The Italians are known for their fresh ingredients and simple recipes, and pizza certainly is not excluded from the list. Just imagine, a cultural change took place all because Americans started growing this little herb in their gardens.

One of the greatest bits of information or tips anyone can glean from the Italians is their love of gardening. Although it is not the actual garden that gives it such a precious value, but the end product fresh ripe vegetables and fruit that are delivered from their little or not so little plot of plowed land.

Taking this principle of fresh ingredients to heart, anyone can then make their own pizza taste better and healthier than any veggie pizza on the market by creating their own pizza garden. Here’s how…

Choosing the Toppings:

There are endless toppings a person can choose from when designing their own pizza themed garden. So make sure to pick vegetables and fruit you actually enjoy eating. Although adding asparagus as a topping may sound chic and creative, it will not do much good if it simply gets picked off when the pizza is served.

Here are a few basic toppings most everyone in your family will enjoy and are easy to grow:

Fresh Tomatoes:

Tomatoes on top of a tomato based pizza sauce – yes you read that correctly. Adding thin (or thick depending on preference) slices of tomatoes as an additional toppings adds a greater depth to your pizza.

Pizza sauce (whether it includes meat or not) has a drastically different taste and flavor than that of fresh tomatoes. So don’t worry about having too much of a tomato flavor – fresh tomatoes are an excellent choice, and besides, who doesn’t grow tomatoes in a garden?

One tip to keep in mind is what type of tomato you want to grow and when will they actually produce. Some tomatoes are known for delivering in mid-summer, while others tend to hold off until the late summer months to produce a nice harvest.

Basil:

Basil is an amazing herb whose varieties are enjoyed in different cultures around the world. However, fresh Genovese Sweet Basil brings to life a dull pizza any day of the week, any hour of the day and any second of an hour.

Fortunately, basil grows easily with the tomatoes and are a great companion plant. In addition, basil enjoys the hotter weather and therefore is usually in full bloom around the same time tomatoes are producing making them not only compatible for the garden but for the pizza as well.

Here is a tip to keep in mind when using basil on your pizza. Never place basil on as a topping until the final minute of baking – and one can go so far as to say not until it comes out of the oven. This herb will dry up and lose its precious flavored natural oils if heated too fast and will leave you disappointed.

Green Peppers:

Not everything has to be as delicate as the tomato and basil pizza, but for those who have a natural leaning towards spicy foods, growing your own hot peppers can be an excellent choice for a pizza topping.

Peppers come in all sorts of varieties and it might be a good idea to plant a few different kinds to really mix things up from your red hot chili peppers to more mild banana peppers to even the crispy common green pepper.

Unlike the basil, peppers can be placed on a pizza before it goes into the oven and are liked by both those who favor meat toppings and those who prefer to go without.

Let’s Talk about the Dough:

Anyone can make a pizza dough at home. All it requires is olive oil, flour, yeast, lukewarm water and a dash of salt. You can also choose to buy your dough already made which many grocery stores will import from pizza makers in NY or PA and store in the freezer section where the breads are kept. Let the dough thaw over night in the refrigerator and you are ready to go the next day.

However, the easiest way to get your pizza dough is to buy the crust already precooked. The downside to this method is that it will most likely not have the “fresh” factor and quite frankly not all of them taste very good.

Here is a quick recipe for homemade pizza dough:

1. Start by dissolving 1 tsp salt into lukewarm water along with 1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil and 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast in a large bowl
2. Then let it sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast foams a little
3. Gradually add 3 cups of flour to the water and knead until the dough becomes a smooth elastic like texture . You do not want the dough sticky, so gently add more flour a little at a time until the right consistency is achieved
4. Roll into a ball, cover and put in your fridge overnight. If you need it the same day, keep it out, covered, and wait for half an hour to an hour for it to rise
5. When ready, roll out onto a greased pizza pan and bake at 400F for about 8 to 15 minutes or depending on the thickness of the dough and toppings used.

