WAYS TO SAVE MONEY BY USING GREEN ENERGY

With money being so hard to come by, it’s always a good idea to employ ways that help lower the monthly bills. Probably the biggest bill to pay is electricity, so any tips we can use to save on consumption will go a long way.

Using green energy is one of the best ways to lower your monthly power bill. It takes planning, however, to be able to use green energy properly. Before you think of installing those solar panels and wind turbines, you must first check for the top ways to save money when using green energy at your home. Remember that even if you install solar panels, if your house is not green-friendly, 

energy goes to waste. Wasted green energy is counter-productive and quite ironic.

Here are some of the first few things you must check in your home to make sure you do not waste anything.

Check all doors and windows. When looking into using solar panel, you have to remember one general rule – draft is your enemy. Whatever season it is, having a drafty house is not good. In the colder months, draft lets cold air in, while during summer, draft releases cooled air outdoors. Drafts also increase humidity, which takes more green energy to counteract. Check all your windows and make sure the edges and sills are well-sealed, and don’t have any leaks that may be the entry point of any draft. Also, check your doors, above, at the sides and below – install caulks and replace the compressed and cracked ones. Once you do all of these, your doors and windows are now green-friendly and ready.

Appliances. The general rule for energy-efficiency in appliances is – use the type and size of appliances fitted for your need. Don’t buy huge refs and freezers just because you’ll never know when you’d need the extra space in your fridge. Using appliances which are not ample for your needs not only wastes regular electricity, it also defeats the purpose of going green in your home. 

Buy the proper size – whether it be a refrigerator, freezer, washing machine, dryer or air conditioner.

Heating and cooling. One of the biggest energy monsters in the home are your cooling and heating devices. The hard truth is – you must replace all your outdated systems with energy-efficient ones. Newer models of heaters and air-conditioners have built-in systems that actually help the user save on power. Some even have sensors that turn on and off depending on the detected need for either cooling or heating. This is very good since the systems turns off when it is not needed, therefore not using electricity when it is not necessary. To really go green however, the best solution is to open your windows and actually letting the cool breeze in, or going out to your yard to enjoy sunshine when you need it. This is simple, but this is the true way to go green.

When building a home, think energy efficient. Building a solar panel-friendly home takes preparation. You build it in, and make huge adjustments. If you have a house constructed with green in mind, it would be advisable to have open floor plans, in order to make good use of the green energy – and not have it confined in one space or room only.  Open spaces encourage the flow of air, therefore decreasing the amount of energy to be used to either cool down or heat up a room.

It admittedly costs money to initially go green, but the effects are well worth it. Your investment will eventually result to huge savings in the future. 

TIPS TO USE PRIOR TO HOUSE SELLING

A good house most probably holds very great memories, which is why it sometimes gets emotionally and physically difficult to prepare one’s self for selling it in the market. But as life goes on, you may have to move – perhaps to a bigger home, or to a place nearer your area of work. 

Aside from the much-needed emotional detachment, It takes a lot of physical preparation to get a house ready for its next owner.

Here are a few tips that will help make your house stand out from all the other houses out in the very crowded real estate market.

Exert extra effort in making the facade beautiful. To a house-hunter viewing houses from the comfort of his car, the façade is key. It tells of how well-maintained a house is, and how meticulously clean the property is. Let’s face it, even when looking at a woman, the first thing you pay attention to is appearance – then, everything else follows. Same goes for houses – the more beautiful the front lawn, driveway and entrance, the more enticing it becomes. The façade is what people will see – and not the interior, so pay extra effort in keeping it pretty. Prune the wild hedges, trim the tree branches, replace dried up plants or grass, and don’t forget to scrub clean the driveway and porch. Rake the leaves, and keep all the personal items off the front lawn. If there are faucets, makes sure they all work properly, and are not leaking. If you have a fence or gate, ensure that it is in tip-top shape, and is actually capable of keeping off intruders  or the neighbour’s dog. If the window sills or the front door need repainting, then grab a can of paint and cover all cosmetic flaws. Spray wash the exterior to keep it looking (almost) brand new. Keeping the façade nice is important because it can make or break the deal. No one wants to move into a home that looks more beat up than their old one.

Make the interior sparkle. Now that you have succeeded in getting them inside the door, impress them on the inside as well. If you are staging your house – that means that you are still living in the house but have already put it up for sale - then you will have constant viewers coming in. Make sure the house is spic and span! Wash all windows – inside and out. Doing this helps the potential buyer notice the great view outside. Remove cobwebs! Yikes, this is a major turn off. Clean all tubs, showers, bathrooms and sinks. The bathroom is a really private area of the house which must be sparkling and germ-free. Scrub nooks and crannies, and repair faucets or shower leaks. In the main house, be sure to wax the floor (if they’re hardwood or vinyl) or vacuum the carpet. Dust all your furniture, and bring out all your “for show” towels, bed linen, and couch covers. Another thing you must never forget – clean out the refrigerator and cupboards. Viewers are most often curious (or nosey?), and like looking into the private world of the homeowners. Remember, a dirty dingy home is a sure sign that the house is not well cared for. An unkempt home almost always means that the house is in poor condition. Dust, mold, dirt and grime quickly deteriorate a house’ quality.

