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The Energy Star label is good, but the NFRC label tells you even more. With the high cost of replacement windows and doors, it's wise to know exactly what you're getting for your money.    Here's what all those scientific terms and numbers about energy savings mean:   The 2 Most Important Window and Door Labels The two labels you should look for: The white National Fenestration Rating Council label. Nonprofit NFRC is the industry-recognized certifying body for windows and doors.  The Energy Star label, which means the appliance has met strict energy efficiency criteria set by the U.S. government, in addition to the NFRC ratings. What the NFRC Label Terms Mean The NFRC label typically lists five measurements. The other three are somewhat less important to energy performance, according to Energy Star, but can help you judge how well a window or door will perform in a particular application — for example, whether it'll let in enough light. 1. U-Fac

Garage door insulation cuts energy bills and street noise. Here's how to insulate your garage door yourself. Garage door insulation can make your life warmer, cooler, and quieter. It lowers energy bills, acts as a barrier between you and street noise, and brightens an otherwise dreary space.   Garage door insulation is an easy DIY project; it’ll cost you about $200 to insulate two 9-foot-wide doors.   Types of Insulation Any insulation type will increase the energy efficiency of your garage door. Here are the most popular types to apply to the back of garage doors: Batt insulation. This flexible insulation, often found stuffed into exterior walls, is commonly made of fiberglass. It’s usually backed by paper or foil, which act as vapor and air barriers. Insulating values are R-3 to R-4 per inch of thickness. Cost is about 30 cents per square foot. Foam board insulation. These rigid panels, typically made from polystyrene, provide a high insulating value for rela

For one thing, they're less breakable than other lights. Yes, LED holiday lights save energy. Up to 75% less energy than the old-fashioned kind, according to the U.S. government’s Energy Star program. But there are more advantages to LEDs than energy savings. Here are 5 other reasons to switch to LED Christmas lights. #1 They're More Durable They don't have filaments or glass, so they're less likely to break or be damaged as you string them up and down. #2 LED Holiday Lights Last and Last LED bulbs can keep your season bright for as long as 100,000 hours, says Cathy Choi, president of Moonachie, N.J.-based Bulbrite, which manufactures LED and regular bulbs. That’s substantially longer than the life of your old holiday light strings. #3 You Can String a BIG Strand of Lights Safety wise, you shouldn’t connect more than three traditional light strings, but you can connect at least 10 with LEDs and up to 87 in some cases, totaling a

Homeowners should be proactive in making energy-efficient home renovations in order to receive the rebates outlined in President Obama’s new “Home Star Retrofit Rebate” program, recently introduced in Congress. If passed, the proposed $6 billion program could reduce energy costs for middle-class families by hundreds of dollars a year. Here ios an easy check-up list every homeowner can do to optimize the energy efficiency of their home: Windows and Doors Holes in windows and doors allow conditioned air to leak from your home and allow outdoor air to infiltrate, which can tax your heating and cooling systems and raise your energy bills. Caulk around windows and doors where there are gaps. Also caulk areas where plumbing lines or electrical wiring extend to the exterior of the home. Floor and Wall Insulation Insulation acts as a barrier to heat movement and helps keep any home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter—all while using less energy. Making sure insulation is used at pote

As you begin to prepare for "tax time" don't forget about the energy efficient tax credits that may be available to you. If you purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy system for your home, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit. Most products are eligible for tax credits at 30% of the cost, up to a total credit of $1,500 and must be "placed in service" between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. Tax credits are also available for some vehicle purchases. Click here for an overview of the federal tax credits for energy efficiency. To Claim Your Tax Credit: Claim improvements made in 2009 on your 2009 taxes, filed by April 15, 2010. Use the 2009 version of IRS Tax Form 5695 Save your receipts and the Manufacturer Certification Statement for your records. See the ENERGY STAR FAQ for more information on tax credit amounts.

Save Energy and Money with the Appliance Rebate Program! Are your old appliances costing you a fortune? There is no better time to replace them thanks to the Efficiency Maine Appliance Rebate Program going on right now. Replace an old air conditioner, dehumidifier, clothes washer or refrigerator/freezer with selected Energy Star appliances and you could receive rebates of up to $75.00 today, plus you will save even more with lower electric bills in the future. Click here for more details .

KILL-A-WATT® ELECTRICITY MONITORS Detect the "energy thieves" in your home with the new Kill A Watt® Energy Detector. This electricity usage monitor and educational tool kit is available for free checkout from your local library. The monitor will help you detect the "energy thieves" in your home and the tool kit will help you put the lid on power consumption by appliances and electronics in your home or business. The Kill A Watt® and tool kit is on loan in most Maine public libraries as part of a state-wide community outreach campaign by Efficiency Maine, a program of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Mainers can check out the Kill A Watt® monitors, just as they would check out a book, from their local library at no charge. These monitors simply plug into electrical outlets and then allow a consumer to plug in any appliance to get readout on how much electricity the appliance uses and then calculate how much money it's costing. The educational tool kits i

Want to save money on your energy bills? Here are some energy-saving tips for you! Heating & Insulation — By turning down your thermostat by 1 degree F, you can save 25-30 gallons of heating oil per year. That’s up to 3% of an average home's yearly consumption, or between $105-$128 per year at the current average rate of heating oil ($4.26/gallon). More Heating & Insulation Tips... Cooling — Save up to 3% on your cooling costs for every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer. For example, raising it from 73 to 78 degrees can save up to 15% in cooling costs. More Cooling Tips… Appliances — Wrap your water heater with a water heater blanket, especially if it's in an unheated area of your home. The blanket could save you up to 10% on water heating costs. More Appliance Tips… Lighting — CFLs can give the same amount and quality of light as incandescent bulbs, yet use one-third the amount of energy and last ten times longer. A CFL can save over $30 in electricity c