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Wireless Security and Lighting (segment #10104) With remote use so common, why do homeowners still get up and down to control the lights in their home? Many believe whole house lighting control systems are too expensive, hard to install and too dif... Read More >>		Dimmers (segment #10508) Ever want to set the mood for a special occasion, or just turn down the lights to save on your electric bill? A light dimmer could be your perfect solution. Dimmers can create ambiance and elegance in... Read More >>

Garage Doors (segment #5012) Does your garage door look like the surface of the moon after playing a little catch with your kids? Dents all over it? It doesn't have to be that way. They now make garage doors that don't show dent... Read More >>		Garage Door Opener (segment #5025) Most garage opener noises come from two sources: the motor and the drive chain. If you’ve got an older garage door opener, the noise may have you reaching for earplugs, but the next generation of gara... Read More >>

Solar Energy (segment #5033) We’re always looking for ways to conserve energy and control energy costs. You may be able to do just that with some natural resources, known as renewable energy, now and in the future.... Read More >>		Enviro Home (segment #5036) When you think of the next generation of houses, images like a wide front porch, sloping metal roof and wood burning stove probably aren’t the first things that pop into your mind. Well, this solar-... Read More >>

Geothermal Energy (segment #5039) Did you know your own yard has the potential to be your home’s major source of energy? You could be heating and cooling your house with one piece of equipment while saving 30 to 60% on your mon... Read More >>		Tubular Skylighting (segment #5134) Do you have a problem like this in any of the rooms in your house? We’re in this kitchen and it is really dark. we don’t have any windows so there’s no natural light, no reflected light. But I have a ... Read More >>

Track Lighting (segment #5148) Today, we’re going to add track lighting and the reason we chose this is so the homeowner can aim the lights wherever they need them.... Read More >>		Back Door Entry (segment #5200) If you have neighbors that knock on the back door but sometimes you’re in another part of the house and you don’t hear the knocks. What we’re going to do is put in a back door button s... Read More >>

Garage Door Maintenance (segment #5207) If you're like most folks your garage door goes up and down maybe 15 or 20 times a day. And that's a lot of action. That can put a lot of wear and tear on the parts. We're going to show you how to tak... Read More >>		12 Volt Lighting (segment #5219) When the sun goes down, why not give your landscape a warm glow with these unique exterior lights. I made this 12-volt system using inexpensive materials you can find at your local hardware store or... Read More >>

Tunnel Light (segment #5226) You know recently we installed this Solatube up here to give us extra light in the kitchen. And it works great. However the down side is at night we don’t have a light in here, we did away with the ... Read More >>		Solar Vents (segment #5234) I didn’t need a thermometer to tell me it’s hot in the attic but I sort of wanted to know just how hot. Now our thermometer only goes up to 120° but you can see it'’ hotter than that. I suspect it’s o... Read More >>

Energy Efficiency - Lab Tour (segment #5308) Did you know that 1/4 of all the energy we use here in the United States we consume in our homes? Well, today we're here at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory new Oakland, California, where we are going to ... Read More >>		Stockton PG&E - Factory Tour (segment #5313) We'll be conducting two tests today: an air-duct blaster to determine where leaks may be occurring throughout the ductwork in an air conditioning system and a blower door test to determine what leaks ... Read More >>

ROMEX® - Factory Tour (segment #5334) Did you know that the average home has over 2,000 feet of wire in it? Well today we're in Athens, Georgia, and we're going to show you how electrical building wire is made.... Read More >>		Lighting Research Center (segment #5341) Did you know that Americans use over 1-billion light bulbs a year? But it’s not only the type and efficiency of the light bulb that’s important, it’s also how you use them. ... Read More >>

Lightolier - Factory Tour (segment #5342) Today, we're at the Lightolier factory in Falls River, Massachusetts, where we're going to show you how light fixtures are made.... Read More >>		Electricity in Remote Areas (segment #5348) This is the eastern shore of Maui in the Hawaiian islands. Did you know that Maui Electric does not provide service to this extremely remote location? But that didn’t stop Helen and Jonathan Starr fro... Read More >>

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) (segment #5402) Every year people are electrocuted in their bathrooms and kitchens because they don't have a proper ground fault circuit interrupter. Electricity and water don't mix, and what protected me here was a... Read More >>		Electric Rough (segment #5406) No matter what you do, when your walking the house, ask your builder, and talk about that GFCI, and just make sure that any outlet near water is Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter protected.... Read More >>