Margarita Pizza:

This pizza is very popular in Italy and has its roots in Naples, Italy where it first became popular. It does not use a sauce but relies on fresh garden ingredients to satisfy the appetite.

1. To make a margarita pizza which uses two of the ingredients above simply slice your tomatoes (meaty ones are best such as Roma), and place them on the pizza crust.
2. Next, slice some fresh mozzarella balls to the same thickness of the tomatoes. The regular blocks of mozzarella will not work – it must be fresh – the kind which you will find near the deli. Place the slices on the crust as well, spacing them between the tomatoes trying not to overlap
3. Bake in a 400F oven for approximately 14 minutes making sure to check that the cheese does not burn.
4. Right before removing from the oven, sprinkle generously with your fresh basil leaves and leave for 1 minute or less
5. Remove from oven and have a taste of heaven!

About the writer: Pizza is enjoyed by everyone, and that includes writer Liz Krause who owns and operates her own Italian cooking website. She enjoys writing about recipes and reviews of various products from the Waring Pro meat grinder to pizza slicers. Liz grew up in an Italian home and understands the benefits of growing fresh ingredients in the backyard believing fresh food and simple ingredients are the best way to enjoy Italian cuisine!

When you are remodelling a room, one of the big challenges is deciding which window treatments will suit it best. There are a huge number of options out there but the first question you need to answer is whether you would prefer blinds or curtains.

The answer will depend a lot upon the purpose of the room. For example your living room will probably benefit most from curtains as they will give it a softer and warmer atmosphere. In contrast your kitchen will probably do better with wooden Venetian blinds as they will give you a lot of light and space as well as being less vulnerable to moisture and mould.  To help make the decision easier I’ve composed a list of the pros and cons of the different types of window treatment below.
Having said that if you choose blinds that will add another layer of complication as there is a large variety of styles and materials. Slatted blinds such as Venetian and vertical blinds are typically composed of overlapping slats made of plastic, aluminium or wood. Venetian and mini blinds are made of horizontal slats whereas vertical blinds (as the name suggests) are made of vertical slats thought vertical blinds rarely seen within the home.

Roller Blinds do largely what they say. They are made out of a fabric sheet that rolls up out the way when not in use. They are great for bedrooms in urban areas as they can be made out of blackout fabric ensuring that external lights don’t disturb your sleep. Roman blinds look similar to roller blinds but are either made of tightly woven slats or contain slats within the fabric meaning that they fold up rather than roll.

Slatted Blinds (Venetian and Vertical blinds)

Pros:

• Slatted blinds stack when drawn, ensuring that they take up less space.
• They offer the greatest degree of control over external light.
• They will fit in with a wide variety of different colour schemes without much work.

Cons:

• They require frequent cleaning and dusting.
• The slatted design allows light to get through even when fully closed.
• They don’t retain heat very well.
• The individual slats and the lift cords can break very easily.

Roman and Roller Blinds

Pros:

• Can be used to block all light.
• They take up the least amount of space.
• They don’t require regular cleaning.

Cons:

• Difficult to clean unless the fabric is coated with wipe down surface.

Curtains: Curtains can frame the window to create a striking and sophisticated effect as well as drawing attention to the view. The Fabrics they are made of come in a variety of thicknesses, from see through net curtains which offer little more than decoration to heavy drapes.

Pros:

• Curtains are aesthetically striking and can give the room an air of sophistication.
• In winter curtains provide the best insulation.
• They come in a wide range of colours and patterns.

Cons:

• Curtains take up more space than blinds.
• In rooms like bathrooms and kitchens there is a risk of mould and staining due to the moisture in the air.
• Kids can hide behind large curtains.

I hope this guide helps anyone trying to redecorate choose their window treatments. Done well both blinds and curtains can add a lot to a room.

Author Bio
This is a guest post by Daniel Frank a UK blogger writing on behalf of wooden Venetian blind specialist wooden blinds direct

If you have any elderly or disabled living with you or are regularly visited by someone who is, then making your home easily accessible will make their life safer and easier. Whilst accessibility might seem to only be an issue for people suffering serious disabilities, you will be surprised at how much of a difference it can make. For example I’m sure many families have struggled with getting a pram or furniture through a narrow doorway fronted with steps.

