Not sure where to start? Heating and cooling are about half of a typical home energy bill, and water heating is next. If you rent, start with draft-proofing, space heating and plug-in solar; none of them needs a landlord’s contractor.
Make and store your own power
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Plug-in solar
Balcony kits that plug into an outlet, and the ten states that allow them
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Power stations
Battery backup that runs the fridge and Wi-Fi in an outage
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EV charging
Level 1 or Level 2, plugs, and what a mile costs at home
Heating and cooling
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Heat pumps
Window heat pumps and DIY mini-splits for one room at a time
Around the house
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Draft-proofing
Window film, weatherstripping and finding leaks for under $100
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Water heating
120 V heat pump water heaters, showerheads and pipe insulation
Laundry, yard and pool
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Battery lawn gear
Gas leaf blower bans by town, and picking a battery platform
Know your numbers
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Electric rates
Prices and average bills in all 50 states and D.C.
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Energy monitors
Find what's using power, down to the always-on load
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Your state
Prices, average bills and the rules that apply where you live
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Coming up
Laws and rules that change what you can buy, in date order
