With the government behind this national movement from foreign oil to renewable and domestically produced fuel, it’s time to consider the advantages both to the environment and to your wallet of owning a new, efficient wood-burning stove or insert.

“This tax credit comes at the perfect time – when people are trying to make their homes more energy efficient and less reliant on foreign oil, but are having difficulty making the transition due to the economy,” says Bret Watson, president of leading cast iron wood-stove and insert maker, Jotul North America. “This credit essentially gives 30 percent off the purchase price of the stove or insert – up to $1,500 – making them much more approachable to everyone. Not only will taxpayers save money now through the tax credit, but they will save money on their heating bills in the years to come by buying an energy efficient wood stove or insert.”

This tax credit makes it very easy for people to purchase new, efficient woods stoves or inserts. In fact, www.smartmoney.com recently calculated that by using a wood stove to heat a home, a homeowner could recoup the cost of the stove within two to three years with the tax credit.

Once a new wood stove is installed, homeowners will reap the cost-benefits of heating with wood for years to come. To help compare the cost of various home heating fuels, free fuel cost calculators are available online for consumers. Visitors can see how much they would save by using wood instead of oil, gas, coal or electric.

Homeowners save money with new clean burning wood stoves or inserts because of the efficacy of the stoves to heat homes with the least amount of fuel. New wood stoves or inserts have been built to optimize the heat of the wood. Older stoves let gases go up the chimney unburned and leave large amounts of ash. Gases and unburned particles can represent 60 percent of the potential heat of the wood. To avoid this, new, efficient stoves have designs that bring secondary air to the combustion chamber to burn gases and particles that would normally go up the chimney unburned. This is normally called clean burning technology and will increase the efficiency by almost 40 percent.

Cast iron has long been the preferred wood stove material. All the cast iron used by Jotul is recycled. Cast iron is extremely durable and long lasting. Also it is excellent at heat radiating; heat is stored and distributed more evenly and for a considerably longer period than any other material.

Another way wood stoves help lower costs is by directing the heat where it is used most. According to the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association, people regularly use less than 40 percent of their home. If a family uses a wood stove to warm the rooms used most, they can heat more efficiently by turning down their central thermostat, and save money — potentially 20 to 40 percent of their fuel bill.

In addition to the cost savings of wood stoves or inserts, the new efficient models are also much better for the environment. The fuel is renewable and supports American businesses, and the stoves release far fewer greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than ever before.

Many wood stove and insert dealers, such as the more than 300 authorized Jotul dealers across the U.S., will make it easy for taxpayers to receive the 30 percent credit on their new efficient wood stoves. They will provide a certification statement at the time of sale. This statement is all that is needed to receive the tax credit at tax time.

With the government encouraging everyone to make the move, now is the time to consider warming your home and office with energy efficient wood stoves or inserts.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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• Last Chance For Federal Tax Credits For Energy Efficiency Improvements. Act fast! You have 18 more days to make some energy efficiency changes around your house if you want to qualify for some federal tax rebates that expire December 31, 2007. A credit that was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is set to expire on December 31.......

The average return on investment for midrange home improvement projects focused on aesthetic appeal, such as kitchen or bathroom remodels, is down since 2007, according to “Remodeling” magazine.

“Energy efficiency upgrades provide homeowners with the rare opportunity to see a return on their investment almost immediately and at resale,” says Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit dedicated to promoting energy efficiency. “We can’t always predict how the market will impact home prices over the long term, but all homeowners can improve their home’s energy efficiency to increase its value.”

Heating and cooling can account for nearly half of a home’s energy bill, according to the Alliance to Save Energy, and with temperatures dropping, it’s the right time for homeowners to focus on ways they can trim costs and energy consumption.

“The reality of the new economy is that homeowners want to save money while maintaining the value and comfort of their homes,” says Mike Lawrence, vice president and general manager of Insulation Systems for Johns Manville, a manufacturer of building products. “There are economical and smart steps homeowners can take that will positively impact their monthly energy bills today and their home’s value tomorrow.”

Homeowners can tackle projects that are low in cost and high in value and return on investment, either as do-it-yourself projects or by hiring a professional contractor.