Simple Steps to Improve Acccessibility
There are a number of trip hazards that you may not notice or be aware off. In particular throw rugs which can catch or slip under people. They can be simply taped down to prevent slippage but still be easily moved for cleaning. This step is particularly important if you have anyone with a walker or a wheelchair which can easily be caught by a rug.

If you use chairs with arms then it will make it easier for people with less strength to get in and out of them. They are also safer as they allow people to lower themselves onto them if necessary. Similarly placing cushions on low chairs will provide a simple and effective step for making them easier to get in and out of.

In the kitchen you can buy large handled grips for tableware will help make life easier, particularly for people with arthritis or other conditions which can reduce the strength of their grip. Similarly double handled pots and pans can be lifted without placing as much stress on the wrist joints as single handed pots. The not only means they are easier to lift but reduces the chance of spillages.

Replacing door knobs and tap handles with longer handles makes turning them easier. (Who hasn’t struggled with a stiff tap?) Similarly large handles which allow you to insert several fingers on drawers are easier than knobs or ones which only insert a small number.

Some more complex steps
You can make your bathroom safer by placing non slip tape and grab bars near the toilet and shower to help prevent slippage. In addition walk in baths and hand held showerheads make bathing far easier for people with disabilities.

For more serious mobility problems a reconditioned stairlift will provide an affordable option if you or people you live with find it hard to climb the stairs, and is safer than getting a second hand stairlift.

Wheelchair ramps come in many forms depending upon what you can afford, but an aluminium portable ramp should not only make accessing the home easier for people in wheelchairs but also help other people who might find the steps hard to manage such a people using walkers. In general it’s recommended that ramps have a slope which rises 12 inches for every foot.

The costs don’t need be prohibitive despite the initial set up. There are a variety of organizations such as The Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs which offer grants so as to allow people with disabilities to afford technology to allow them to do tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible.

Author Bio
This is a guest post by Daniel Frank, a UK blogger who is interested in disability issues. He is currently writing on behalf of Stannah Stairlifts who provide a range of products including reconditioned stairlifts

How the Invisible Fence Brand Works

The technology is simple to understand: a transmitter in the garage or basement sends a radio signal through a concealed wire that defines the dog’s safe area. The dog stays in the safe area because of the receiver attached to his collar. If he approaches a safe zone boundary, he’s first sent an audible warning. If he continues to advance, he will eventually receive a light shock, similar to what a static electricity shock feels like to us. If you’re concerned about how this affects your dog, the Invisible Fence Brand has received accolades and endorsements from veterinarians, animal shelters and others concerned with animal welfare, safety and health, as to its safety and efficacy.

Professional installers design and install the system in your yard. Each application is unique to your yard type, circumstances and needs. Once installation is complete, a certified Invisbile Fence Brand trainer works with you and your dog to help establish new behavior patterns consistent with the Invisible Fence Brand boundaries. This training is critical because it teaches the dog consequences for crossing the fence line and reinforces acceptable behavior.

Invisible Fence vs. Chained to a Leash

With no fence to hold them, dogs will roam as far as their nose and curiosity will take them. Even if they know to come home, dogs are still subject to the dangers on the street – cars, other dogs, etc. Using a tie-out is an alternative; however, a number of studies document increased aggression in dogs forced to live on the end of a chain or long lead. Having an Invisible Fence allows your dog to run and play unrestricted, and gives you peace of mind knowing your dog isn’t running all over the neighborhood. Kristin Rogers of Invisible Fence of Northeast Ohio, adds another benefit to the mix:

“Too many pets are surrendered [to shelters] because of a variety of behavioral issues – which could easily be solved with our containment solutions. We’ve heard from thousands of customers who tell us how skeptical they were that Invisible Fence Brand would work for their pet, but they were out of options and had to do something. They always come back and tell us how amazed they are and how it has changed their lives and their pets.”

