Energy efficiency

Electrification

These startups help busy contractors get electrification rebates faster

Rebates help households pay for solar, heat pumps and other climate-friendly upgrades — but contractors get stuck with the paperwork. These businesses are stepping in.

By Alison F. Takemura . 1 April 2024

A contractor inspects an air return in the heating an cooling system of house being built by Emerald Homes in Cinco Ranch — (Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Energy efficiency

Foam panels can turn old abodes into energy-efficient homes of the future

A research team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is using machine learning and AR headsets to speed up energy retrofits for residences.

By Alison F. Takemura . 10 February 2023
Electrification

Rebates for home energy upgrades are coming soon. Here’s how to plan

A home-energy expert offers 5 to-dos for households eager to ditch their fossil-fuel appliances with help from the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act.

By Maria Gallucci . 7 February 2023
Carbon-free buildings

Interactive: Turn this old house into your clean-energy dream home

How can you make a home more climate-friendly and more comfortable? Here's the technology you need, plus the steps to get you there.

By Alison F. Takemura . 6 February 2023
Electrification

Home of the future: Climate-friendly, electrified and closer than ever

The technology and policies are falling into place. But we’ll need a revolution in U.S. home retrofit business models and financing to scale up enough to meet the climate challenge.

By Jeff St. John . 6 February 2023
Energy efficiency

Which states could gain the most from energy-saving building codes?

There's federal money on the table to help states modernize their building energy codes. But some states could benefit from it more than others.

By Alison F. Takemura . 16 January 2023
Energy efficiency

Leaky air ducts can undermine heat-pump performance. Aeroseal has a fix

After decades of steady growth, a tech that seals air ducts from the inside out may be poised to take off, thanks to new heat-pump and efficiency incentives.

By Jeff St. John . 9 December 2022
Energy equity

Low-income families don't get a fair share of energy-efficiency funds

Utility programs that help residents cut energy costs are leaving out low-income households. What are the fixes?

By Alison F. Takemura . 2 December 2022
Heat pumps

Heating will be costly this winter, but much less so with a heat pump

Federal forecasts have warned about high heating bills, yet they don't account for the much greater efficiency of electric pumps, says pro-electrification group Rewiring America.

By Jeff St. John . 31 October 2022
Guest essay

Why green banks should be able to finance upgrades to old buildings

Green banks are getting billions from the Inflation Reduction Act. The Biden administration should allow them to invest some of it in building renovations in city centers.

By Patrice Frey, Calvin Gladney . 25 October 2022
Heat pumps

Will tough standards for heat pump tax credits hurt adoption?

Industry insiders spar over whether the climate bill's $2,000 tax credit for heat pumps should require higher-efficiency models or loosen standards to expand the market.

By Jeff St. John . 17 October 2022