An old appliance might
cost more than you think  (NC)— Energy house audits, tax credits, grants, rebates and incentives, it pays to go green these days. According to Stats Canada the average Canadian household spends over $1,000 each year on utility bills, so it makes sense to take advantage of incentives and choose energy efficient products. So why do some Canadians insist on keeping old inefficient appliances, like a fridge, in the garage? Having a fridge in the garage appeals to busy families who want more refrigerator space or dads who want to escape, but even though retiring old fridges to the garage may sound wallet-friendly, it might not be an environmentally-friendly choice. Your old appliance might be costing you more than you think. A new Energy Star qualified fridge, like the Gladiator Chillerator garage refrigerator, can save around 453 kWh/Year (53% more efficient) over a same size top freezer purchased between 1993~2000. The Energy Star qualified Chillerator garage refrigerator is not only designed to handle the extreme temperature and humidity of the garage environment with an operating range from -18 to 43 degrees Celsius, but it also saves money by reducing energy consumption. Before permanently retiring your old fridge be sure to check if there are appliance recycling programs in your community and for safety reasons remember to remove the door. Also, ensure that the CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), the gas that cools refrigerators, are properly disposed of. If CFCs are released into the atmosphere they can potentially damage the ozone layer. More garage organizing tips and ideas are available online at www.gladiatorgw.com Handy checklist for closing the cottage (NC)—Time flies when you're having fun and now summer is just about over. This means it's time to think about closing up your haven by the lake. Here are the most important things to consider according to Karyn Toon, spokesperson for Allstate Insurance Company of Canada: Shut off and drain plumbing: Frozen pipes can result in serious flooding, one of the most common cottage insurance claims. Do not use anti-freeze in your pipes – it can contaminate the water supply and harm the environment. Trim away over-hanging branches: Weight from winter snow can cause branches to bend and break resulting in damage to your cottage. Clean out eavestroughs: Make sure they are clear of leaf buildup and saplings, as this can obstruct drainage when the snow melts in spring. Check for rodents and remove food: Empty your cupboards and check under beds or anywhere else rodents might hide. It's best to remove them before you close up to avoid unpleasant surprises in the spring. Turn off electricity: There's no-one there to use it, so make sure to turn off the master switches. Electric heaters are a fire hazard if left on, even at a low setting. Don't take any chances. Turn off the furnace and check the chimney: Obstructions such as bird nests or tree debris can result in poisonous carbon monoxide gas spreading throughout the house. Chimneys from fireplaces or woodstoves should be professionally checked to ensure they don't have hazardous amounts of creosote accumulation. Deterring burglars: Cottages can be targets for break-ins. Consider boarding-up or covering the windows and bring any valuable items home during the winter months. Window and door seals: Weather seals around doors and windows help keep out moisture and cold air. Check if they are in good condition and replace any that are not. More information about protecting your cottage is available online at www.allstate.ca Kitchen smarts: Tips to creating functionality in the kitchen  (NC)—The kitchen is truly the hub of the home. One of the most used rooms in the house, its function often moves beyond meal preparation and for many, it is the place where families and friends also congregate to dine, socialize and even do homework. “With this multi-purpose room hosting a bevy of activities, it is important to keep kitchen design and space functional,” says Anita Griffin, marketing brand manager, Delta Faucet. Griffin offers the following tips to help make kitchens accessible to the family: • When cooking with children, keep your kitchen kid-friendly. Have a step stool handy for access to tables and cupboards; don't leave sharp objects out in the open and keep soap or hand sanitizer in easy to reach locations. • Update your kitchen with a faucet that offers hands-free features. The Pilar pull-down kitchen faucet by Delta is equipped with touch technology, reducing cross-contamination in the kitchen. Also the pull-down spray head, featuring an innovative magnetic closure that secures the wand to its docked position, makes it much easier to keep the sink area clean. • Create designated zones for each task, such as food prep, cooking, cleaning, eating and work. This will limit chaos and clutter, and keep the kitchen organized. • Keep a fire extinguisher near the kitchen entrance for those unforeseen emergencies. Ensure everyone at home is trained on how to use it properly. • Drawers in base cabinets are a perfect location for items such as canned goods and cereals as well as dishes and cutlery. Not only is it a better ergonomic design for adults to reach at waist height to lift up dishes, it eliminates the need for children to have to pull up a chair and climb up to reach what they need. More tips for the home can be found online at www.deltafaucet.com . |
