Outside the House

Earth Day is April 22, a time when we celebrate this beautiful planet we are lucky to call home. During this day of appreciation, it’s a great time to take action at home by making changes to conserve energy.

The past year was a difficult one for the eastern monarch butterfly. Adding habitat will help conservation efforts. The state’s monarch conservation plan can potentially increase the size of the breeding monarch population in Iowa and the Midwest by 10-25% per generation. 

May is Electrical Safety Month! Take a few moments to review these safety precautions with your family this month.

This year, you can have your tomato and eat it, too. With the help of a few new varieties and field-proven tactics, you’ll be on your way to growing the best tomato crop yet. Focus your attention on these three stages of gardening: planning, preparing and protecting.

You can change your energy use by changing your behavior. When managing your energy costs, shifting your focus to how you use energy can be helpful. Try these other actionable behavior changes to help you save on your next bill.

On National Good Neighbor Day, which is Sept. 28 – or any day this month – join in the cooperative spirit and help your neighbors, friends and family save at home with these do-it-yourself energy-saving tips.

This spring, make a positive impact on the environment and beautify your landscape by planting a pollinator habitat.

The old adage that “there is not a second chance to make a first impression” is true not only for people, but for homes, too. That’s why the way a house looks from the road or street – often called curb appeal – is especially important.

Summer fun is just around the corner! Now is the perfect time to start preparing your home for warmer weather. Consider following these 10 tips to help keep your house cool and save on your energy bills this summer. 

If your smartphone battery has become a large share of your daily thoughts, just wait because the battery market is booming. Analysts estimate the world battery market value at more than $100 billion and project it will grow more than 10% annually over the next five years.