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.

 

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

Shale gas holds promise, but drilling for it is controversial

As we covered in Buzzword: Shale gas, this natural gas contained within fine-grained, sedimentary rock is a topic of much interest for the energy industry. There are vast reserves of shale gas nationwide, and energy companies are working hard and fast to tap these natural-gas sources through what's called water fracturing, also known as hydraulic fracturing or hydrofracking. (The graphic below details how hydrofracking works. It was created by Al Granberg and is being used courtesy of ProPublica: Journalism in the Public Interest, a site that features lots of coverage of shale gas and gas drilling.)

As you might expect, there's more to shale gas than the promise of abundant supplies of natural gas and lower prices for consumers. There's also concern that the process used to tap into the shale-gas reserves presents serious environmental and health risks.

Today's New York Times features an interesting story, "Gas Company Won't Drill in New York Watershed," on the decision by Chesapeake Energy not to drill for natural gas in upstate New York after the Oklahoma City-based corporation's plans met with strong opposition. If you're interested in the topic of shale gas, give it a read.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you haven't already, get your heating system tuned up. And to save money on your utility bills, install a programmable thermostat, read our buyer's guides to furnaces (more details here), solar water heaters, and pellet stoves, and follow our overall advice for using less energy at home.

Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: Solar water heaters update

When we published initial results from the testing of solar water heaters, we knew the analysis was a work in progress. For instance, when the October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports went to press, some data from the hottest months of the year were missing. And one of the key deciding factors in buying a solar water heater—how much money it can save you—tends to change like, well, the weather. Here's an update on our testing of the solar water heaters installed on the roof of our Yonkers, New York, headquarters:

Second panel boosts savings. When we added a second panel to the $6,000 Heliodyne 50180 system—a move that gave this model Energy Star qualification—we saw a definite jump in the percent savings from the 32 percent we reported, even during a period with unseasonably cool weather. Still, the $1,500 extra you might pay for this two-panel system could result in a longer payback period even considering whatever state tax credits you can get on top of the 30 percent federal credit. Read "Energy Tax Credits at a Glance" for more information.

A newcomer shows promise. An Eagle Sun model, $6,000 to $9,000 installed, is the newest system on the roof. While the model is rated by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation to supply 70 percent of the energy needed to heat the water for a two- to four-person household, we won't have enough data to report on until sometime next year. Still, the expected savings from the Eagle Sun are much higher than those of the first solar-thermal systems we installed. (The photo shows Senior Lab Technician Eric Hado (left) and Senior Project Leader David Trezza installing the Eagle Sun system on our roof.)

Higher savings are achieved. Installing the Hot₂O Solar Hot Water System by Fafco, a do-it-yourself system (we recommend pro installation), cost us $2,200. But the company has updated its installation instructions. After we modified the setup, which included insulating the hot-water tank, the average savings climbed from about 29 percent to roughly 42 percent.

Performance stays consistent. We took the Rheem RS47-21BP, $5,000 to $6,200 installed, out of service to make room for the newer systems, but until the day we removed it in mid-September, its average savings remained at the roughly 32 percent we first reported. And the SunMaxx 3570 (PDF), $5,500 to $7,000, is maintaining the same 23 percent savings we saw in the system's first weeks in place; its single array of tubes is roughly equivalent to a single flat panel in terms of performance.

As we move into fall and then winter, we'll see whether evacuated-tube systems like the SunMaxx really perform better and save more money than flat-panel designs in cold weather.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're considering a solar water heater, read our recent report on alternative energy (specifics on solar water heaters are available to subscribers). The American Solar Energy Society kicked off its 14th annual National Solar Tour on October 3. To find a related event in your state, visit this page. If a solar water heater isn't for you, check out our coverage of tankless water heaters.

This is no "hair-brained" scheme: Nepalese student makes solar panel with human hair

Here's a headline that caught our eye the other day: "Teenager Invents £23 Solar Panel That Could Be Solution to Developing World's Energy Needs . . . Made From Human Hair."

The story, from the Daily Mail newspaper in England, looks at a new solar panel made by Milan Karki, an 18-year-old student from rural Nepal. The device, says the article, can produce 18 watts and costs so little to produce—around $38—since the hair replace the far pricier silicon.

“Slowly, natural resources are degrading so it is necessary to think about the future," Karki told the newspaper. "One day we will be in a great crisis regarding this fuel so it is a good thing to do today. This [solar panel] is an easy solution for the crisis we are having today. We have begun the long walk to save the planet.”