HVAC (segment #5408) Don’t settle for an inadequate heating and air conditioning system. You’ll pay for it in more ways than one. You need a professional heating and air contractor to calculate the load requirements of yo... Read More >>		Attic Ventilation (segment #5412) Well, it certainly feels like a sauna up here but, that's not what we're going for. We want to cool down the attic because, the hotter it gets up here the hotter it's going to get down inside the ho... Read More >>

All About Garage Doors (segment #5426) You don’t need to pay for other people’s mistakes. The standard opening for a two-car garage door is 16 feet across. For a single car garage door, it’s 8 feet across. I prefer the two-car garage door,... Read More >>		Lighting & Switches (segment #5433) If you’re building a new home, your lights should be exactly the way you want them. They’re like choosing tools... you always pick the right tool for the right job. You do the same thing with lights..... Read More >>

Home Theater (segment #5601) Today we’re going to check out a fantasy. This may not be for everyone, but if you dream of the ultimate home or if you have the ultimate, then these days you have to have the ultimate ho... Read More >>		Patio Products (segment #5607) Today on Check This Out, we’ll be checking out some patio products.... Read More >>

Problem Solvers (segment #5629) Today, we’re going to check out some problem solving products. ... Read More >>		Cordless/Wireless Gadgets (segment #5645) Today, we're going to be checking out some products that are all cordless and wireless, and the advantage of that is it takes an ordinary product and it makes it more versatile, gives you some more ... Read More >>

Walkway Lighting (segment #5701) You've finally moved into your new house. You've even planted an all-new landscape. Tomorrow night's the big housewarming party. And while these steps are great during the day, at night they may pose ... Read More >>		Landscape Security (segment #5740) Today we'll give you a few ideas on how you can improve the home security at your new house.... Read More >>

Wiring Outlets (segment #5787) When you’re replacing wall outlets or light switches, it’s important to get good, solid connections with your wiring. So here’s a quick tip for making a safe and reliable connection, quickly and easi... Read More >>		Switch Plate Screws (segment #5789) These tiny screws that hold your switch plates and electrical wall coverings in place can loosen up over time. So here’s a quick tip for an easy fix to the problem.... Read More >>

Broken Bulb (segment #5884) You may have ended up with this if you've ever tried to get a stuck bulb out of a socket. Here are some quick tips for dealing with this situation.... Read More >>		Outdoor Lights (segment #5970) You have an outdoor light that goes out or flickers, but you know your bulb is good, here's a quick tip on how to get it going again.... Read More >>

Electricity Savings (segment #5976) You should turn off the lights if you're going to leave any room for longer than 10 minutes. But the reality is, your lights only make up about 5% of your electric bill. So, here are some quick t... Read More >>		Electrical Safety (segment #6018) When you're doing electrical wiring in your house there are three problems you really need to avoi... Read More >>

Lighting (segment #6044) You'll have a number of factors to consider as you choose lighting fixtures for your new house. What's the look you're after? Do you like Old World or contemporary? Design choices may be your first co... Read More >>		Structured Wiring (segment #6049) How would you like to have video distribution and phone service throughout your whole house? I mean, what if they're watching downstairs on the VCR and entertainment center? You can watch at the same ... Read More >>

Home Generator (segment #6050) If you've ever been in a major storm and gone without power for an extended period of time, you know what a problem it can be. Well we've got a way to avoid that problem because we're working with a G... Read More >>		Track Lighting (segment #6136) The lighting in this room isn't very bright, and the homeowners want to turn it into a home office. So today we're going to install track lighting which will allow the homeowner to direct the light wh... Read More >>

Structured Wiring (segment #6222) Leviton installs high-speed transmission wires that are 100 times faster than the single stranded wire found in most homes built before the mid 1980s. Not only do they transmit data at a faster speed,... Read More >>		Radio RA (segment #6236) Fumbling around in the dark looking for a light switch can be frustrating and frightening. Lutron solved that problem with RadioRA. ... Read More >>

Bryant Furnaces (segment #6318) Did you know that about 35 cents out of every dollar that you spend on heating is lost up your f... Read More >>		Fluorescent Lighting (segment #6339) Did you know that fluorescent lights use a fourth of the energy of standard lights? And they last almost ten times as long. Well today we're at Philips Lighting in Salina, Kansas and we're gonna show ... Read More >>

Global Solar Energy (segment #6341) Did you know that the process for converting the sun's energy into electricity has gotten so advanced recently that some manufacturers are actually incorporating photovoltaic cells into shingles? ... Read More >>		Light Bulbs (segment #6456) With a flip of a switch you can change the entire look of your room - not by changing the lights, but by changing the light bulbs. Here are a few quick tips on light bulbs.... Read More >>

