Few of these products come close to the long-term benefits of installing a radiant barrier in your attic. There’s even a federal tax credit (available on your 2010 federal tax return) to help you recoup a portion of your purchase price, saving you up to $1,500.

A radiant barrier works in your home similar to the way a reflective foil car shade works in your car. Just as a car shade keeps the interior of an auto cooler when it’s parked in the sun, radiant barriers keep your home’s interior cooler when installed in your attic where the sun’s radiant energy is absorbed.

The Florida Solar Energy Center has conducted numerous studies on radiant barrier installation and found that, under peak daytime heat conditions, the total heat transfer allowed down through attics can be reduced by as much as 40 percent, which can significantly reduce a home air conditioning system’s cooling loads.

Of course the design of your home makes a difference: Whether it is a one-story or two-story home, the home’s age, the type of roof, whether your roof has shade, your HVAC system’s efficiency, the type of insulation installed and local energy rates all contribute to your potential for individual cost savings.

The warmer months provide a good time for consumers to take advantage of the potential benefits of radiant barrier installation, according to Rick Jordan of EcoRite Products, a major radiant barrier manufacturer.

“I don’t know of any product that is this easy to install that does as much for reducing the stress on your heating or cooling systems as a radiant barrier,” Jordan says. “On average, attics that have radiant barriers installed are 30 degrees cooler than they were before the product was installed. That equates to a significant amount of heat that is not baking down through the ceiling of a home, causing the air conditioner to work harder.”

Experts say the use of radiant barriers dates back at least 50 years, with some of the earlier concepts developed by NASA. Home builders and scientists have known for decades the benefits of foil-based radiant barriers. In recent years, green builders in particular have latched onto the concept, routinely specifying and installing radiant barrier products in the attics of the homes they build to help reduce the overall carbon footprint of the structures.

Universal Forest Products, one of the nation’s largest building products companies, has created an entire division dedicated to products for do-it-yourself consumers. The company recently introduced an ENERGY STAR rated product, called Enerflex Radiant Barrier, that is easy enough for almost anyone to install, with no special tools required.

“Enerflex looks a lot like quilted aluminum foil. It is made of a durable, highly reflective, double-sided material that you install to the underside of a roof between the rafters. From an installation standpoint, it couldn’t be easier,” Jordan says. “There is no need to secure the product with adhesive, so installation moves quickly.”

Jordan notes that the federal government offers a tax credit that’s worth investigating. Qualified taxpayers can save 30 percent of the cost of installing a radiant barrier – up to $1,500 -through the American Recovery Tax Credit.

“Installing a radiant barrier should be viewed not so much an expense as an investment. Homeowners are paid back over time through lower utility bills, particularly in the summer, but wintertime savings can also be realized,” Jordan says.

In the winter, a radiant barrier basically performs in reverse, helping to keep rising heat from the home’s interior from escaping through the roof. Radiant barriers typically are twice as effective in the summer months as in winter months.

Enerflex Radiant Barrier is mold- and mildew-resistant, will not harbor insects, and is Class A fire rated. It’s available at The Home Depot and from building material dealers nationwide. You can also find places to purchase Enerflex by visiting www.enerflexfoil.com.

Courtesy: ARAcontent

“In the early 1900s, there were probably only about half a million deer spread out all over the country,” says James Messina of Messina Wildlife. “Today, there are more than 15 million. Deer, it turns out, adapt quite well to life in suburbia. Keeping them away from residential and commercial landscaping can help everyone – deer and homeowners – to co-exist more happily together.”

With no place to go and not much left to eat in the dead of winter, deer can wreak havoc in your backyard and destroy new buds and leaves before they ever have a chance to grow. As seasons change, the preferred food sources of deer change as well.

Deer develop new browsing trails as food sources change with the seasons, and repeatedly follow them through the season until new food sources begin to appear. That’s when the deer drama begins ….

Whitetail deer can consume, on average, 12 pounds of foliage a day. And in the winter, when natural food sources are scarce, they’ll give homeowners more trouble than any other time of year. The more snow we get, the worse the problem becomes. A winter of consistent snow coverage is great for bulbs and perennials, but evergreens face the toughest challenge from hungry deer looking to survive.

Deer are creatures of habit, and contrary to popular belief, the majority of them do not migrate. Bucks are known to travel more than 100 miles, but does will stay within the same three to four square miles for their entire lives. This means the deer you see this year are probably the exact same deer you saw last year. It also means that once they’ve found a food source, potentially yours, they’ll be back time and time again.

