3/4/11

The winter months are a good time to assess where the sun is shining on your home; any trees in your yard are likely free of leaves -- especially if you live in cold climates. This can help you figure out where you'd like to plant new trees in the spring, which can help shade your home and reduce your cooling costs during the hot summer months.

3/3/11

If you're in the market to buy a new home and want an eco-friendly abode, be sure to look beyond just the efficiency of the windows and heating/cooling system. Also be aware of how close you'd be to supermarkets, your kids' school, your place of work and the gym. The longer your commute to and from these places means additional time, fuel and energy, and should be considered in your home-purchasing decision.

3/2/11

Many people who replace their old refrigerator in the kitchen often try to salvage it by placing in the garage as additional refrigeration. Often, this spare fridge goes unused but still plugged in and using energy to cool and freeze absolutely nothing. If this sounds familiar, maybe take this moment to not only unplug that refrigerator, but arrange to have it picked up and properly recycled. An old fridge can potentially leak harmful Freon gas, be a safety hazard to small children, and it just takes up a lot of space in a garage.