Karki's innovative solar panel reminds us of the Kenya-based inventor's solar oven that last spring won a $75,000 prize and which can boil water and bake food. It's this type of ingenuity that will help developing nations and the rest of the world find new sources of energy and also help the environment. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

UPDATE, 9/18/09: Looks like the above story might be a hoax, according to the stories on these links:

http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/09/12/a-nepalese-solar-panel-made-from-human-hair-were-not-convinced/
http://blog.nature.org/2009/09/cool-green-morning-monday-september-14/

Essential information: In the October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, our feature on alternative energy covers pellet stoves and solar water heaters (the illustration above diagrams how a solar water works) and provides you with strategies to save hundreds on your utility bills and the latest testing results for compact fluorescent lightbulbs.

What's new on ConsumerReports.org: October 2009 home-related content

Tests that reveal the pros, cons and long-term costs of pellet-burning stoves and solar water heaters headline the new Energy Saving and Green Living Guide that we've published in tandem with these stories from our October 2009 issue. Among the key findings:

• Pellet stoves and solar water heaters. Our Alternative Energy overview reveals how both pellet-burning stoves and solar water heaters could reduce heating costs. But their high prices ($1,300 to $3,900 for pellet stoves; $2,200 to $6000 for solar water heaters, not including installation) and in the case of pellet stoves, higher operating costs (burning pellets is more costly and more polluting than burning natural gas) can lengthen payback times. Both also require upkeep and maintenance. Ratings of pellet stoves and an interim report our solar water heater testing are available to subscribers.

• Simple energy savings. Cut your Energy Bills lists more low-cost and cost-effective ways to reduce your utility bills, including specific tactics for heating and cooling, water consumption, and electricity use.
 
• Tracking federal incentives. See qualification criteria, installation costs, and annual monetary savings from the many energy-savings products and projects eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit. We also describe how energy audits (done by private firms or on your own with help from government Web sites) can spot home energy wasters.

• CFLs now offer savings and style. Choosing the right compact fluorescent lights is another great way to cut your electric bills. They've been showing up in more and more fixtures, and our ratings (available to subscribers) include models that will work in conventional lights and recessed and track lights, outdoor and flood lights and porch/post lights.

• Readers share mattress ratings. When it's lights out, tap into the wisdom of 17,444 Consumer Reports readers who shared their ratings of the best mattress brands and retailers.

• Vacuums for tough times. Our report on Vacuums rates the performance of both the high-powered high-end and low-priced (but still well performing) models that manufacturers are rolling out during this recession.

• Standout shower towers. Our tests of shower towers revealed three models that could provide an invigorating spray while staying within federal water-consumption regulations and avoiding surcharges imposed by some utilities for heavy water use.

• The scoop on a robotic gutter cleaner. We unleashed the iRobot Looj 155 robotic cleaner on some sections of leaf-clogged gutters and found its promise exceeded its performance. Subscribers can read the full report here.

• Snow blower problem. We found a Toro snow blower that lacks an essential safety feature and gave it our Don't Buy: Safety Alert rating. But safe and cost-effective blowers did abound in our new ratings of 17 models (available to subscribers).

• Green dishwasher detergents wash out. Our tests of three phosphate-free dishwasher detergents also proved disappointing, although you can find capable phosphate-free performers in our August 2009 review of dishwasher detergents.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Find our more about upcoming increases in federal incentives for energy-efficient appliances.

Efficient showerheads and toilets can save you water

The average U.S. home sees peek water consumption during the summer, as Americans turn on the taps and spigots more frequently to do things like water their lawns and flower beds and fill their swimming pools.

Since summer is also the time when droughts peak and municipalities nationwide impose water restrictions, you'll want to watch your water use. Our latest reports on  toilets and showerheads (available to subscribers) can help you find products that not only are water misers but also work well and look sharp. The map shows the latest U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook from the National Weather Service.

A Environmental Protection Agency-commissioned study by Aquacraft, a water-engineering-and- management firm, showed that toilet flushing accounted for almost 30 percent of water use in a typical home. Toilets installed before 1995 are water hogs, using 3.5 gallons or more per flush. But installing a 1.28-gpf toilet that meets the EPA's WaterSense program's limit would save you more than 4,000 gallons of water per year.

The savings were even greater when Aquacraft installed a mix of 1.1-gpf pressure-assisted and 1.6-gpf flapperless toilets in 96 homes in San Francisco, Seattle, and Tampa. Each home saved an average of 7,000 gallons per year. The flapperless toilets were also found to cut down on leaks from poorly seated flapper valves that had been wasting considerable amounts of water.

However, not all new commodes should be treated as high-performing commodities. Our latest tests revealed that not all toilets could flush with success in every situation. We did find a 1.28-gpf standout performer from Kohler and a good 1.1-gpf model from Gerber. But several pricier models required an extra flush, negating any water savings.

