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Check out the Home Style section of our site! Take a break and enjoy a
few minutes of ideas, tips, inspirations and whatever else may come
along! Check back often as we will continue to share helpful tid bits
on a variety of topics related to home and family... including the odd
recipe! Enjoy! ...
Going Green Without Spending Alot of Green
 With
upcoming elections in both the United States and Canada the environment
is one of the hottest topics going. Ironically it coincides with a time
of year when people are in the midst of or are planning to renovate,
remodel and upgrade their homes and going green in the process. There
are many 'green' options available to choose from that will make your
home more energy efficient - and contribute to reducing your footprint
on the environment. Although an eco-friendly home will save you money
in the long run, it can be hard on your pocketbook upfront. Here are a
few thoughts that may help you ease the short-term pain for the
long-term gain.
If you are still in the the planning stages of
your project, you may want to do some research on any Government
programs that may help you with the costs of 'going green'. Also look
into any rebates that your utility or service companies may be offering
as well. Keep in mind though, that some programs may sound great until
you determine exactly what you need and crunch some numbers. A rebate
for upgrading your furnace sounds great until you read the fine print
and it only applies when you purchase an entire system with all the
bells and whistles that they have to offer. This might be a great deal
if you're in the market for bells and whistles.
For a handy,
do-it-yourself household, the savings can be huge! If you simply look
at the cost of having your windows replaced, for example, the cost of
the window isn't what your paying for, it's someone else's know-how and
labor. Even for those that don't consider themselves to be handy, there
are so many 'how-to' resources these days that if you're motivated and
willing to learn, you may find that you are more capable than you
think. Do you watch those home renovation, decorating and gardening
shows? Chances are that if you check out their websites you will find
product information, how-to videos and write-ups, and even steps to
finding and hiring the right contractor if you need to.
Maybe you are unable to do the work yourself - or really aren't that handy, but it is so
important to at least do your homework! Know what what you need, what
you're getting into and what questions to ask. These things alone could
save you money in the long run. There is nothing worse than being taken
advantage of just because you haven't bothered to do your own research.
This could simply mean making some phone calls, writing an email,
searching on the web or talking to friends and family. You never know,
your neighbour may have had a bad experience with the same contractor
that you just hired.
If you are doing major renovations keep
in mind that some of the wiser investments you can make are not
necessarily the ones that you can see. As an example, in an older home,
one of the best investments you could make would be upgrading your
insulation. This will keep you warmer in the winter and cooler in the
summer without relying so heavily on your heating or cooling system,
saving you money for years to come and having less of an impact on the
environment.
Although larger scale improvements are going to
provide greater energy savings, it's not in everybody's budget. There
are many smaller steps that you can take with a little know-how, some
elbow grease and a smaller budget. Products from your local hardware
store go along way to making your home more comfortable at a minimum.
Caulking, sprayfoam and batt insulation, weatherstripping, and the list
goes on. Don't forget that they are usually more than willing to pass
along ideas and some friendly advice as well - the only silly question
is the one that isn't asked.
No matter the size of your
project, even minor improvements you make in your home are a step in
the right direction. The more eco-friendly we become in our everyday
lives the better off we will all be. Not only with regards to the
environment but our pocketbooks as well!
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