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Keeping your neighborhood clean can be good for aesthetic purposes. It can also be good for keeping the planet happy and safe for all for generations and generations to come. If you want to do your part in helping the planet, you should think about setting up a trash cleanup project in your community. Set a Great Example If you want your neighbors to follow suit, you should begin by setting a great example. Pick up trash around your neighborhood in the middle of the day when other people can easily see you. You may just motivate others to do the same exact thing. If people ask you what you’re doing, tell them proudly. Reach out to Your Neighbors Don’t hesitate to reach out to neighbors who are friendly and cooperative. You may want to call or email them to ask them if they’d be interested in joining forces with you in your cleanup effort. They may not be able to resist taking part. If you make your cleanup project sound fun and interesting, it may encourage more and more people to team up with you. Post a Listing on the Internet Word gets around rapidly on the Internet. If you want to spread the word about your neighborhood cleanup effort, you can choose to post a free listing on a classified website. Look for a classified website that caters to your specific neighborhood. It’s critical to mention your community name in the header for the listing, too. If people learn about your project on the Internet, it may persuade them to reach out to you to lend a helping hand. Rent a Dumpster You can simplify your neighborhood garbage cleanup project by getting your hands on a sizable dumpster for disposal purposes. There are trustworthy companies that offer durable skips for rent. If you rent a roomy dumpster or two, you can get rid of significant levels of garbage. This can spare you a lot of frustration. Dumpsters can make doing away with trash straightforward and speedy. Trash and a gorgeous planet simply do not go hand in hand. If you want your neighborhood to be immaculate and lovely, then you need to prioritize cleanup work. You can make prioritizing a clean community a lot easier by getting help from other people who live near you. Remember, doing things in groups can be fun. It can also be a lot more efficient.

When designing buildings and homes, you need to take into consideration their impact to the environment. This means that each project needs to be carefully planned in order to reduce the amount of damage inflicted on the landscape. Here are some of the ways that structural engineering can be cleaner and greener overall. Invest in Design Efforts The size, shape, and position of the structure needs to be taken into account for how it fits within the landscape. This means that hills and other features need to be considered during the design process. Many engineers know that the number of windows that face the sunny side could impact the energy consumption of the structure. The type of insulation that is required may be different depending on the climate and the overall positioning of the building. You need to take all of these things into account when drafting the design. Use Reclaimed Products Recycled products are more eco-friendly than purchasing all new products. You can add many of these elements to give the building a more unique appearance. Many job sites will discard pieces of wood that are still usable for another project. The only thing that would be needed in this case is for you to find a place to store all of these leftover supplies. Discarding large quantities of usable items makes it more expensive for each project that is completed. Integrate Sustainability You can use products that release less chemicals to increase the sustainability of the structure. One example of this is in using less cement based products for the foundation. This can be done by using products that are more carbon-based. These could be recycled products or even aggregates that reduce the overall carbon footprint of a new structure. Designing and planning for these things in advance will make the project greener. Install Green Areas One of the biggest problem with the construction of newer buildings is that they tend to lack green space. This can present of problem when it comes to water drainage issues. If it’s left uncorrected, it can lead to erosion or even flooding concerns. Drainage basins and other green spaces can help to alleviate this problem. You can plan out courtyards and other unique green space features of the structure to save on energy consumption. The design portion of any structure is the most important part of making sure that the structure employs green methods. You can combine several elements to ensure that it’s as green and clean as possible.