To get started, homeowners should first estimate the current performance of their home by using an online energy efficiency assessment tool, such as the Home Energy Analysis test available at JMHomeowner.com.  Online assessments help gauge the savings that could be realized by making efficiency upgrades.

“After evaluating their home, most homeowners will find that adding insulation to their attic is a smart and cost-effective first step, since most homes are under-insulated,” Lawrence says.  “When adding insulation, homeowners should also consider weatherizing their attic to help eliminate any holes or gaps that may exist in the floor or walls.  By using caulk, spray foam or weather stripping to close such gaps, homeowners can further decrease wasted energy.”

A programmable thermostat is another cost-effective option that helps boost home energy efficiency.  Programmable thermostats let homeowners regulate the temperature of their home to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings.

A triple return on your remodeling investment

Compared to other home improvement projects, energy efficiency upgrades typically come with a considerably smaller price tag, compared to aesthetic-focused renovations like kitchen and bathroom remodels. In addition, there’s a triple return on these remodeling investments over the course of home ownership:

* Save on your energy bill today: According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with a properly air sealed and insulated home, homeowners can reduce their heating and cooling costs by as much as 30 percent. The average U.S. home needs 19 inches of attic insulation for maximum energy efficiency.

* Save up to $1,500 with a tax credit: Through 2010, insulation purchases qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit for energy-efficiency improvements, which reimburses homeowners up to $1,500 for the cost of materials.  Additional incentives from adding insulation or making other energy efficiency improvements may be available from state and local governments and utilities.

* Save for the long term: Investments made in home energy efficiency pay dividends for the lifetime of a home and improve the home’s resale value. According to the Appraisal Institute, for every dollar saved in annual utility costs, homeowners can expect to add $20 to their home’s market value.

For more information on energy efficient home improvement projects and to take advantage of local incentives, visit www.jmhomeowner.com/insulation/energytaxcredit.asp.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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• Book Review: Insulate and Weatherize - Expert Advice from Start to Finish By Bruce Harley As energy costs continue to rise, many homeowners are starting to get serious about how much money they are wasting on home heating costs. In reality, if your home is poorly insulated, and you have not taken the steps to weatherize it properly, the fact is, your money is going......

Ice dams usually form when heat from inside a home causes snow on the roof to melt and trickle to the roof’s edge, where it refreezes on cold eaves, blocking gutters and drains. Since water cannot flow over the built-up ice, it backs up behind the ice, creating pools, and seeps into the home under the shingles.

“A typical U.S. winter will generate more than $500 million in property damage from ice dams,” says Mike Convery, chief claim officer for MetLife Auto & Home. “By taking a few proactive measures in the fall, homeowners can often prevent ice dams and save themselves a lot of time, money and frustration.”

Steps to take in the fall:

* Keep all gutters and downspouts clear. Make certain that leaves, sticks and debris are removed completely from your home’s gutters and downspouts.

* Keep your attic chilly. The most effective way to eliminate ice dams is to stop snowmelt by making the roof colder. This can be achieved by insulating the floor of the attic and under the roof, and by blocking all crevices (known as bypasses) where warm air from the interior can rise into the attic.

* Identify water entry points within the home. You may wish to contact a contractor to locate these entry points and take the appropriate actions to create a waterproof barrier.

* Protect your roof with some extra help. If you’re still getting ice dams after insulating and ventilating, consider installing extra protection along your eaves. An ice belt, a solid, metal flashing, allows snow to easily slide off it while providing a barrier for melted snow. Electrical heat tracing can help if an ice dam starts forming, melting it away with one flip of a switch.

Steps to take in the winter:

* Keep a lookout for giant icicles. One of the first warning signs of possible ice dams – and definitely poor insulation and ventilation – are giant icicles hanging from the eaves.

* If possible, keep snow off the roof with a roof rake. Use a roof rake or push broom to reduce the amount of snow that could melt. Do not climb on the roof to clear the snow as serious injury may result. Also, be cautious of electrical wires.

* To melt the ice, bring new life to an old set of legs. Placing old nylon stockings filled with ice melt – containing magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and/or calcium chloride – on an ice dam is an effective way to melt the dam and create a channel for the water to run off. Be certain to lay the stockings perpendicular to the gutter near the edge of the roof.

In an emergency situation, where water is seeping into the house, the best advice is to notify a professional contractor.

