Energy.gov

How energy efficiency professionals can make the most out of these new Better Buildings Neighborhood Program features.

This is the first installment of a new Energy.gov series highlighting the "Top Things You Didn't Know About Energy." What could you be doing to conserve energy and save money throughout the summer?

Say what you want about the joys of Jack Frost nipping at your nose, but when it comes to winter wonderlands, I like mine outdoors. Etching icy messages on the insides of my windows is not exactly cozy. Therefore, I'm thankful for technology that provides an efficient and effective barrier from inclement weather.

More than 750 thousand homes were weatherized by the Department’s Weatherization Assistance Program in the past three years. Secretary Chu spoke with governors and members of Congress around the country to celebrate this huge accomplishment -- which was finished ahead of schedule and is saving the average household $400 annually on their heating and cooling bills.

750 thousand homes have been weatherized over the past three years through the Department's Weatherization Assistance Program, saving families $400 a year on their heating and cooling bills.

Air duct system leaks cost Americans $5 billion every year. A simple mist now on the market -- developed by Berkeley Lab -- can seal thousands of leaks in 4 to 8 hours, saving a home owner on average $600 to $850 a year.

By saving energy, municipalities in New Mexico are saving money on their energy bills – money that's being used for other public services.

The unique internal construction of the gas-filled panels developed at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California are as effective barriers to heat as its pink fibrous counterparts with less material in less space. To improve the panel’s thermal performance the panels can be inflated with compressed inert gas, like argon, xenon or krypton, which doesn’t heat as easily as air.

Hundreds of thousands of people found work in the past few years thanks to Recovery Act and Energy Department programs designed to stimulate the economy while creating new power sources, conserving resources and aligning the nation to once again lead the global energy economy.

How one Associated Press story got the weatherization story wrong by selectively including a few negative anecdotes while avoiding any mention of the great many examples of the program’s growing success.