Bobbie Gardner

I hope everyone can come out and see the Southern Ideal Show in Greensboro this weekend! Home Energy Solutions of the Triad will be there as an exhibitor at booth #1509. Come by and see Jay & John as they demonstrate the infrared camera and have the blower door and duct blaster set up. Good, better, best scenarios for insulation with an infrared thermometer. Hours are Friday - 10:00-9:00, Saturday - 10:00-8:00 and Sunday - 11:00-5:00.

The government will help you pay for specific energy upgrades - but only until the end of this year! You can claim a federal tax credit of 30% of the cost - up to $1500 for new qualified windows, doors, roofs, insulation, water heaters and HVAC. If spending $5000 on one or more of these qualified items, you can claim the full $1500 on your 2010 income tax form. Your best whole-house solution is an energy audit. Think of it this way, if you have cold symptoms - sniffles, etc., you go to the doctor for a diagnosis. It is the same way with a house - if you have high energy bills, drafty rooms - it is time for a diagnosis and a prescription. An energy audit will evaluate the ductwork, insulation levels and other aspects of your home's performance. The report will "pinpoint" the source of the energy loss and the professional auditor will prioritize upgrades to maximize the return on the investment. An audit consists of diagnostic tools such as a blower door which test for the home's airtightness and an infrared camera detects insulation gaps and other inefficiencies. A great company to work with is Home Energy Solutions of the Triad 1-800-724-4841. Be energy efficient - it helps your pocketbook, your quality of life and in the long run, you will do your part to save energy. Stay tuned for more energy saving tips! Contact me if you have specific questions, I love to know who is reading my blog! Visit Home Energy Solutions of the Triad at this week's - Southern Ideal Show at the Greensboro coliseum - Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

Our area of the world has some of the most beautiful homes, ones built by experienced and professional builders. Although the Real Estate market is finally on an upturn, it is slow going in all markets. Many of buyers are still riding the fence - is now the time to buy, who do I listen to - the national media, the commercials on television. I have had a lot of conversations recently with friends and sometimes with people I barely know. I tell people, go with your gut feeling - weigh the pros and cons. If you are in a good place in your life, with a reasonably good job and you will not be strapped in buying a home, now is your time - take advantage of the tax credit if it applies. If you are scared, indecisive and cannot weigh rather or not the time is right - don't buy. Have you ever bought something in the store and when you got home you looked at and thought "what possessed me to buy this"? As unsettled as times are, don't let anyone pressure you into buying a house because the tax credit is running out. By all means, do take advantage of this government tax credit if things are good for you - I don't think and many of the indicators point out that the tax credit is over with - there is no extension. Feel good about buying a home, it is an exciting time and one you should find enjoyable. There is nothing better in my job that finding someone a house they love, one they can raise their family in and make memories to years to come. That is the best part of my job. I love meeting new people, sharing in the quest for the perfect home and knowing they made the right decision. All of the education I have received in the year's of Real Estate and it boils down to listening and caring for customers - that is all that matters.

Home Energy Team's Top Ten Ways to Save on your Electricity!

10 Ways To Save Money On Your Electricity Bill

(By Stu Silverman)

Is your electricity bill too high? Do you want to save money each month? Here are 10 ways you can start saving money immediately. Included with each tip is an estimate of how much you can save.

If you want to save even more money each month, while making your home more comfortable to live in and increasing the value of your home, schedule a home energy audit with local professionals, Home Energy Solutions 1-800-724-4841.

1. Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees and save up to 10 percent on water heating costs. Setting the thermostat to a lower temperature reduces the heat - i.e. energy - required to keep the water hot. At 120 degrees you shouldn't notice a difference in the heat of your hot water, but you will notice a difference in your electricity bill.
2. Wash and dry only full loads of laundry, and use cold water as much as possible to save 2 to 4 percent on your energy costs. You'll also spend less time doing laundry!
3. Change or clean the air filter on your air conditioner each month and save up to 5 percent on your electricity bill (because your air conditioner won't need to work as hard). You will also reduce the amount of dust and dirt in the air, which improves the quality of the air you breathe, and keeps your house cleaner.
4. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) and save around 66 percent on lighting costs. CFL's may cost a bit more than incandescent bulbs, but they last about 10 times longer.
5. On hot, sunny summer days, keep blinds shut on south- and west-facing windows, and save 2 to 4 percent on your energy bill. The blinds help to keep the sun's heat from heating up your house, so you use less energy to stay comfortable. On sunny winter days, open your curtains and blinds to let the sunshine in to warm up your house.
6. Keep doors and vents shut in rooms that aren't being used, and save up to 3 percent on heating or cooling costs depending on the square footage of your home. Why spend money heating rooms that aren't being used?
7. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors to save 1 to 4 percent on your energy bill. Air seeping through the cracks requires more air conditioning (and energy, and money) to keep the house comfortable.
8. During hot weather, set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher when you're home, and at 85 degrees when you're away. You'll save 1 to 2 percent per degree. A ceiling fan makes the room feel around 4 degrees cooler, and costs much less to operate than air conditioning.
9. Use your microwave oven instead of your conventional oven and save up to 50 percent on cooking costs. Microwaves are much more energy efficient than traditional ovens, which use a lot of energy to heat up and to stay hot. And a lot of heat is wasted in heating the oven itself. In the summer, traditional ovens heat up the house, making the air conditioner work harder.
10. Turn off lights and electric machines (TV's, computers, radios, stereos, video games, VCR's, and DVD players) when you leave a room. Unplug these machines before you leave on a trip, because they consume electricity even when they're turned off.

To find out how you can save even more money on your energy bills, schedule a home energy audit today!

My customers are so excited and happy with the results of their energy audits. What a great way to save money and do your part to save energy. I encourage you to find out more and I will keep passing on tips and savings through my blog.

Okay, I know you are tired of our "Southern" winter, as I am a native of North Carolina, this has to be one of the worst winters we have had. Have faith, Spring will peer around the corner and you will really appreciate those daffodils! Meanwhile, get a move on your "things to do list" and here are some tips to get you started:

As we have experienced a great deal of moisture in the last couple of months, the ground has been softened surrounding your home's foundation and is a potential for disaster. Our Southern red clay becomes compromised, shrinks and the foundation can move slightly. The moisture source can be heavy ran, heavy snow or a misplaced downspout. Moisture issues do not discriminate - homes of all ages, sizes and prices are all potential victims. The best advice - check your downspouts, find out where the water is pooling. In 40% of homes, downspouts are directing water towards the soil near the foundation and they need to be redirected. Examine the drywall or brick around the base of your home for cracks - anything larger than 1/4" indicates a situation that needs immediate attention by professionals to avoid more serious repairs.

Jay with Home Energy Solutions of the Triad has given me several items commonly found in his inspections and to no surprise, downspouts top the list. Moisture is a culprit for so many issues with homes in our regions - mold, wood rot - the list is long.

Some items on my to do list in February are the dreaded grilles on my bathroom fans and refrigerator - dust bunnies look out! Change those air filters for your HVAC - use HEPA filters to elliminate allergens. Dust interior lights and bulbs and change out for more energy efficient CFLs.

Start a maintenance checklist and stay tuned for more tips on making your home more energy efficient, and safe for your family. For more information, you can always give me a call 336-382-5939.