• Last updated 9/29/11 by stins

Vampires, Phantoms, and Bears, Oh My!   Okay, so there aren't any bears in this story.  But there are vampires, phantoms, idlers, and warts.  In this case, however, we're talking about vampire power, phantom loads, idling standby current, and wall warts.  They all basically refer to the same thing: electronic devices with two sharp, pointy teeth that latch into your wall sockets and suck blood...err...electricity all day, all night, whether on or "off," whether charging batteries or not. These devices include TV's, VCR's, DVD players, answering machines, iPods,... read more

• Last updated 3/30/11 by stins

How To Get Tax Credits For Energy Efficiency Home Improvements Assess if your home improvement project qualifies. Tax credits are available for projects like adding insulation, replacing windows, and adding some high efficiency heating and cooling equipment. For more specific information, see the EPAct Summary of Tax Credits for Homeowners from Energy Star. Between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007, the maximum amount of homeowner credit for all improvements is $500. If you are starting from scratch with new home construction, your... read more