Make minor repairs. No one wants to buy a house that obviously needs repairs – well, not unless you’re selling it for a quarter of its perceived market value. It’s frustrating to move into a new house, then find the closet hinges loose, doorknobs defective , lights busted, and plumbing inefficient. Repair, or have a handyman come over and make the minor repairs on all the things that need to be fixed. Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer. You have high hopes for your newly-purchased house, plunked in all your savings into it, bought new furniture in the style and colour you want, then took one shower, and voila -  the bathroom is flooded!  Or on a hot day, you discover the windows can’t be opened, or on a rainy night, you find your bed soaking in rainwater because of a leaky roof. Avoid being the recipient of a complaint or a possible court subpoena – small repairs go a long way. It shows you care for its new owner, and hope that she, too, will establish a lot of good memories in the home that was once yours.

Showing care in selling your home not only increases your chances of doubling your initial purchase price, it also shows your ideals as a person. When you care about your future buyers, you are perceived as trustworthy and reliable, and not as some greedy seller just out to get rid of his unwanted property.

TIPS AN ELECTRICIAN WILL TELL YOU

You will probably read a whole lot of articles about electrical tips from all sorts of authorities, but the ones you really need are the ones from electricians themselves. Electricians are called to work on a variety of jobs, so they know which problems are the most common symptoms of trouble. They know how to prevent, fix and restore electrical wiring to its top shape. They are the experts, so here are a few tips from them that will guide everyone BEFORE a real problem escalates.

Before everything, there must be one main thing that must be pointed out: fixed wiring is the second most common cause of electrical house fires – next to light bulbs and lighting fixtures. The sad thing about it, problems of its nature are highly preventable –provided you seek the help of qualified electricians. Wiring problems usually are undetectable until the problems are already manifesting, since wiring is hidden, and not within plain view. There are some warning signs, though.

Observe switches and outlets. Switches and outlets must NEVER emit a buzzing of hissing sound. Cover plates must NEVER feel hot. If they are, this is an indication that the things plugged into it are defective – like an appliance, for example, or there is a defect inside the outlet itself. If you notice slight charring of any outlet, call your electrician and have them checked and replaced. It’s normal for switches to be warm, but if they’re burning hot - quick, call the experts in, and DON’T do it yourself.

Be wary of stinging and buzzing appliances. Have you ever touched the sides of a bread toaster and get “mildly electrocuted?” This is another cause for alarm. Unplug the toaster and have it checked by a certified electrician – not just a do-it-all guy.

Burning smell? No burning odor or the smell of burning plastic is ever a safe thing whenever wiring is concerned. If there is no logical explanation for it, assume that it is of an electrical origin, so call and schedule an inspection.

Exposed wiring – BAD! Inspect your electrical cords for nips (made by small animals and some pets) or cuts. These are highly dangerous, and may again be cause for electrocution or sparking, which lead to house fires.

Use extension cords to a minimum. Extension cords are not permanent or long-time solutions for the lack of proper wall sockets. Some multiple extension boards, especially those that enable the plugging of 4 or more plugs, are fire traps. If the total wattage plugged in exceeds the maximum voltage a board can take, then that’s an electrical fire waiting to happen. Not only that, all other appliances plugged into an extension board that explodes due to wrong usage will also be ruined. Better just have an electrician install more sockets fit for your power needs.

3 HOME IMPROVEMENT TIPS

A proven reality in owning a home is that the more you put off necessary repairs, the more costly it will get in order to get it fixed. Postponing the repair of that leaky roof, or that broken door will hasten the entire breakdown process. In other words, a tiny hole in the roofing will quickly develop into a big unmanageable waterfall unless you fix the problem at its onset.

This is also true for home maintenance – when you think you save money by doing it once in 5 years instead of 2, the costs to get all the small details fixed escalates to more than double. This is the first tip in improving your home – don’t postpone what is necessary. Replace what needs to be replaced; sacrifice a little now to eventually save big time bucks. Here are some more tips in home improvement:

The truth is, you have to spend money to save money. Start by replacing old appliances. Buying a new refrigerator will save you money on electricity. Why, because the motor of an old ref is outdated, using systems that are not energy-efficient. The newer, slick models are built in with motors that not only use  up less power – they also cool food faster, thus not making it necessary for the motor to be on  high gear for the majority of the day. It may be expensive to have it replaced, but when you compute the total money saved, after a few months, your initial investment is quickly re-covered.

Same principle applies to heating and air conditioning – these small sacrifices not only improve your home, they also improve the quality of your life.

Update your home. By update, we mean renovate, re-model to fit the current times. If you want the value of your home to escalate, the best way to do it is to have it renovated so that the look becomes current – not retro. Well, unless you’re trying to preserve the antiquity of your home (like those castles with moats reminiscent of the 17^th century), trying to sell a 70’s style home with green jalousies and floor-to-ceiling psychedelic wallpaper to a young couple may not be easy. The look of the current time is minimalist, with clean lines.

Nobody young and moneyed wants to buy a house with gargoyles along the driveway. Of course all of my examples are a tad exaggerated, but you do get the point – the more modern, efficient, current and fresh-looking a house is, the higher the re-sale value. Newly renovated homes are fitted with new furniture and fixtures which will very well last for a decade or two, with proper upkeep. If you can’t afford to update the look of your entire home, start with your kitchen – it’s the part of the house that gets old the fastest, plus a house with a beautiful and new kitchen is attractive to most house-hunters.

Two rooms to add if you want to improve your home – a new bathroom, and a new living or lounge area. What home does not need a new bathroom? Well unless you have 5 bathrooms but only 3 bedrooms (like we do), having an extra bath is practical, and quite a come-on. No matter how nice your house is, if people living in it need to take a number to be able to take a shower, then living in such a house becomes a disadvantage. Imagine all the time you will save by having an extra bath?

