Many houses have heaters, fireplaces, woodstoves or a combination of all three, yet are still uncomfortably cold inside. Aren’t we smart enough to keep ourselves warm? Even beavers build their dens to stay incredibly toasty and dry, so what’s going on with us? You may have taken one look at your heating bill over the last few months and wondered the same thing.

Spring is finally here and we can use this time to prepare and remodel for next winter. Here are some ways to manage staying warm, saving money and being green (besides wearing that green thrift store sweater you bought for St. Patrick's Day). More...

Your number one green building resource is Build It Green, which offers a Green Product Directory. But we know that these times call for cash, so we've gathered your top money back options to aid your green remodel.


4 Areas to Check
Have you used our Personal Energy Analyzer yet? If you don't own an EcoMetro Guide, you can download it right here. Reducing your water heater temperature, lowering your thermostat (or raising it this summer), and eliminating phantom power suckers can save you money with zero cost up front.

Cash and Tax Incentives
The City of Berkeley gathers all your top East Bay resources on Greening Your Remodel. We found these PG&E rebates:

• Up to $0.2 off each sq ft of reflective cool roof
• Up to $150 per 1000sq ft of attic and wall insulation (Use Energy Star's DIY guide to insulation and sealing)
• Up to $400 for duct sealing
• Up to $75 for clothes washers

If you need help navigating the solar incentives, call the non-profit Community Energy Services Corporation at 510-981-7750 or visit Go Solar California! website.

Home improvements may qualify for up to $1,500 in federal tax rebates, check here.

For rebates by city covering all of the East Bay, look here.

Get a Professional Audit
Call Rising Sun Energy now at 510-665-1501 x10 to reserve a free audit by leaving your name and number. They'll call back in June to schedule a summer appointment where trained youth will install energy and water saving devices for you, and install a clothesline if you have a yard, all for free. Call soon, they fill up quickly! More...

Personal behavior change is so subtle you don’t see it happening, and can forget how far you’ve come. There are thousands of tips for reducing your impact and living the green and good life, but realizing which you are really doing and what that means can be difficult to pin down. Your efforts deserve to be recognized, monitored, and charted over time. We'll even throw in some reader prizes eventually, too!

Here’s how to start your own sustainability journal, which you can use to set goals and to look back on as you change your lifestyle. We'll bring you more features weekly, including printable guides to a home waste audit, travel diary, games for kids and a home energy analyzer, all from our green living guides. I’ll also be doing this all myself, and roping in guests from the EcoMetro staff and friends, so we can both gripe and high-five together. Ready? Read on... More...

On Earth Day, the Seattle Mariners are set to host the first carbon-neutral baseball game in major league history.

The Mariners are working with Seattle City Light-- and the utility’s Green Up program to power Safeco Field with wind energy all day April 22. Additionally, the team is purchasing carbon offsets for all its travel and operations that day while also promoting waste reduction and recycling. More...

If you can’t install a renewable energy system yourself, you can purchase renewable energy certificates from companies such as 3 Phases, which will send you information quantifying your impact and a sticker reading “Powered by Renewable Energy” to encourage others. Your contribution will be used to purchase wind, solar, or other renewable energy to reduce future emissions. More...

When it comes to water waste, the toilet and clothes washer are the largest water hogs. More...

How many Californians does it take to screw in an energy efficient light bulb? The answer is just one, and the results are big. 

Seven to ten percent of your household electric bill may be from phantom power — appliances and gadgets that are turned off but still draw electricity. The phantoms include cell phone and iPod chargers, TVs and DVD players, printers and appliances in the kitchen. More...