Urgent Light Bulb Recall

We want to make our friends and clients aware of a recall on LED bulbs due to fire hazard. The bulbs were marketed under the brand names Definity, EcoSmart, Sylvania and Westinghouse and sold at various retailers including hardware and lighting and electrical supply stores. We wanted you to be aware of this recall incase you purchased bulbs from other sources. The link below can give you more information.

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2013/LED-Light-Bulbs-Recalled-by-Lighting-Science-Group/

Selling your home...beating the odds in a buyer's market: Home Improvements

If you're thinking of listing your home, bookmark our blog and don't miss this series.  Over the past few weeks, we've introduce you to some statistics and tips to help you view your house not as your home, but as the future home of the buyer you need to attract.  Our first topic was Pricing to Sell Your Home...then it was all about Curb Appeal.  Now, we're talking about Home Improvements.  So click here for the scoop!

Now's the time to start weather-proofing your home

It's that time of year...time to do a little upkeep on your home to make it more efficient through those cold winter months.  A well-sealed, well-insulated home is an energy-efficient home. Using the right energy saving products to insulate your attic and seal gaps and cracks in your home will help reduce your home heating and cooling costs by up to $220 a year. Here are some energy saving ideas to help you save money year-round.

1. Insulate your attic.  Up to 65% of homes in the United States are under-insulated.  Adding insulation or making sure your coverage is adequate will cut drafts and energy loss...as well as your monthly heating and cooling bills.
2. Stock up on sealants and caulk.  Even with home insulation, between 30% and 50% of the energy used in most homes is eaten up by energy lost through cracks, holes and gaps. The airflow seeping through the attic and basement, windows, doorframes, plumbing lines, vents and electrical outlets is equivalent to a 4-foot hole in your exterior wall. Use sealant and caulk to stop those leaks—consider them your insulation's working partners.
3. Weatherize your windows.  If you can afford to replace older ones with new ENERGY STAR-qualified models, it's a worthwhile investment. If not, weatherizing your existing single- or double-hung windows with weather-stripping, sealant and caulk is the next best thing. Cutting airflow improves your home energy efficiency.
4. Update your entry door.  Stylish and maintenance-free ENERGY STAR-qualified fiberglass exterior doors boast 5 times the insulating value of older wooden doors. Installing a new door adds up to major energy savings year-round.  For even more insulation and security, pair a storm door with your existing wooden or new fiberglass exterior entry door. It can reduce energy loss by as much as 50%.
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Join the Home Depot Garden Club

Have you heard of the Home Depot Garden Club?

This site is dedicated to all those born with green thumbs and those hoping to get one.  As a member you get unlimited access to expert advice, time-saving tips specific to your region of the country,  and money saving offers and coupons delivered right to your inbox.  It's filled with great advice and as well as the latest and greatest in landscaping, gardening, and outdoor living.  And the coupons aren't too shabby either...in the past, I've received coupons for Buy One Get One Free Rose Bushes and Houseplants, and $$ Off Weed Killers and Pest Controls.

Joining is easy and best of all...it's FREE!

Is your home energy efficient?

Did you know that the average home in Kansas City...

1. Spends about $2000/yr in electric and gas costs AND wastes $940 of that?
2. Is only half insulated?
3. Lose over 60% of their heated and air-conditioned air to the outside?
4. Leaks 33% of air around ductwork?
5. Uses a tank water heater that is only 55% efficient?
6. Wastes 11-17% electricity/gas with inefficient appliances?
7. Have low efficiency lighting, heating, and cooling systems?

About 96% of the homes in our area have these energy problems due to poor or inadequate insulation and the use of minimum builder grade materials and systems.  Before you spend any money to improve your home's energy effiency, consider having a Home Energy Audit.

Home Energy Audits can save you thousands in lower energy costs.  By using state-of-the-art technologies including the blower door leakage testing, infrared camera imaging and more, their findings will help you make the best decisions about which energy improvements you want to make to achieve the maximum payback or result you are looking for.

A Home Energy Audit can save you 22-47% or more in energy costs.  Every $1 saved in utilities can increase your home's resale value by $10. That can add about $8400 to the value of your home!


If you live in the Kansas City area and would like more information (including a coupon for $50 off your energy audit from GreenTech Efficiency Solutions), give me a call at 913-787-1870 or send me an email.

Deck Addition: Return on Investment

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  Deck Addition: Return on Investment

  A high return on investment makes a deck addition a worthwhile home improvement project. Read

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