If you’ve noticed that your walls are sounding hollow and have seen wings around your home, you might be dealing with termites. These notorious pests feed off cellulose, commonly found in wood. As a homeowner, you need to deal with these pests as soon as possible, but in a practical manner. These pest control tips will help you take care of termites in as a green of a manner as possible. Use Cardboard You can’t eliminate every termite this way, but you can certainly reduce their population in your home. Put out strips of cardboard and wait for them to come to it. Since cardboard contains their sought-after cellulose, it shouldn’t take long for them to fall for this trap. Don’t just throw them and the cardboard in the trash. Instead, burn it so that you know they’re disposed of. Use Solar Power Termites often cause damage without you seeing them. That’s because they are sunlight resistant. However, if you put your wood furniture outside in the sun, they’ll have no choice but to follow it. When exposed to all this heat, they’re going to fry. Just make sure you bring your furniture back instead before the elements damage it. Hire Pest Control Getting rid of termites all by yourself is a noble goal, but it’s not easily achievable. Even if you are able to kill 99% of them, that remaining 1% can quickly repopulate. That’s why an esteemed pest control company should be called. Look up exterminators, like EMCO Pest Control, in your area and see what sort of tactics they have for dealing with termites. It’s worth it to know that you and your home are safe. Freeze Them Termites might not like heat, but they don’t do much better with the cold. Find a large freezer to stick your wood furniture into for several days. When you take it out, the termites should be effectively frozen and unable to cause further damage to your home. Depending on how much wood furniture you have, this could take several trips to the freezer, so be patient. Dealing with termites can be stressful, but your stress will only increase if you ignore the problem. By tackling the problem head-on, you can stop them before they really cause significant damage to your home. By following these tips, you can make it so that termites are only a temporary setback.

A new HVAC system can be a major investment, but this is one upgrade worth considering. Depending on the local climate and age of your current system, a new system could potentially pay for itself in just four or five years. Here is a closer look at just a few of the benefits of modern HVAC systems. They Maintain Consistent Pressure Just because newer units are more powerful doesn’t mean that they draw extra energy. The ducts inside your home are designed to handle a certain amount of pressure, and any changes to that pressure will reduce the overall efficiency of the system. A modern HVAC system, like those available from Derek Sawyers Smart Energy Heating & Air, is going to keep the pressure inside your ducts extremely consistent. That means every room in your home will stay close to the same temperature. Older units tend to create pressure fluctuations that wreak havoc on energy consumption. More Accurate Thermostats Studies are now showing us that smart thermostats can save you up to $180 a year. In addition to being more accurate, they can also be controlled remotely. If you accidentally leave the system on during the day, you can quickly turn it off with a mobile app or web portal. Some of these thermostats also link to multiple sensors throughout the home to get a more accurate reading of the indoor temperature. Higher SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) Ratings Within the last decade, the SEER ratings of many HVAC systems have skyrocketed. A higher SEER rating basically means that the HVAC system produces more cool air and uses less electricity. HVAC systems that are more than 15 years usually have a SEER rating below six. Some of the leading HVAC systems that have come out in the last few years have a SEER rating of 14 or higher. Newer systems also produce more heat with less electricity during the coldest months of the year. Improved Fittings Older air conditioners, condensers, blowers, and furnaces can pull away from their fittings, and that will result in an incredible amount of heat transfer. When modern energy-efficient units are installed, all of the fittings will perfectly mate with one another. The HVAC contractor can also use products such as all-purpose caulking and weather-stripping to further insulate the system. Reducing the amount of air that escapes will result in lower energy bills. If you would like to save even more money, then you might want to consider improving your home’s insulation. Blow-in insulation, weather strips, and window dressings will all reduce the amount of heat transfer that takes place inside your home, and that could save you quite a bit every month.

When you are concerned about the environment, you will want to recycle scrap metal to reduce the waste that can damage the earth’s water, soil and air. Not only can you save the environment by reducing metal waste, but also, it is possible to earn cash from certain types of metals. Here is what you need to know about scrapping metal correctly to follow the recycling guidelines. Learn How to Disassemble Recyclable Materials It is important to understand how to take items apart to get to the metal, and you will need tools and protective equipment. Some types of objects are combined with plastic, glass or other materials, so you will need to remove screws, nails, and other fasteners to reach the metals. You will need an assortment of tools to take items apart properly, but you should also use caution by wearing thick gloves and goggles. Remember that anything that used electricity can carry a charge in the wires, so make sure to turn off the appliance or electronic so that the power drains from it before you attempt to break it down. Understand How to Sort Scrap Metal You should sort scrap metal into different types, and this can take practice. It is important to sort scrap metal into steel, aluminum, tin, brass, or iron. Place the different varieties of metal into plastic containers with lids to keep moisture and soil from reaching the items. If the metals are already dirty, then you will need to clean the items completely to remove glue or oil. Contact Your Local Scrap Metal Service Make sure to contact your local scrap metal service to learn about its special guidelines concerning recycling. The manager may have certain rules about the types of metals that are accepted along with the payment guidelines. You can also learn when various scrap metal services are open, and in some cases, the company will pick up large amounts of metal from your home or business so that you don’t need to transport it yourself. Keep Thieves Away from Your Scrap Metal If you are collecting a lot of scrap metal, then thieves may try to steal it from your property or vehicle. Some types of scrap metal are valuable, and if you have tons of it, then thieves will seek a way to steal it to sell it themselves. It is important to keep your scrap metal containers in a location where it isn’t easy for thieves to see or steal the items. The price of scrap metal fluctuates on a daily basis, so you can make the most money while protecting the environment by storing your containers of different metals until the price increases. However, the most important aspect of recycling scrap metal is that you are protecting the environment from additional waste.

