Don't Stay in the Dark: All About New Light Bulbs

As of Jan. 1, America's light bulbs will change forever. With new legislation requiring general purpose bulbs become more energy efficient - nearly 90% of their energy is wasted in heat - stores are rolling out new options that tweak Thomas Edison's incandescent invention.

Halogen, CFL, LED - how to choose? In today's WSJ, we shed some light on the subject and tell you prices, savings and all about the technology.

How To Fix Your Home from Winter's Wreckage

Mold on the lawn. Shrubs broken from storms. Roofs ravaged by ice. After a season or record snowfalls and lengthy cold spells, homeowners are finding their houses and landscapes brutally battered.

In this WSJ story, you'll find a cheat sheet for spring cleanup - and a list of new tools out to make the job less taxing. (Make sure to click on the Tools graphic!)

Could a "Super-Mower" Cut the Grass Without You?

In the video above, I test a robotic utility vehicle built by John Deere built to assist the military. Right now, it's main mission is to aid with remote diffusing of explosive devices and resupply tasks.

But one day, this vehicle's technology could be used to cut your grass.

It's all part of the rise of the "Super-Mower" - where speedier cutting technology is practically de rigueur. Mower makers are now focused on mimicking the auto industry with cosmetic and creature comforts. Sun shades, iPod compartments, cruise control, chrome hub caps and even alternative fuels are all part of the mower mania.

Cutting-edge designs start at around $3,000 and go for more than $10,000—or roughly the cost of a 2010 Nissan Versa.

READ MORE IN TODAY'S WSJ.

Lessons from the Green Gold Rush

At the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the so-called green marketplace is littered with failed small businesses that fell victim to fluctuating energy prices, erratic government incentive programs and the country's shifting mood on climate change.

One holdout, as I profile here on CNBC and in WSJ, is a small N.J. heating equipment maker called Energy Kinetics, which stands out for surviving more than 30 years in this space. Among some of its secrets: don't make "green" your only or even main selling chit; don't rely too heavily on transient tax incentives and make sure to always have a "new" product in the pipeline.

Cash for Appliance Rebates Get Rolling Nationally

Today on Good Morning America, we talked about the now-happening "Cash for Appliances" rebate program for consumers to get rebates on new energy efficient appliances when trading in old ones.

Time and money is limited. If your old washer is about to kick it, or that big stand-up freezer is guzzling kilowatts, check out what rebates are being offered in your state. Here's a link to the federal government's Web site that gives you all the details.

Note: not every appliance qualifies in every state. Always look for the Energy Star label when shopping to qualify. You also might get a higher rebate for recycling your old stuff. And there could be additional incentives offered through your local utility or municipality. Here's a link to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, which outlines other federal and state money you can get for such home improvements.

More details can be found in my WSJ column on the rebates.

On the Roof: Why Solar Hot Water is Sexy

In tomorrow's Wall Street Journal, my job drives me to the roof -- no, not to jump -- but to explain the merits of a solar hot water system.

It's simple, and can get you out of roughly two-thirds of your hot water bill. Plus, the tax incentives to install one are pretty sweet -- cutting costs nearly in half in some cases.

Everyone thinks of electricity when they think of solar. But this is an easy and cheaper way to start cutting your energy costs. That's sexy in my book.

ABC News Video: "Winter-Proofing" Your Home

There are good tax incentives available now for "winter-proofing" your home now through 2010. Among them, a 30% federal tax credit up to $1500 for certain energy efficient home improvements including:

Windows and Doors
Insulation
Roofs (Metal and Asphalt)
HVAC (heating and cooling equipment)
Water Heaters (non-solar)
Biomass Stove (wood stoves, pellet stoves)

For more details, we explore this on ABC News. Get the details and find out what qualifies at the government's Energy Star Web site.

Lawn Mowers that Don't Use Gas

Recently I've been testing a spate of "gasless" outdoor power tools: trimmers that run off lithium-ion batteries or propane, chainsaws that work on nickle-cadmium batteries and mowers, including a $3299 riding one from Ariens, propelled by electric motors and lead acid batteries.

In this Wall Street Journal story and video, you can see many of the tools in action and get a glimpse of where they perform well and where they fall short. The goal of the new breed of outdoor equipment is less maintenance, fewer emissions.

How to Keep Your Older Home Competitive With New Ones -- From Energy Bills to Technology

In today's story and video in The Wall Street Street Journal, I look at the trend of "future-proofing" in homes -- that is, adapting new building science to older homes so they don't become obsolete in a fast-changing market.