Tips for the new
do-it-yourself home renovator
 (NC)—It's easy to feel intimidated by all the renovations your home may need. But not every project requires a massive overhaul or a hefty budget. If you're new to the home renovation world, Neil Knorr, Insulation Expert at Owens Corning, shares some helpful tips for rookie renovators. “Only take on projects that you're comfortable with and never perform a project that's best suited for a professional,” says Knorr. “Begin with a quick and easy job, such as insulating your attic – a small yet impactful project that can help you save energy at home and up to 28* per cent on your energy bills.” If you're looking to begin your first attic re-insulation project, here are some helpful pointers: •Use all the resources available to you. Seek online instructional resources, which can be very helpful for a first-timer. Watch the installation video available at www.insulationtaxcredit.ca for complete step-by-step instructions on how to insulate your attic. •Speak to the experts. When obtaining materials at your building supplies store, visit the insulation aisle and approach an associate to learn about which PINK FIBERGLAS options will work best for you. •Safety first. Be diligent when it comes to safety. Clearly understand the job's safety precautions and how to properly use all the tools required. •Build enough time to do the project right. Re-insulating the attic can easily be done by a handy homeowner over the course of one weekend; however, understand your own skill level and never rush through a job. Take the time to do it right. •Make the most out of renovation dollars. When the insulating's done, enjoy the added comfort of your home and savings on your energy bills. And don't forget that upgrading your attic insulation may help you qualify for federal and provincial energy-saving grants. Visit www.budget.gc.ca to seek eligibility for a 15 per cent non-refundable tax credit of up to $1,350 under the Home Renovation Tax Credit program. As well, you may qualify for a $750 rebate through the ecoENERGY Retrofit program – refer to the Natural Resources Canada website at www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca for details. • Savings vary depending on the original amount of insulation in your home, climate, house size, air leaks, and personal energy use and living habits. The colour PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning © 2009 Owens Corning. All Rights Reserved. The legal dimensions of running a business from home (NC)—Flexible work hours. Better work/life balance. The ability to avoid the hassle of long rush-hour commutes. The attractions of running a business from home are many. But running a business from home is not always that easy. Many entrepreneurs learn too late that they should have obtained expert advice before making their home their place of work. “It is important to discuss your plans with a lawyer who has the knowledge and expertise to ensure that your business not only operates efficiently but that you are in compliance with local laws and codes,” says Ray Leclair, an experienced real estate lawyer and vice-president of TitlePLUS. Leclair suggests the following tips for anyone currently or interested in running a business from home: Justify the space – Make certain your type of business lends itself to a home-based atmosphere based on the services you are offering, the client/customer presence it will generate and if noise, traffic or parking will create conflict with your neighbours. Ensure your business is in compliance – Does the municipal zoning by-law allow your type of business to operate from your home? Do you require any licenses or permits? Can you put up a sign? If your home is a condominium, are there any rules which restrict your right to operate your business? Insure your business – Your business use of your home may impact your home insurance and a loss may be denied. You should disclose your home business use to your insurance broker. The terms and cost of your insurance may change. Understand taxation – Although you may be able to deduct expenses for income tax purposes from the business use of a work space in your home, many factors affect your entitlement to a deduction. Also, realty taxes may be affected by a change of use of a part of your home. Your lawyer can advise or you can get more details from the Canada Revenue Agency website. Involve a real estate lawyer early in the process – Work with an experienced real estate lawyer to ensure that you have taken care of all the legal aspects to run a successful business from home. Leclair adds “Whether you are starting from scratch, buying an existing business or franchise, or expanding a business you presently own, working with a trusted advisor, such as a real estate lawyer is essential to your success.” A useful resource is the TitlePLUS Real Simple Real Estate Guide, a website that provides information on what lawyers do and how to avoid fraud, as well as mortgage calculators, a locate-a-lawyer feature and other tools. It is available free at www.titleplus.ca . |
