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2016 Fall

2 | September 17, 2016 • The Vermont Eagle • Fall Home Improvement

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Five innovations to make your home more energy-efficient this winter

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ld Man Winter brings a variety of gifts for us each year - cold winds, snow and, of course, higher energy bills. You can’t control the cold and the snow, but you do have a little control over how much energy you will use this winter.

With today’s technological advances, it has never been easier to lessen your impact on the power grid and reduce your heating bills. An energy audit is a good place to start to find out areas where heat is escaping from your home. After you’ve identified those areas, you may also want to think about outfitting your home with devices or systems that will make it more energy efficient.

Here are five recent innovations that can help you conserve energy this winter:

Freewatt home energy system This eco-friendly heating system features micro-CHP technology that is integrated with a high-efficiency natural gas or propane furnace or boiler and generates both heat and electricity for your home. Such a system has the potential to generate half of a typical home’s annual electrical needs, according to ECR, makers of the freewatt and freewatt plus home energy systems. Additionally, a water heater may be added to the system to produce even more electricity. If your state and utility company have net metering programs, you can also sell back additional electricity generated by your system to be used elsewhere. The freewatt plus system also acts as a backup generator should your home lose power.

Rooftop solar water heaters Why pay for energy to heat water when the sun will do it for

you at no cost? While a solar water heater may cost more up front, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can save 50 to 80 percent on your water heating bill. It’s possible that you may also be able to receive a tax deduction if you roll the cost of the heater into your mortgage. If you are interested, it may also be wise to check with the Department of Energy or retailers to see if there are any other tax benefits available for any efficiency upgrade you are thinking about making.

Solar light tubes Adding these to your house can add fresh and natural light to a space that might otherwise need electric light, thus reducing the electricity you’ll use. These can be added during construction or installed at a later date.

Radiant barriers This strategy, using reflective barriers, often in the attic, can reduce the amount of heat that is lost through the roof of your home. It also can reduce the amount of heat coming in from the attic in the warmer months.

Replace windows?

If you determine you are losing a lot of heat through your windows, it might make good financial sense to replace them with more energy-efficient ones. It might be helpful to work with your energy auditor or window company to determine the best option, as it can often be dependent on what kind of windows you have and where they are located.

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Fall Home Improvement • The Vermont Eagle • September 17, 2016 | 3

The perfect energy-saving DIY home improvement project for fall

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hen it comes to do-it-yourself projects that will save money on energy costs, there are many new products on the market that make it possible to save hundreds of dollars over time, with just a few hours of easy installation.

Few of these products come close to the long-term benefits of installing radiant barrier foil in your attic. There’s even a federal tax credit (available on your 2010 federal tax return) to help you recoup up to $1,500 on your purchase price through the American Recovery Tax Credit.

As temperatures drop, installing a radiant barrier in your attic space becomes much more comfortable. When warmer weather returns, you can relax without having to turn on the air conditioner as often and as a result, enjoy reduced cooling costs. That’s the main benefit of installing a radiant barrier, according to Rick Jordan of EcoRite Products, a major radiant barrier manufacturer.

“I don’t know of any product that is this easy to install that does as much for reducing the stress on your cooling or heating systems as a radiant barrier,” Jordan says. “On average, attics that have radiant barriers installed are 30 degrees cooler than they were before the product was installed. That equates to a significant amount of heat that is not baking down through the ceiling of a home, causing the air conditioner to stay on longer and work harder.”

A radiant barrier works in your home similar to the way a reflective foil car shade works in your car. Just as a car shade keeps the interior of an auto cooler when it’s parked in the sun, radiant barriers keep your home’s interior cooler when installed in your attic where the sun’s radiant energy is absorbed.

“Enerflex looks a lot like quilted aluminum foil. It is made of a durable, highly reflective, double-sided metallic film that you install to the underside of a roof between the rafters.

From an installation standpoint, it couldn’t be easier,” Jordan says. “There is no need to secure the product with adhesive, so installation moves quickly.”

ENERGY STAR-approved Enerflex Radiant Barrier, which reflects up to 96 percent of the sun’s radiant energy and helps cool attic space up to 30 degrees, is easy to install and qualifies for a tax credit for savings up to $1,500.

