energy efficient

Products of the Week

vermont verde

Kitchen Counters & Backsplashes

Vermont Verde Antique is an acid resistant, stain resistant, hardy, durable, low maintenance rich green serpentine stone perfect for kitchen and bath counters, shower enclosures, fireplace surrounds, and floors.

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HVAC & Retrofit Systems

A central heating and cooling system using "aspiration" technology to warm and cool homes evenly and quietly with flexible small ducts that weave through ceilings, walls, and even floors.

Authentic Designs

Early Lighting: Colonial-1860

Authentic Designs makes reproductions of colonial and early American lighting fixtures. We began by researching the originals which we found in historic New England inns, museums and private collections, and now recreate them in perfect detail.

Innerglass Fall Checklist

Sponsored Story

Use these eight tips to prepare your old home to endure the cold road ahead.

Despite the amount of glass, these triple-glazed french doors from JELD-WEN could qualify for Federal energy tax credits.

Windows, Doors & Shutters

Looking to cut your energy costs and perhaps score a tax credit? Plenty of period-friendly windows and doors meet the new standards.

Lopi Stoves’ Flush Wood Plus woodburning fireplace insert comes with a patented ignition system that starts the fire without the need to open the door, helping reduce smoke buildup.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

Thick walls, deep eaves, and high ceilings are all reasons why old houses feel cooler in hot weather and warmer in winter than more recent buildings do. Even so, many old houses lack insulation and central HVAC systems, making it hard to retrofit them with the latest in technological advances.

Queen Anne cottage

This transitional better than net-zero Victorian house in energy consumption is very comfortable.

sealed cracks

Repairs & How To

How to use low-tech materials to seal air leaks and insulate walls in an old house while maintaining historic integrity.

Furnished with period lighting fixtures, antique rugs, and furniture collected by the homeowner, the interior of the 1894 house suits her contemporary life.

Measure the existing threshold

Repairs & How To

Keep drafts at bay by installing an adjustable threshold under your front door.

Rafe Churchhill welcomed the challenge of building a new old house run without fossil fuels.

Rafe Churchill designs an eco-friendly new old farmhouse.

DIY fixes like weatherstripping around windows can add up to significant savings.

Repairs & How To

Boning up on easy old-house energy fixes can save you lots of green—and benefit the planet, too.

Opening windows at key times during the day can be an energy-saver by encouraging natural ventilation.

Repairs & How To

Want to save more energy in your old house? Start with these simple behavior tweaks.

Built in the late 18th century, the Lyman Estate’s main house was remodeled over the years by successive generations.

Restoration Projects

An energy-saving retrofit at a National Historic Landmark demonstrates how old-house owners can increase efficiency with minimal disruption.

With some tune-ups, original doors can be just as efficient as new ones.

Windows, Doors & Shutters

Follow these 4 steps to keep a lock on energy savings.

Homeowners David and Susanne Neiblum were able to take their 1922 French Norman house off the grid while maintaining its historic character.

A family in West Chester, Pennsylvania, digs deep to heat and cool their 1922 house with geothermal technology.

Shady landscaping and awnings can help reduce solar gain and cut air-conditining bills.

Repairs & How To

Going green doesn't have to be a major investment—here are 7 simple ideas for tuning up your old house.

Striped awnings protect a beachside Queen Anne.

Windows, Doors & Shutters

Many companies offer new windows that take cues from historic architecture. Kolbe has Classic and Heritage window series.

Windows, Doors & Shutters

Repair or replace? The ongoing tug-of-war has gotten more heated with renewed concern about energy use. Here are 8 guidelines to help you decide.

The detailing on this Norwood window designed by architect Peter Zimmerman reflects classical elements, with its pediment and reed trim.

Interiors & Decor

Blending technology and tradition in new old windows.

Common places where your house may be losing heat—such as the walls, roof, and attic floor—are good targets for insulation.

Repairs & How To

7 tips to keep in mind when retrofitting your old house with insulation.

A few smart moves can keep your old house snug all winter long.

Repairs & How To

Quick tips on tightening up old houses for better cold-weather comfort.

Repairing interior walls or replacing exterior siding presents rare opportunities to make improvements in an old house "weather envelope." Be sure to carefully consider the building's composition before you add insulation.

Repairs & How To

Questions—and answers—about insulation materials for old house

Weatherstripping helps keep winter weather at bay on even the coldest days.

Doors & Windows

Get ready for winter's chills by learning how to properly install weatherstripping on your windows and doors.

Architects & Interior Designers

Radiators, Grilles & Registers