Mid-March means a change from standard time (ST) to daylight savings time (DST). As we remember to adjust our clocks one hour ahead, don’t forget to think about these seasonal home maintenance tips:
1. Clean out the medicine cabinet: Remove items that are past their expiry date. They might be dangerous to keep in the house so be sure to dispose of them in a responsible way – many drugstores will dispose of old medicine for you. Also, make note of prescriptions or products that need to be refilled.
2. Check your filters: Often, there’s no outward sign that your fridge water filter needs to be changed because the contaminants and other chemicals are imperceptible. Leading brands like Whirlpool, Maytag and KitchenAid recommend changing your filters every six months to ensure that your water and ice remains fresh and great tasting. More information can be found online at www.whirlpoolparts.ca.
3. Check the First Aid kit: Changing the clock is great time to remember to stock up your First Aid kit. Ensure all of your emergency supplies are replaced and up to date.
4. Check the batteries: Your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are the most important battery powered devices in your home and need a reliable power source. Replace these batteries, but don’t throw them out, save them for remote controls and other battery devices in your home.
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(NC) - If the purchase of a new home is in your near future, consider buying an energy-efficient home. Buying energy-efficient means buying smart. Energy efficiency is being incorporated into the building codes across Canada, and builders are following up with offering more energy-efficient upgrades in new homes. Why not stay ahead of the game and purchase an energy-efficient home for the future? This adds a higher resale value to your home and allows you to have a positive impact on the environment.
An energy-efficient home offers savings in energy use, lower energy bills, and increased comfort. Options in buying energy-efficient homes are many in today’s market - from having your new home EnerGuide-rated, to buying best in class ENERGY STAR® qualified homes and R-2000* homes. To find out more about these initiatives and energy efficient new homes, visit www.newhomes.nrcan.gc.ca or call 1-800-387-2000 to order publications.
*R-2000 is an official mark of Natural Resources Canada
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admin Energy Efficiency EnerGuide, energy efficent homes, energy star
(NC)—There are selling points and then there are selling points. Energy efficiency continues to be one of the most sought after features among home buyers in Canada today; in fact a recent survey of homebuyers in Ottawa and Toronto showed that 94 per cent of respondents agreed that energy efficiency reduces operating costs even if they are perceived to cost more upfront.
Why? Because, according to industry experts, energy-efficient homes are less expensive to operate, more comfortable to live in and more environmentally-friendly, especially ones that carry the federal government’s highly recognizable R-2000 or ENERGY STAR label. The R-2000 standard and many regional initiatives for energy-efficient homes across Canada such as ENERGY STAR for New Homes, Built Green, Yukon GreenHome, and PowerSmart use Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide rating service as the quality assurance tool for the energy efficiency of the home. The ERS determines the home’s level of energy efficiency on a scale from 0-100.
Homeowners can save hundreds of dollars every year in heating and fuel costs and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by two to three tonnes just by buying or upgrading to an energy-efficient home.
More information is available on this topic at www.newhomes.nrcan.gc.ca.
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admin Energy Efficiency Energy Efficiency, energy star
Building a home takes money no matter how you cut it. Natural Resources Canada, the federal government department that administers the EnerGuide Rating System in Canada, is reminding Canadians to do their homework this summer when it comes to building a new home. Even though many Canadians perceive energy efficiency costs more, upgrades and features can save you money in the long run and reduce your environmental footprint. More information is available on this topic at www.newhomes.nrcan.gc.ca.
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admin Energy Efficiency Energy Efficiency