“Radiant barrier installation should be viewed not so much an expense, but as an investment. Homeowners are repaid over time through lower utility bills, particularly in the summer, but wintertime savings can also be realized,” Jordan says.

In the winter, a radiant barrier basically performs in reverse, helping to keep rising heat from the home’s interior from escaping through the roof. Radiant barriers typically are twice as effective in the summer months as in winter months.

Enerflex Radiant Barrier is mold- and mildew-resistant, will not harbor insects, and is Class A fire rated. It’s available from building material dealers nationwide. You can find places that sell the product by visiting www. enerflexfoil.com.

The Florida Solar Energy Center has conducted numerous studies on radiant barrier installation and found that, under peak daytime heat conditions, the total heat transfer allowed down through attics can be reduced by as much as 40 percent, which can signifi-

cantly reduce the load demand of an air conditioning system.

Design of your home also makes a difference: Whether it is a one-story or two-story home, the home’s age, the type of roof, whether your roof has shade, your HVAC system’s efficiency, the type of insulation installed and local energy rates all contribute to your potential for individual cost savings. If you are unsure how to install radiant barrier in your home, ask a home improvement expert.

4 | September 17, 2016 • The Vermont Eagle • Fall Home Improvement

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Luxury bathroom upgrades that are worth the investment

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ew room renovations return as much on your investment - in terms of resale value and enhanced enjoyment as refurbishing a bathroom. Maybe that’s why many Americans, who have tightened their belts when it comes to other areas of home improvement, still seem to be willing to spend more for luxury bathroom upgrades.

Bathroom remodels traditionally return more on investment at resale time - often 70 or 80 percent, or even more. The trend toward spa-like baths continues to appeal to both potential buyers and renovating homeowners. While homeowners may still be willing to spend on luxurious bathroom products, they’re also looking for upgrades that give them the most return for their investment.

Here are a handful of upgrades that can help elevate a common bathroom to a luxurious home resort:

and bronze to create a more dazzling marriage of form and function. Materials and design touches are all intended to evoke a sense of grace, luxury and harmony with the natural world.

Massaging bathtubs The bathtub has become a symbol of modern luxury in the bathroom. Whether you prefer a placid soaking tub experience or an energetic massage from whirlpool-style bubbles, adding an upscale bathtub can greatly enhance the luxury quotient in any bathroom.

For strength and beauty - as well as durability - cast iron has long been a material of choice when designing a luxury bathroom.

Now, you can even find cast-iron tubs that provide those lovely, fizzy bubbles that shout “luxury.” Kohler recently integrated its BubbleMassage technology into three of its most popular cast iron bath tub lines. The technology uses 40 air jets positioned around the bath to deliver a fully customizable air massage; users can opt for heat or no heat, and vary the intensity of the massage by adjusting the speed control. You can learn more at www.kohler.com.

Flat screen TVs

Lovely lavatories Even one of the most utilitarian items in the bathroom can enhance the overall luxury of the setting. One of the hottest trends in lavatories is to go beyond commonly used materials. Kohler’s Nature’s Chemistry and Artist Editions collections incorporate glass

LCD TVs are showing up in upscale bathroom designs. The trend that started in top-end hotels in cities like New York and Las Vegas, has found a willing, loving audience in homeowners seeking ultimate luxury in the bathroom. With manufacturers offering LCD TVs in a wide range of colors, sizes and configurations, it’s possible to find one to match virtually any decor. Plus, mounting manufacturers have created wall mounts that address one of the LCD’s most common issues - viewability from an angle. Adjustable wall mounts, many of them motorized, make it possible to adjust the TV for viewing from several points in a room - whether it’s the soaking tub or the shower.

Fancy faucets

Showers that show off

Faucets are no longer just a way to get some water for washing your hands or brushing your teeth. Today, they’re a style statement, as well. Whether you opt for traditional or modern, classic or contemporary, two-handled or hands-free, you can find a faucet design to fit virtually any decor. And manufacturers continue to expand the range of options available, introducing new designs and extra touches. Kohler’s new Stance faucets feature refined angles and edges with a softened cubic flare to create functional faucets that also look beautiful in contemporary baths.

