Florida Homebuilder Centerline Homes | Real Estate Blog

Saving Energy while beautifying your home is easy these days.  Switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs is a great investment savings because you have to replace them less often than incandescent ones. Solar lights are even better because you won't have to pay for any energy at all! As we all know, energy costs are on the rise and more people are now trying to find energy efficient alternatives to alleviate some of the higher costs which are only going to go higher. Investing in energy efficient devices, such as LED low voltage fixtures will not only help out your wallet, but will also help reduce our energy requirements and help the environment.

Another excellent ways to illuminate your own home and business is with the use of LED lighting. LED's (Light Emitting Diodes) are low voltage lighting fixtures which are available in a variety of colors from bright oranges to deep blues, however most of us still prefer white light. If you have ever visited places like Las Vegas or many of the newer stadiums you have probably come into contact with plenty of LED's without even knowing it. You will also find LED's in many newer TV's, appliances and even your car. LED lighting fixtures typically use warm white or cool white LED lamps and colored LED lamps are reserved for special devices and applications. Homes and businesses are using these low voltage devices to accentuate a space, or just add a little light in areas for viewing purposes. The benefits of LED are incredible. This type of illumination is energy friendly, long lasting and relatively safe in most conditions. Light emitting diode devices produce very little heat, so the risk of a fire is dramatically reduced. LED's are also great to use around the holidays when house fires tend to ignite due to faulty wiring or outdated fixtures. LED lights are also beautiful to look at and can add a soft brilliant touch both inside and out. Another huge benefit of LED lights is maintenance. These lights have the potential to last 100,000 hours.  LED's provide low voltage lighting for your home and business. The installation of an LED light system will save you money, energy and space. The compact size of LED lighting devices makes them great for virtually any use in your home or business. LEDs are very energy efficient producing a small amount of heat and are easy to install.  For additional Tips on saving energy visit www.centerlinehomes.com

Do It Yourself: Home projects you can do yourself

Do it yourself: Seeding lawn takes time, but it's worth it
Seeding a lawn takes time, but it's considerably less expensive than laying sod. It's a good choice if you want to grow grass in a shaded area. Be sure to plant a shade-loving seed, which will grow better there. In fact, you'll get the best results by choosing seed suited to the soil and other site conditions, and preparing it before you start.

Do it yourself: Custom wood cornice doesn't have to be expensive
A cornice above a window does a lot more than add a handsome decorative element to a room. A window topper can make a window appear larger than it is and conceal the less-than-lovely head rail of a drapery or shade.

Do it yourself: WallPops create inexpensive removable wall art
Want to decorate your walls without wallpaper? Try using WallPops, peel-and-stick wall designs that make it easy to transform plain painted walls.

Do It Yourself: Replacing a garage door opener
Most of us take our garage door opener for granted until it stops doing its job and we have to raise and lower a heavy door manually. Once a luxury, this device is now a necessity.

Do It Yourself: Save by installing your own kitchen cabinetry
No matter what your price range is for kitchen cabinets, you'll find a dazzling selection of styles, materials and finishes from modest, unfinished ready-to-assemble units to fine handcrafted work.

Do it Yourself: Install solid shelving
Keeping closets orderly and uncluttered is an ongoing challenge, even for those of us who are tidy. Like a garden, when a closet becomes overgrown with stuff, selective pruning is required.

For more information on how to find your new home, visit Centerline Homes website!

TOP TEN HOME ENERGY SAVING TIPS

1. Control the Thermostat

You can save on your heating bill by keeping your thermostat at an energy efficient and comfortable setting during the day and turning the heat down at night and when you’re not home. Try 68 degrees F or less during the day and 60 degrees F when you’re away or sleeping. You'll save approximately 1% for every degree of night setback. When you’re chilly, put on a sweater rather than click on the heat. Night set-back is also worth while with boilers (hot water heat). However, because of slower recovery times you may not be able to set your thermostat back as much as with a forced air furnace.

Top 5 Furniture Trends for 2011

Furniture and home furnishings now mimic the fashion industry; trends are set, colour schemes change with the seasons and new styles are introduced. Society is becoming more and more adventurous when it comes to furnishing ones home with an ever growing number of home and property shows appearing on our television and interior designers popping up here and there to show us how easy it is to transform our home into a hospitable haven.  Furniture is the key to creating any look within a home; this can then be enhanced by introducing the relevant accessories to add colour and texture to a room.  Below is a selection of the main furniture categories and the ambiance they can generate within a home:

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5 Home Improvement Tips for 2011

Now’s the time to add a few New Year’s home improvement resolutions to your already long list. Here are some worth considering that will keep your house in shape, help the environment, and save you money.

1. Stay Safe: The start of a New Year is the perfect time to replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Also, check to be sure your fire extinguishers are in working order and easy to access. Another important fire prevention resolution is to have your chimney inspected and the flue cleaned if necessary.

2. Winterize Your Home: Now that cold weather has arrived, don’t put off winterizing your home by sealing up cracks and repairing the weather stripping around your windows and doors. Remember to cover outside faucets, bring in potted plants, and drip inside faucets when the temperatures drop below freezing. It’s also a good time to add additional insulation to your attic which can save big money on your heating and cooling bills.

3. Save Energy: Resolve to turn down your thermostat this winter when you’re at work or sleeping. Better yet, replace it with a programmable thermostat that will remember to do it for you. Installing energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs can help reduce your carbon footprint while saving money at the same time.

4. Go Green: Make the effort to start recycling and dispose properly of old electronic equipment such as televisions, computers, and cell phones. Take steps to save water by repairing dripping faucets and fixing running toilets. Other ways to save water include installing low-flow showerheads, and replacing old water guzzling toilets with new water saving or dual-flush models. When buying new appliances or electronic equipment, be sure they carry the federal Energy Star seal for energy efficiency.

5. Home Maintenance: Making a resolution to change the air filter on your central system every month or two will save energy and allow your system to run more efficiently. Draining your hot water tank once a year removes any sediment buildup. This can make it last longer and work better. Cleaning your gutters regularly is another important home maintenance project that is easy to overlook. Neglected gutters can lead to the rotting of eave boards as well as damage to basements and foundations.

So what are your home improvement resolutions for the New Year? Share the pet projects that you’ve been putting off by leaving a comment below. Visit a Centerline Homes Community to find your New Home for the New Year!