For a free brochure, “Protecting Your Home Against Damage From Freezing Weather,” call (800) 638- 5433 (800-MET-LIFE).

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Make sure your furnace is the right size for your home. Unfortunately many people have heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment that is too large for their homes, which means they’re paying to heat space that isn’t even there. An HAVC professional can accurately calculate whether your current system is the right size for your home.

The age of your furnace can also impact how much it costs to heat your home. If your furnace is more than 10 years old, it may make sense to replace it with a newer, more efficient model. Manufacturers such as Trane offer furnaces that can save as much as 40 percent on energy consumption. For example, the XC95m is one of the most efficient gas furnaces and the first to attain up to a 96.7 percent Annual Fuel Utilization rating, which is nearly 20 percent higher than the government minimum standard.

Clean the air of pollutants and flu virus. With every breath, your family’s health is at stake. Approximately 87 percent of Americans are unaware of indoor air pollution. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Indoor levels of many pollutants may even be higher than outdoor levels. These pollutants include airborne particles that enter your home through the doors, windows and roof from various outside sources including fires, fossil fuel burning in vehicles, power and manufacturing plants and from indoor activities such as smoking and cooking.

Add an extra layer of protection for your family by installing an effective air cleaner. New studies conducted by Environmental Health and Engineering and professors from the Harvard school of Public Health show that installing Trane CleanEffects, a whole house air cleaner, may help reduce the risk of asthma attack, stroke, heart attack, respiratory disease and other serious illnesses as part of an overall prevention plan. The unit can be installed as an attachment to your furnace. In addition to removing up to 99.98 percent of allergens and particles from the filtered air – such as dust, pollen, bacteria, pet dander, mold spores and smoke, it also removes more than 99 percent of the common flu, or influenza A virus from the filtered air. Since the swine or H1N1 virus is a form of Influenza A, it can also remove more than 99 percent of this form of the virus from a home’s filtered air.

Take a whole-house approach to heating. There are many additional things you can do throughout your home for winter comfort. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you keep draperies and shades open on south-facing windows to allow sunlight to enter during the day, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows. In the kitchen and bath, turn off ventilating fans within 20 minutes after you’re finished cooking or bathing to retain heated air. And in every room of your home, make sure that all warm-air registers aren’t blocked by furniture, carpeting and drapes.

By taking these steps, you’ll not only keep your home warm, comfortable and energy efficient this winter, but you’ll also gain another precious commodity – peace of mind.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Drafts, such as those around doors, windows and pipes, are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Most homeowners are well aware of the benefits that caulk and weather-stripping provide to minimize energy loss and drafts.

But what can you do about drafts from the four largest “holes” in your home – the folding attic stair, the whole house fan, the fireplace and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can quickly, easily and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes:

Attic stairs

Installing attic stairs creates a large hole (approximately 10 square feet) in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed, leaving only a thin, unsealed, sheet of plywood.

Often you can see a gap around the perimeter of the attic door. Try this yourself: at night, turn on the attic light and shut the attic stairway door – do you see any light coming through? If you do, heated and air-conditioned air is leaking out of these large gaps in your home 24-hours a day. This is like leaving a window or skylight open all year ‘round.

An easy solution to this problem is to add an insulated attic stair cover. An attic stair cover seals the stairs, stopping drafts and energy loss. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling.

Whole house fans and air conditioning vents

Much like attic stairs above, installing a whole house fan creates a large hole (up to 16 square feet or larger) in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed, leaving only the drafty ceiling shutter between you and the outdoors.

An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a whole house fan shutter seal. Made from white textured flexible insulation, the shutter seal is installed over the ceiling shutter, secured with Velcro, and trimmed to fit. The shutter seal can also be used to seal and insulate air conditioning vents, and is easily removed when desired.

Fireplaces

Sixty-five percent, or over 100 million homes in North America are constructed with wood- or gas-burning fireplaces. Unfortunately one study has shown that an open damper on an unused fireplace in a well-insulated house can raise overall heating-energy consumption by 30 percent. Your heating bills may be more than $500 higher per winter due to the drafts and wasted energy caused by fireplaces.

Even if the chimney damper is shut, it is not air-tight. Glass doors don’t stop the drafts either. The fireplace is like a giant straw sucking your expensive heated or air-conditioned air right out of your house.