Once upon a time in America, products were produced and discarded thoughtlessly. But slowly and gradually, people became aware of the metro tons of waste that these items were adding to the planet. Recycling uses a variety of processes to break down the materials in these products, so they can be used again, thereby using fewer of the planet’s resources and using less land for waste storage. Here are some items you probably didn’t know could be recycled for another use. Metal Items Various types of metal objects that are used around the home can be recycled into usable metal for a variety of industries. Not only aluminum cans can be recycled, but also appliances, radiators, old fencing, wire, stainless steel parts, and sheet iron can be brought to a local scrap metal services center for processing and resale. Reuse of metal products can help to reduce the impact on the environment for a cleaner and healthier planet. Phones If you’ve ever wondered what to do with that old phone, you can send it in to a number of organizations that help individuals, such as battered women, who need to have a ways to communicate for safety, but don’t need the latest phone model to do so. These agencies find a beneficial way to utilize the cellphones that would otherwise end up as plastic parts and toxic materials in landfills. Old CDs CDs were once all the rage in music enjoyment, but they are now obsolete. If you find a box of old CDs in your basement or closet, you may wonder what to do with these round discs of plastic that also contain contaminants like polycarbonate and aluminum. These items can be taken to an e-waste site in your community to be processed and recycled into usable products. Porcelain Fixtures Although you may not think about what happens to old porcelain toilets and sinks, the fact is, they have to go somewhere when they break or are replaced. Instead of filling up the local landfill, these items can be pulverized down for use in sidewalk and road materials. It’s a great way to re-use materials instead of have them hanging around as waste. Companies use a vast amount of the Earth’s resources to make the products we use every day. By recycling these products when they are no longer useful, we can preserve the resources future generations will need. If you are one of the many people concerned about the health of the planet and the use of natural resources, you can help to reduce the impact of human habitation on the Earth by recycling these common items.

Recycling your yard waste is good for the environment. You don’t want to send things to the landfill that still have value. Here are some ways that you can recycle and reuse your tree trimmings. Think about Composting Solutions A compost pile is a great way to create your own fertilizer. Yard waste, grass clipping, and food waste from the kitchen are perfect for the compost pile. There’s no need for you to spend money on fertilizers for your flower beds when you can make your own. There are several ways that you can start a compost pile. You can purchase a special composting bin, or you can cordon off an area of your yard for it. Just add your waste to this pile when it’s created. Create Bark Chips or Mulch A chipper is another way that you can create bark chips or mulch for your landscaping needs. If you don’t own one, consider using a tree services to help with your landscaping needs. Ask that they save the chips for you to use in your flower beds. This may cut down on some of the costs associated with the haul away of the debris. Put your tree trimmings to work for you so that you can save on having to purchase mulch. Use Branches Strategically Consider using those tree branches to create separations between your flower beds and the rest of your yard. You may be able to construct a little wall instead of purchasing blocks or some other type of divider. This is an industrious way to create something that’s completely unique for your yard. You can always add more branches as the old ones start to break down. Another solution is to cut the branches into chunks and use them as a part of your landscaping. Have an Outdoor Fire Pit Instead of purchasing wood to burn in your outdoor fire pit, consider your tree trimmings as a free source of firewood. You can stack up the extra trimmings in a dry place for later. This will give them a chance to dry out a little. Wet wood generates smoke when it’s burned. This may be what you’re looking for if you want to drive away those mosquitos from your outdoor gatherings. If not, let the wood dry out for a few weeks before trying to burn it. Recycling as much as possible is the way to go. Some cities have a program in which you can recycle your yard waste and have it turned into compost for others to use.