Fend off deer by applying repellents before you see the damage, encouraging the deer to move along and not include your landscape in their browse buffet.

Repellents rely on deer’s strong sense of smell and range from commercial products to homemade concoctions of human hair, blood meal or chunks of deodorant soap. But traditional animal repellents have become less effective than they were decades ago, Messina notes.

“That’s because many of those repellents rely on a bad smell – like the stench of a rotting carcass – to fool animals into thinking a predator’s kill is in the area and the predator may be returning for it,” he says. “But the number of predators out there has actually declined, and deer know it. They’re much less afraid of predators, so relying on ‘scare tactics’ has a greater tendency to fail over time.”

Some deer have also built up a resistance to chemical deterrents. Plus, increasingly eco-conscious homeowners prefer not to put potentially harmful chemicals into the environment.

More homeowners are turning to organic alternatives, like Deer Stopper, a repellent formulated from plant extracts. This organic option works because it confronts deer by using their natural repulsion to certain plant smells and tastes rather than relying on fear of predator tactics.

“We know that deer will eat more than 500 different types of plants,” Messina says. “Normally, they’re quite discriminating. But in fall and winter, they become less picky and much more of a threat to suburban landscapes. Still, like many wild animals, deer rely on taste and smell to judge if a food may be harmful to them. If your backyard foliage tastes or smells unpleasant to them, one bite and they’ll move on.”

Deer Stopper by Messina Wildlife Management is the only organic repellent in the country certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). An effective taste deterrent, Deer Stopper is 100 percent organic and completely safe for use on all types of plants and shrubs. OMRI lists it as approved for use by organic growers. The smell- and taste-based technology also eliminates the need to use foul, odor-based repellent products, which can be quite unpleasant for homeowners’ use.

Deer Stopper actually smells good to humans. Lightly misting vegetation once a month, even during the cold and snowy winter, will keep deer away all season long.

This winter protect your plants and shrubs and create your own boundaries for foraging bucks and deer. Now you’re in control of the drama.

For more information on Deer Stopper, retail store locations and other wildlife management repellents visit www.messinawildlife.com.

Courtesy: ARAcontent

A few precautions can help protect you from serious losses and disruptions this season.

Indoor Floods

While home fires make headlines, water damage is more common and often just as severe. The most frequent cause is faulty or broken pipes. In fact, Fireman’s Fund Personal Risk Consultants see a surge in water damage during the first three months of the year, when pipes are most likely to freeze and burst. Be sure to insulate exposed pipes.

If you leave your home to spend time in warmer climates or even just a weekend on the ski slopes, always leave the heat on in your home and set it to at least 55 degrees. Don’t let high fuel prices tempt you into going lower. The pipes that come in through your foundation or run through external walls can reach temperatures much lower than the setting on your thermostat. Have someone check on your home while you are away.

A foolproof way to protect your home from broken or leaking pipes at any time of year is to install an automatic water shutoff system. Attached to your home’s main incoming water line, the device senses increased water flow caused by a burst pipe and automatically shuts the system off. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company recommends the Leak Defense System from Sentinel Hydrosolutions. A 5 percent premium discount is available to policyholders who use this system, so let your insurance agent know if you install one.

Chimney and Furnace Fires

While fire presents a year-round risk, certain causes of fire occur more frequently during the winter. Chimneys, boilers and furnaces are particular risks. Approximately 25,000 residential fires begin in a fireplace or chimney every year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Why so many? Over time, a layer of unburned carbon-based residues (sometimes referred to as fireplace creosote) builds up along the inside walls of your chimney and can eventually catch fire. The solution is to have a trusted, professional chimneysweep clean and inspect your chimney annually.

An annual inspection is just as important for those with furnaces and boilers. And, remember, your furnace room should never be used for general storage. Wood scraps, old books, paint, solvents and other flammable liquids are significant fire hazards and should be removed and stored elsewhere.

Ice Dams and Old Trees

Snow and ice storms can create a number of potential threats to your home. One of these is ice damming, which occurs in the days after a snowstorm.

Icicles hanging from your eaves, while they may be beautiful, usually indicate that a dangerous ice dam has formed. An ice dam is a build-up of ice that can form at the edge of your roof when snow melts but is blocked from draining. When more snow melts and is trapped behind this ice, the resulting water backup can soak through your roof and cause damage to ceilings, walls and more. The most common causes of ice dams are clogged gutters and insufficient insulation, both of which are easy to remedy.

