• Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. • Close curtains on south- and westfacing windows during the day. • Install awnings on south- and westfacing windows. • Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows to reduce solar gain. ... Read more...

• You can use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Remember, the plastic must be sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration. • Install tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizi... Read more...

• Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads. • Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time. • Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a setting of 120°F provides comfortable hot water f... Read more...

Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for about 16% of your utility bill. There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new, more efficient water heater. A family of four, each sh... Read more...

You can save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10% to 15% for 8 hours. You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat, you can adjust the times you turn on the heating or ... Read more...

• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer. • Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed. • Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes. ... Read more...

Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically, 61% of your utility bill goes for heating and cooling. What’s more, heating and cooling systems in the United States together emit over a half billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, adding to global ... Read more...

Tips to Save Energy Today • Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer. Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating system. • Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. • Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle. • Turn of... Read more...

Once you have completely finished inspecting your home and found even the smallest infestation of black mold growth, its time to begin ridding your home of it. Especially before it begins growing out of control and taking over your house! Since most all mold reproduces with a combination of dampn... Read more...

Black mold can be found in any area that is dimly lit, damp, and humid. Anywhere that water can build up is a breeding ground for black mold. This includes areas inside your walls where pipes can begin leaking or "sweating", underneath or inside kitchen cabinets, within refrigerator drip pans, inside ventilation duct work, basement areas, garages, attics, ... Read more...

There is most certainly a good chance that black mold can become hazardous to your health. The chances for this increases in those individuals that suffer from allergies, immune deficiencies, or respiratory problems such as asthma. Most people will never have adverse reactions to any type of mold... Read more...

Often, when individuals, whether in the news or other forms of public media, discuss "black mold" they are talking about a certain type of mold. This mold is scientifically categorized as Stachybotrys Chartarum. It will appear as a greenish black mold in color although it is only deemed "black" mold. Black mold is also often referred to as "toxic mold".... Read more...

Bright, bold colors have become very popular today; however, they can be a problem when you are selling your home. This is because you and your buyer may not share the same tastes in colors. The good news is that paint is a relatively inexpensive and easy way to provide your home with a fresh new look. When selling your home, it is important to stick with n... Read more...

If the weather is mild enough outside, opening up the windows can be a great way to bring in fresh air and get rid of any smells that you might not have even noticed. Do be careful about the temperatures when opening the windows; however. If you make the rooms in your home too cool or too hot, prospective buyers may feel uncomfortable and will not become as... Read more...

Generally, most homebuyers will obtain a professional home inspection; however, if you make an effort to do this ahead of time you gain the ability to take care of any repairs before you home goes on the market. Depending on the type of home you have and your area, you can typically expect to pay between $200 and $400 for a home inspection; however, it can ... Read more...

Prospective buyers look for two things in a home: light and space. So, while it is quite all right to have a home that is somewhat on the darker side, if the entire room is dark there could be a big problem. When prospective buyers view your home, make sure you open blinds and drape, turn on all of the lights and even add lights to rooms which might be dark... Read more...