Electricity expenses can add up swiftly. That’s why the wisest people are the ones who go above and beyond to minimize their monthly electricity bills. If you want to be in that illustrious category, you should rely on natural light in your residential space as much as possible. Doing so can be terrific for your bank account. Get a Skylight Skylights can welcome significant amounts of natural lighting into homes. If you want to live in a home that’s full of gorgeous natural lighting, you need to purchase a skylight right away. Skylights are available in all kinds of styles. They can be pretty economical, too. People who are working with restricted space frequently gravitate to sun tunnel skylights. Tackle a Wall Painting Project Walls that are darker tend to soak up lighting from the outdoors. You can easily combat that by painting your home walls a much paler color. It can be especially effective to paint using a color that emulates sunlight. Try off-white or white. Remember, though, to avoid excessive yellowness in any off-white paint shade you select. The presence of yellow in dimmer environments can often contribute to a feeling of drabness. Install Custom Shutters Custom shutters empower people who want to be able to manage home lighting levels. If you want stunning natural light to be all around you, companies like The Louver Shop, know that the assistance of customized shutters can be invaluable. Look for shutters that are known for strong filtration of light. Custom shutters are good for a big reason that has nothing to do with natural lighting as well. If you get custom shutters, you can receive window treatments that reflect your personality and preferences to a T. Bring a Sizable Mirror into Your Home You can relish the pleasures of natural lighting in your home by investing in a sizable mirror. Mirrors have chic and fashionable appearances. They don’t usually cost much, either. If you’re looking to strengthen your home’s natural lighting access, buying and putting up a mirror can help you do so. Put a big mirror on a wall that looks toward windows. This can be a quick way to brighten up your home interior. Natural light can give you energy. It can make you feel like anything and everything is possible, too. Being in a dark setting all day long can take a toll on anyone. Don’t forget that employing natural light can even make your electricity bills more manageable.

Making your home more energy efficient should start with you examining your usage level. Once you’ve identified the areas that need improvement, you can start the process. Here are some ways that you can wire your home for maximum energy efficiency. Invest in Heating and Cooling Solutions Almost half of your home’s total energy consumption is a result of heating and cooling. Look at ways that you can reduce your total usage. The first place to start may be upgrading your older models to more energy efficient ones. Take a look at the efficiency of your ducting system. You may be wasting a lot of heat and air in unused spaces. Use drapes and other window covers to your advantage. Block out the sun during the summer and the cold air during the winter. Use your windows to heat and cool your home when you’re able. Purchase Energy Efficient Appliances Approximately a third of your energy usage comes from your appliances. If you replaced your old appliances with ones that used less energy, you could reduce your overall consumption. Install switches that will turn off the power to an appliance that isn’t in use. Consider doing this for items like a coffee maker, a dishwasher, or your stove. Check the door insulation on your refrigerator. This appliance shouldn’t need to run all of the time. Upgrade Your Wiring Older wires in your home may make the electricity that’s running through them less efficient. This is because that as the wires age, they become less safe and more prone to shorting out. Upgrade the electrical wiring in your home so that you can get the most out of your electrical system. You want to have peace of mind knowing that your wiring isn’t going to spark on electrical fire. Have more circuits installed so that they aren’t constantly tripping. Install Sensors There are lots of gadgets on the market that can help to make your home more energy efficient. Installing motion sensors and automatic shutoff switches to your lights is one way to reduce your usage. Many of these devices are hardwired into your current electrical system. There are also smart power strips that will cut off the power to items that aren’t in use. Consider using this for your portable charging devices. It’s unlikely that your cell phone and laptop need to be hooked up to the charger all the time. The home of the future is one in which technology is used to reduce your total consumption. Upgrade your home so that you can cash in on the maximum amount of energy efficiency available.