Mature trees on your property represent another potential hazard during storms. Strong winds or frozen water that covers old branches with a heavy coat of ice can lead to failure and collapse, a clear threat to your home or other nearby structures. Have a trusted horticultural expert take a look at your property’s mature trees and prune or cut down unstable specimens.

For more advice on how to protect your home from winter’s severe weather, visit www.firemansfund.com.

Courtesy:ARAcontent

“Fires, even small ones, can quickly become out of control,” says Lou Manfredini, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man.” “Taking the time now to prepare your home can help save lives and money.”

Protect Your Home

Any home is susceptible to fire, and the first step to keeping your family safe is to purchase two essential items.

Fire alarms

Fire alarms are your first line of defense when it comes to fires. Make sure that you have one installed on every level of your home – even the attic. To get the most protection, install one in, or near, every bedroom.

Fire alarms use three different methods to detect fire: photoelectric, which responds to smoke; ionization, which responds to smoke and gas; and thermal, which responds to heat. When choosing an alarm, select one that utilizes more than one of the above methods.

Once the fire alarms are installed, be sure to test them once a month and change the batteries twice a year “A good reminder is to change the batteries when you change your clocks for daylight savings,” says Manfredini.

Fire extinguishers

Every home should have a fire extinguisher, specifically one that is labeled as “ABC” which means it can be used on all types of fires. Additionally, bigger is not always better when it comes to these products. It is important to select a size that fits within your appropriate storage location. “The general rule of thumb is to have one fire extinguisher on every floor of your home, especially a small one for your kitchen,” says Manfredini.

The experts also suggest keeping a fire extinguisher within 10 feet of the stove, on the same side of the kitchen that has the exit. Many fires occur in the kitchen, such as grease fires, and keeping an extinguisher nearby can help you contain the damage.

Once you have selected your fire extinguisher purchase the desired number plus one additional extinguisher for you to try out. Remember, you don’t want to have to learn how to use the extinguisher while there is a fire in your home.

Stop Fire Before It Starts

While fires can start for any number of reasons, there are two common causes that are easy to fix.

Fireplaces

There is nothing better than sitting in front of a warm fire on a cold day, but unmaintained fireplaces can be a huge hazard.

“Your chimney should be cleaned and inspected on a yearly basis,” says Manfredini. “This requires special tools and ladder work, so it’s a project that is better left to a certified chimney sweep.”

After you get your fireplace cleaned, install a chimney spark arrester that will prevent stray sparks from catching your roof on fire and a fireplace screen that will keep stray sparks from coming into your home.

Appliances

Electrical fires can occur out of nowhere, so if your appliance is emitting an unusual smell, unplug it and have someone repair it before using again. Additionally, replace frayed or cracked electrical cords and don’t overload extension cords. Never run cords under rugs.

If you find you have too many plugs going into one outlet (or extension cord), purchase a surge protector, which will keep your appliances safe should a surge occur, and keep overloaded electrical systems from catching fire.

For more home safety tips and advice, visit www.acehardware.com or stop by your neighborhood Ace Hardware store.

Courtesy:ARAcontent

“A well-made stainless steel sink is the little black dress for your kitchen,” says Ken Fey, vice president at stainless steel sink maker Houzer Inc. “Stainless steel has transitioned from industrial applications like medical and food-service to residential use for very good reasons. Stainless steel offers exceptional hygienic and durability qualities, it ages gracefully and beautifully and it’s a ‘green’ building material.”

Stainless steel is again enjoying a place of honor in American kitchens. Here are six reasons to love stainless steel:

1. It’s ‘Green’

The trend towards “green” building and decor is still going strong, with more homeowners, builders and designers looking for materials and practices that will reduce a home’s environmental impact. Stainless steel fits the “green” bill because it is recyclable. And modern stainless steel sinks, like Houzer’s Novus Sink Series, are often made from recycled materials. In addition, stainless steel’s durability ensures years of use and beauty, minimizing the need to replace and discard older, worn out sinks – thereby keeping them out of the waste stream.

2. It Looks Great

Gleaming, clean-looking with elegant lines, stainless steel easily pairs well with a range of decorating styles – from modern to contemporary to country. Stainless steel sinks also develop character as they age. Scratches in your enamel or solid surface sink might spell the end for the fixture, but stainless steel develops a patina of small scratches over years of use, lending it a natural depth of character that can easily be cleaned and buffed to shine like new.

