There is a misconception that using solar energy for your home means you need photovolatic (PV) modules on your roof, a converter, and other technological gadgets. And while a solar electric system does need these things, you can also harness solar energy in other ways, too, like through passive solar home design. Passive solar design takes advantage of a building’s site, climate, and materials to minimize energy use. A well-designed passive solar home reduces heating and cooling loads through energy-efficiency strategies, which means lower heating and cooling costs. Using passive solar design to heat and cool your home can be both environmentally friendly and cost effective. In many cases, your heating costs can be reduced to less than half the cost of heating a typical home! Let's Get Down to the Basics A passive solar home collects heat as the sun shines through south-facing windows and retains it in materials that...

Q&A Have questions about renewable energy for your home? Submit them here and our expert will answer them next week! Ask Us Now Original link

EERE offers webinars to the public on a range of subjects, from adopting the latest energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, to training for the clean energy workforce. Webinars are free; however, advanced registration is typically required. You can also watch archived webinars and browse previously aired videos, slides, and transcripts. Upcoming Webinars October 16: Live Webinar on Quality Management Economics and Applications for Zero Energy Ready Homes Webinar Sponsor:  Building Technologies Office The Energy Department will present a live webinar titled "Quality Management Economics and Applications for Zero Energy Ready Homes" on Thursday, October 16, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The session will provide background and guidance for how Zero Energy Ready Home builders can integrate a quality management program in their business. The focus will be on facilitating builders' transition to high performance homes and minimizing risk during that transition. Register to attend the webinar...

1000 Independence Ave. SW Washington DC 20585 202-586-5000 Original link

The Energy Department today announced approximately $5 million in funding to 13 states to advance innovative approaches for local clean energy development that will reduce energy bills for American families and businesses, protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions and increase our nation’s energy security. In support of the Administration’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, each state will design and deploy innovative programs to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy, ranging from programs targeting specific areas for advancement to more comprehensive plans that consider economic development along with resiliency and energy supply issues. State Energy Planning To assist the states of Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and South Carolina with their state and regional energy planning, the Energy Department will invest approximately $2 million to facilitate stakeholder and interagency discussions concerning the future direction of electric power among other issues. States will explore and enhance economic development opportunities associated with promoting energy efficiency and...

Last Updated: October 14, 2014 In recent years, there have been changes in the mix of fuels used to generate electricity in the United States. Natural gas and renewable energy sources have increased their role in producing the U.S. electricity supply, while coal has generally declined. In its Annual Energy Outlook, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects the share of electricity generated from natural gas and nonhydro renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, will grow through 2040, while the share of other fuels, such as coal and petroleum, will decline. The mix of fuels used to generate electricity in the United States has changed since 1990 Since 1990, the mix of fuels that are used to generate electricity in the United States has changed. For example, in 1990 coal-fired power plants accounted for about 42% of U.S. electricity generation capacity, but produced more than half of the total...