Construction can be a wasteful industry. There are so many different types of materials leftover on a job site. Here are some ways that you can recycle building materials to reduce the amount that is wasted. Sell Your Leftovers as Salvage What may seem like waste to you, can be useful for someone else. Consider setting those leftover pieces of lumber and other debris aside. There may be a salvage yard in your area that would want these items. Call around to see if you can get some money back on these supplies. Another solution is to put it out front and offer it to other people in the neighborhood. You won’t make any profit for it, but it can help to reduce the amount of waste that enters the landfill. Partner with a Construction Recycler Many areas have construction recycling companies. They may be willing to take your scraps off of your hands. This can save you some money on disposing of your waste. Some types of lumber may be able to be chipped up and turned into something else. Pairing with these recyclers is more cost effective than hauling everything to the dump. You may be able to get a cheaper rate for good quality scraps over just garbage. Use Construction Cleanup to Your Advantage Part of any construction site involves a lot of cleanup and preparation. You may want to hire a construction cleanup company, like Alliance Demolition Services Inc., so that you can focus on finishing your project. Ask them to sort out the materials so that items may be returned or sold as salvage. This may reduce the amount of construction waste that needs to go into the landfill. Construction cleanup also gets the site ready to look finished or to be landscaped. Reuse Waste for Future Projects If you have the space to store leftover materials, you may be able to use them for a future project. Lumber is one of the most versatile supplies leftover from any construction site. So much of this gets discarded. Separating out what it usable from what isn’t may save you some money on having to purchase similar items again. Just make sure that your storage yard provides some protection for your supplies so that they don’t get destroyed by the weather. It’s everyone’s responsibility to reduce the amount to waste that enters the landfill. You can do your part by being smart with your leftover building materials.

There’s no arguing that solar energy essentially is the future. Solar energy is becoming markedly more common among people everywhere. There are a number of distinctive solar energy devices that are quickly gaining traction lately, too. If you’re all about depending on the extraordinary power of the sun, you need to know about them. Solar Lanterns Solar devices are wonderful for many reasons. Solar lanterns aren’t an exception. These lanterns can come in handy for outdoorsy people who do a lot of camping. They can come in handy for individuals who simply require additional light in times of darkness as well. These lanterns can often give individuals access to eight full hours of high-quality power. Solar Window Chargers Solar window chargers can make convenient options for people who lead fast-paced daily lifestyles. They’re nice and compact and therefore easy to get from one spot to another. They remain intact any time you attach them to windows as well. If you’re constantly looking for useful mobile device charging options, these can be a great help. Solar-Powered Bluetooth Speakers These are a unique device that many are coming to find are incredibly useful. Solar-powered Bluetooth speakers are yet another big device option these days. If you’re looking to completely charge your Bluetooth speakers, you need to set aside roughly 10 hours. What can be more relaxing than waiting for your speakers to charge while basking in the warm glow of the sun? Solar Cookers People can now even bank on solar devices for all kinds of food preparation applications. If you want to depend on the sun to create mouthwatering meals for everyone, you can try using a solar cooker. Solar cookers are also frequently referred to as solar ovens. These tools employ sun energy for food cooking purposes, plain and simple. Why should you think about investing in devices that utilize solar energy? The reasons are plentiful. It doesn’t matter if you go for a solar cooker or for a solar-powered Bluetooth speaker. Solar energy can make your life better in many ways. This kind of energy, first and foremost, is both renewable and sustainable. Because of that, humans don’t have to think about potential depletion. Solar energy production doesn’t call for a lot of upkeep work. Solar energy is wonderfully quiet as well. It’s simple to see why so many people are fans of it now.