Outlet Testers (segment #6461) It's easy to take electrical outlets for granted. When we plug something in, we get the power we need. But, electrical outlets can be dangerous. They can shock, short circuit and even cause electrical... Read More >>		Electrical Safety (segment #6978) Whether you're using electricity for a power tool or something as simple as a telephone, the condition of our electrical outlets is something we should all be aware of. ... Read More >>

Solar Power (segment #8303) Solar power has been around since the early 1900s. But even before that, scientist Edmond Becquerel discovered photovoltaic science which is the science of turning energy produced from the sun into el... Read More >>		Geothermal (segment #8801) The “wave of the future” is a term we’ve often heard for many things, but in the case of heating and cooling your home by harnessing the power of the earth it is definitely true. Heating and cooling y... Read More >>

Solar Gate Opener (segment #8814) The owners of a rural ranch house had a sturdy fence and gate, and they wanted an easy-to-install gate opener. They chose a solar-powered automatic gate opener system from GTO.... Read More >>		Installing a Solar Attic Fan (segment #9102) Heat and moisture are bad for attics. When you don’t have proper ventilation in your attic, it can also raise your utility bill. A simple and cost effective solution is to install a solar attic fan.... Read More >>

Programmable Switch (segment #9508) Here’s a tip and a great product that can help you keep your home safe and secure when you are away on vacation.... Read More >>		Breaker Box (segment #9510) How many times have you been in the middle of blow drying your hair or cooking in the kitchen when a breaker flips and you lose electricity? The lights are out, it’s early morning or late at night, a... Read More >>

Switch Receptacle Covers (segment #9514) Here’s a tip that can help you improve your home’s energy efficiency when it’s time to replace a cover plate on a light or wall outlet.... Read More >>		Cord Tricks (segment #ath020) First of all, extension cords are great because they let you take the electricity to wherever you need it. There are a couple of things to keep in mind, though.... Read More >>

GFCI Installation (segment #ath024) The number one area where accidents occur in the home is where water and electricity can come into contact. Now, that's generally the kitchen and the bathrooms. The laws have changed to help prevent t... Read More >>		Automatic Setback Thermostats (segment #t28-4-96) The way you regulate your thermostat can save you big bucks. However, sometimes we forget to turn it off when we leave, or we forget to turn it off when we go to bed. Well, there is a thermostat you c... Read More >>

Outdoor Lighting (segment #t31-4-96) You know, as homeowners we do a lot of things to make our homes look better. We mow, we edge, we trim, we paint, and yet, when the sun goes down, you can't tell all this. Let's show you how you can ad... Read More >>		Electrical Wiring (segment #t38-3-96) When building your new house, one of the important features to watch for is where the electrical switches and outlets are going to be placed. It's at this time, during the electrical rough-in, that yo... Read More >>

Reading Your Electric Meter (segment #t38-4-96) You may think that nobody loves you. And yet, every month you get greetings from the electric power company in the form of a bill. Ever wonder how they figure out how much electricity you use?... Read More >>		Sun Tunnel Skylights (segment #t38-6-96) You may want to add some natural light in your home, but you just didn't know how to go about it. You didn't want to go through all the hardship of putting in a skylight. We're going to show you an ea... Read More >>

Home Automation - Part 1 (segment #t46-1-96) You may be one of the millions of Americans that have a home computer. Maybe you can balance your checkbook, search the Internet or even play video games on it, but can you do this? "Turn the dining r... Read More >>		Home Automation - Part 2 (segment #t46-2-96) Tim, what do we need besides the telephone to control H.A.L.?... Read More >>

Destination 2000 (segment #t46-4-96) Earlier today we looked at how a computer can control anything electrical in your home. Now we're going to look at how a computer can actually control your most vital electronic, your television.... Read More >>		Easy Trac (segment #t47-3-96) When you move into your new house, invariably you're going to find that the electrician didn't put a wall outlet where you wanted one. We have a place like that right here.... Read More >>

Geothermal Heat Pumps - Part 1 (segment #t48-1-96) Because the earth absorbs and stores much of the energy it receives from the sun as heat, underground temperatures below the frost line remain constant at a point between 42 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit ... Read More >>		Geothermal Heat Pumps - Part 2 (segment #t48-2-96) A geothermal heat pump is the most efficient method possible for heating and cooling your home. Compared to traditional heating systems, a geothermal heat pump generates three to four times the amount... Read More >>

Zoning Systems (segment #t48-4-96) We're back at the High-Tech House where our geothermal heat pump system is being installed. In addition to the energy savings we've talked about, there are some other advantages worth mentioning.... Read More >>