Maintain a Pet-Free Zone Inside Your House

What works outside also works well inside. Do you have places in your home you’d like to keep pet free? Tired of the cats trying to “help” you make dinner? It is possible to contain your pets in specific areas of your home, keeping other places “off limits.” The indoor transmitters are small, just five inches long, and can be placed anywhere you don’t want your animals to roam. The signal field emitted by the transmitter is adjustable, so you can designate practically any size area a “no pet zone.” (And yes, this system does work with cats, too.)

Safe for Small Dogs and Cats

With the popularity of small dogs and cats, it was only a matter of time before Invisible Fence Brand provided a collar that was small dog and cat friendly. They’ve now developed their newest, most advanced containment collar yet. The MicroLite™ Computer Collar^® weighs only one ounce and is 30 percent smaller and lighter than any other pet containment collar. This means it works well with cats and very small dogs. It also features Invisible Fence Brand’s SmartLink™ Technology, which allows pets to unlock their own pet door and enables sophisticated customization to designate specific areas for multiple pets. You can even customize your collar with colorful MicroSkins™ and collar designs for your stylish pet.

Saving Lives after a Fire

Saving a cat from smoke inhalation after a fire.

Invisible Fence Brand is concerned about pet safety beyond containment systems. It’s estimated that at least 40,000 pets die annually in fires, usually succumbing to smoke inhalation. Invisible Fence has developed a program that donates pet oxygen masks to local fire departments to prevent pets from falling victim to smoke inhalation after a fire. These masks, which are available for dogs and cats, also fit other animals typically found in U.S. homes.

Saving Maggie.

The Interlochen Fire Department was the first department to save an animal using the masks donated by Invisible Fence Brand. They saved two family pets from succumbing to smoke inhalation using an animal oxygen mask kit. “It was amazing to see how quickly Maggie responded–within 20 minutes, she went from non-responsive to walking on all four legs,” said Rebecca Pruyne, Safety Director, Interlochen Fire Department. “We are grateful to Invisible Fence for donating this life-saving kit.”

Originally posted 2009-08-24 08:00:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

 …and How to Stay Warm While You Wait!

If you are not a DYI guru, call a heating expert

Inevitably, the heating system in your home won’t fail on a crisp, October morning, but on the coldest, harshest day of the year! If the failure occurs in the morning on a weekday, you may be fortunate enough to have a repair professional available that day to set things right again. However, if it is evening, the weekend, or the repair businesses are busy, you may have to wait some time.

While you wait, take steps to help your home retain as much heat as possible. Leave your window coverings down and drawn. If you have south facing windows and it is a sunny day, open the blinds/curtains while those windows are in direct sun. Make sure all windows and doors are closed, and block any drafts that may be sneaking in around them.

If you use a space heater for temporary heat, make sure you heed all safety warnings and supervise children around these devices. No need to add a doctor bill on top of the repair bill. If you can, use the space heater to heat a small room, rather than a large, open area.

Rice socks are a great way to warm up your toes in bed at night. Pour plain white rice into a clean sock and firmly knot the end. Heat the sock in the microwave on high for 30-60 seconds or until the rice is very warm, but not too hot. Slip the rice sock under the covers at the foot of the bed. (A rice sock is fairly safe, but can still be very hot! Don’t put it on bare skin and please, supervise children so they don’t burn themselves!)

Now, on to getting that heating system fixed! Be sure to check that the problem isn’t something you can address without paying a costly repair bill. For example, check to see that the thermostat is set properly and that it is working properly. Consult your furnace’s operation manual. Some furnaces have a “reset” button that may solve all your problems! Or, perhaps the pilot light has gone out!

If the problem is not so easily identified and solved, it is time to bring in a heating professional. If you have not needed a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) service in the past, you may not have anyone in mind to call. Assuming the situation is fairly urgent (as in our scenario above) you may not have much time to research. However, it is still a good idea to ask friends and relatives in the area for a recommendation.

Your local utility company may also have information about trusted heating ompanies in your area. Once you have a couple names, a quick search of online reviews will also give you an overview of your chosen companies before you call.

