Tom Kraeutler and Energy Star

by Alden Smith

I recently had the pleasure to interview Tom Kraeutler, the co-host of the leading nationally syndicated home improvement radio show, The Money Pit.

Tom has a degree in Industrial Arts Education from Trenton State College, which is now the College of New Jersey. He worked as a high school shop teacher for two years after graduation before beginning his own construction company. For several years, he built and remodeled homes. He then changed careers, and spent 20 years as a home inspector.

Recently, Tom teamed up with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ENERGY STAR® program to create a videocast that teaches homeowners how they can make simple energy-efficient improvements around the home that will save them money, energy and help protect the environment. Because of his many years as a home inspector, Energy Star and Tom Kraeutler make a very good team.

The At Home with ENERGY STAR videocast takes you on a room-by-room tour offering energy-saving tips. From changing your five most used light bulbs to CFLs to installing a ceiling fan, taking a few simple steps today can help protect the environment from the risks of global warming. Tom hosts the videocast and walks viewers through ENERGY STAR @ home, an interactive tool found at www.energystar.gov/home which provides energy-saving tips and advice for the entire house.

I asked Tom how he had became involved with ENERGY STAR. His response was that the folks at ENERGY STAR were aware of his program, and had reached out to him to host the videocast. Because he has always been a big fan of ENERGY STAR, he was thrilled to tell the story to their audience. Tom replied that "ENERGY STAR has always been a leader in communicating the value of energy efficiency and I'll continue to work with the program to promote the benefits that come from choosing energy efficient products and making these very important improvements around the house." In the video, Tom tells us that the energy used in our homes is responsible for twice the greenhouse gas emissions than the average car.

I asked Tom what his stance was on the ecology as a whole, and what his biggest concern was. He replied: "I think we all have a responsibility to reduce energy consumption and the effects of global warming. My main concern is that there is a lot of confusion now about what it means to be "green" in your home and because of that confusion, many people get stuck and take no action. The simple truth is that each and every one of us can take small steps that deliver big personal and global results. The At Home with ENERGY STAR videocast was an effort I was proud to assist in to simplify that process and help lead the way toward a greener tomorrow."

Good words from a knowledgeable man. Enjoy the videocast. There is a lot of good information here.

If you would like to learn more about making energy saving changes in your house check out the ENERGY STAR site at www.energystar.gov/home. There you will find the ENERGY STAR @ home tool and lots of helpful information to make your home more energy efficient. Remember even a few small changes at home can make a big difference towards winning the fight against global warming.

* Photos Courtesy of Energystar

Alden Smith is an award winning author and regular contributor to DoItYourself.com. He writes on a variety of subjects and excels in research

AOL Home Improvement Editor Tom Kraeutler is the host of At Home with ENERGY STAR, a new video podcast that offers tips to help improve your home’s energy efficiency. Watch the video.

Tom Kraeutler shoots a scene for At Home with ENERGY STAR, a new video podcast offering energy saving tips for every room of the house.  In the kitchen, an ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator uses half the energy as an older model. You can save even more by recycling that old fridge in your garage or your basement. Watch the video.

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Use weather stripping to block leaky spots around doors.  This simple step will save energy and help keep your home more comfortable.  See more tips with Tom Kraeutler in the new video podcast, At Home with ENERGY STAR.

Check around windows for areas where cool air can get in and heat can leak out.  Using caulk or weather stripping to seal gaps and cracks will help save energy and money. Get more energy savings tips from Tom Kraeutler in the video podcast, At Home with ENERGY STAR.

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