SiteSeeing: EPA launches Green Homes Web site

The federal government generally isn't typically known for its ability to make things simpler. Indeed, bureaucracy and streamlining seem oxymoronic terms.

So while its new Green Homes site is far from perfect, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deserves some kudos for making it easier for you to find information from the government on a wide range of green subjects. As someone who's spent countless hours surfing various federal sites for details for stories like "Cut Your Energy Bills" and others on our Energy Saving & Green Living guide, Green Homes is a welcome step in the right direction.

Green Homes targets the nation's 128 million households and brings together a lot of the same information from the EPA's main site and other federal agencies and it's organized around an interactive room-by-room navigational tool. Click on the kitchen, for example, and you'll find specifics on energy-efficient appliances and formaldehyde-free cabinets as well as links to related issues like water filtration, pest management, and mold.

The Top Green Home Terms glossary is a nice feature, allowing you to bone up on eco-friendly lingo like weatherization and learn the difference between, for instance, insulating concrete forms and structural insulated panels.

Green Homes isn't perfect—the interface is a bit cumbersome, and the repackaging of information results in some redundancies. But it's a lot more user friendly than the EPA's main site, which could make it easier for you to cut your energy use and adopt some green practices.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Get advice on a range of appliances and home systems and products by using our room-by-room Home Improvement Guide interactive. And if you're in the If you're in the market for new energy-efficient appliances or heating and cooling equipment, get up to speed on the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, aka cash for clunkers for appliances.

Getting out that damned spot with new iPhone app from Tide

Now there's an iPhone/iPod Touch app for just about every stain.

The new Tide Stain Brain app from Proctor & Gamble, one of the latest home-related iPhone/iPodTouch applications, allows you to find and share stain-fighting solutions for all kinds of messes. If you don't have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can access the information on the Tide Web site.

No surprise, but the free app takes every opportunity to push Tide laundry products. For example, the first action recommended for common stains like chocolate, dirt, and grass is to "Try Tide Stain Release. Just add it to your wash along with your regular detergent." But other advice is more generic, plus the app and Web interfaces allow you to vote on the stain-fighting solution. For instance, as of late last week, 54 users gave Tide's blood-removal treatment a thumbs down, compared with 35 who approved. You can also submit your own remedies.

No matter the source of the mess, use these general stain-fighting tips:

Act fast. Quick treatment is often the key to stain removal.

Blot, don't scrub. Scrubbing can damage fabrics. Instead, blot with a paper towel or clean cloth. Gently scrape semisolid fabrics with the edge of rounded spoon.

Do a colorfastness test. When using a recommended cleaning agent, always pretest it in an inconspicuous area, such as the back of a tie or an inside seam.

Be patient. It could takes several passes to remove a stain. Always start with the mildest option before moving on to more-aggressive cleaning agents.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Read our specific tips for tackling common holiday stains, including wine, lipstick, and candle wax. And to see how Tide laundry products perform, read our latest report on laundry detergents (ratings available to subscribers).

Can newfangled utility bills persuade Americans to use less energy?

You've swapped out your old thermostats for programmable models, replaced inefficient incandescent lightbulbs with the best compact fluorescent lightbulbs, followed our advice for saving energy at home, weatherized your attic, and taken advantage of tax credits and other incentives for energy-related home improvements.

There are still other ways to squeeze some more energy savings out of your home, and your utility company might be able to help—not by giving you an energy audit or lowering your rates (like that'd ever happen!). Rather, some utilities nationwide are sending out new bills that show your energy use compares to those of your neighbors, with a goal of getting you to keep up (or is that down?) with the Joneses. See the image below for some of the detailed information customers receive.

National Grid is sending 50,000 of its Massachusetts customers bills (shown) with data showing how their gas and electricity consumption compares to the 100 nearest and 20 thriftiest households of similar size in the area, according to this Boston Globe report. "There's obviously a little bit of a competitive aspect to it, to see if you can one-up your neighbors in terms of energy savings,'' said Monica Ibrahim, program manager for the National Grid program, told the paper.

The bills also contain energy-saving tips to spur energy hogs to consume less. A nationally representative survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center found that 55 percent of respondents had done very little to conserve energy in their homes.

The technology for the consumption comparisons in these bills comes from Arlington, Virginia-based software company Opower, which has established partnerships with 21 utilities nationwide, including the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Puget Sound Energy. "We're best known for use of behavioral science to show people how their energy usage compares to that of their neighbors," says Opower CEO Daniel Yates, whose company's software draws upon psychologist Robert B. Cialdini's theories of persuasion. National Grid hopes Opower-assisted bills will persuade customers to cut household energy consumption by 3 percent a year over the next decade. (Learn more about how the billing is designed to work.)

If your own utility still isn't using such high-tech bills, you might want to look into Google's PowerMeter or Microsoft's Hohm services or one of the watt meters we tested to ferret out energy-wasting appliances and practices.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential Information: Our Energy Saving & Green Living guide offers other advice, including updated coverage of the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, aka cash for clunkers for appliances.