When you call, be sure you understand the heating contractor’s pricing and warranty policies before you agree to have them come out to your home. Trust your instincts—if a company doesn’t “feel” right based on a phone call, move on. On the other hand, if you have a great experience with a company, pass the word along, both by word-of-mouth and online. That way when a friend or neighbor is in the same boat as you, they will be more likely to find a heating company they can trust to do the repairs for them.

Signs of a Good Year

Home Improvement projects often show up high on homeowner’s list of New Year’s resolutions.  But without proper planning it’s easy to spend too much or hire a disreputable contractor.  Then the home improvement project that should bring you joy turns into a home improvement nightmare.

Here’s a list of five New Year’s resolutions that will help bring you peace and joy in the New Year:

1. I will do my research online weather I am hiring a home improvement contractor or doing it myself.

2. I will not pick the first home improvement contractor that shows up in a Google search or has the best looking website.

3. I will ask for and check at least three references.

4. I will check with the local contractor’s board or licensing agency to see if there are any complaints against the home improvement contractor AND see how it was resolved.

5. I won’t make a decision until I have attended my local home and garden show and met the home improvement contractor I am going to hire. Here is a list of the best home and garden shows in North America: http://www.hgsei.com/

When there’s a bumper crop of fresh herbs, the best way to preserve them is in oil. Here’s a great recipe to do this.

1. Pluck leaves from the stems and pack them down in a measuring cup.
2. Place two hard-packed cups of herbs in a blender or food processor.
3. Add 1 cup of good-quality cooking oil (such as extra-virgin olive oil) and blend until pureed.
4. Place in small containers, cover tightly and freeze.

Oil brings out the flavors of herbs. This method will keep them fresh up to six months. It works especially well with:

• Fresh dill
• Tarragon
• Oregano
• Sage
• Mints
• Lemon
• Thyme
• Basil

Dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh herbs, so when substituting dried herbs for fresh, the ratio is one measure of dried herbs to three of fresh. This also works in reverse.

How much of a fresh herb to add to a recipe is a personal decision. Use common sense and Barclay’s axiom- “Stop adding when it turns green.” Fresh herbs will not overpower a dish as easily as dried, so do not be too concerned about overdoing it.

To chop herbs finely and quickly, place leaves in a bowl and use scissors to snip.

From NGC Club Program Lesson Plan #4, “Enchanting, Useful & Romantic Herbs.” Available from Member Services. With special thanks to Nell Denman, NGC Mentors Committee Chair.

Other Herb Articles:
Creeping Winter Savory Is Tasty Addition to Any Garden
Locating and Planning Your Herb Garden

Originally posted 2010-11-28 07:00:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Happy dog!

A staggering three to four million dogs and cats are euthanized in the US every year. That’s more than 10,000 animals per day and over 400 per hour.

It’s easy to understand, with numbers like these, how animal shelters across the country are literally bursting at the seams with unwanted animals. These sobering statistics shine a stark light on the need for education about and availability of spaying and neutering of companion animals.

To help reduce these staggering euthanasia numbers, Animal Friends, a premier companion animal resource center, has embarked on a comprehensive, community-wide spay/neuter initiative to reduce, and eventually eliminate, pet overpopulation in southwestern Pennsylvania. This program targets counties like Allegheny, where 25,000 abandoned or homeless companion animals enter shelters each year, and of those, 10,000 are euthanized because adoptive homes can’t be found.

Animal Friends is a non-profit companion animal resource center serving the needs of pets and people since 1943. Their progressive programs have been nationally recognized and include:

• Humane rescue
• Shelter and adoption services for over 2,500 pets annually
• Humane education
• Pet behavior classes
• Pet-assisted therapy
• Wellness programs
• Community-wide spay/neuter programs

Animal Friends, who’s motto is “Thinking outside the cage,” is supported by donations, 700 volunteers and a staff dedicated to ensuring the well being of companion animals and ending overpopulation, abuse and unwarranted euthanasia.

