energy efficiency

How to Do Your Taxes if You're a Homeowner

If you're a homeowner, you've got a slice of the American dream, and the tax breaks that go along with it. Whether you bought, sold or just happily lived in your home this year, we'€™ll walk you through all the tax stuff you need to know.

IKEA Chief: We're Leading America's LED Lighting Revolution

IKEA wants to change the way you light your home, one bulb at a time. The Swedish retailer will become the first U.S. home furnishings chain to sell only LED (light emitting diode) bulbs and lamps -- a bold push for the adoption of this energy-efficient light source in the U.S market.

How to 'Cheat' on Your Taxes ... Legally!

Nobody likes paying the IRS, and we all wish there were just a few more deductions we could swing without arousing the taxman's ire. And there are: Here are a few deductions that, while they might seem to be a little out of bounds, are totally legal.

Mother Nature Saved You at Least $47 This Winter

With less than one week until winter is officially over, Americans are celebrating the end of the season with an extra "spring" in their steps. What's got them feeling so happy? Two words: fatter wallets, thanks to warmer temperatures and lower heating costs.

Beat the Clock on These 6 Vanishing Tax Breaks

They say good things come to those who wait. They also say he who hesitates is lost. But when it comes to half a dozen juicy tax breaks, it's the second "they" you should listen to, because he who waits until Jan. 1, 2012, to take advantage of them will be out of luck.

What Does a $25 Light Bulb Get You?

If all goes as planned, the phase out of incandescent light bulbs will begin next year and continue through 2014, when light bulb makers hope we'll have adopted LED bulbs as our new favorite light source. But manufactures have to overcome a few obstacles before consumers will be ready to make the switch.

New York's Tallest Building Is Now One of Its Greenest

The Empire State Building is perhaps best remembered as the site of King Kong's last stand, but in real life, the monkey on the building's back wasn't a giant gorilla -- it was a giant electricity bill. But that was before one of the most remarkable green renovations ever undertaken.

Using an Easy-Bake Oven Is About to Become Difficult

The Easy-Bake Oven is falling victim to the fight against global warming. The incandescent light bulbs that heat the toy ovens are being phased out in 2012 in favor of energy-efficient compact fluorescents. But precisely because they are energy efficient, they don't get hot enough to bake a cookie.

Small Changes That Could Save You Big Bucks

It's hard to make huge changes in your spending habits all at once. To reach your new year's resolution to manage your finances better, try small steps instead. Financial experts offer 10 easy suggestions that could help you spend less and save more in 2011.

Putting Energy-Hog Buildings on a Strict Diet

Cutting energy use in buildings -- both commercial and residential -- is a hot market for a growing number of tech companies, from giants such as GE and Intel to Silicon Valley startups. And the federal government is an eager booster.

Intel's Red, White and Blue Bets: Cloud Computing and Cleantech

Intel Capital has made a new set of investments through its $200 million Invest in America Technology Fund. Four software and chip-design businesses that have collectively received more than $30 million from the patriotic fund: Adaptive Computing, Ciranova, Joyent and Nexant.