 

By the Numbers: Energy Star homes reach major milestone

1 million

Number of Energy Star-qualified homes built nationwide since the program debuted in 1995. These homes have saved Americans $1.2 billion in energy costs, reduced greenhouse-gas emissions by 22 billion pounds, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The top 10 markets for Energy Star homes are Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York City, Tucson, San Antonio, Sacramento, and San Diego.

To qualify for Energy Star, says the EPA, a new home must be at least 15 percent more efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code and include other features that make them 20 to 30 percent more efficient than standard home, such as effective insulation, high-performance windows, and efficient heating and cooling equipment, appliances, lighting, and ventilation. (The image below, from Energy Star, shows typical locations of air leaks in a home. Check out our recent Weekend Project on weatherizing your attic.)

"This is an amazing achievement for the Energy Star program, but the real winners are the 1 million American families who have the chance to save money and keep harmful pollution out of the air. That's great news for anyone who wants to cut costs and protect our planet," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson in a press release. "We're going to keep the number of Energy Star homes growing, because every new Energy Star home is a step towards lower costs, cleaner air, and communities that are environmentally and economically sustainable."

To boost the energy efficiency of your home and save some real money, start with these simple, inexpensive steps and follow our overall advice for using less energy at home.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you haven't done so already, get your heating system tuned up and install a programmable thermostat. Also refer to our buyer's guides to furnaces (more details here), water heaters, pellet stoves, and solar water heaters, and find the best compact fluorescent lightbulbs. Remember, some projects might qualify for federal tax credits. If you want energy-efficient appliances, stay up on the news related to the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, also known as cash for clunkers for appliances.

 

CBS' 60 Minutes looks at vulnerability of U.S. smart grid

Last year, we told you about how vulnerable a smart grid could be to cyber-attacks. Last night on CBS, 60 Minutes ran a report by correspondent Steve Kroft called "Sabotaging the System," which looked at the country's vulnerability to cyber-attacks.

"If I were an attacker and I wanted to do strategic damage to the United States, I would either take the cold of winter or the heat of summer, I probably would sack electric power on the U.S. East Cost, maybe the West Coast, and attempt to cause a cascading effect. All of those things are in the art of the possible from a sophisticated attacker," Mike McConnell, a retired Navy admiral, told 60 Minutes.

Watch the 60 Minutes report. And if you're worried about Internet security, check out our Guide to Online Security. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're concerned about losing power at home during an emergency—be it caused by hackers or by Mother Nature—check our our report on and ratings of backup generators (ratings available to subscribers). e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

What's new in Consumer Reports: Home content from the December 2009 issue

The December 2009 issue of Consumer Reports is loaded with coverage of items that will make practical gifts or spectacular additions to any household. (Some items below are available only to subscribers.)

Low-cost, high-performing coffeemakers. We found excellent coffeemakers that cost $20, $40, and $70; the top-rated model topped out at $100. And for $80, you can buy an excellent brew-station type that lets you fill cups directly from the machine.

Lack of versatility dogs pet-hair vacuums. Many vacuums are specifically marketed as the solution to pet-hair problems, but we found none provided a universal panacea. Instead, two mainstream Hoover models stood out for being excellent against pet hair, very good on bare floors, and excellent at cleaning carpets and limiting emissions.

Microwaves that do more. Want convection and speed cook modes? Countertop models from Kenmore and newcomer-to-the-field Cuisinart and an over- the-range model from Samsung offer both; the Cusinart and Samsung also offer grill modes for a taste of summer during the cold months. We also took a look at the innovative Sharp SuperSteam Oven AX-1200[K].

Ranges that make the grade. Induction models are hot, but our tested ones remain pricey at $3,000. Instead, we found four under-$800 ranges from Kenmore and GE that outscored pricier ranges from Dacor and Viking. Move up to the $1,500-to-$2,000 price point, and you'll get a range with a second oven or cooking drawer.

Paper towels in store. Our tests confirmed a similar trend among foods, where store brands outperformed national brands. So you might want to pick some up when you're buying wrapping paper. We also found something for greens to celebrate: One brand of recycled paper performed very well overall. Watch the video on how we test paper towels (above).

Light's (you should toss) out. Discard holiday lights after three seasons. Here's a checklist of things to look for and safe practices to follow when hanging holiday lights.

At opening of Florida solar-energy facility, President Obama focuses on smart grid and renewable energy

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama promoted the smart grid and renewable energy at the opening of Florida Power & Light's DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center (shown). The facility consists of more than 90,500 solar panels, making it the largest solar-photovoltaic plant in the country and, according to FPL, its annual estimated generation is about 42,000 megawatt hours.

The president outlined how the federal government is making a $3.4 billion investment from Recovery Act funds to modernize the country's electric grid with a goal of creating a more-reliable, more-efficient system. "But getting there will take a few more days like this one and more projects like this one," said the president. "And I have often said that the creation of such an economy is going to require nothing less than the sustained effort of an entire nation—an all-hands-on-deck approach similar to the mobilization that preceded World War II or the Apollo Project."