An easy, cost efficient solution to this problem is to add a
Fireplace Plug to your fireplace. Available from Battic Door, a company known for their energy conservation products, the Fireplace Plug is an inflatable pillow that seals the fireplace damper, eliminating drafts, odors, and noise. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after.

Clothes dryer exhaust ducts

In many homes, the room with the clothes dryer is the coldest room in the house. Your clothes dryer is connected to an exhaust duct that is open to the outdoors. In the winter, cold drafts in through the duct, through your dryer and into your house.

An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a dryer vent seal. This will reduce unwanted drafts, and also keeps out pests, bees and rodents. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. When the dryer is in use, a floating shuttle rises to allow warm air, lint and moisture to escape.

For more information on Battic Door’s energy conservation solutions and products for your home, visit www.batticdoor.com or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to P.O. Box 15, Mansfield, MA 02048.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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You may not realize it, but allergens and toxins camp out in your house during the colder months, just waiting for a chance to give you and your family a case of the sniffles or the flu. Hannah Keeley, host of public television’s “Hannah, Help Me!” offers a few simple tips to guarantee a healthier home.

Schedule a home check-up

You can’t take your house to the doctor, but you can still give it a check-up. Schedule a home assessment with your local American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning dealer before winter strikes to make sure your furnace’s components are clean and working properly.

As an added precaution from unpleasant germs, ask about the American Standard AccuClean(TM) whole home air filtration system, which is proven to remove more than 99 percent of the common flu or influenza A along with influenza B, C, and avian and H1N1 flu from your home’s filtered air.

Clean up your home’s act

Thorough hand washing is key to preventing the flu, but it is equally important to maintain good home hygiene in order to combat the spread of germs. To prevent the spread of the flu virus, it is important to sanitize everything you and your family touch – from your counters and tables to appliances to your children’s toys.

Wash your family’s clothing, bedding and other linens in hot water (at least 130 degrees) to keep dust mites and other germs away. While you’re at it, be sure to transport dirty laundry in a basket or bag to help keep germs away from your body.

Practice good home health habits

Make it a house rule to remove your shoes as soon as you walk into the house, and prevented unwanted outside dirt particles from being tracked into difficult-to-remove carpets and other surfaces. Give family members and guests a comfy alternative by keeping cozy slippers near the front door.

Pick up some allergy-proof covers for your mattresses and pillows. These easy-to-find and use covers are a quick and immediate solution to keep germs and contaminants to a minimum.

Make sure your home is well insulated to minimize heat loss. Inspect all windows and doors for tight seals and seal air leaks to reduce drafts. Sealing air leaks and adding insulation will improve the comfort level and health of your home.

Taking a few easy, preventive measures now will ensure a warm, comfortable, and – most important – healthier home during the winter months. So when that old north wind begins to blow and Jack Frost is paying you a visit, you can rest easy knowing your home and family are happy and healthy.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Don’t wait until the first frost or snowfall to prepare your house for winter. One night with no heat or frozen water pipes can wreak havoc. Last year’s ice and wind storms in the Northeast and across the Midwest left families without power for many days. Here is a checklist of items to help you make sure you’re ready for winter:

* Outdoor plumbing – Start with the easy things by turning off and draining all of your outdoor plumbing. Go through everything at your house; hose connections, pool connections, sprinkler systems, etc. After you’ve turned off the water, leave all the faucets in the “on” position and remove any plastic components. If you suspect that the pipes might not be completely drained of liquid, compressed air can be used to purge water from the lines.

* Gutters – As soon as all the leaves are off the trees, clean the gutters of any debris. Clogged gutters can cause ice buildup or ice dams on the roof. Also install gutter downspout extensions a minimum of four feet from the house for the winter months. This keeps the melting winter snow and ice away from the foundation.

* Roof – Take a good look at the shingles. Make sure none are missing or curled up. Also check for signs of leaks – i.e., stains, cracks, damp spots – and make sure you seal the cracks. If you have an ice dam problem, install heated coils along the edge of the roof. They’re easy to install – just hook them to the shingles with a few clips and plug the coil into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlet. If you don’t have a GCFI outlet, a qualified electrician can install one for you.