Another significant improvement is the addition of a lounge or living area. This makes a house more livable, and more conducive to stay-in nights. An extra lounge area can also serve as a temporary emergency guest room – just put in usable and comfortable sofa beds instead of the traditional bulky sofas.

Small pocket-type sections in your house allow occupants of different age ranges and interests some comfortable bonding time. The television and movie watchers may stay in lounge area 1, and the board-game enthusiasts in lounge area 2, and online gaming and noisy teenagers can have lounge area 3 to themselves. The whole point is – having several rooms opens the house to more opportunities – opportunities which are attractive even to a future buyer - should you ever decide to sell your old home to move into your newer mansion.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE A GOOD ELECTRICIAN

When faced with the dilemma of searching for an electrician, it pays to practice good judgment, careful thinking, and research. Sure, electricians are easy to find, but finding a good and competent electrician is no easy task.

It’s not just a matter of whether he has an impressive clientele list, or if he has rock-hard muscles that make him appear strong enough for the job. Great electricians are determined by their attitude and work ethics. Finding one without one of these two traits will not only pose a threat to your wallet, they may give you headaches because of poor quality of work. So what are the three main things to look for when searching for a good electrician?

Look for a professional who is responsible enough to complete a project within your budget.  Unless you are a millionaire, any normal person would be prudent enough to allot a certain reasonable budget for any service he wishes to avail of. A professional and licensed electrician respects a client’s financial constraints, though. He will assess the job, list down all the materials and labor needed, and present a final budget before he starts on any job. And when it is approved by the client, he must do everything to stick to the budget by all means.

The main difference between a professional electrician and a mediocre one is that most professionals shoulder extra expenses that are a result of his wrong budget proposal. A mediocre one, however, will call the customer after a period of time, to tell him that “so and so need to be replaced, this and that turned out to be faulty and must therefore be repaired”, etc. In short, not enough careful analysis and checking went into the estimate on the job that needed to be done, and therefore, too many incidental and surprise expenses prop up – all out of the budget. Migraine-worth moment? It sure is! Of course, this also means that if you are looking for excellent service, it does not pay to be cheap.

Excellent work is work that is way above what is expected. This entails using the best materials, the most number of workers, and more man hours spent to pay attention to details – all of which cost extra money. But for something like electrical work which is delicate and so vital to the safety of your home and/or building, a few more dollars spent on better quality of work pays off well.

A good electrician finishes the job efficiently – and on time. There is nothing more irritating than being promised one thing, but being delivered another. A good electrician knows how to keep his promises and stick to his schedule. It is inconvenient to have workers shuffling around the house as you go about your daily chores. But if you need their services, then you just have no choice. But to have them around longer than promised – that becomes extremely inconvenient, and speaks tons about a tradesman’s inability to stick to a schedule. This simple respect a good electrician shows for the personal time of his client shows that he is indeed professional, and that he values the details of the contract he signed. Seemingly small thing, but really vital to one’s image as man with good work ethics.

Another thing expected of him – to guarantee his work, but see to it that he does not have to come back over and over to repair or tweak a poor job. When an electrician does not give quality work, there will be a constant need for him to re-do or repair his work – and that’s not good! The less a client to use an electrician’s guarantee on service, the better. This means that the trades man knows exactly what he’s doing and his solutions are spot-on – no reworking necessary. This is another way to show not only his expertise, but his respect, once again, for his client’s time.

A good electrician does not say no to a job, no matter how small-scale it is. Now how arrogant is that? No good electrician must be too good to accept small jobs needed around the building or house – especially if he will be paid well for it. Not all electricians are hired for long-term and big-time projects – they still have lull periods in between huge jobs.

These small residence-oriented jobs must not be overlooked, because they also keep food on the table. Besides, payment for small jobs is much faster than that of large-scale projects. Work now, then get paid right after. Also, these small jobs enable an electrician to widen his network of clients. He has the opportunity to bond with people in his community – and in doing so, the chances of him being referred for other bigger jobs become greater. No job is too small – no customer is too unimportant to be ignored – especially if you value your reputation as a good electrician.

3 ENERGY SAVING TIPS FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

Huge tall commercial buildings are energy drainers. Can you imagine how much electricity one entire building alone consumes, should all of the consumption be consolidated into one sole bill? Humongous, most probably.

Needless to say, if everyone occupying one part of a building does his own share in conserving energy, everything will add up to huge bucks – thus saving the environment from all the needless toxic fumes necessary in producing electricity.

Below are some ways on how building can help save energy. Remember, one watt saved matters a lot.

Control lighting. Admittedly, it’s cool to see a building so-well lit, that it becomes the source of light for the entire block. A well-lit building is seen from miles and miles away, and may stand out from every other building in the area. But is it really necessary that so much lighting be used even when it’s not needed? To save the environment, turn off all the unused lights. If you leave a room, turn off the room light. If you’re wary about having a dark unlit building, why not install motion-activated lights? This way, when the sensors see that no one is in a room, it automatically shuts down the bulbs and chandeliers.

You can also install dimmers – light switches which actually allow the user to adjust the wattage use based on need. Also use fluorescent lights instead of bulbs – they produce better lighting as compared to bulbs, thus decreasing the need to turn on more lights to compensate for the seeming darkness. If building construction allows it, undrawn the drapes, shades or curtains. Let in more natural lighting that actually does not use electricity.

