3/20/14

When hot air seeps out of the house when you're trying to heat it, you're wasting energy and losing money at the same time. What many people don't realize is that your fireplace can actually be to blame. A leaky chimney can suck up to 8 percent of the warm air out of your home. If you can't replace the damper inside the fireplace, do this next best thing: Cut a piece of thick cardboard to fit snugly inside. It will block drafts and cost you nothing to do. Just remember to remove the cardboard when you do plan to use the fireplace.

3/19/14

With spring weather around the corner, it's a good time to get your snowblower prepped and ready for storage so it works as good as new next winter. What's the most important thing to do, according to RepairClinic.com? Replace the spark plug, even if your machine is working fine. The spark plug is designed to last for one season, and given the enormity of this season's snowstorms, it's a good idea to replace it. A degraded spark plug actually increases greenhouse gas emissions, reduces the engine performance and increases fuel consumption. That one tiny fix can save you money and help the environment.

3/18/14

If you're planning on doing a kitchen renovation or you're in the market for a new oven or toaster oven, think convection as your preferred eco-choice. Not only do convection ovens do a fantastic job in delivering even, consistent results, they also use less energy to maintain a consistent temperature and reduce the overall cooking time. On average, choosing a convection oven over a conventional one can save you about 20 percent in energy costs.