* Driveways and sidewalks – Get out and seal any cracks on your driveways or sidewalks because the freezing and thawing temperatures will only make them bigger during the winter months. Use crack filler or hydraulic cement to prevent the cracks from growing.

* Install a standby generator – When ice and wind storms hit your home, you don’t want to be without power for very long. Winter is not a time to try and rough it with freezing temperatures. Plus, when the inside temperatures drop, you’ll have to worry about freezing water pipes. And frozen pipes lead to expensive plumbing repair work.

A Kohler standby generator runs on propane or natural gas and is connected to your home’s existing gas lines. A transfer switch monitors electrical activity coming into the home, and when that activity stops due to a power failure, the transfer switch kicks in – in as little as 10 seconds – and the generator has your power up and running again.

“I tell people to get a generator that fits your lifestyle,” says home improvement expert Ed Del Grande. “Any homeowner will want to make sure the heat stays on at all times for the safety of their families. Standby generators are a must-have for emergency situations such as storms.”

It takes about a month to select, size, purchase and install a standby generator, especially since you’ll have to work around electrical wiring and gas lines, which includes local codes and proper testing. It’s better to get started earlier than later on this project. Once the ground is frozen, it might be too late.

By preparing your house for the winter season, you’ll be able to spend the colder months sitting comfortably inside without worrying about water damage or cold temperatures.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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One of the best ways to protect your property from the elements is by sealing surfaces where rain, ice, wind and melting snow can intrude. You can save thousands in repair costs when spring arrives by sealing windows, doors, the roof and even the driveway now, before the damage occurs.

Seal from the top down

Winter elements – from temperature extremes, ice and snow, to wind, rain and water intrusion – can cause extensive damage to roofs, exterior walls, garages, windows, driveways, patios and pavers, sidewalks and other exposed areas. Seal cracks in these areas to keep out winter’s intrusive, damaging elements and prevent costly problems.

Fall sealing prevents spring leaks

Many expensive, major spring roof repairs start as simple leaks that could have been solved through sealing. The most common roof leaks begin around chimneys, skylights, pipes, flashing and vents.

As part of your fall maintenance routine, seal these potential problem areas by troweling on asphalt cement such as Leak Stopper or All-Weather Roof Cement. Or try a new product – Black Jack Neoprene Flashing Cement, a 100 percent rubber formula that gets tougher over time.

For flat or low-slope asphalt roofs that are cracking at the seams, reseal with Black Jack Roof & Foundation Coating.

Take the chill off winter energy bills

Heat loss is a major cause of high winter energy bills. But according to Energy Star, you can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs – or up to 10 percent on your total annual energy bill – simply by sealing and insulating.

Outside, use 100 percent acrylic caulk to seal around windows, outdoor water spigots, door frames, wall seams and corners, garage doors and under eaves. Caulk anywhere pipes, ducts or vents enter the home. Seal around any seams or cracks in walls and ceilings. Indoors, seal any breaks in walls or ceilings with fume-free SMART zero-VOC elastomeric caulk. Also seal dryer vents, exhaust fans, pipes, ceiling ducts, recessed lighting and attic hatches.

Don’t forget the driveway

Road salt and driveway ice melt products may do the trick to keep driveways and sidewalks from being slippery, but they take a toll on asphalt and cement surfaces. Pitting and cracks from winter water, salt and chemicals can intrude into small driveway or sidewalk cracks, creating major repair issues come spring. Sealing your driveway, sidewalk and patio can help prevent damage.

To avoid expensive problems, caulk cracks in asphalt or concrete with Black Jack or Gardner crack fillers. Then seal concrete (cement) driveways, patios and sidewalks with Krystal Brilliance, a 100 percent acrylic clear sealer that effectively stops salt and water damage. For asphalt (blacktop) surfaces, use a long-lasting sealer like Gardner Pro7 or Black Jack Ultra-Maxx 1000 to reseal your driveway.

