Serving the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire

When the new year arrives, promises and resolutions abound, but few include home improvement.  Here are resolutions every homeowner should make.   Cut energy use: Sealing and insulating ductwork can improve the efficiency of a heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent, saving $200 per year or more, ...

Installing home solar panels can cut your electric bill and shrink your carbon footprint. But the upfront costs of buying and installing a system can be considerable, even with government rebates.  the cost and return from adding solar panels, and whether the home's roof is positioned to benefit from them, are some ...

An under-utilized program that has been in existence since 1995 can help home buyers save on their utility bills by letting them fold the cost of energy improvements into their mortgage.   The program, Energy Efficient Mortgage, can be used by homeowners with both Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Veterans ...

As winter approaches, homeowners may be looking for ways to cut energy bills.  To assist with the cost of making energy-saving home improvements, the federal government is offering tax credits for qualified purchases.  However, some of the credits expire Dec. 31, 2010.  Homeowners can get a tax credit for installing ...

 As the warm summer days begin to turn into cool fall and winter nights, many homeowners will find their electricity bills have increased as they try to keep their homes warm.  To help lower the cost of heating a home this winter, homeowners can weatherstrip their homes.  According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, there are many kinds ...

As the warm summer days begin to turn into cool fall and winter nights, many homeowners will find their electricity bills have increased as they try to keep their homes warm.  To help lower the cost of heating a home this winter, homeowners can weatherstrip their homes.  According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, there are ...

Homeowners planning to remain in their homes for the long term may want to consider adding energy-efficient windows, roofing, and doors as these enhancements recover a large percentage of their outlay. For example, energy-efficient steel entry doors can return more than 100 percent of their average $1,172 cost by helping to reduce energy use.

•  The government is expected to unveil a new program in the next couple of months that, if approved, may reimburse homeowners for up to half the cost of making their homes more efficient. Through the program, homeowners will receive the largest return from simple upgrades like caulking windows, adding insulation, and changing ...