12/30/11

This winter season, if you decide to invest in a snow blower for your home, think electric and not gas. Electric snow removal products work just as well as gasoline-powered ones but do not emit any greenhouse gases when being used. Of course, if you have very little to clear, a good manual snow shovel and broom can also do the trick.

12/29/11

The next time you do a home renovation project and gut out perfectly good, workable items like light and bathroom fixtures or appliances and countertops, don't toss them in the dump. Many Habitat for Humanity organizations around the country have ReStore shops that will gladly take these items and resell them to people who are doing their own home renovation projects. All the proceeds go back to their good works, and your donation is also tax deductible.

12/28/11

Do you ever wonder how much power your TV or refrigerator actually use? One way to get an accurate measure is to use a device called the Kill A Watt, which connects to your appliance and displays its true measurement of energy consumption on a large LCD display. You can figure out if the fridge is draining energy and make a smart choice if it needs to be replaced. These devices normally cost about $25 to buy, but your local library may have one that you can borrow for free.