General Information

Do Your Part! Making Windows More Efficient

By Terri Bennett

With all the money we spend this time of year on presents, parties, and everything else — who really can afford to let money fly right out the window? Do Your Part during these chilly months to make your windows more efficient to cut down on your utility bills.

In the winter, drafty windows can account for up to 25 percent of our heating bill.

However, there are some fixes that will make all the difference. Common choices include insulating drapes, interior storm windows, and plastic window insulation kit. Each of these solutions has its own pros and cons, but they all insulate the same way. They create an insulated air buffer between your home and the window surface.

Insulated drapes are considered the most attractive option, but experts stress the importance of proper insulation. Drapes must be flush with the wall to effectively create an air space between the window surface and the curtains. Improperly installed curtains that let air pass through the sides of the drapes can actually pull heat away from the room.

Drapes, of course, can be reused and will help reduce utilities costs in every season.

Interior storm windows can be fitted to your windows and are effective at reducing air infiltration. These units use a fitted pane that often clips into a frame. Pane materials range from the more expensive glass to polycarbonate plastic. The advantage to interior storm windows is that they can be reused for several years. Many favor interior storm windows over exterior varieties because they are easier to install will require less maintenance. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, interior storm windows can reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent.

Plastic insulation kits are a very economical choice. Kits include a plastic sheet that is attached to a window frame with adhesive tape and then stretched tight by applying heat with a hair dryer. The plastic film is made of vinyl, polyester or polyethylene and can technically be removed and stored for next winter’s use. Most homeowners, however, find these kits to be single season items due to tears in the plastic and the milky appearance created by the aging plastic.

So which is your best choice? Go with a reusable option like interior storm windows or insulating drapes. Homeowners that want to realize long term savings should consider upgrading to Energy Star qualified windows. Energy Star-rated windows will have a substantial upfront cost but are the most efficient way to reduce home heat loss around windows.

Whether you go big or small, do your part to keep the warm air inside your home and more money in your wallet.

Source:  RISMedia/Lowe’s

(c) 2010, The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.).
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

5 Tips to Get Your Finances in Order and Save Money in Your New Home

By Paige Tepping

Buying a new home can be an exciting adventure, especially for first-time buyers. But the process isn’t all fun and excitement—owning a home comes with increased responsibilities and challenges that many new buyers haven’t previously faced. Before you get into the routine of day-to-day life in your new home, there are certain things that can be done to help you save a little money.

According to The Simple Dollar blog, the following tips will help homeowners save money while still living comfortably in their home.

1. Check the insulation. If your new home has an attic, make sure you take a peek around before you begin using the room for storage. It is especially important if you have an unfinished attic to check and be sure there is at least six inches of insulation around the entire room. Take the time to thoroughly inspect the insulation and replace any areas as needed.

2. Lower the temperature on your water heater. If you’re looking to save some money on your energy bill, turn your hot water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If your water heater is a few years old, you may want to think about adding an extra layer of insulation to keep the heat where it’s needed.

3. Create a home maintenance checklist. Even though you have just moved into a new home, home maintenance can’t be forgotten. Create a home maintenance checklist now and be sure to go through the list at least once a month. Include any maintenance projects you can think of—including tasks that may only need to be completed every few months. This way nothing will get overlooked and you can take preventive action which will help extend the life of your appliances.

4. Hang your clothes up to dry. While drying your clothes in the dryer is a huge convenience for many homeowners, it also eats up a lot of energy. If you’re looking to save both energy and money, invest in a clothes rack where you can hang your clothes to dry.

5. Install energy-efficient appliances. Energy-efficient appliances may cost more upfront, but in the end, they will save you plenty of money. Do your homework before heading to your local Lowe’s and be sure to go for appliances that are reliable and energy efficient.

Source:  RISMedia/Lowe’s

Low Cost Floor Coverings

Have a floor that needs to be replaced? Check out this low cost floor covering video to give you a comparison of what’s available to you and what price. Enjoy!