3. It’s Versatile

Versatility is as important as beauty in modern kitchen design, and new stainless steel sinks are more versatile than ever. With design options ranging from two- and three-bowl sinks and the ability to be mounted beneath countertops, to the capability of expanding a cook’s usable work space, stainless steel sinks afford wide adaptability. Extending countertop space is a popular feature, and sinks like Houzers Novus series meet the challenge with two sliding, removable platforms — one with an integrated drainboard — that are perfect for meal prep, staging and cleanup.

4. It’s Durable

Stainless steel is relatively light when compared to other sink materials, yet it offers strength and durability that ensure years of use when properly cared for. Modern styles achieve strength and a modern look without seams and mount well under the counter. Stainless is also easy to clean and naturally germ resistant.

5. It’s Budget Friendly

Whether you have the budget of a home improvement show or a more modest amount to spend on your kitchen renovation, you can find a stainless steel sink to fit your budget. It’s possible to find an affordable, modest stainless sink for a few hundred dollars. And designer sinks, like the Novus line, sell at prices that compete credibly with high-end designer sinks of more trendy materials.

6. It’s Timeless

Stainless steel lends itself to the classic clean lines of many contemporary kitchen designs, lifestyles and tastes. Once a stainless steel sink becomes the showpiece of a kitchen, its versatility and durability ensure that multiple owners will be able to use and enjoy it for many years.

To learn more about the advantages of stainless and to find a Houzer dealer near you, go to www.houzersink.com.

Courtesy: ARAcontent

But did you know that the No. 1 reason indoor plants die is people drown them with love? That’s right. They overwater them. If your pretty peace lily is changing its color and losing its leaves, you may be pouring on the “love” a bit too much.

Uh-Oh: Signs of Trouble

We all know the signs … wilted, yellow, droopy leaves, mushy stems and blossoms that are leaning over and falling off. And then we try to bring the plants back to life by overwatering them, thinking they need a really big drink.

“Overwatering your plants can lead to root rot damage while underwatering can cause sudden wilting,” says Luke Miller, editor of Garden Ideas & Outdoor Living magazine.

Miller recommends not watering all your houseplants automatically on the same schedule because indoor plants have different watering needs. Rather than empty an entire can of water into your plant’s container until you see water dripping over the sides or sticking your finger in the soil to “guesstimate” when it’s time to water, there really is an easier solution.

Moisture meters take the guesswork out of watering. These meters are easy to use and accurately measure the soil’s water content.

Fertile Earth has taken this technology to the next level with an inexpensive moisture probe. The new WaterStik is a simple device that monitors the water content in any type of soil and gives an automatic signal of your plant’s water status that’s quick, easy and accurate.

“The WaterStik is a no-brainer watering system even a 5-year-old can use,” says Dan O’Very of Fertile Earth. “You simply press the Insta-Read button and it instantly shows your plant’s water needs.”

The WaterStik blinks four warning colors. Blue means, “Stop! I’m drowning!” Yellow means, “Water me soon.” Red is “Water me now!”, and green is “Ah, just right!”

Quick Watering Tips to Grow Healthy Houseplants

• Give your plants a healthy start by choosing containers with proper drainage holes and avoid letting your plant sit in water in the catch basin.
• Use a light potting soil instead of garden soil, which tends to be heavy and doesn’t allow water to drain through. Potting soil must be porous enough to allow drainage of excess water and provide oxygen needed by the roots.
• Pour enough water until it drains out the bottom. Pour off any excess water since plants don’t like to have their “feet” wet.
• Most indoor plants prefer room temperature water and need to be watered more frequently in spring and summer, when they’re actively growing, than in winter.
• Follow the watering directions on your plant’s tag. Some plants like succulents and cacti require less watering than moist-soil plants such as ferns and African violets. These fleshy-leaved plants need the opportunity to dry out between watering.

From pothos and spider plants to Chinese evergreen and jade plants, moisture meters such as WaterStik make it easy to water each of your indoor plants just like a pro. For more information or to find a retailer near you visit www.WaterStik.com.

Courtesy: ARAcontent

Gerry Whiteside, of Fleetwood in Westchester County, is featured on Fox News’ Good Day Cafe. Whiteside, a systems analyst, says he got a cookbook as a gift from his wife years ago. He played with the gumbo recipe eventually creating his own concoction from a combination of 10 different recipes. Try it out.

