The Department of Energy recently announced that it has awarded nearly $120 million to 120 companies to drive innovation for weatherization projects. This funding is not limited to traditional government-funded weatherization programs, but also goes out to private and non-profit companies, including select Habitat for Humanity chapters. ... (read more)

Safe, durable, green, reliable. James Hardie fiber cement products allow you to create a beautiful, low maintenance home. And their ColorPlus line comes with the coating already applied, so no painting necessary. MidwestLiving.com is giving one lucky winner a $25,000 James Hardie Exterior Makeover ... (read more)

Dan Phillips and the team at Phoenix Commotion are home builders and artists who can turn trash into treasure—scraps into a new home. The Institute for Social Invention in London named Philips’ homes the most innovative housing in the world. Phoenix Commotion homes are in high demand but despite a modest $20,000 to $50,000 price range only a few select people can buy one. ... (read more)

Homeowners are looking for ways to improve their energy bills and make their home a little greener. One important first step in that process is evaluation through a home energy audit. Remodelers and contractors looking to get into the home performance arena have some resources they can use ... (read more)

Awareness and demand for composite decking has skyrocketed over the last decade. Alternative materials like TimberTech’s composite and PVC decking now accounts for more than 15% of the decking industry. Remodeling magazine recently got a behind-the-scenes look at this industry leader’s manufacturing plant ... (read more)

There are a lot of building materials to choose from out there, but not all products are created equal. And the products that you select for your home have to be able to provide you with some kind of return on your investment. So what are some of the best products out there to save you money and add value to your home? ... (read more)

The old adage that everything’s bigger in Texas doesn’t extend to the power bill for one Fort Worth home. ... (read more)

Commercial and industrial buildings account for half of the nation’s energy use. The EPA’s Energy Star label program, which now goes beyond appliances and electronics to encompass whole structures, is a green certification program that has grown in popularity and exposure. Energy Star-qualified buildings use 35% less energy than the average. So which cities have the highest concentration of Energy Star-rated, green commercial buildings? ... (read more)

If you’ve had to climb up into your attic lately, you know how summer heat can build up in that space. Attic venting and air circulation is important for releasing built up heat and moisture, and in this brutal August weather better attic ventilation can help cool your whole house and lower energy costs for running your AC. ... (read more)

With the run of triple-digit temperatures we’ve been experiencing lately, it’s only natural that our minds would wander to the image of lazy days hanging by the cool, clear water of a swimming pool. But sometimes the reality of stinging, asthma-inducing chlorine and constant water maintenance can cloud the idyllic image of the family gathered poolside. The DailyGreen.com says that natural swimming pools are all the rage in Europe and are growing in popularity in the U.S. ... (read more)