The time and money spent on sealing your home now can save you thousands more when warm weather arrives. Visit www.gardner-gibson.com to learn more about sealant products.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

• Prepare Your Home For Winter With These 30 Tips For most of us our home is our largest investment. The extreme temperatures in winter can wreak havoc on our homes and our wallet, so take steps to prepare your home for the winter months ahead. Even if you got a late start on winterizing your home, it is never......
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• Keep Your Home Safe with a Maintenance Check List Every home has certain requirements, and a seasonal maintenance checklist can help you remember when you last did something, and when it needs to be done again. We all know to replace a light bulb when it burns out and to repair grout when it cracks. But those things that......
• Prepare Your Home for Winter As the dog days of summer begin to grow shorter it is a great time to think about winterizing your home to prepare for the colder months ahead.  Snow, ice and sub-freezing temperatures can damage a home’s exterior, leading to costly repairs.  Inadequate seals and insulation can force home heating......
• Roofing Prices Per Square Foot The structure, design, and colors of modern metal roofing are very attractive and it is very durable also. Compared with any other roof on the market, the metal roof is the most durable. It is better than any other. Metal roofing is elegant, lightweight, durable, and colorful. A metal......

Here are some simple steps you can take in your home to create a better environment for everyone, both inside and outside:

Make smarter HVAC choices

Heating and cooling accounts for as much as half of a home’s energy use, so a good place to start is with your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Make sure it is in tip-top shape by scheduling a maintenance checkup with a certified dealer. He or she can inspect your system and make any necessary repairs to ensure the system is not wasting energy.  

If your furnace is more than 10 years old, it may be time to consider replacing it with a newer, more energy-efficient model, as manufacturers now offer furnaces that can save up to 40 percent on energy consumption versus older models. One model that meets and exceeds U.S. Department of Energy standards is the new American Standard Freedom (R) 95 Modulating Communicating Furnace. The furnace converts up to 95 percent or more of its fuel into heat. Rather than using an on-again-off-again thermostat control found in less sophisticated furnaces, it uses temperature data from the thermostat to calculate its own heating cycle. It then adjusts the heat output with a fully modulating gas valve for consistent, comfortable heat and precise fuel control, significantly saving energy and keeping utility costs down.  

Most models in this furnace family are among the many energy saving models that qualify for a tax credit. Thanks to the passage of the Economic Stimulus Bill, homeowners may be eligible for a tax credit if they purchase certain types of HVAC systems between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010. Depending on the system you purchase, you could receive a tax credit of up to $1,500 on your 2009 or 2010 income tax return. For information on any tax credits you could claim, contact a tax professional.

Properly seal your home and ductwork

The EPA recommends that you seal air leaks in your home to reduce drafts and get the full performance out of your home’s insulation. Sealing the ducts is also a good idea, since poorly performing ducts can leak conditioned air and reduce your system’s efficiency by as much as 20 percent. Sealing leaks and insulating the ducts in attics and crawl spaces can improve energy efficiency and keep your home comfortable as well.  

Take advantage of ENERGY STAR-qualified products

The EPA developed the ENERGY STAR program to reduce the nation’s energy consumption. Choosing products for your home that bear the ENERGY STAR logo is an important step to consuming less energy. Qualified products are available in multiple categories including heating and cooling equipment, appliances, home electronics and lighting. Be sure to ask your dealer about local incentives that are offered by many utility companies and financial institutions for the purchase of ENERGY STAR products.

For more information on how to save energy at home or to locate a qualified independent American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning dealer, visit www.AmericanStandardAir.com.  

Courtesy of ARAcontent

• 9 Easy Ways to Green Your Home Greening up your home is actually a lot simpler than spending thousands on solar panels for your roof, and does not have to involve composting or growing all of your own food if you do not want it to. You do not have to be a hippy tree-hugger to want......
• 16 Ways Not To Blow Your Tax Refund It's that time of year again. That time when Uncle Sam returns some of your hard-earned tax dollars that he's been borrowing at zero-percent interest. Tax refunds are sort of a forced savings account for many people. And while I personally aim to avoid receiving a tax refund, there are......
• Home Renovation Tax Credit United States Individuals interested in making home renovations may be eligible for federal tax credits depending on the type of renovations they make. For the years 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010, the Federal Government has allowed tax credits for certain home improvements that make homes more energy efficient. When President Obama......
• Last Chance For Federal Tax Credits For Energy Efficiency Improvements. Act fast! You have 18 more days to make some energy efficiency changes around your house if you want to qualify for some federal tax rebates that expire December 31, 2007. A credit that was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is set to expire on December 31.......
• How to Fix an Energy-Inefficient House [/caption]With winter here - as well as the heating bills - it's important to understand how a home uses its energy. In particular, it helps to understand how your home uses its energy. Essentially, there are two different ways: efficiently and inefficiently. If your home isn't up to snuff in......