Move the air. Unless you have a central air-conditioning system, turn off air-conditioners at areas where they are not being used. Turn down the thermostat, too. The less cool your cooling system is, the less power you consume. If you plan to leave the office at 5PM, then turn off the aircon at 4:30PM. All the contained cool air is enough to get you through the next 30 last minutes of your work day. Some companies also use electric fans to move the air. If some parts of your office are colder than others, don’t run to the building administrator and demand that more air vents be installed. Instead, turn on a few electric fans to distribute coolness. You end up conserving a load of power.

Turn off all office equipment when unused. This may seem like a small thing, but try to imagine 300 offices occupying one building and then turning off all equipment when unused – then this amounts to a lot! When conserving electricity, there’s always one rule – “Every little bit helps.” There’s no sense in keeping all 50 computer monitors turned on when only 30 report for work. When there is only one person in one huge room, then ask this person to use the computer beside a few other office mates.

Put computers, plasma monitors on sleep mode or standby mode, and maybe better – turn them off completely when they are not being used. When you leave the office, turn down the refrigerator thermostat, turn off the water cooler or coffee maker. Unless you plan on entertaining ghosts, you have no use for them. You not only save on electricity, you may even save your office or entire building from catching fire in case a fuse or connection explodes due to overuse.

Small things magnified translates to big things – do every bit of conservation, for the good of the planet.

CAUSES OF FAULTY WIRING

The most common cause of fires in houses and buildings are faulty wiring. These maybe the result of do-it-yourself wiring installment, or the work of an inexperienced and unlicensed electrician.

Often times, our desire to save on professional fees leads to problems which have permanent repercussions – and you and your family are lucky if you only lose property. Dozens of people lose their lives and the lives of pets and other loved ones. This is termed as false economy – in your determination to save, you end up losing it all.

So what are the most common causes of faulty wiring?

Really old and outdated wiring system.  Before you go out and purchase a house, make sure you look behind walls to check if the wiring of your  new house is a death trap. Especially when purchasing  a decades-old house,  wiring can be damaged by age, by past floods, a lightning strike which occurred 20 years ago, and gnawing of mice. It’s going to be difficult to actually look behind walls, but to save your lives and to save on needless burrowing into walls, have a professional electrician to check on everything. As with water pipes, wires are also subject to wear and tear. Remember that the electrical systems back in the day are not as advanced and efficient as the ones we now have. Replace those fuse-type boxes with a reall efficient circuit breaker, so that when a part of the house wiring short circuits, you can localize the switching off of power. Replace old wires if needed.

Overloaded circuits. It’s logical – ideally, the rule is “one plug per outlet” – especially if you’re plugging in a high voltage using appliance (like air conditioning, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, and electric stove. Using an extension should be a temporary solution, not a permanent one. And when choosing extensions. Choose one that’s fitted for the wattage that’s going to be plugged into it.  Never ever use octopus plugs – these are those square devices which you plug into one socket, but have several outlets at the sides, enabling the plugging of 4 or more appliances. This is a sure-fire way to overload y our circuit and thus slowly burn into the wiring.

Unexplainable dimming lights or fuses exploding. If you notice these symptoms, most probably, you have faulty wiring. This can be an offshoot of numbers 1 and 2 (overloaded circuits and outdated wiring system). Either you have plugged in too many appliances into a socket, with no regard for the maximum wattage per socket, or your wires are old and crunchy (disintegrating). Hire a good contractor to replace and or check for solutions.

HOW TO FIND A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN

With the rising cost of building one’s own house, one can never afford to risk letting their investment go up in flames. This means that homeowners should always check on their house’ electrical connections – ensuring that everything is always in excellent condition.  

Where matters of electricity is concerned, one can never be too stingy, so never try to do-it-yourself! If you plug in the wrong wire into the wrong socket, you just may find yourself in the hospital – with your eyebrows, fingers and toes singed – and your heart re-jolted just to get it pumping again.

This is when hiring a good and professional electrician becomes necessary. So how do you get one? Where should you look? Who shall you ask?

The internet. A professional electrician will most probably have his own website (especially if he has a business), or at least have his own Facebook page. Try entering the keywords “electrician” followed by your general area of residence, and presto, a search page will appear, and you can take your pick. Tip though – be sure to specify what type of electrical assistance you need (electronics, building, computer, general household), as electricians should have a field of expertise. Beware of the “all-around electrician” – especially if you are having major repairs made. A master of none would mean that this person “knows a little of everything,” thus giving you acceptable but not excellent solutions.

The yellow pages. A Community Business Directory can also give you a host of options, with the added benefit of a narrowed-down list of choices in your area. Especially helpful when already devoid of electricity (due to a tripped electrical connection), a non-internet-based list of good professional electricians will come in handy. Call the numbers listed, all of them if you are patient enough, and ask them is your concern is something they specialize in.

Referrals. Probably the best source of good electricians, a trusted neighbor or office co-worker’s referral is almost like a stamp of approval – you “almost” have verbal proof of their excellent past work. Of course unless you asked your arch- enemy, no acquaintance will refer a bad electrician to you unless they themselves have tried availing of his past services. Now that  you have the advantage of speaking with a past customer, you may also get a general idea about another thing to consider when hiring a professional electrician, which is costing. Ask if rates are reasonable. Ask also about quality of work and guarantee on a completed job. Inquire about materials used – if they are high-grade and reliable, or just cheap alternatives.

