Save On Your Energy Bill!

According to the Alliance to Save Energy, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, American consumers and businesses spend some $21 billion annually, on lighting alone, and could cut their costs in half with energy-efficient light bulbs and fixtures while improving the environment.

Installing efficient lighting in American homes and businesses would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 140 million tons each year--as much as eliminating all the carbon dioxide produced by the state of New Jersey! Isn't that amazing?

I found a website (sponsored by the EPA and the DOE) that shows how to save money on energy bills by incorporating their energy efficiency suggestions. It's http://hes.lbl.gov/.

Heading Out of the Country?

Citizens of the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico traveling to and from certain destinations soon will need a passport or other accepted documents to enter or re-enter the United States.

Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.

Don't get caught without the proper documentation! Read the complete regulations and apply early for your passport, if you will be traveling to any of the affected destinations.

Click here for passport information from the U.S. Department of State.

Don't Fill In Weep Holes!

Lately, when I've been showing homes, I've noticed a few homes where the weep holes have been sealed or caulked shut. Never, never, never do that!

What am I talking about?

Brick can be a structural component of a home, serving as the wall itself or a veneer, a type of siding. As a veneer, a single thickness of brick is added to the outside of a wood-framed home serving the same purposed as any exterior siding.

One way to identify brick veneer is the presence of weep holes. Weep holes are small openings at the bottom of brick veneer walls. They are designed to give moisture that accumulates in the space between the interior wooden wall and the exterior veneer a way out. Without weep holes for ventilation, moisture can become trapped in this cavity, causing mold, reducing the effectiveness of insulation, encouraging the formation of rot and attracting pests. With many insurance companies no longer covering mold damage in their homeowner policies, you need to make sure that this doesn't become a problem for you.

Weep holes can often be identified by open slots on a course, or row, of bricks near the foundation. The holes are typically 32-33 inches apart and should be kept clear of obstruction. It's a good idea to check and clear these weep holes peridically. Do not allow dirt, mulch or broken pieces of mortar to block the holes and trap moisture inside.

Are You Disaster-Ready?

January is a chilly or cold time for many home-improvement projects. What does this mean? It's a good time to get prepared in other ways. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends that Americans take a few minutes to prepare for possible disasters. Our area of the country is susceptible to certain natural disasters, like tornadoes, floods or possibly earthquakes, which can delay emergency response and damage personal property.

The Dept. of Homeland Security suggests keeping the following in an emergency supply kit...(a smaller, portable kit should be kept at work and/or in a car):

• Water - one gallon per person per day for at least 3 days
• 3-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-operated radio and a NOAA Weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food
• Local maps

For more information on how to stay prepared, go to www.ready.gov.

Live by the Boy Scout motto: "Be Prepared". Don't think it can't happen to you.