Top Web Sites for Consumers

The top Web sites for buyers of energy-efficient homes:

1. ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing energy-efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.
   
   
2. ACEEE Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings: This Home Energy Checklist for Action provides a quick introduction to the ACEEE Consumer Guide.
   
   
3. ACEEE Most Energy-Efficient Appliances: Consumers shopping for new appliances can find a complete listings of energy efficiency information in The Most Energy-Efficient Appliances booklet.
   
   
4. Advanced Energy Corporation: Great publications, particularly "Building Solutions On-line" and "High Performance Homes."
   
   
5. Building Science Consortium: Building America team leader with newly revised web site. Lots of practical text and graphic resources on energy-efficient design and construction, particularly under "Houses That Work" and "Case Studies."
   
   
6. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Lots of quality information and technical resources for cold climates for both builders and home buyers/owners.
   
   
7. Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB): Building America team leader, Steven Winter Associates. Check out their "Projects" and "CARB-News."
   
   
8. Environmental Building News: Lots of news stories and feature articles offered on-line that deal with energy efficiency in design and construction.
   
   
9. DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy: This database is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.
   
   
10. Do It Yourself Network: DIY (Do It Yourself Network) is an on-air, online network that provides in-depth project instructions, easy to understand demonstrations and product tips for home and hobby enthusiasts.
    
    
11. DOE's Efficient Windows Collaborative: Great resources on why and how to select high performance, climate-tuning glazing.
    
    
12. DOE's Energy Savers: This online booklet shows you how easy it is to reduce your home energy use. It is a guide to easy, practical solutions for saving energy throughout your home, from the insulating system that surrounds it to the appliances and lights inside.
    
    
13. EPA's ENERGY STAR^TM: Really good product-specific information on high performance appliances and lighting for the home.
    
    
14. EPA's ENERGY STAR^TM Homes: ENERGY STAR^TM Web site just for high performance homes. Good subsections for buyers.
    
    
15. Home Energy magazine (on-line resources): All past issues of this great publication are on-line. Good technical information for both builders and consumers.
    
    
16. Home-Smart is a resource for Minnesota homeowners that provides step-by-step Basic Care guides, tutorials on How Your Home Works, and Troubleshooting on moisture and energy issues.
    
    
17. Incentive Insulation Database: An on-line searchable database for access to local information on incentive programs for making energy-efficient improvements. This web site was created and is maintained by North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA).
    
    
18. Industrialized Housing Partnership: Building America team leader, Florida Solar Energy Center, has excellent technical resources, particularly on energy efficiency for hot, humid climates.
    
    
19. IBACOS (Integrated Building and Construction Solutions): IBACOS is a Building America team leader that posts various builder resources including reports, presentations, and newsletters on their "publications" page.
    
    
20. Iris Communications, Inc.: One of the oldest and best commercial sources of publications, products, and news on resource and energy efficiency.
    
    
21. National Energy Affordability and Accessibility Project: The Residential Energy Efficiency Database helps consumers find out what energy efficiency programs a utility or state offers to help save energy and money.
    
    
22. National Renewable Energy Lab: NREL does a wide range of work on energy-efficiency, but this section of their web site is dedicated to excellent technical resources for builders, particularly on renewable energy systems and energy analysis and building evaluation.
    
    
23. Southface Institute: Southface Institute is a Building America partner, posting great resources under "Journal" and "Fact Sheets."
    
    
24. Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC): National resource clearinghouse for whole building design, product information, professional training, consumer education, and analytic tools.
    
    
25. ZIP-Code Program for Insulation: A computer program is available to help you calculate the amount of insulation appropriate for your house. The program is called the ZIP-Code because it includes weather and cost information for local regions defined by the first three digits of each postal service zip code.

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