Mar 10
Start off Right, Select the Right Plant For Your Location!
- Make a note of the type of soil, sunlight exposure and water conditions of the planting site before you shop. Choose plants that thrive under the conditions you noted. Almost any plant will survive in your landscape if you plant it in the right place.
- Limit the number of plants that need a lot of water or care.
- Keep only as much grass as you directly use for recreation and other purposes. Plant beds and mulched areas use less water than grass.
- Remove invasive exotic plants so they don't steal water and nutrition from Florida-friendly plants.
Watering
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Mar 10
Here are 13 Tips that will reduce the energy and maintenance costs of your home over the long haul.
- Check the insulation in your attic. If you purchased an older home with an unfinished attic take a look around up there. You should see at least six inches of insulation everywhere and more if you live in the northern parts of the US. If there’s inadequate insulation or the insulation you have appears damaged then install new insulation.
- Air-seal your home. Look for any places where air may be leaking directly into or out of your home.
- Lower the temperature on your hot water heater to 120 degrees. This is the optimum temperature for your hot water heater. Most people do not utilize water that’s hotter than that, and thus energy used to keep the water that hot isn’t effective.
- Toss a water heater blanket over that hot water heater. While most modern hot water heaters are well-insulated, some are insulated better than others and many older heaters aren’t insulated well at all. An investment in a blanket for your water heater will slowly and gradually save you money on your heating bill over time by keeping the heat in the water instead of letting it out.
- Wrap exposed water pipes with insulation. Exposed hot water pipes lose heat as they move water from your heater to your faucet. Insulating them makes a two to four degree difference in the temperature of the water and also allows hot water to reach your faucet faster. Check the pipes into and out of your hot water heater first, as the first three feet out of the heater (and the last few feet of inlet water) are key. Use good quality pipe insulation for the job.
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Dec 16
Winter Maintenance Tips For Your Home
- Clean out your homes gutters and downspouts
- Familiarize family members with the main gas valve, electric, and water shutoffs
- Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer
- Make sure all electrical holiday decorations have tight connections
- Check the attic for adequate ventilation
- Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter
- Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, icemaker and dishwasher for cracks, rot or bubbles
- Test all ground-fault-circuit-interrupter (GFI) outlets
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Jul 14
Mortgage Rates Are At Historic Lows
Mortgage rates reached their 2008 apex in July, when the long-term average rate hovered just below 7%. They’ve since dropped to and are around 5%. The low rates makes financing your home significantly easier, as the money you spend over a thirty year period paying off your house gets lowered to something you may actually be able to afford.
Home Prices have Dropped
Experts indicate that we haven’t seen the bottom yet in all markets, but planning for that bottom and hitting the housing market at the perfect time may be more difficult than worth your while.
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May 19
How can you make your home greener? Improve the environmental performance of your living space by implementing the strategies found on the following pages.
Check back often for other green living ideas.
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