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Your House. Your Stories.

Happy couple celebrating home improvement.

The home energy efficiency stories we hear every day (whether inspiring or painful or hilarious), keep us going. So we wanted to provide a place for you to share them with others. Whether your attempts are Herculean or tiny, they matter. And no matter how spastic or confused you feel, chances are, you are not alone. So, spill. Tell us what's going on, comment on someone else's story, and keep the efficiency dream alive. Now's the time, and you are The One to take it on. Chime in. Ask questions. Reveal your genius. Why not?

Got a Question? Do You have Answers?

Energy Circle's new Ask a Pro feature is here. You ask, and we'll find someone who knows the right answer, whether it be one of a growing group of professional energy auditors, installers or others in the energy efficiency business, or one of the gang at Energy Circle. Want to help? Join our panel of pros and we'll give you a shot at question that come in. Either way, it's a free service of Energy Circle.

 
February 5
from Homes of Real People

Helping the Hartfords and Finding a Path to More Energy Efficient Homes

Chronicling the response to the stunning New York Times story about a couple from Dixfield, ME struggling to keep their home from freezing. Read the full story

September 7
from Homes of Real People

Winter’s Coming: Seal Those Air Leaks!

air sealing trim

With winter around the corner, and high heating bills on the way, now is the perfect time to do some air sealing to stop drafts and reduce air leaks. Read the full story

July 27
from Homes of Real People

Energy Efficient Dorm Rooms, Energy Efficient Campuses.

Energy Efficiency at College

Packing for college, I find myself thinking more than ever about how energy efficient choices in my dorm room can have a real impact. Read the full story

June 8
from Homes of Real People

Toronto Students Take On Sustainable Design.

Riverdale Collegiate students design sustainable homes.

Paul Hackl, a teacher at Riverdale Collegiate, started teaching sustainable design to his 12th grade class in an effort to teach the importance of sustainability. Read the full story

March 4
from Homes of Real People

Tony Wildish's Simple Idea: Read His Electricity Meter. Then Record What it Tells Him.

Living in France, unable to find a compatible whole-house energy monitor, the only way for me to get a grip on my energy consumption was to make a weekly reading of my electricity meter.… Read the full story

January 22
from Homes of Real People

How an Energy Audit, Some Caulk and Insulation (Total Cost $1175) is Saving Me $1000... Per Year.

I had a home energy audit done before I upgraded the energy efficiency of my house in Newton, MA, and another after - here are the pictures that tell the story. Read the full story

January 14
from Homes of Real People

Mars & Venus: Alternative Energy Saving Strategies of a Vermont Couple

We got serious about saving energy a couple years back, and have found that a mix of high and low tech solutions is the perfect key to energy savings. Read the full story

May 15
from Homes of Real People

Summer! What challenges lie ahead for your house?

Yahoo! Summer is coming. And with it, fresh challenges for energy efficiency. Most of us crave summer... until we crave relief from the heat and yearn for that energy hogging air conditioner. You've been… Read the full story

April 20
from Homes of Real People

Would you publish your household's energy usage on the Internet?

Measuring is the first step to a more energy efficient house. Once you learn how your household uses (and wastes) energy, chances are you will start to make changes that will save you money,… Read the full story

April 8
from Homes of Real People

So You've Had A Home Energy Audit. Now What?

The very best way to start the process of making a home more energy efficient is to have an audit by a qualified professional. You know that. You've had one. Now what? Read the full story