When you care about the environment, you will want to find renewable or eco-friendly sources of electricity. In order to save the earth’s fossil fuels, scientists are working hard to find renewable ways to have electricity. Not only are these newer sources of power renewable, but also, these methods create less pollution, helping to protect the earth’s water, soil and groundwater. Here are four types of environmentally friendly sources of electrical power. Geothermal Sources To have geothermal-sourced power, you must live in a region where it is possible to access the natural heat from the interior of the earth. There are three varieties of geothermal power, including flash steam plants, dry steam plants and binary cycle power plants. These types of electrical power are sustainable and clean. The source of the heat for geothermal power is collected from shallow or deeper areas of the planet, depending on the natural resources in the geographic area. Wind Power While driving along a country road, you may notice fields that have numerous small windmills. These specialized metal devices are made to create electricity as the wind turns the blades on the windmills. Also known as wind turbines, these machines are a simple way for communities to have a greener source of electrical power for their commercial and residential properties. The use of wind power can reduce the cost of your electricity, and in addition, it will protect the environment. Solar Panels Solar panels are one of the most popular sources of eco-friendly electricity, and you can find these devices in most communities. A solar panel works by collecting the energy from the sun’s heat and light to create electrical power. Most solar panels are placed on the roofs of homes or businesses, but there also other ways to have solar panels. If you choose this type of renewable energy source, then make sure to speak with a professional electrician to help you understand how to use the electricity from solar panels in an efficient way. That way, you will know more about how to be responsible with its use. Hydropower With hydropower, it is possible to produce electricity to reduce the dependency on the fossil-fuel sourced electricity that is polluting the earth. Hydropower is created from the power of the water flowing over dams and through the rivers. The flowing water turns the blades of specialized machines in power plants located near the rivers and dams to create energy that is converted into electrical power. This is a renewable and clean source of electricity that is available in many geographic regions. In addition to using sustainable sources of power to have electricity, you can conserve energy by using modern electronic devices and appliances that are made according to the newest standards. By using less electricity, you are protecting the earth from additional pollutants.

Even if you aren’t ready to spend a significant amount of money on renovations, there might be a handful of smaller upgrades that will make your home much more efficient. Carrying out a few of these projects could end up saving you hundreds of dollars a month on your electric, water, and gas bills. Here is a quick look at four steps that you can take to improve your home’s efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint. Install Low-Flow Fixtures In the average American home, showers account for just over 17 percent of all indoor water use. Installing low-flow showerheads throughout your home could reduce how much water your family uses by thousands of gallons a year. There are also hundreds of low-flow products for kitchen taps, bathroom faucets, toilets, and outdoor spigots. These devices are easy to install, affordable, and extremely effective. Switch to Tankless Water Heaters Traditional water heaters keep huge basins of water warm at all times, and that is very inefficient. If you have a larger family or use multiple fixtures at the same time, then it might take 15 minutes or longer for the fresh water to heat up once the basin has been emptied. Tankless water heaters use just a fraction of the electricity because they only heat up water as it is being used. Smaller tankless water heaters can be installed in strategic areas throughout a home or you can invest in a larger unit for the entire household. Update Your Windows Quite a bit of heat transfer takes place through a home’s windows, and that can wreak havoc on your energy bills. Modern energy-efficient windows are designed to prevent as much heat transfer as possible while still letting in plenty of sunlight. These windows also have a much tighter fit with the nearby walls to prevent unnecessary drafts. When combined with thick drapes, you might be able to reduce your energy bills during the coldest months of the year by a substantial amount. Upgrade Your HVAC System Working with a contractor who can help you optimize your HVAC system is another great way to reduce your carbon footprint. In most states, indoor temperature control accounts for around 48 percent of the average home’s energy consumption. Some companies, like Derek Sawyers Heating and Air Conditioning, know how important it is to maintain your HVAC system. In addition to upgrading your HVAC system as it gets older, one of these contractors can also help you carry out seasonal maintenance. This will keep your furnace and air conditioner running smoothly. One of the best ways to track your progress on this journey is to schedule regular home energy audits. An inspector can carefully look over your property to determine where improvements need to be made and what upgrades will have the greatest return on investment.

