Whenever someone buys a home, they cannot help but fantasize about what sort of life will unfold within its walls. Having children and watching them grow, thinking about the joys of the holidays, and all of life’s magic moments that will play out in the home. However, when people buy a home, they do not tend to focus on the things that can go horribly wrong and turn their dream homes into nightmares.

One of the most overlooked dangers that can exist in a home is the possibility of a carbon monoxide leak. A carbon monoxide leak is dangerous because it is difficult to know for certain if you have one. As the gas slowly poisons you and your family, the effects might be attributed to just being tired, having a “bug,” or even ghosts. In order to protect those that live in your home, you should call a plumber and have your home checked for leaks.

It seems harmless.  You pick up a bottle of water, and take a drink.  But the truth is, it is coming to be one of the more harmful practices that humans are engaging in.

Here’s the problem: while the use of bottle water is exploding (sales went from 3.3 billion bottles in 1997 to over 15 billion bottles in 2003), the rate of recycling those bottles is pathetically low.  Only about 12% of these types of bottles are recycled (since most bottles of water are consumed away from home), and in 2003 that meant 40 million bottles a day went into the trash or litter.

It’s bad enough that our landfills are filling up with non-biodegradable plastic, but there is another problem.  Since plastic bottles are made with petroleum, the more we use them, the more petroleum we use up.  And that, of course, is a finite resource.

“But bottled water is purer and tastes better,” many say.  And yet, numerous studies and taste tests have exposed this as a myth.  The truth is that most tap water is as pure, if not purer, than most bottled water.  In fact, up to 40% of bottled water started life as, well, tap water.

So what’s a health-conscious person to do?  We think water filters are the answer, and there are many effective products to choose from depending on your needs and budget.

Reverse osmosis filter systems are great, and they can be installed under your sink,  above counter, or even attached to your refrigerator for clean, fresh ice cubes if you have an icemaker.  There are faucet-mounted filters that are very reasonable.  And if you have serious water quality problems, you may want to look into a whole house water filter system.

Filtered water is healthy, it helps to save the environment…and it will save you the cost of buying those expensive bottles.

So maybe you can’t afford to replace all your windows right now, or purchase a new, super efficient heating system. But until you do, there are still some simple things you can do to save energy. And every little bit helps!

Avoiding Thermostatic Shock. You can reduce those shocking heating bills by simply turning down your thermostat a few degrees during the day when no one is in the home. Every degree you lower your thermostat could save you about 3% on your monthly heating bill. So if you turn it down a mere three degrees, you’ll save about 9-10% on your heating bill. (And remember, if you leave your thermostat turned too high, you’re going to be shocked by high bills!)

Microwave for “Unconventional” Savings.  Remember, using a microwave to cook meals uses about half the energy of a conventional oven. So here is your opportunity to be “unconventional” once in a while and save some money doing it.

Unsoil Your Fridge Coils. Vacuum the coils on the back of your refrigerator at least every three months. When dirt builds up on these coils, the refrigerator has to work harder to keep contents cool, so it uses more energy.

Laundry Lessons that Lessen Energy Waste. Of course, washing clothes in cold water can also save on energy. And here’s another laundry tip: put a dry towel in the dryer with each load of wet clothes. The towel will absorb dampness and reduce drying time, saving energy and money.

We often get asked, “What can we do to lower our heating bills and make our home more energy efficient?”

Well, you’re probably already familiar with the basics, such as making sure you have good insulation, good quality windows, and that all gaps and joints are sealed. Taking measures like these can actually reduce the costs of heating your home by up to 20%!

But there are other benefits as well. You’ll also reduce drafts and maintain more even room temperatures, instead of having hot and cold spots in your house. Plus, you’ll control the moisture in the home, and reduce mold and mildew, which will extend the life of your home’s building materials and possibly help reduce allergic problems.

So it’s important to keep in mind the basics of home heating efficiency:

Windows. A lot of heat is lost through windows. You can help prevent some of this by installing weather stripping for moveable joints and caulk for non-moving parts, to stop or reduce air leakage.  You can also install a window kit to the inside of your windows, which will help keep cold air out and warm air in.  (Ask your hardware store about window kits.)  And if your windows are old, you may want to consider installing new, more energy-efficient windows.

Insulation.  Check and make sure your home is well insulated, and that all gaps and holes where air can leak through are sealed.  You may need to hire a professional contractor who will use a blower door test or other methods to determine where air may be leaking. If you have a crawl space, make sure that the insulation inside it is dry. When insulation gets wet, this reduces its effectiveness significantly.

Ductwork. Check out your ductwork to see if you can detect any leakage. If you do feel air leaking at the joints, you can use silver metal duct tape to seal them. This alone could save up to 10% off your heating costs.