Ask building/home contractors – they would have an awesome list. One of the best people to ask are your contractor-friends. Who else would know about the best quality of work other than the ones who hire them most often? Again, ask for the ones who are in your area – as they are easier to contact in case another emergency takes place.

Now there are the ones to avoid:

Electricians who go door-to-door. Funny? Not so much. Now what would prod any professional electrician to desperately seek work by going door to door? Poor work; no referrals; ineffectiveness; a bad record. Beware of the last one (bad record) the most, though. Remember that you would need to invite an electrician into your home. Make sure he is trustworthy, and not the type who would pocket precious stuff lying comfortably around the house, like small gadgets, money, jewelry and even your silverware. Don’t laugh, because this is a reality. An electrician will have access into your home – assign someone to be with him at all times. Another tip – beware of the electrician who uses his obscure celphone camera to take pictures of your home. These are proven ways scrupulous individuals can case your home. Be vigilant!

Those who hand out flyers at the street corner. Although flyering is one inexpensive way to market a business offline, there’s also no way you can check the credentials of the electrician you are hiring. You may hire someone who does not charge much, but may very well end up wasting money, because of the numerous times the cheap labor had to be repaired… or because the materials used were low quality.

In hiring a professional electrician, ask for the following always:

•      Certification / electrician’s license
•          Insurance
•          Warranty on service
•          Experience
•          Education
•          References

These things separate the professional electrician from the average all-around neighbourhood handyman.

3 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR HOME

With the rising cost of real estate, it pays to always keep your home well-maintained. Maintenance not only delays the deterioration of your house, it can actually help make it more valuable in the market. With a few simple ways that cost almost nothing, you can convert your humble abode into a potentially expensive-looking investment.

Here are some ways easy ways to do it.

FIX LEAKS. All too often, we have seen how these nasty leaks eat away at the structural integrity of a house. Small water pipe leaks cause rusting and corrosion of metals. Especially when the climate in your area is humid, leaks also cause mold to form. Remember that a water leak, when left unfixed, causes a bigger damage on the main pipes. The constant exposure to moisture seeps through cracks and crevices, causing the parts of the house above the hidden water pipes to be compromised. I’ve seen huge cracks on the concrete appear right above a leaky pipe. Once this happens, the entire stretch of a building over the pipe has to be dug in order to repair or replace the defective pipe. This does not only prove to be costly, it also makes your walls and floors look ugly.

Another type of leak that needs immediate fixing are leaky roofs. How do you tell if you have a leaky roof? Unless you have buckets strategically positioned all over your house to catch rain, the best way to see is to stare at your ceiling, and observe if there are brown water spots at certain points. These brown spots will not appear if there is no moisture source – and usually, the moisture source is a small leak on a wall, crevice, corner, gutter or roof. The longer you procrastinate over fixing these leaks, the bigger the leaks get, and the bigger the damage on your house. Moisture attracts mold, which can cause respiratory and skin illnesses, and in some cases, death. Leaks also cause a musty smell – making your house smell like an old dilapidated house. Roof leaks also cause the ruin of your floors (especially if they’re wood) and some furniture and fixtures. Sometimes, the solution is so simple, like a simple application of roof putty or one small welding job – and your leak is fixed.

Wash your windows. Windows get naturally filthy over time. Why not, when one side is at the exterior., and the other is inside your house? If you invested in a house with a nice view, it makes perfect sense to clean your windows at least once a week. This way, your view is not inhibited by dirt and water stains. If you have screens, take them down and clean them. You can actually tell how clean a homeowner really is by the condition of her house windows. Only a really tidy person will take pains in scrubbing each square inch of the hard-to-clean windows. If your windows, on the other hand, are too difficult to maintain, then it’s time to replace them with more maintenance-free windows, like the sliding type, instead of jalousies. Think of all the added convenience of wiping easy-to-maintain windows!

PAMPER PLANTS. The added beauty and freshness well-maintained plants bring cannot be discounted in any home. Have you noticed some beautiful homes whose facades are muddled by unruly plants? Grooming your shrubs takes as much love and care as it would to raise a pet. However, all your patience and love pays off well eventually, because plants bring much freshness and appeal to your home. Landscaping is also no joke – it takes big bucks. Don’t throw away your investment by letting your beautiful greenery turn into an unruly forest. Uncontrollable plants are also breeding grounds of bugs and disease-bearing insects. When you fail to maintain your plants, you not only make your home less attractive, you also cause health threats to you and your neighbors. If you can’t be responsible, then dig up all your plants and apply concrete over the soil. This is not the ultimate option, but it’s definitely better than keeping greenery that you cannot be a responsible owner to.

Having a beautiful home entails hard work and sacrifice. Eventually all of your efforts will be rewarded, as a well-maintained home can be resold for major bucks. Do your homework and happily perform your household chores – you won’t regret it.

3 WAYS TO LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL

With the rising cost of living, it always pays to employ all ways to lower your monthly electric bill. Sometimes, you turn off lights when not needed, use smaller-screen televisions, or use the electric iron less often, and yet you still find your electric bill going up.

Below are some more reasons why your bill might be rising. It will be very prudent to keep a constant watch on these energy–drainers, because they may be the culprits bleeding you dry.

