energy star

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Electricity and water rates vary widely across the country, and the costs of doing laundry shake out differently depending on where you live.[read more]

energy use at home

The Energy Information Administration is touting the fact that “heating and cooling” now comprise less than half of our residential energy usage. But that’s only half the story.[read more]

So we already knew that watching too much TV dulls the mind and costs a bundle (my cable bill’s $170 a month, including Internet and phone).Now we know, thanks to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council, that your super-snazzy set-top box and DVR combo that means you will never have to miss another episode of Two Men...[read more]

Yesterday, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation announced its 2010 New York State Historic Preservation Awards, which have been handed out annually since 1980 to acknowledge excellence in the protection of historic sites across the Empire State. Two of this year’s winners are located here in New York...[read more]

The very successful Energy Star program has been getting some attention lately. Not necessarily the kind it wants, or deserves. Without delving into the blame game, someone in our political system decided it was a good idea to make Energy Star look stupid by presenting some silly products for approval. They got approved. And Energy Star...[read more]

Energy Star has been a popular target lately, most recently as a result of an undercover Congressional audit reported in the New York Times.  I’ve blogged on Energy Star’s issues several times and generally think that both EPA and DOE are sorting things out and addressing the concerns as fast as they can.  The program has been...[read more]

In August we took note of stories indicating that appliance sales were going to get a “cash for clunkers”-like boost.  James Hamilton at Econbrowser offers updated discussion, links, and commentary: Here is the description of the program from the Energy Department (hat tip: King Banaian): In late 2009 or early 2010, you may be...[read more]

Rackmount servers with one to four processors will be eligible to receive an Energy Star Rating on May 1 of this year. The ratings will include energy performance at full load and during idle conditions. Data center energy usage is a major issue, which is expected to get even worse. If current trends continue, data center energy usage...[read more]