Blog entries tagged going green

Tips to Cut Summer Cooling Costs

Melissa Burnham — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:20:12 +0100

Sometimes it takes a little extra effort to make a difference on your electricity bill. And, cooling costs can comprise a sizable chunk of your electricity bill. But, making everyone in your house sweat uncomfortably for your peace of mind is a little bit extreme too! By following these simple tips and paying a little more attention to your family’s habits around the house you are sure to find ways to comfortably compensate for these rising summer expenses!

Make sure your home is Read More...

Water Your Lawn Like a Pro

Greg Rivera — Tue, 18 May 2010 03:37:54 +0100

As we head into summer and our lawns become more labor intensive, take a few tips from golf course turf experts on how to water your yard like a pro.

Water your yard deep, but infrequently."The No. 1 thing I see homeowners do is overwater, which builds up excess thatch (an unsightly thick mat of tangled roots between the grass blades and soil)," says turf pro Read More...

Proactive Homeowners Intrested in Efficiency Check-Ups

Greg Rivera — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:39:23 +0100

According to the USDE, the typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. And each year, electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars. The good news is that there are many changes, both large and small, that you can make to save energy and money at home.

In an excerpt from a recent Consumer Energy Savings Guide, it is suggested that &ldqRead More...

Houston METRO Adds 20 Hybrid Buses

Greg Rivera — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:06:14 +0100

As an act within METRO Houston's going-green initiative and bus replacement program, twenty new 45-foot hybrid buses arrived in February and are currently undergoing routine quality testing prior to deployment into METRO's routes.

METRO's bus replacement program is designed to feed in 100 new buses each year to the fleet.

METRO currently has over 262 hybrid vehicles, both local and commuter, and these most recent additions are 55-seat coach vehicles designed to run on clean diesRead More...

Reliant Energy Awarded A $20 Million Jolt in Stimulus Funds

Greg Rivera — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0100

Houston's energy usage just got better, as Reliant Energy just received a $20 million fund from federal stimulus money to upgrade its electricity grid.

This stimulus is a response to the $3.4 billion American Reinvestment and Recovery Act grant intended to modernize the U.S. energy grid.

The investment boost means Houston will see the development of smart energy products and services so customers can manage their electricity usage, manage electricity efficiency and lower energy Read More...

$3.5 Million Donated to Houston Community College For Energy Programs

Greg Rivera — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Houston Community College (HCC) just received a $3.5 Million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Education and Energy. This grant is intended to boost the renowned school's energy programs.

HCC plans to use the grant funds to create a network of industry, state, and educational partners who will explore solar installation training programs throughout Houston. ThiRead More...

Houston Gets Smart With Energy

Melissa Burnham — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:00:00 +0100

CenterPoint Energy Inc., is working with Houston to install new smart meters within the city at the request of funding. Under a $200 million grant applied for by CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric LLC to the US Department of Energy, the “Houston’s Smart Grid: Transforming the Future of Electric Distribution & Energy Consumption” Project would see this goal realized.

Why the upgrade? The new meters send usage information to both CenterPoint EnergRead More...

Hotel to Set Texas Environmental Mark

Greg Rivera — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:15:52 +0100

A northwest Harris County hotel goes above and beyond when it comes to being environmentally friendly. That is what makes the Element Houston Vintage Park unlike any other hotel in Texas.

"It is really how a building is measured; its environmental impact, its sustainability," describes Kristen Vasquez.

The luxurious interior of the building hides an incredible green movement. From top to bottom, start to finish, the Starwood property is the only LEED-certified hotRead More...