Put your computer to sleep when not in use. It is not really realistic to turn off your computer on to make a tweet, then to turn it off for a few minutes, then on again for a Facebook update. But keeping it on for long periods of non-use really takes a toll on your power bill. To save on consumption, if you have a desktop, turn off the monitor when the computer is not being used for more than 20 minutes. Newer, more sleek laptops and desktops are now equipped with a “sleep” button – literally putting your power on sleep, but keeping all programs ready for the next time you reactivate it. Some laptops may also be adjusted so that it automatically turns off (even without pushing any buttons) if you mindlessly leave it open and unused for long periods of time. Laptops also use considerably lower amounts of electricity as compared to the more traditional desktops.

Replace your old air-conditioner. If you think you’re saving money by hanging on to that aircon unit your mum handed down to you, then you are driven by false economy. Sure, it’s costly to buy a new one, but keeping your rickety 80’s-90’s era unit will end up eating at your household budget – in repairs, cleaning, and power consumption. And no matter how well maintained it is, it is still old and outdated, and very soon, it will die a natural death. So much for savings. Air-conditioning is one of the main reasons for power consumption, thus any unit older than 10 years consumes 30% more than its newer energy-efficient versions. When seeking a replacement, choose one with a high seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). Also, it would be good to buy a unit specifically apt for the area that needs to be cooled. If you buy a high horsepower unit, you waste so much more electricity, plus people in that area will feel so unusually cold, you’ll be forced to put it on fan, and therefore wasting even more electricity.

Keep your refrigerator well-maintained. A good working ref does not have to be on high all the time to keep all its contents cold. The recommended temperature range should be between 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you notice that it takes a much higher temp to keep your food fresh, then check if the gaskets (those rubber things in between the fridge door and the fridge body) are closing properly. If not, have them replaced. Also, it’s no longer wise to use a refrigerator  that needs to be defrosted. If you have one, though, make sure you defrost them at least 3 times a month. Those thick chunks of ice hinder the effectiveness of the ref’s functions, thus necessitating you to put the temp on high. 

3 EASY HOME IMPROVEMENT TIPS

Given the choice, homeowners want to improve the appearance of their houses as often as they can. If you have a lot of money, this is no problem, but to a financially-challenged person who used up all extra funds to purchase their beautiful house, the task of remodeling or revving up its look from time to time may prove to be nearly impossible.

But there are simple ways to make do with what you have. Sometimes, there are things around the house, hidden maybe in the attic, basement or some obscure corner of some small room which can actually spruce up the look of your home.

MIRRORS. If you have a small area which you would want to appear bigger, add a mirror. It may be an unnecessary mirror hanging behind your daughter’s door which she never uses, or that old dusty one leaning against the garage wall. Dust if off, clean it up with vinegar mixed with mild soap to remove the smudges, then wipe clean with a damp old newspaper. Yes, a newspaper. 

Somehow, the ink and the newsprint combination does wonders for keeping any form of glass clean (this, by the way, works well on your car’s windshield and windows too). If you want the room to appear bigger, hang the mirror opposite a window, because the reflection of light will not only make the area appear bigger, it helps add extra light to brighten up a small space.

PILLOWS. Have you had that boring couch for the longest time, but never got the chance to have it updated through re-upholstering? Then add brand new character to the old couch by adding colorful throw pillows. Choose colors that complement your walls, or contrast (but not clash) with the color of your couch’s upholstery. Go wild when decorating throw pillows. Use old or vintage sweaters, add buttons or ribbons. Be as unique as possible, or use the throw pillows to unleash your creative side. Throw pillows are great ways to create a couch’s new look, because it’s so easy to change them periodically, at very little cost.

SPRAY PAINT. If you are not an expert painter, several cans of inexpensive spray paint may be the answer to revamping your old furniture. Back in the 80’s gilded gold furniture is all the rage. If you have been scratching your head, thinking of ways to update the crazy gaudy gold paint, then grab a few cans of black paint, cover the upholstery with either plastic or old newspapers and spray away! Even picture frames can look more modern and updated when sprayed black. The current trend is either industrial or simple clean lines, so anything flowery, too printed and overly-designed is certainly from another era. While you’re at it, you might as well update the avocado green or golden yellow appliances in your kitchen from the 80’s with appliance spray paint in either black or silver (industrial/steel looking). 

5 THINGS A GOOD ELECTRICIAN MUST DO

Looking for a good electrician is not an easy task. You have big companies all the way down to the small individual man and a van. So what is it you should be looking for when hiring your electrician?

Being a good electrician is no joke. Aside from having a really high-risk job, the responsibilities that come with the job are also enormous. If an electrician is not good, he could cause an entire house to burn down – most probably setting on fire a lifetime of savings, with possible risk to life.

An electrician is therefore expected to be of supreme knowledge and expertise. It is his responsibility to ensure that he is competent before he handles a job. Below is a list of the most basic things a good electrician is expected to know and have.

He must have an electrician’s license. A electrician’s license is the best way to make sure that a client is hiring the best possible expert for his need. Prior to acquiring a license, one must undergo schooling, training and an examination to prove that he has the proper understanding, and both the basic and advanced knowledge on his field. It is scary to hire a supposed electrician who is unlicensed – your building/house cannot pass safety standards when you employ one to install your electrical connections. Also, in case of an electrical fire, you may not be able to claim from your insurance company if you cannot produce proof that the expert you hired is indeed certified and knowledgeable on the proper safety procedures. As an electrician, having a license is like having a badge to prove your good reputation in your work field.