Source:  HGTV.com

Back to School Organization

By Alyson McNutt English

It’s a fall tradition: School supplies line the aisles of retailers, attracting parents and children who will meticulously pack every glue stick and pencil into a well-organized back-to-school bag.

But while sending those packs of loose-leaf paper and boxes of tissues to school that first day may temporarily clear your home of clutter, for most families the back-to-school season also means a return to hectic mornings of searching for an errant permission slip or living with loads of lunchbox drama.

Families can cut the chaos and embark on smooth-sailing mornings, however, by entering back-to-school season with their own school supplies: a kit of organizational ideas for those manic mornings.

A Fan of the Plan

When 7-year-old Abbi Kious heads back to school this fall, her mother, Kimberly, is prepared to get her daughter out the door without a hitch.

“I use a combination of rules, organization and ‘gestapo Mom’ tactics, really,” Kious, of Grants Pass, Ore., says. “Abbi has a checklist she has to complete each morning. If she strays and I catch her sitting and staring into space or something, I say, ‘Honey, is that on your checklist?’”

Kimberly’s checklist, however, isn’t exactly back-to-school boot camp material. It’s a visual reminder of harmonious habits she wants Abbi to cultivate to ease the morning malaise that can distract even the most motivated scholar.

To create your own checklist, look at your regular morning tasks, says Karin Vibe-Rheymer-Stewart, a professional organizer who specializes in helping mothers streamline their overscheduled lives. Stewart says asking yourself questions about your routine can be a good way to figure out what you need to put on the list. “What does your morning routine look like? How could you make it faster, more efficient?” she asks, adding that once you identify the answers, you can begin to identify your most time-consuming activities and schedule accordingly.

Turn Back the Clock

Simple changes can make a big difference in getting out the door in the morning, and one timesaver is right at your fingertips.

“Set all the clocks in your house 10 minutes ahead,” says professional organizer Alicia Rockmore. “It may sound silly, but it really works.”

Professional organizer Elaine Bloom says underestimating the time it takes to do something is one of the most common mistakes families make in the mornings. “They may think that it will take 10 minutes to get ready and get out the door when it will actually take 20 minutes.”
Fashionably Great

With two little girls and a business to run, professional organizer Amanda Le Blanc says if she didn’t have a handle on her kids’ clothing, they’d head out the door to the playground wearing their Sunday best.

“We pick out all their clothes on the weekend, and they have five hooks in their closet, one for each day of the week,” Amanda says.
True fashionistas whose outfits are not complete without the perfect accessories can be real time trouble in the mornings, says professional organizer Jill Graham. Jill says containers or hanging organizers for jewelry and shoes are the best option for kids who aspire to be runway-ready every day.

Jill also recommends color coding.”By sorting all the clothes by like item and then having them arranged in rainbow color order in the closet, children can quickly match tops to bottoms.”

“Cold Organized”

Getting lunches prepared is one of the top problems parents face in that crazy morning rush, but one bright back-to-school idea parents can feast on is professional organizer Janine Adams’ suggestion of getting “cold organized.”

“Take clear, shoebox-sized containers and create spaces in the refrigerator for kids’ lunchbox supplies,” Janine says. “Do the same in the pantry. That way, when it’s time to pack kids’ lunches, everything will be in one place. And by putting things like cereal or chips in clear containers, you’ll know when you’re running low, rather than discovering in the morning when you’re rushed.”

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Back-to-school time also means back to field trips, sports and school programs — and the paper piles and permission slips that come with them.

Joyce Dorny, editor-in-chief of Organize Magazine and mother of six, says her paper pile prevention plan begins with a relatively hands-off approach, “I have a philosophy that I touch the papers once.” She signs and returns papers that need to head back to school with the children, and records key info on a large calendar that hangs on the side of her family’s refrigerator.

“I write all the important information on the calendar, and that way I can take the paper, recycle it and not have a huge stack to rifle through to get the information I need,” she says.

Source: HGTV.com

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