Currently the organization is undergoing a massive effort to go community by community in southwestern Pennsylvania to attack the pet overpopulation problem from low-income pet owners who can’t afford spaying, feral cat colony caregivers and pit bull owners. They also assist smaller organizations that lack spay/neuter programs.

There are three key components of the Animal Friends initiative:

1. Low-Cost Spay Neuter Program. This program provides financial assistance to low-income pet owners so they can obtain spay/neuter services. It has been working to relieve pet overpopulation since 1993 and has spayed and neutered over 30,000 animals, preventing births of over 2.5 million unwanted pets. 
2. In-house Spay/Neuter Services. With the addition of this program in 2008, Animal Friends has already performed over 4,000 surgeries on pets of low-income pet owners who can’t afford to pay for the surgery at a veterinarian’s office. 
3. Mobile Resource Center. This 30-foot vehicle serves as a mobile spay/neuter clinic and is the only unit of its kind in western Pennsylvania. This mobile clinic allows Animal Friends to travel to the pets who need them the most.

Part of the education process is helping pet owners understand why spaying and neutering is important beyond the staggering euthanasia statistics. Having a pet spayed or neutered also helps to:

• Reduce the pet’s risk of cancer and infection
• Make the pet less likely to run away
• Ensure a calmer, happier animal companion.

Unfortunately, there are still several myths that persist regarding spaying and neutering. The Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org) effectively tackles these myths and the related facts here.

Given the rural nature of much of southwestern Pennsylvania, unwanted pets are frequently dumped, left to fend for themselves. Caring locals often attempt to tend for these animals, willingly taking on financial hardship to keep them alive and safe. One such angel is Kathy.

Feral cat eyeing dinner.

The cat problem in the rural area where Kathy lives first became apparent when her dogs attacked the strays that came into her fenced yard. Fearing for the cats’ safety, she carefully monitored her dogs and sought help for the cats.

First she turned to the township, which refused to intervene unless the animals were rabid. Next, the local animal control agency told her cats were difficult to catch, so they wouldn’t be able to help her either.

Ironically, it was at her allergist’s office that Kathy heard of Animal Friends’ Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program. She learned that she could obtain a spay/neuter voucher to take to a local veterinarian who works with Animal Friends, significantly reducing the expense of the surgery. She initially took about 10 cats to be altered, and was delighted that she had solved the problem. But soon a pregnant cat was dropped off, adding five kittens to her property.

Kathy continues to commit to ensuring that the cats survive but don’t reproduce. Even though she’s had times of financial difficulty, she keeps working with Animal Friends to obtain the vouchers. She has used birthday and Christmas money, wrapped coins, and even her winnings from a lottery ticket to support her mission. Friends have donated money as well, and she and her husband have raised additional funds through recycling aluminum cans.

The irony in Kathy’s cause is that her allergies prevent her from bringing the cats into her home. So Kathy and her husband enclosed a porch to provide a warm place for the cats to winter. Having altered 17 cats this year alone, she is nearly caught up, but was delayed just a bit by family medical bills and vet bills for her husky.

Surprisingly, Kathy has never even visited Animal Friends, but she doesn’t hesitate to express her gratitude for the service they make available to her. When a cat shows up, she calls Nancy Hanson, Animal Friends‘ Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Counselor, to arrange for the surgery locally. “Nancy has been so helpful every time I call,” Kathy says. “Whenever I need help, she’s there.” If cats in Kathy’s care could talk, they would surely say the same about her.

Originally posted 2009-06-14 08:58:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

With the arrival of December and the holiday season, most of us are pulling out the Christmas decorations and getting ready to deck out every last corner in order to ensure that our houses are “holiday ready” in every way from the last touch of tinsel to the last dusting of powdered snow. But as you think about decorating your home, now is also the perfect time to think about winterizing your home as well. Your home might be Christmas ready, but is it winter ready?

