Cheddar News anchor Shannon LaNier visited Westchester County, New York for a closer look at how some families are saving on energy by installing heat pumps.
Many experts consider electrically-powered heat pumps a green alternative to gas heat. They have both air conditioning and heating functionality and work by pulling air from the outside. They also happen to be relatively quiet.
"How much could someone save on their energy source here? I mean, it's gonna be different for every house, but ultimately, if you have the system sized appropriately and use the correct eligible technology, you can see some good savings based on the efficiency," said Watson Milliston, energy efficiency specialist at Con Edison.
Just don't forget to insulate your homes, he added, otherwise those efficiency gains go to waste.
"You want to weatherize your house and just trap all that heat that you're paying good money to keep," he said.
Have you been hearing about all the passport delays that are currently affecting travelers around the U.S? If you're in a rush to get your passport, it could cost you hundreds of dollars. So to protect your dollar, we brought in travel expert Francesca Page to give some tips on how to avoid extra fees for expedited passports down the line.
While it's already July, there's still time to plan those last minute summer vacations. and we've got expert tips that can help you save. Consumer Reporter Janice Lieberman has more.
New York City has debuted its first vending machine for drug overdose treatment Narcan, but for some reason, not everyone is on board with this progressive community offering. Cheddar's own Ashley Mastronardi explored this complex issue.
A new study shows that there could be an unexpected side effect of climate change happening right under your feet. Researchers at Northwestern University used temperature sensors underground across Chicago and found that the city's concrete structures (think parking garages, basements, or train tunnels) are absorbing heat from rising temperatures, and it's causing the city to slowly sink.