Add instant value to your house
without renovating (NC)—While garage organization may seem like a chore, if done properly and with the right products, it can enhance the appearance of your home, increase its value and add precious time to your schedule. In fact 85 per cent of Canadians say that if they were looking for a new home, a tidy garage would be a deciding factor. An organized garage not only increases the value of your home, it also provides insight to how the rest of your home is maintained. While some clutter in the garage may seem normal, a recent Canadian survey indicated that 43 per cent of respondents say their garage is so full of junk, there is no room for their car. Take back your garage this weekend. Use a garage Blueprint Estimator, like the one found at www.gladiatorgw.com, to plan out different garage zones and ensure that everything has a place and there is still room for the car. Then select a Gladiator GarageWorks system that meets your lifestyle. Sports fans can create a zone for seasonal sports equipment; green thumbs can have an area dedicated to gardening supplies and handymen can keep tools and balance the books with a workshop and office and space. Place items you want to keep in cabinets, on walls and in bins designed for easy access. The right system for your needs can turn a pile of junk into an organized oasis that will give your neighbours garage-envy. Whether adding value to an existing home, protecting valuables, saving time looking for misplaced items or just in the market for more organization, tackling the clutter in your garage is a worthwhile investment. Add a dash of technology to your cooking  (NC)—From electronic toothbrushes to PVRs, programmable devices are helping make today's hectic lifestyles a little less chaotic. And kitchen appliances are no exception – more and more food preparation tools are offering digital features to help make cooking more convenient and stress-free. Slow cookers have become some of the most teched-out kitchen appliances. Anyone with a busy lifestyle should consider purchasing a slow cooker that automatically shifts to the warm setting when the cooking is complete, like the new chrome touchscreen Crock-Pot slow cooker. “This high-tech slow cooker is equipped with a touchscreen user interface, a digital timer and programmable touchpad that selects cook time and temperature,” says Jamie Libregts, group marketing manager, Jarden Consumer Solutions. “With great technology that is simple to use, Canadians will continue to depend on Crock-Pot slow cookers to help nourish their families with delicious meals that are quick and easy to prepare." Here are some tips for slow cooking success: Round shaped slow cookers are best for soups and stews while oval shaped ones, like the embossed Smart-Pot Crock-Pot slow cooker, are ideal for cooking large cuts of meats, like roasts and turkeys. Look for a slow cooker with a glass lid that will allow quick peaks without having to take the lid off, which can affect the cooking time. Size does matter. Make sure to cut up all ingredients into the same size in order for them to cook evenly. Root vegetables, especially potatoes, should be cut into very small pieces to ensure they are cooked thoroughly. More slow cooking tips and recipes are available at www.crock-pot.ca Fall into savings  (NC)—Looking for a way to redecorate your home and save money? The Canadian government has confirmed that the home renovation tax credit includes expenditures for custom window coverings. This means that individuals may be allowed a temporary non-refundable income tax credit of up to $1,350 on their purchase of Hunter Douglas custom window coverings after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2010, providing the expenses are deemed eligible. Duette Architella honeycomb shades from Hunter Douglas are one such product. What's more, this innovative treatment reduces heat transfer at the window by up to 50 percent when properly installed – contributing to lower energy bills. That's because Duette Architella shades boast a patented honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design that provides more air pockets than traditional honeycomb shades and dramatically increases R-values, which measure a product's ability to keep heat in and cold out. The higher the R-value, the better the product is at maintaining desired indoor temperatures. So kick off this fall with energy-efficient savings – right in time to prepare for the cold winter months that lie ahead. More information is available online at www.hunterdouglas.ca or toll-free at 1-800-265-8000. |
