Tenants, here are things you can do to increase the heating efficiency of your apartment. Yes, I know that you are stuck with the heating system, doors and windows that your landlord chose. You can still improve your comfort and lower your energy bills. Where do you start? Most of the heat loss will be
It is not clear to me whether sellers are getting more money for their old houses with wall insulation. I doubt that they are. Buyers who value sustainability lean towards new construction, which will be much better than even the best retrofit of an old house. But, insulation is not that expensive because of MassSave programs that
January and February are most likely to bring us some very cold nights, and some cold days. Whether you are a renter or a homeowner, there are things you can do to make yourselves more comfortable as the temperature drops for the season. Four things to do to make sure you and your house survive
Insulated window shades and curtains are effective in lowering heating and cooling costs. It’s common sense! Just think about how much cooler it is under the umbrella in the summer instead of being directly in the sun. When the sun shines into your windows, heat passes through the glass into your house. It then rises
You can improve indoor air quality by routinely addressing sources of dust and mold. The more we insulate our houses against winter cold and summer heat, the less air leaks between the house and the great outdoors. Pollen and dust that gets into the house stays there, unless you pay attention to it. Areas that
I am wondering how many new homeowners -- who waived their home inspections -- are finding out that they don’t have central heating in all the rooms of their million-dollar shiny new properties. I know you are out there. This year, I saw a kitchen in a renovated condo that had no heat. Since I
Tenants, here are things you can do to increase the heating efficiency of your apartment. Yes, I know that you are stuck with the heating system, doors and windows that your landlord chose. You can still improve your comfort and lower your energy bills. Most of the heat loss will be found around windows and
Even in the summer, buyers should think about heating. Why? Because a buyer can’t feel how well the system works once it is shut off for the season. Even when we test it during home inspection, it is not the same as when it is fighting the winds howling outside. This summer, there have been
Happy New Year. Today, I am nerding-out on you about hot water tanks. The basics of hot water: Direct-fire tanks are typical in Massachusetts. These are the gas or electric tanks that run a flame under a tank of water. When you open your faucet, you use some of that 30- or 40- or 50-