The story offers 5 steps experts recommend considering before you tear down sheetrock or exterior siding, replace kitchen cabinets, buy a new hot water heater, build a new media room or paint a wall or refinish a floor. More on this, from a Good Morning America report late last year.

Is Your Home "Future-Proofed?"

How do you "future-proof" a house?

On this Good Morning America video today, I discussed 5 strategies to make an old home competitive with new ones -- both on the sales front and energy efficiency.

We looked at kitchen cabinets, paint, insulation, lawncare and appliances during the segment and discussed some of the new laws coming into effect that are helping trigger the future-proofing trend.

29 Green Gifts -- How Do They Rate?

To analyze just how green some of the eco-gifts on the market are this holiday season, we enlisted a trio of experts to help us analyze them in today's Wall Street Journal story.

Panelists included staffers from the not-for-profit Green Seal environmental certification group (greenseal.org); the not-for-profit Rocky Mountain Institute (rmi.org), which focuses on energy conservation and sustainability; and David Johnston, founder of Boulder-based green building consultancy What's Working Inc. (whatsworking.com).

And here's a list of 10 green home improvement items on the market this year that have an eco-bent and could fit in a stocking.

Images: Herman Miller LED light courtesy of Design Within Reach; GE Caulk Singles courtesy of caulksingles.com.

Saving Energy on the Cheap

Energy experts have preached taking small eco-steps for year to trim energy bills -- but does it work?

The good news, is yes. By taking a few small steps outlined in my story today in The Wall Street Journal, I've cut my electricity consumption by 687 kwh this year, saving $86 in the last 2 months alone. Keeping that up for a year, I'd rack up about $500 in savings -- or 40% of last year's total power bill.

The steps didn't take much effort: turning off printers and computers not in use, upgrading to Energy Star appliances when old ones needed replacing, swapping a stand-up freezer for a chest model.

To dig deeper...

Michael Blue Jay -- One man's Web site with strategies on cutting energy costs.

Recyclemyoldfridge.com -- Web site that lets you calculate how much electricity an old appliance consumes and how much an upgrade to Energy Star model will provide.

Energy Department Guide -- Strategies from federal government to reduce energy consumption and waste at home. (May take a few moments to load)

Appliance consumption -- A link from the federal government's Energy Star program to see how much electricity individual appliances consume.

UPDATE: Here's a cheat sheet short version with 5 quick tips for Good Morning America as well as a video.

Image by Whirlpool.

GMA Video: Wood Stoves & Solar Water Heating

This morning I was down at the studios of Good Morning America discussing wood and pellet stoves as well as solar water heating. We shot part of the segment up near where I live in a small store called Home & Hearth in Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.

Here's a link to the video if you have trouble viewing here.

Retro Heat: the Wood Stove Returns

It's not your grandfather's pot-bellied stove. In today's Wall Street Journal, I talk about how high heating costs are sparking a rush to buy wood and pellet stoves -- as well as other heating appliances that burn corn, cherry and olive pits and hazelnut shells.

On the high end, there are soapstone masonry heaters with built in ovens and benches. (Pictured above from Tulikivi) They burn wood too but the soapstone absorbs the heat and then releases it long after the fire has burned out.

Personally, I'm retrofitting my own downstairs fireplace with a small HearthStone soapstone-plated wood stove that fits directly on the hearth. It burns far more cleanly (the EPA now regulates stove smoke emissions) and efficiently than the old 1970s fireplace insert I previously had. My house uses oil for its main fuel source, and prices have skyrocketed.

Want to figure out the most cost-effective fuel for your home? Try these two links, which have calculators:

U.S. Energy Information Administration
Pelletheat.org

Solar Energy for the Home

Like most homeowners, I'm facing a winter of record-high heating bills, and not liking what I see. And, like many of you, I've been wondering about some of the "renewable energy" options that are supposed to wean my house off fossil fuels, help the environment -- and lower the bills.

In my July 19th About the House column for The Wall Street Journal, I explore various solar options for the home using the sun's free heat. These include solutions for domestic hot water as well as electricity. (Click the image above to see a larger diagram of a solar water system.)

On CNBC's "The Call," the host Trish Regan and I explore the topic further and you can see video of solar panels being installed. For those wondering whether we'll still care about renewable energy if oil prices fall, check out the discussion going on at WSJ's Developments blog.

To dig deeper...

dsireusa.org -- Lists federal and state tax credits and rebates for renewable energy options
seia.org -- Solar Energy Industries Association
findsolar.com -- Department of Energy sponsored site that lists certified solar installers by state
nabcep.org -- North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners lists certified installers
solar-rating.org -- Lists certified solar-equipment manufacturers
www.eere.energy.gov/solar -- Primer on solar technologies from Department of Energy