Last week Microsoft was in the eco-news because Windows 7 will aid you in your quest for a more energy-efficient computer, this week it’s the launch of Microsoft Hohm, a website devoted to helping you reduce your energy consumption in your home (which will have nice perks for the environment and your bank account), and right now anyone in American can access the site in its beta stage (over time it may turn into a for-free service, so it’s worth checking out right away).

To help Hohm figure out where you could be reducing your energy consumption, you’ll participate in something akin to a home energy audit on the website, where you can answer over a hundred questions about your home if you choose (or if your energy provider has partnered with Microsoft already, you can upload your data through them). Hohm then uses models licensed from the Department of Energy and Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory to assess your situation, along with years of data, and provide the appropriate tips. The savings you can expect through the tips aren’t astronomical—an estimated 5 to 10 percent depending on how much of Hohm’s advice you follow—and are similar to the advice you’d get from a home auditer (like replacing a thermostat or buying a new refrigerator), but the ease of use with Hohm could be a great motivator in getting more Americans to take the time to assess their energy use. Click here to read more

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People are already buzzing about Windows 7, which will be available in October and can be downloaded as a free trial for testing now. They’re raving about improved features, like being able to stream music from one computer running Windows 7 to another, and citing it as the first significantly improved Windows in quite some time (despite some disruptive bugs in the trial version). Greenies everywhere, however, will be more in interested in the improved power management of the soon-to-be-sent-out software. Several new energy-efficiency oriented elements have been added in and they could result in serious power savings for users worldwide—perhaps the Department of Energy should look into updating? Click here to read more

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