The Ice House in Brooklyn is an 1880s converted ice warehouse full of reuse and conservation features, making it one of the Big Apple’s more desirable green developments.

Joe Biden announced $454 million for the new “Recovery Through Retrofit” plan (aka “Cash for Caulkers”), a stimulus effort to weatherize American homes.

You’re ready to buy new electronics and appliances, but you want to make sure you’re going to save money and save the environment at the same time.

The Change the World, Start with Energy Star campaign aims to fight global warming starting at home.

Surely you’ve noticed by now the little star emblem on many electronics and appliances. This emblem is the seal of the Energy Star program that promotes conservation and a healthy environment.

In lieu of the push toward environmental sustainability, as well as the need to save every penny, the demand and use of the Energy Star program is skyrocketing.

The laptop computer is already more efficient than a desktop, so it makes a great choice from the get go.

My electric bill is slightly lower per square foot with central air than it was when I lived in an apartment with a window unit (which, I have to add, was a new Energy Star appliance).

You can save far more energy and money by switching to a newer fridge, but what do you do with an old one that works just fine?

So, you go to shop for new gadgets, devices and appliances and you see Energy Star labels everywhere, but you don’t know what they mean. You may know you’re making a good choice for the environment and for your electric bill, but what’s the big deal?