In these situations, most homeowners will do practically anything to restore the indoor comfort level of their homes as quickly as possible – whether it’s paying for a quick fix or replacing an entire system. However, in the rush to prevent the family from shivering all night long, it’s easy to make a rash decision that could ultimately be a costly mistake in the long run.

According to Bill Cunningham, a home comfort specialist with Lennox – a leading manufacturer of heating, cooling and indoor air quality equipment – there are three common mistakes people tend to make when the air stops circulating at home:

Mistake No. 1: Thinking you’ll save more money by repairing an old, broken system instead of replacing it.  

Repairs to an existing heating and cooling may be the least expensive immediate option, but Cunningham says that simply repairing an old system may cost you more in the long run since older systems tend to break down more frequently and consume more energy. Replacement often is a better option, because new heating and cooling systems are much more efficient than those from several years ago and they can save you money, time and headaches in the long run.

For example, by replacing an older furnace that is 60 percent efficient with one that is 95 percent efficient, homeowners can save approximately 57 percent on energy bills and up to $5,513 over a five-year period. In addition, new federal tax credits for energy efficient home improvements make buying a new system more affordable than ever.

Mistake No. 2: Buying a new system that is too big or too small.  

“Bigger isn’t always better, particularly when it comes to heating and air conditioning equipment,” says Cunningham. A correctly sized heating and cooling system is crucial to your comfort and the efficiency of the system. According to Cunningham, an oversized system will cost you more to operate and may actually lower your comfort. In fact, an air conditioner that is too large for the home will cycle on and off more frequently than properly sized units, running up your utility bill, while also leaving rooms cold and clammy.  Likewise, if the unit is too small, it will run too often and may be unable to heat or cool your home sufficiently. To help determine the proper size, it’s best to enlist the help of a reputable home heating and cooling contractor.

Mistake No. 3: Failing to take into account your long-term needs.  

When buying a new system, be sure to consider that it is priced within your budget, but don’t compromise your comfort level, household energy efficiency or long-term savings by purchasing a system that will not satisfy your needs well into the future. Choosing a new heating or air conditioning system that’s right for your home is more than just a matter of comparing the initial purchase price and installation costs. The fuel costs to operate a home comfort system over its lifetime, which can span anywhere from 10 to 20 years, will likely be much more than the initial purchase price. Cunningham says purchasing a new furnace with an efficiency rating of 90 percent or higher, such as the Lennox G71MPP gas furnace, or an air conditioner with a seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) of 16 or higher can help offset fuel and operating costs over the long haul.

For more tips and advice on maintaining or purchasing a home comfort system, visit Lennox.com or ItPaysToLiveSmart.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

• What Does Your Home’s Curb Appeal Say? Whether you are selling your home, or you just want it to look its best, curb appeal is something that must be focused on. You can add quite a bit of value to your home with just a few simple fixes, but before you start, it is important to think......
• The Hidden Danger Lurking Under Your Bed and Over Your Head When it comes to looking for trouble spots in our homes, we are generally drawn to the obvious. Plumbing systems, heating systems and the things that we see every day will get the most attention when it comes to spotting early warning signs and taking care of problems before they......
• 10 Ideas for DIY Home Improvement There are a lot of different DIY home improvement projects that you can take advantage of in order to change up the look and feel of your home quickly, easily and effectively. Why pay an arm and a leg for contractors and professionals when you can make grand changes to......
• Prepare In Advance: Lower Your Cooling Costs And Go Green This Summer. I know, I know - it's only March. But in some places it's already 80 degrees every day! So to give those of you in cold weather a head start, and those already living in warm temperature some advice, I decided to post these tips on reducing your energy costs......
• Prepare Your Home for Winter As the dog days of summer begin to grow shorter it is a great time to think about winterizing your home to prepare for the colder months ahead.  Snow, ice and sub-freezing temperatures can damage a home’s exterior, leading to costly repairs.  Inadequate seals and insulation can force home heating......