Utilities and nonprofits often provide audit services for free. Rhode Island Energy, for instance, offers a free in-home audit to eligible customers. In Iowa, the federally sponsored Green Iowa AmeriCorps does the same for state residents. When there’s a cost—between $200 and $700, according to Angi, the home-services marketplace—you can offset it with a tax…
ICF emphasizes throughout the report that its projections are based on numerous assumptions and conjectures and in many cases were extrapolated from specific data points chosen as representatives of broader expense or earnings categories. For example, the projected cost-of-living increases were based partly on academic or government studies that anticipate rising prices for a hypothetical…
If you’re learning to cook, buy yourself a good set of chef’s knives and a reliable cookware set. When you’re ready to turn yourself into a great cook or baker, invest in a food scale. A food scale is essential during food prep to measure ingredients accurately for consistent results. If you aren’t perfectly packing…
The batteries are black, triangular, and have “U004 BATTERY” or “UPPBATTERY” printed on the side. They were made in China by Shenzhen Unit Pack Power Technology Co. Ltd. and sold under the brand name “Unit Pack Power” or “UPP” at online retailers, including AliExpress, Amazon, and Walmart, from 2018 through April 2024. The CPSC says…
To help steer you to the best choices, we’ve assembled a list of the most fuel-efficient 5-year-old hybrid sedans and hatchbacks. All performed well enough in our tests to be recommended when new, and all have average or better reliability, according to Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Surveys, in which we ask CR members to tell…
During testing, we outfit each refrigerator with thermocouples in a climate-controlled chamber and monitor it for a month, collecting more than 5.4 million temperature readings that identify warm and cold spots, to determine which models will keep your food fresh longer. We also factor in survey data from thousands of CR members to judge brand…
Below, you’ll find those models ranked based on transaction price—not MSRP—starting with the cheapest model, at $21,291. Because we’re citing actual figures, we list the specific configuration. Other versions of the featured models often carrying relatively similar pricing, with the same the percentage above or below MSRP. This month, nine of the 10 featured models—from…
In some cases, you might think it’s worth the extra money for your dream vehicle, even if it means greater depreciation over time. For other vehicles, it may be better to seek a suitable, more plentiful alternative. We’re presenting the 10 cars, SUVs, and trucks that are selling the most over the sticker price based…
Before you spring for an e-bike, there are a few things you should consider. Are electric bikes allowed where you live? City and state laws regulating electric bikes vary by locale, so it’s a good idea to check to see whether they’re allowed where you want to ride, whether that’s on public roads, bicycle paths,…
As a group, top-load agitator washers tend to be noisier than HE top-loaders or front-loaders. That’s not a big deal if your washer is tucked away in a basement, but it can test your patience if the washer sits near your bedroom. Our panelists judge each washer’s noise levels during the fill, agitate/tumble, drain, and…