Source: Сitizen-times.com

By Paul Clark

ASHEVILLE - With Asheville prices in the $2.50-a-gallon range, heating oil is going to cost over a $1 more per gallon than last winter, local fuel oil companies say.

Though homeowners can't do much about the price of fuel oil and natural gas, they can do something about how tightly their homes hold onto the heat they produce. Procedures range from the cheap (a $2 furnace filter) to the expensive (vinyl siding). But all pay off in the long run, by conserving energy and increasing the efficiency of both the structure and the devices that keep it - and you - warm.

Source: Fredericksburg.com

Oil prices expected to make residential heat costs too hot to handle in winter 2005

By MEGHANN COTTER

By MEGHANN COTTER

Steve Ruby's heating and air-conditioning business is hearing from a lot of people who want to beat the heat.

But it's not the summer temperatures that they are concerned about anymore, the owner of S.M. Ruby & Sons said.

As the Gulf Coast oil supply recovers from Hurricane Katrina and gas prices remain well over $2 a gallon, people are worried the cost of heating their homes this winter will burn a hole in their wallets.

Source: Ireland On-Line

The state body promoting the use of sustainable energy has announced plans to spend more than €2m making 450 new houses more energy-efficient.

Sustainable Energy Ireland said the money would be spent on features like solar-powered hot-water systems and group heating schemes.

It said houses that incorporate fuel-saving systems use up to 40% less electricity than those constructed under current building regulations.

Source: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

A suburban Las Vegas housing development is now a real-life laboratory for innovative research in renewable energy and conservation- the first research project of its kind to be conducted in the United States. The UNLV Center for Energy Research has teamed up with a consortium of partners- including Nevada Power and Pinnacle Homes- to design and construct a Zero Energy Home, which will be unveiled at a special ceremony Thursday, September 29 at 1:00 p.m. at 7395 Howell Mill Court in Las Vegas (near Windmill and Tenaya in the SW Valley- driving directions below).

Source: Energy Star

Under the new energy bill, consumers are eligible for up to a $500 tax credit for money they spend on energy improvements in their homes. For example, you can get a $300 credit for highly efficient central air conditioner, heat pump or water heater, or a $200 credit for installing energy-saving windows. To be eligible for the tax credit, these improvements must be made between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2007. You would receive the credit in the tax form you file by April 15th of 2007 or 2008.

While not directly affecting consumers, manufacturers of energy efficient clothes washers, dishwashers and refrigerators are eligible for tax breaks themselves, which may lead to increased availability and a reduction in prices for these energy-saving appliances.

Source: Burlington Free Press
By Eve Thorsen
Correspondent

How do you build an energy efficient house from scratch? That's the question Chris Granda and his wife, Bonitta Steuer, asked themselves when they decided to build their home in Richmond.

Granda is a senior project manager at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, a nonprofit organization that promotes efficient energy use. So when he and his wife explored building a family home for themselves and their two children Maddy, 9, and Nicholas, 5, he knew the approach he should to take.

Source: ENERGY STAR

1. Study up - Find out about license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state. And before you call a contractor, know the model of your current system and its maintenance history. Also make note of any uncomfortable rooms. This will help potential contractors better understand your heating needs.

2. Consider certified professionals - Look for a contractor who employs technicians certified by Source: NATE (North American Technician Excellence) , the leading industry-supported testing and certification program.

Source Partnerships for HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Individuals can take many simple steps today to help make their homes more energy efficient:

• Replace incandescent bulbs with lights that have earned the ENERGY STAR®.
• Use a programmable thermostat with air conditioners to adjust the setting warmer at night, or when no one is home.
• Use a fan with window air conditioners to spread cool air through a home.
• Use an energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, which can save up to 50 percent on cooling bills.

Source Partnerships for HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY

WASHINGTON, DC – The Bush administration announced a new partnership aimed at
reducing household energy costs by 10 percent over the next decade while improving our
nation’s air. The Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency will provide energy saving
solutions for households across the country and support research and implementation of a
new generation of energy efficiency technologies.

The Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide Americans,