To prevent your energy bills from getting too out of control, it’s important to make your home more energy efficient. Below, we’ll be going over a few ways you can go “green” and start knocking down your energy bills year-round. Purchase Energy Star Products Buying Energy Star products can help you save a lot of money in the long run. These include stoves, AC units, refrigerators, and washers that are approved by the EPA. This is because Energy Star products require nearly 50 percent less energy than regular appliances. So, if you’re in need of a new appliance any time soon, you should consider investing in Energy Star products. Some of these products might be a little more expensive than their competitors, but they save you more money in the long run. Lower Your Lighting Use It’s a smart choice to keep your lights off if you’re not using them. Fortunately, in today’s modern world, you only need to flip a switch to do so. You should also consider investing in smart lightbulbs that can be controlled, via turned on and off, by your smartphone. However, you can also implement motion sensors in your home to turn the lights in your home on and off based on movements in your house. Other additional things like smart home automation can help you save even more energy. Being able to control every system in your home at the touch of a button on your smartphone makes this incredibly convenient. Maintain Your HVAC System You’d be surprised how much a regular tune-up on your HVAC system can do. Doing so can help save you money by avoiding costly repairs in the future. In fact, maintaining your HVAC system can help the heating and cooling in your home work much more efficiently. Some companies, such as Pacific Heating and Cooling, know that having an efficient HVAC system means a lot. Also, keep in mind that replacing your HVAC system can cost upwards of $8,000 if you don’t maintain it properly. This is a cost that is easily sidestepped, so take the time to always maintain yours. Keep Your Windows Sealed Keeping the windows in your home sealed can help lower your heating and electric bills year-round. If you notice a draft around your windows, we recommend weather-stripping your frames to help avoid heat from escaping. If you notice cracks or holes in your walls, we suggest using caulk to fill the spaces and prevent your home from developing drafts. Believe it or not, lowering the temperature of your water heater can end up saving you money in the long run. In fact, your heating water can make up 30 percent of your energy costs. Plus, lowering the temperature of your water heater by a few degrees can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Insulate Your Attic Properly insulating your attic can help prevent drafts in your home and lower the cost of your energy bills throughout the year. Although the cost to insulate your attic depends on the size of it, the cost is usually no more than $2,000. This may seem like a large investment at first, but your ROI will be larger than you think. Now that it’s the middle of winter, home energy bills are higher than ever. This is why it’s so important to take preventative measures to lower the overall cost of your energy bills. Hopefully, with the help of this guide, you can get a few ideas on starting to lower your utility bills and invest in Energy Start products to prevent your energy bills from getting out of hand.

As people become more aware of how important it is to protect the environment, many homeowners have become increasingly concerned with finding pest control methods that are eco-friendly. Along with protecting the environment, these methods are also much safer around pets, children, and wildlife, making them popular with more and more people. If you’re ready to go green with your pest control, here are some ways to do so that will be most beneficial to everyone. Microbial Insecticides Non-toxic to humans and animals, microbial insecticides don’t harm beneficial insects, but do target specific pests and cause them to get very sick. Especially beneficial if you have problems with various types of worms or centipedes, one of the most effective is known simply as BT. When used, pests are usually dead within two days. Insecticidal Soaps Able to be sprayed inside or outside a home, insecticidal soaps are very effective against almost all insects, including earwigs, aphids, bees, ants, and others. Non-toxic to humans as well as most animals, the soaps can be purchased at most garden centers. However, if you want to mix up your own version, mix one teaspoon of dish soap and one teaspoon of cooking oil in a one-quart spray bottle, then fill up the remainder with water. Insecticidal Oil A popular option for ridding a home of spiders, ants, cockroaches, and other pests, insecticidal oil kills the eggs and immature stages of insects, and is non-toxic to most beneficial insects. However, if you’ve got house plants or plants near your home, be careful when spraying, since the oil can cause some leaf damage. Bait Traps Used for everything from flies to mice, bait traps use non-toxic bait formulas to attract pests. Once inside, the pests are then trapped using special non-toxic glues, which are not harmful to pets or children. Available in many different styles, they can be set around on the floor near cabinets or doors to attract mice, or you can use free-standing or wall-mounted traps to capture flies or other flying insects. They are a great way to perform pest control on your own. Now available in designs that resemble pieces of furniture or other home accessories, bait traps are affordable and easy options to rid your home of pests in an eco-friendly fashion. Whether you use one or all of these pest control services in your home, the good news is that you’ll be able to get rid of any and all pests without worrying about harming the environment, your pets, or your kids.