He must have insurance. Let’s face it – an electrician’s job ranks among the top ten riskiest jobs ever. They handle high voltage wires, climb up tall ladders, electric posts, roofs and ceilings, and repair faulty wiring under high risk of a short circuit. Unless they were hired to install a house’s or building’s entire electrical system, clients won’t really need services unless there is already an existing problem. It is therefore a wise move (both for an electrician and for the client’s sake) to get insurance. First, in case something happens to the electrician, he will be assured of insurance coverage. Next, for the peace of mind of the customer, it is best to hire an electrician which he does not have to worry about – in case something does happen to him in the line of duty, in his property. It’s also generally a wise idea to get insurance – because aside from the benefits one gets after an accident, no fake electrician (maybe just an all-around-handyman) will plunk in big bucks to pay insurance premium. In short, having insurance is like announcing that “I am an electrician, and I’m mighty proud and serious to be one!”

He constantly updates himself about all the new information relative to his job. He educates himself. The knowledge related to the job of an electrician is always evolving – there are always new developments that concern his work that are invented each year. New products, new safety devices, new power-saving technology, new kinds of wires, cables and tools – name it. It is therefore a good idea to always keep abreast of these new things – especially if these help him carry on a more efficient job. A good electrician does not stop researching on his field. If possible, he must try to take classes to obtain new knowledge and acquire new skills and education. These help keep him updated on new trends which he is expected to apply in his work.

He has to keep fit – both in mind and body. An electrician’s job requires use not only of his brain and knowledge, but also his muscles and good hand-eye coordination. He must, therefore, out a premium on his health and well-being, because what good is his knowledge if he cannot physically apply it on his work? An electrician must climb up and down ladders and roofs, wiggle through tight spots and must have strength to use heavy power tools. He must therefore try to work out and build up muscle. Keep the belly area trim also, since it’s hard to bend with a big tummy. Going on starvation diets, however, to lose the belly is not recommended, since he needs all his strength to think clearly and to have energy to do the very physical requirements of his work. Aside from the physical, an electrician must develop patience and concentration. Most of them do not find easy solutions to sensitive electrical problems. Good eyesight is required also, so if eyesight is no longer 20/20, invest in a good pair of graded goggles to ensure that he is inserting the right wire into the right hole.

Establish a good solid network of clients. It’s great to maintain a body of work you can be proud of – and be able to brag about. A good set of clients is like a collection of medals – they are proof of an electrician’s excellent past work. It is rare for loyal clients to seek a different electrician for every job they need done – unless the job is not within the same field of expertise. So, most probably, “once a client, always a client” applies to the world of electricians – well, until they blotch up a job and he ends up completely dropped off from the client’s list of experts.

HOW TO SAVE ELECTRICITY

With the rising costs of electricity, it pays to minimize usage. Not only will it be easier on the pocket, you also do your share in saving the environment by minimizing the use of fossil fuels to generate power. Of course, along with saving electricity comes sacrifice. You may not be able to use your air-conditioning 24 hours a day, despite the heat… or you may opt to actually go outside to amuse yourself– instead of sitting all day long in front of the television or computer. Whatever your own personal sacrifice is , always think that each person’s small contribution amount to a significant collective change for the world.

So what are some of the ways can you save?

LIGHTING

You can save a lot of electricity by simply changing your incandescent lamps/bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps. By doing this, your consumption is reduced by a whopping 80%!!! So, opt to use the beautiful chandeliers only during special occasions.

Whenever you leave a room, turn off the lights – well, unless you don’t want your dust mites to stumble in the dark. It does not make sense to leave the lights on when no one is using it. If you can’t be this vigilant, purchase a motion-sensor switch – this device will automatically turn off the lights when it senses that no one is in a room.

Install light switches at points where they are most needed – like the ends of a corridor, or on top and at the bottom of the stairs. This minimizes the possibility that you absentmindedly leave the lights on even when you are not using these places. Don’t worry about your pets – they can still manage even if the lights are off.

COOLING

In the warm weather, people are forced to use their electric fans, coolers and air conditioners for the majority of the day. There are some other ways to keep the interiors of the house cooler. One great way is by pulling thick curtains or shades over windows during the day. Use light-colored curtains, to let in some brightness (so you don’t need to turn on any lights). At times when event he sun is shining brightly, but there is significant wind blowing, do the opposite – open you windows and draw the curtains. Let the soft wind serve as you natural electric fan!

Set the air-conditioning units to 22 degrees Celsius, instead of the cooler 18 degrees. By turning down the temperature of your aircon, you also reduce electrical consumption.

Paint the roof and the whole exterior white, or some bright or light color. You will attract less heat into your house by doing so.

REFRIGERATORS/FREEZERs

Put your refrigeration in a place where the sun can shine on it directly. Keep it far from the oven or stove, or any other cooking device. A hot ref exterior forces its mechanism to turn up the cooling system in order to make up for the hot surroundings.

Make sure there is at least 10 centimeters from the wall and the back of your ref, to allow the warmth to flow away easily.

Keep the ref door opening to a minimum. Don’t open the door too wide, or keep it open for too long, or open it every 3 minutes. The coolness will escape, thus forcing the motor to compensate for the changes in temperature.

In case you don’t have a no-frost freezer, defrost every 2 months. When the layer of ice builds up, the efficiency of the cooling system is compromised.

COOKING

There are some misconceptions about the use of gas-powered stoves, as opposed to electric stoves. The cost of gas/fuel rises faster than electricity, so it may actually be easier on the wallet if you use an electric stove. The electric stove still continues cooking, even after it is turned off – one good advantage. Gas powered stoves immediately stop cooking after being turned off.