If you're interested in using solar power at your home, read our report on solar water heaters from the October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports and look for ongoing coverage of these devices on this blog, such as this testing update from earlier this month.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: The president referred to World War II the other day, and it was during this era that George Löf undertook his first experiments with solar power. Löf, a solar innovator who died earlier this month at the age of 95, is credited with creating one of the earliest solar-heated homes in this country, according to his obituary in The Wall Street Journal. Löf's system consisted of a large glass roof panel that heated a pile of gravel in the basement, which in turn warmed the house.

Official White House photo by Chuck Kennedy

A tale of two Super Bowl ads: GE's smart grid and Cash4Gold

The broadcast for last February's Super Bowl XLIII, in which the Pittsburgh Steelers edged the Arizona Cardinals, featured the usual roster of ads vying for your attention and Twitter posts if not your money.

Among the more notable spots were this one for Cash4Gold, in which Ed McMahon and MC Hammer urged people to trade in their precious jewelry for cold, hard cash and this one for GE's efforts related to the smart grid, in which an animated scarecrow sings an updated rendition of The Wizard of Oz tune "If I Only Had a Brain" (shown).

The intervening months have not been kind to Cash4Gold, as you can read in the coverage by our colleagues at the Consumerist.

The smart grid has fared significantly better. About $4.5 billion in federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is being doled out by the U.S. Department of Energy to help utilities turn the existing power grid into a smart network. This modernization is designed to enable two-way communication between utilities and consumers.provide safer, more-efficient management of the electric grid, and save you money.

Based on what I heard during an Edison Electric Institute event last week in New York City, it seems as if the stimulus influx for the smart grid has the country's biggest power companies in good spirits.

"We've been talking about the smart grid for years," said Thomas R. Kuhn, EEI president and event moderator. "It's finally coming to fruition." He added that 58 million smart meters will be installed in U.S. homes within the next 10 years. Pacific Gas & Electric, for instance, says it has deployed smart meters for nearly 4 million of its 15 million customers in California and installs 13,000 every day.

During the event, Andrew Tang, senior director of PG&E's Smart Energy Web, talked about the "changing relationship between consumers and their electric bill" that smart meters catalyze. For example, instead of paying a flat rate for electricity, customers pay a time-of-use rate, with peak hours occurring from midday to early evening. Customers can also buy an energy orb (shown), a plug-in device that changes colors to indicate real-time changes in the price of electricity. A simple visual signal like this results in energy reductions ranging from 22 to 37 percent, according to Tang. And more-sophisticated technologies are on the way, including comprehensive in-home displays and programmable communicating thermostats, which are supposed to automatically adjust temperatures based on pricing signals they receive from the utility.

Looking at the future of the energy-efficient home at the 2009 Solar Decathlon

Mother Nature didn't make it easy for the teams that took part in 2009 Solar Decathlon, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The homes designed and built by 20 college and university teams were put through the weather wringer during the final days of the event last weekend, with cold, rainy, overcast weather prevailing—not exactly ideal conditions for solar-powered homes.

The homes in the 2009 Solar Decathlon were judged on 10 characteristics, including architecture, comfort, lighting, appliances, hot water, home entertainment, and market viability, or how easy and affordable the home is to build. Readily available products used in the houses include compact fluorescent lightbulbs and LED lighting, induction cooktops, front-loading washing machines, energy-efficient windows, bamboo flooring, and low-VOC paint.

Team Germany took first prize in the fourth installment of this competition (see its home in the video above) earning 908.29 points out of a possible 1,000, followed by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Team California with 863.08 points. See the complete final standings.

With umbrella in hand and galoshes on feet, I checked out the future of the energy-efficient home. (You can avoid any inclement weather by visiting the 20 projects via a virtual tour.)

While the competition calls for uniformity in overall size—houses can be no larger than 800 square feet—the first thing I noticed was how different the houses looked from one another. With teams from throughout the U.S. as well as Canada, German, Puerto Rico, and Spain, each featured a design unique to its climate and region.

In the era of the CFL and LEDs, looking back at Edison’s 1879 incandescent invention

Today marks the 130th anniversary of Thomas Alva Edison’s invention of the first commercially viable incandescent lightbulb. (The image, from the National Archives, is from Edison’s patent application; he received the patent in early 1880.) And while incandescents are still being improved upon to be more energy efficient, the emphasis today is on compact fluorescent lighting and LEDs, like those vying for the L Prize in the U.S. Department of Energy's Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prizes competition.

Check out our latest report on and ratings of compact fluorescent lightbulbs and learn how to save money on your annual utility bill.

Essential reading: Find out how to choose CFLs, read "10 Questions for . . . Nadarajah Narendran, Ph.D., Lighting Researcher" for news on advances in lighting technology, and see what European consumers think about the EU's ban on some incandescent lightbulbs.