“With busier lifestyles, growing families, gourmet kitchens, home offices, and diverse hobbies, consumers are purchasing more items than ever before. As a result, people are discovering more creative uses for cabinetry, such as lockers in mudrooms where kids can store ‘their valuables’ after school, sports, and other activities,” says Mindy Brooks, advertising and communications manager at HomeCrest Cabinetry.

Another popular trend is replacing old dressers and other unwieldy bedroom furniture with standard and custom cabinets that line walls or fit snugly into closets. Especially in smaller homes, closed-door cabinetry or open bookshelves placed strategically as room dividers between living and dining areas, and all along walls, can generate new space by increasing storage options.

Not only does cabinetry utilize space better than furniture throughout the home, it helps you get organized and stay that way. With cabinetry, everything has its own home so there’s less clutter and chaos in your life. For example, you can create a beautiful wood wall-hugging credenza to showcase everything from your family heirlooms and framed photos to knick-knacks using shelves and glass-door display cabinets, while organizing a multitude of items that would otherwise be clutter, inside credenza drawers and closed cabinet spaces. As a result, you’re much freer to relax and enjoy your time at home without feeling crowded by too much furniture or overwhelmed by belongings.

When using cabinetry instead of furniture, the design and storage possibilities are as rich as your imagination. To create a cozy country look and feel, you can choose closed cabinets and open bookshelves surrounding a mantel and fireplace in a den or living room. A window seat with built-in storage and marble-topped cabinetry on both sides creates a comfortable nook for reading and relaxing anyplace in the home where there’s a window with a view. You can even divide rooms using a beautiful wooden china hutch that combines closed solid-wood storage cabinets stretching floor-to-ceiling at one end with elegant glass-door china display cabinets lowered to kitchen island-height at the other end, achieving an airy, open feel between rooms that doesn’t block light or conversation.

You can find creative cabinetry solutions like these from HomeCrest Cabinetry, a premier manufacturer of home cabinetry. To provide even greater flexibility, HomeCrest offers Custom Choice, an innovative program that lets homeowners add modified options to standard cabinetry to achieve custom looks and functionality — without custom pricing. Using standard doors and drawer fronts, Custom Choice can accommodate wider cabinets, deeper drawers, additional panels or doors, and many other options for a perfect fit anywhere. It brings creative, custom-quality cabinetry to every corner of the home — dining and living areas, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, pantries, offices, laundry and utility areas, and beyond.

For more information about HomeCrest Cabinetry, or to locate a dealer, visit www.homecrestcab.com.

Courtesy: ARAcontent

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says levels of indoor air pollution can be between two and five times higher — and occasionally as much as 100 times higher — than outdoor air. Indoor air pollution can be such a problem that the EPA ranks poor indoor air quality among the top five environmental risks to public health. These statistics are particularly eye-opening, given that we spend upwards of 90 percent of our day indoors.

There are a number of common misconceptions about indoor air quality. For instance, many consumers believe that because their homes are clean, their indoor air is clean, too. The truth is that airborne particulates such as dust, smoke, mold spores and pet dander can be widespread in even the cleanest homes. And as many consumers are sealing their homes more tightly to conserve energy, they’re reducing natural circulation and sealing in those airborne pollutants.

Another common misconception is that healthy adults aren’t susceptible to the effects of poor indoor air quality. While poor indoor air poses particular risks for children, the elderly and those affected by asthma and allergies, everyone’s health can suffer by breathing polluted air. Effects from exposure to poor indoor air may include irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, headaches, dizziness and fatigue.

Think about it: Many people drink purified water and use hand sanitizers, but they aren’t doing anything to help purify the air that they are breathing because they don’t believe anything can be done to help improve indoor air quality problems.

The truth is that effective, affordable portable air purifiers, such as Honeywell air purifiers, eliminate up to 95 to 99.97 percent of microscopic airborne pollutants (0.3 microns or larger) that pass through their filters. Some air purifiers are even effective at fighting certain viruses and other germs. Portable air purifiers also help circulate the air in a room, usually several times per hour, to reduce airborne allergens and stale air. Consumers should use an air purifier in the rooms where they spend the most time, such as the bedroom and living areas.

Honeywell air purifier products, manufactured by Kaz, Inc., are available at major retailers including Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Amazon.com and The Home Depot. To find out which type of air purifier is best for your needs, visit www.honeywellcleanair.com.

Courtesy: NewsUSA