Always used the correct pan size, and if you can, cover the pot/pan while cooking. The food will cook easier and more quickly.

If you can, use the microwave. It only takes a minute of electricity to re-heat food in a microwave, while it takes much longer to reheat on a stove/oven.

When boiling water, use a water heater rather than a pot over a stove.

OTHER APPLIANCES/ELECTRONICS

Turn off the computer and its peripherals when not in use. If you need to keep it on/online all the time, consider using either a power-saving screensaver or keep the computer in “sleep mode.” If you can, purchase a laptop instead of a desktop computer – aside from the fact that there are more devices needed to power a desktop (monitor, CPU, modem, speakers, webcam, etc.), a laptop can run for a few hours on its rechargeable battery. Also, a laptop is most often an all-in-one device, meaning, the monitor, CPU, webcam, optical drive and speakers require only one source of power.

Unplug your phone charger when not in use. It continues to consume electricity even if there is no mobile phone connected, plus some chargers explode due to overheating.

When washing clothes, fill up the tub instead of washing several cycles in small batches. The mechanism is built to wash a load of clothes – not just a few pieces.

When ironing, refrain from turning the iron off and on several times, as this consumes just as much electricity as an electric stove being turned off and on several times. Try to iron everything in one sitting.

Regarding TVs, the general rule is, the bigger the screen, the more electricity consumed, although the latest flat LCDs and plasmas use less power because of the new technology it utilizes. If you can see well using a 14-inch (especially in a small room), then don’t use the 50 inch plasma in your living room. A little sacrifice goes a long long way.

3 HOME IMPROVEMENT TIPS FOR THE NEW YEAR

The New Year is always a great time to plan and make changes in one’s life. It’s the best opportunity to let go of things that brought us misery and pain, or boredom and lethargy. It’s great to start the year surrounded by new things and an environment that enhances our enthusiasm. Therefore, the start of the year is always the best time to make home improvement changes or interior design upheavals – for a renewed appreciation for your house.

Here are some cost-efficient ways you can improve the conditions in your home and help you feel as though you have a new home.

Fix what is broken, replace what is inefficient and throw away the unnecessary. This is very basic, yet most of the problems people encounter in their homes is the cause of either one (or all) of these three things. How often have you been putting off the repair of that leaky faucet, or that broken porch step? Remember that the longer you put off some repairs, like a broken water pipe, the more money you waste on unnecessary water consumption. And it’s not a great idea to start a year by wasting cash which you can use for other more aesthetic home improvement projects. That loose porch step might be the cause of a bad accident, so the longer you procrastinate, the more loose it becomes, and the higher the risk of falling and breaking your foot. If you have other inefficient things around the house, like that electric iron which takes so long to heat up, then replace it as soon as possible. Doing so might save your house from burning down, or it can also help you conserve a lot on your next power bill. Replace the 80’s-era desktop with a more efficient and power-saving high tech laptop. Don’t throw away old things which can still be used, though. Give them to charity. Your junk may be another man’s treasure.

Clean, clean clean!! Oftentimes, the value of one’s home greatly depreciates when it is constantly dirty. Dirt destroys paint and deteriorates wood. Dirt encourages bugs to multiply, and may be “heaven” to roaches and rats. Don’t encourage other unwelcome beings into your home by putting off the general house cleaning. Keep your surroundings spick and span – daily, if possible. Remember that the longer you postpone the scrubbing and the cleaning, the harder it becomes to thoroughly get it sparkling. Vacuum the most hard-to-reach places  including your furniture. Not only will you feel better, it prevents any type of germs to cultivate in places where they should never be. If you find yourself itching and scratching, or if your child has been sneezing or coughing more often than necessary, then it may be caused by dust and mold. If you feel that you have thoroughly scrubbed the surroundings clean, and yet continue experiencing health symptoms, then it’s time to call the experts. Have a mold specialist and a bug and pest control service check on your home. Remember that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Besides, years from now, when you decide to sell your house and move to your dream mansion, every bit of cleanliness done today will contribute heaps to the higher re-sale value of your house ten years from now.

Apply a fresh coat of paint, re-arrange furniture and replace bed sheets, seat covers and curtains. All these things are the most inexpensive ways to help you feel as though you’re in a brand new home. Don’t you find that changing your paint color helps revitalize your home, and keep it looking fresh and clean? Of course, prior to doing this, you need to do the first 2 tips stated above, but painting does not cost much – and you can do it yourself, too! It’s a great feeling scouting around for a new color at the home improvement store, then getting down and dirty in your overalls and roller-brush the walls yourself. Not only do you have a spanking-new looking home, you feel a lot of satisfaction by remembering that you did it yourself. You’ll have a renewed appreciation for your space. Next, re-arrange your furniture to get a new perspective. Change the seat covers, so that it matches your newly-painted walls. In your bedroom, change the sheets in colors or prints that are new to you. Sheets are not too expensive – plus they’re washable and reusable too. All of these changes combined will not only bring a fresh new look in your home, you’ll feel like you transferred to a better version of your old one too.

You don’t really need to be an expert to make improvements in your home. If you notice, the home improvement shows on television merely clean and enhance their target homes. You can do that, too. But whatever it is you decide to do, remember that every bit of care you put in today, right now, this very minute into your house will greatly affect its market value and beauty.