Not just Christmas ready, winter ready

According to John Schaeffer in his book Solar Living Sourcebook, the average American home is currently leaking air at a rate equivalent to having a four-foot-square hole in the wall. This means most of our homes are actually losing the majority of the heat they’re producing as it’s being produced and we aren’t even aware of it. So, regardless of whether or not we think we’ve found perhaps the greenest or most resourceful, economical way to heat our home, if we’re losing that heat unnecessarily, it’s benefiting us very little. If you’re not sure your house is as ready as it could be for the 2012 winter, here are some tips for ensuring that your home is winter ready and that your heating practices are at their optimum for conserving energy and lowering your costs.

Know Your Sources of Heat Loss
The first half of the battle in keeping your warm air in and the cold air out is to know where the air transfer is happening. Some of the most common places include: the attic, the crawl space, unused chimneys, door and window frames, electrical outlets and switches, vents, and recessed lights. Do a quick run through of these areas in your house to see if you can find any areas with leaks. If you do, you can quickly seal them off and ensure that much better insulation in your home. At the very, very least, stock up on some door draft stoppers so you can keep cold air out at the foot of all your doors.

Change Out All Furnace Filters
You’ll want to start off the winter season with clean furnace filters. As dust and debris builds up, air flow becomes restricted, increasing the energy demand needed to propel air through. The more build up, the more energy you have to use just to get the same results. Change out all furnace filters now and stock up so that you’re prepared to change them out monthly during this year’s winter season.

Reverse Your Fans
All recently built fans have both a reverse setting and a forward setting. The reverse setting is especially designed for winter. Because hot air rises and pools itself at the top of your ceiling, you want your fan pushing in reverse so that it can push the hot air back down to the ground in the surrounding air where you will actually feel it. Simply keeping hot air in your reach can make the difference between you unnecessarily turning up your thermostat in an effort to get warmer.

Check Your Thermostats
Most of us have thermostats set to higher temperatures than we really need. For starters, check your hot water thermostat. Most hot water heaters are set to 140 degrees as standard. You can very easily turn this down to 120 degrees and likely never even notice the difference as chances are good you never use water that hot (washing dishes, taking showers, etc.). You should also be able to get away with turning down your room thermostat by two degrees. Even though it’s only a couple degrees, you will save a large amount of energy over the course of the winter, and by adding a few extra layers for a couple weeks, your body will naturally adjust and acclimate to living in an environment just a touch cooler.

Take Inventory on Appliances & Light Bulbs
Energy Star Rated products will absolutely help you conserve energy and green up your home. Switching your standard fluorescent light bulbs over to carbon fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) is another quick way to save on energy used and your long term cost, as they last generally 10 times longer and use approximately 65-75% less energy than a regular light bulb. However, both CFLs and Energy Star Rated products require higher upfront cost, so it can be a good idea to simply take stock on what you have so far in your home, what improvements you could make and find out how and when you can start to make the switches.

Research Energy Companies in Your Area
Some energy companies actually have peak hours in which it costs more to use the same amount of energy. Becoming aware of these can enable you to more effectively plan when you heat your home the most, as well as when you use large appliances like dishwashers and laundry machines. Choosing to run these at hours when it is more cost effective can help keep your energy bill much lower.

Get Winterization Shopping Done
Chances are that you’ll need to do a walk-through of your house and take inventory on heating supplies like lighters, matches, furnace filters, your thermostat and even the condition of your fire extinguisher. Make sure you have everything you need to both start and quench a fire as part of your standard home winterization practices. If you burn any type of fuel like wood, pellets, natural gas, etc., now is also the prime time to make sure that your winter supply is set or at least on schedule to be taken care of.

Any Lingering Questions – Call a Professional
Finally, if you’re not feeling confident that things like your furnace or chimney are cleaned and in proper working condition, call in a professional. They can also do a walk through to check on your leaks and coach you on the best options for insulation in your home.

Enjoy a Warm Winter Ready Home
With all the preparation done, you can head into both the holiday season and the winter season ready to keep your house warm while you do your best to conserve energy and lower your bills as well. When in doubt, throw a sweater and some shoes on before you turn that thermostat up!

About the Author
Freelancer Jocelyn Anne writes for Air-n-Water and helps them develop content for their heating department related to energy savings.