Guides and how-tos

Heat pumps

Heat-pump water heaters are a winner for the climate — and your wallet

The tech costs more than conventional options upfront, but federal tax credits, new 120V models and strong savings have made them more appealing than ever.

By Alison F. Takemura . 22 November 2023

cutout of top half of a heat-pump water heater, a metal cylinder, against colored background with words 'Electrified Life' — Meet the heat-pump water heater. (Binh Nguyen/Canary Media; Energy Vanguard)

Energy efficiency

This simple score can help you find an energy-efficient home

A growing number of cities are mandating Home Energy Scores, a metric that makes it easy for potential renters or homebuyers to grasp a home’s energy use.

By Alison F. Takemura . 8 November 2023
Video

Career experts answer 6 top questions from climate jobseekers

Want to break into climatetech? Canary Media convened a panel of three industry experts to help you do exactly that.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 29 September 2023
Heat pumps

A beginner’s guide to the different types of heat pumps

Air-source, ducted, mini-split — what does it all mean? Canary Media explains some of the most common heat-pump concepts.

By Alison F. Takemura . 19 September 2023
EV charging

Go ahead, rent that EV. Just make a charging plan before setting out

Renting an EV can be a great way to test out the tech before committing to ownership, but there’s a learning curve for drivers, especially around charging.

By Alison F. Takemura . 23 August 2023
Guides and how-tos

So you want to electrify your home. Do you need a panel upgrade first?

If your home’s running on 100 amps or below, you might want an electrician to upgrade your panel and electrical service. Here’s what to know.

By Alison F. Takemura . 31 July 2023
Guides and how-tos

What's a home energy audit — and should you get one?

To kick off Canary Media's new Electrified Life column, we break down what to expect from an energy audit and why it's a smart starting point for home electrification.

By Alison F. Takemura . 18 July 2023
Guides and how-tos

DOE's new tool helps you get your share of the climate law's billions

The Biden administration launched a hub to walk you through the process of accessing Inflation Reduction Act incentives for energy audits, heat pumps, EVs and more.

By Alison F. Takemura . 14 June 2023
Guides and how-tos

6 ways you — yes, you! — can help advance the energy transition

Canary Media's quick guide to practical steps you can take to curb climate pollution and move us toward a better world.

By Julian Spector . 21 April 2023
Heat pumps

10 questions to ask if you want to get a heat pump

Will you need to overhaul your electrical panel? What if you live in a cold climate? Will a heat pump save you money? We walk you through the basics.

By Julian Spector . 7 February 2023
Guides and how-tos

Electric utilities 101: A breakdown of the basics on US power providers

Utilities and their regulators can be confusing and opaque. Here's a handy introduction for people who want more clean energy in their community.

By Alison F. Takemura . 12 October 2022