Showers represent 17 percent of  U.S. household water use, and our latest tests of showerheads showed a performance breakdown similar to that for toilets. Eight of the 18 tested models use less than the federal maximum flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute, but only one model was judged by the panel to produce an invigorating spray. That's an important point, as a weak stream might result in people taking longer showers.

The Aquacraft study showed that retrofitting homes with 1.75-gpm or handheld 2.5-gpm devices with shutoff buttons led to a 28 percent reduction in water use.

Taking shorter showers instead of baths will cut both water and energy costs. And while you're showering, keep an eye on the bathtub faucet. "If you pull the lever on the bathtub faucet to start the spray from the shower and the valve doesn't close all the way, you'll lose water out the bathtub faucet while you're showering," says Bill DeOreo, president of Aquacraft.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you need a new water heater, read about tankless and storage-tank water heaters. And use our water-heater calculator to make sure you pick a properly sized unit.

By the Numbers: GE hiring new employees to build water heaters in Louisville, Kentucky

400

Approximate number of jobs GE plans to fill to build hybrid water heaters. (The GE Hybrid Electric Water Heater is shown.)

In May 2008, we told you about a decision by General Electric to sell its GE Appliances division. Just over a year later, that GE division is adding employees, according to this story in The Wall Street Journal, which also noted that GE is unveiling LED products and is investing in research on organic LEDs, or OLEDs. (Read our "10 Questions for . . . " interview with Ed Hammer, who invented the compact fluorescent lightbulb in 1975 while working for GE Lighting.)

"We made the decision to build these products in Louisville because of the strong support from our state and local governments and the cooperative spirit of our Union leadership and our employees at Appliance Park," said James Campbell, president and CEO of GE Consumer & Industrial President. Read more on GE's Appliance Park in this item on the Appliance Talk blog. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Find out whether a tankless water heater is a worthwhile investment. And look for our new report on CFLs and lighting in the October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports.

One hail of a time to test solar water heaters

The Consumer Reports headquarters in Yonkers, New York, got pounded last night by a tornadolike thunderstorm that dropped several inches of hail on the area and left thousands of homes in Yonkers and surrounding communities without power. (The photo, taken by an art director here, shows one of our parking lots several hours after the storm had passed. The damage to our facility was minimal.)

A Consumer Reports project leader who lives two blocks from our offices was seriously concerned about the five different solar water heaters on the roof of our building that he's testing for an October 2009 report. "During the storm, it sounded like people were throwing rocks at my windows—lots of rocks," says Dave Trezza. "I couldn't hear the TV even after we closed the windows at home."

The solar water heaters survived unscathed except for the heat exchanger on one unit. Everything on your roof, including the roof itself, is susceptible to storm damage, although the high-impact tempered glass used in the water heaters' collectors should be able to withstand ¾-inch hail at 60 mph, an industry standard.

Dave and his team will continue their testing right through summer and into next winter. We'll have preliminary results of solar water heaters in the October issue and will provide you with testing updates in the months that follow. With any luck, we'll avoid other major storms.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Defend your home against natural disasters and visit our Storm & Emergency Guide. Also read this  post on our Money blog for details on homeowners insurance and storm damage and find out how common solar water heaters are in Israel.

August 2009 Showerhead Report: In test results, not all flows are a go

The recession has put a pinch on bathroom remodels, but you can still get an attractive makeover on a budget with these sub-$1,000 makeovers. (Some reports below are available to subscribers.)

Our "Top Kitchen & Bath Values" special adds another trick: Switch out your old showerhead for a new, water-efficient model. (Find out whether you should take a bath or a shower to maximize water savings.)

Ten of the 18 models in our latest report on showerheads use less than the federal maximum flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute; all meet the federal limit. But our panel of eight male and female testers, who together logged 269 showers between them, found only one model that could produce an invigorating spray. That’s an important point, as too weak a stream might result in longer, water-wasting showers.

Some tested showerheads aerate the spray to make it feel more substantial, but we found water temperatures dropped from 5° to 15°F from the time the water left the showerhead to the time it hit our bathers’ backs.

Our tested showerheads ranged from $20 to $190 in price; most are a DIY installation. We also tested three shower towers whose fixed sprays and handheld showerhead can turn a basic bath into a spa-ike retreat.

Before you buy a new showerhead, check your local ordinances for any water-use restrictions. You can also use our water-heater calculator to make sure your current heater, be it a conventional storage-tank or a tankless model, can handle the new flow requirements.

Another way to cut your water bill is to install a water-saving toilet. But as with showerheads, our latest report on toilets revealed only a few models that can save water without compromising performance.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Share your own experiences with your showerhead, shower tower, or toilet in the bathroom-fixtures topic of our newly redesigned forums. It’s worth a visit just to read these water-saving tips from a poster who claims to be an alien from a much greener planet.