Different people love different things about winter – skiing, skating, sledding, snowman-building with the kids. One thing I happen to love is a warm, crackling wood fire in the fireplace, and ‘tis the season! If you feel the same way, let me ask you this: When was the last time you had your fireplace inspected and/or cleaned by a professional? Time flies, and I’m sure I’m not alone in forgetting this important detail. But that’s just one of many safety tips that the entire family should keep in mind. Here is a pretty comprehensive list of safety tips – granted it comes from Phoenix, but hey, a woodburning fire is a woodburning fire… http://phoenix.gov/FIRE/fireplace.html
November is upon us, where does the time go? While we’re off to a fairly pleasant start to the month, we all know that Old Man Winter is lurking around the corner. There is no reason to wait until you hear the weather being quoted in terms of wind chill to make your home more energy efficient.
Making your home snug in the winter sounds appealing, but there are other important reasons to get on with the tasks. One is timely and affects your pocket book – it’s not too late to generate some energy tax credits for your federal tax return.
Go to http://www.energystar.gov/and look for the “1040” button on the left side (“Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency”). You may be able to knock $1,500 or more off the cost of your job by deducting that amount from your taxes. Other tips on weatherization programs can be found in this article by Realty Times (3rd bullet point, “More Articles”): http://realtytimes.com/132/DickBaker
Do you have a favorite Home Energy Saving tip? Post it here to share with our readers!
