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Doreen Drew is a preeminent negotiator dominating by far her industry and field of expertise. As the sole principal at Coldwell Banker Daisy Mountain Real Estate, a firm that caters to the haves and wants of an international upscale clientele in the greater Phoenix, Carefree & Scottsdale areas and in particular the award winning planned community of Anthem located in North Phoenix. Ms. Drew is recognized by the real estate community, as one of its most successful and outstanding professionals.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Smart Energy Cost Cutters for Your Home

Energy efficiency is the talk of the town. It is all in the news and you have probably talked about it with your neighbors. The most important reason is to save money. Making your home energy efficient means optimizing room temperatures. A few simple home improvement projects should do the trick.

Check Your Insulation
Insulation works by keeping heat out during the summer and keeping it in during the winter. A good and sufficient insulation is the key to maintaining proper room temperature. Air ways and vents need to be checked for leaks and obstructions.

Install Blinds or Curtains
This is a inexpensive solution to reducing sunlight that enters the room. Blinds or curtains on windows keeps the sun out but can also be retracted making it very useful. Window tinting is also a viable option for those who want decorative pieces in their home.

Check Your Appliances
Recent advancements in technology have significantly improved virtually every home appliance’s energy consumption. You want to consider buying newer models to reduce your energy bill. When replacing your appliances, look for its Energy Star rating in its energy consumption information.

Also, make sure to turn off and unplug appliances that are not in use. This is a very simple thing you can do to minimize your energy consumption.

Monitor Energy Consumption
Energy monitors are available in the market. These units allow you to determine an appliance’s exact energy consumption. Some monitors are also programmable and automatically changes the temperature when applicable.

Seal Your Leaks
Good home insulation is practically useless if you have leaks. These can undermine the insulation seal of you home. It is like letting money fly out of your window. Be sure to seal every leak in your home for maximum efficiency. Check old doors and windows for cracks and consider replacing them altogether when heavily warped.

Perform Regular House Inspections
Just like you, your house also needs to undergo regular inspection. A few small cracks in your home are enough to undermine your insulation and in turn your energy efficiency. If you do not know how to do this, you can always hire a professional to do the work.

Hire a Professional
Check your local phonebook for experts that perform energy audits for your home. They are equipped with thermal cameras for identifying leaks in your home. This is particularly useful for knowing when and where to add insulation.

Increasing your home’s energy efficiency is a long-term investment you will never regret. Apart from lowering energy costs, it also helps your home become a more comfortable living space for your family.

The tips mentioned above are just some of the things you can do to achieve energy efficiency at home. These are fairly inexpensive home improvement projects that will pay for themselves in the long run.

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