construction of a house, the heating contractor, electrician, and plumber all took turns drilling holes in the walls and ceiling and through the drywall. The plumber was one of the best when it comes to supplying your home with air leaks. Look under the bathroom sink and look at the plumbing pipes as they leave the cabinet

I hear that a number of people are really objecting to the new Smart Meters, even to the extent of asking if the meters are physically dangerous. This reminds me of the picture of the lady standing on the street curb asking the street repair crew to stop making so much noise because it was dangerous to her young children. It was a little difficult to take her seriously because of the burning cigarette in her hand. Let's take a minute and examine more about the Smart

Yes, your power bill is going to go up again. My position is simple, embrace the smart meter and use it's technology to save on your power bill. Read

Hopefully, you won't see a picture like this too often. Only people like me that cruise energy conservation seminars stumble upon this sort of thing. Look at the picture and then read on, I will discuss what this picture and saving power at your home have in common.

Heading out to purchase a new large appliance, you will need to take your energy efficiency score card with you. How will the new appliance fit in with your program for conserving energy and lowering your power

How do we meet the energy revolution head on and protect ourselves from becoming ping pong balls batted around by the big oil

The little guy is just beginning to walk, a real cutie with blond hair and two fingers in his mouth. It's nice to know his home is a lot more comfortable and a lot more energy efficient. The homeowner ( and Daddy ) says, "Since the work has been done he can tell the home is less drafty and maintains the temperature in the house much longer."

What happens when farmers begin planting solar panels instead of crops? Cleaner energy along with the conservation of power at home is the win-win we should all be looking for.

One of the first things I do when I start a home energy audit is ask the homeowner for an electric bill. I am looking for clues already - just like a good Energy Spy Insider should. But, too many times the homeowner can not provide the electric bill because, 1. went out in the trash. 2. can't find it. 3. the dog ate it. I know right then that this homeowner is going to be hard to train as an Energy

Degree days for your area can help you make decisions concerning the best windows for your home and the best place to plant shade trees. Should you be looking for a more efficient heating system or cooling system? Heat pumps are rated for efficiency in both their heating modes

I will keep returning to all this smart meter business over and over again as I am dedicating a part of my life and a part of detect energy to the smart meter invasion. The smart meter is going to be fun, I mean really

There are many changes that can be made quite simply by being aware of our water usage and adopting water saving habits that will help the Colorado reach its destination with

Detect Energy will keep you informed about the progress of the smart meter as it makes it's way to your meter base. Since the smart meter has been in the news lately, it's time to continue the sharing of information. The main question is, will the smart meter be smart enough to save you

There is a strong indication then, that we should either be servicing our heating system for the coming season or we should be turning it off as we won't be needing it again till spring. For now, let's focus on getting the most out our heating system.

Some old tools and old tricks from the past and some new 'High Tech' gadgets make being an Energy Spy both fun and productive. Let's look at some Energy Spy Gear.

We want to save power and save money, so we are going to have to live a little like ‘Ed’. Come on, Ed doesn’t have it that bad.

Your home needs a good coat to keep both warm and cool. A home in shirt sleeves and shorts does not save energy or save money. Here's some places to wrap up. and