While it may be your dream to incorporate every upscale touch possible into your bathroom design, if your budget allows for only one or two, you can still greatly enhance the room’s luxury by adding elements that offer the most enjoyment and value for your investment.

People spend, on average, 10 minutes a day in the shower, according to one study conducted in the United Kingdom. In America, especially, showering isn’t just about getting clean. The shower is also a favorite spot to relax, decompress and perhaps even practice your karaoke style.

Multi-jet showers and multiple showerheads are becoming sought-after improvements in upscale baths. Steam showers are another popular trend. A self-enclosed unit uses a steam generator to turn the water from the tap into steam. Occupying about the same size as a traditional shower, steam showers allow you to control the temperature of the steam and often come with a range of upscale features, including massage jets and voice activation.

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Fall Home Improvement • The Vermont Eagle • September 17, 2016 | 5

6 | September 17, 2016 • The Vermont Eagle • Fall Home Improvement

www.addison-eagle.com

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Fall: The ideal season to give your guest bath a makeover

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he shorter days and cooler nights that fall brings mean entertaining that once took place on porches, patios and decks is slowly beginning to wane.

Soon, family and friends will gather inside the home for holiday festivities, putting the spotlight back on some of the most-used rooms, one of which is the guest bath.

For most people, overnight house guests go hand-in-hand with the holidays. Rather than waiting until the last minute, when stress levels are already high, fall is the ideal time to begin preparing for company and refresh the guest bath. You can do a few simple things long before anyone arrives to ensure their stay is a comfortable one. In fact, updating a tired bathroom can be an easy goal to achieve on any budget. You don’t need tens of thousands of dollars. Instead, a little paint, the proper tools, a few decorating elements and some creativity will do the trick.

Color: light and inviting Changing the color of a room with interior paint is the easiest, most cost-effective and most dramatic transformation that can be made. Since a guest bathroom can be one of the smaller rooms in a home, use colors that are light and airy. This will open up the space, making it appear larger than it really is. And, even if the guest bath is used by other family members during the rest of the year, remember that it should feel welcoming, so avoid stark whites or overly bright and trendy colors.

Most importantly, don’t skimp on the painting tools. Since the walls will be the largest visual area in the bathroom, you want to ensure a professional-looking finish that can only be achieved using high-quality painting tools. Purdy’s new mini-roller system will provide a flawless finish, and its compact lightweight design helps to paint tight spaces - like behind a toilet or above and around a sink -in less time with less mess.

Fine-tune fixtures

If you’re considering replacing an old scratched sink, many acrylic options can be purchased at home centers for less than $100. While you’re at it, don’t forget to update the faucet as well. Today, faucets come in a variety of finishes like brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze, allowing you to easily freshen up the appearance of your bathroom.

Many fixtures are available with matching accessories like towel rings, bars and even robe hooks. Using a consistent fixture finish throughout the room will give the space a streamlined, uncluttered feeling and will help create a serene place for your guests to relax during their stay.

Hardware

Dated cabinet hardware can easily be brought back to life with a coat of primer and paint. If you’re willing to use a little elbow grease and purchase an inexpensive can of spray paint, you can transform any dingy handle or knob. You don’t have to stick to traditional paint color choices, either. There are a variety of metallic spray paints available such as chrome, copper, brass and satin nickel that mimic the look of these expensive finishes that you can coordinate with your other accessories and fixtures.

Details With any room refresh, the difference is in the details, especially in a small space like the

guest bath. Pick up some new linens before your visitors come to town - new bath and hand towels that are plush and soft, not faded or worn, can really make the room feel inviting. For an added touch, hang a new shower curtain and liner to coordinate with your new color scheme. Keep it a lighter color to allow natural or overhead light to filter through; you don’t want your guests showering in the dark. Stock up on all of the essentials. From toiletries to a comfy robe, it’s always a great idea to keep supplies on hand in case your guests need something.

By taking the necessary steps to prep your guest bath before the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy it right along with your visitors.

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Fall Home Improvement • The Vermont Eagle • September 17, 2016 | 7

Tips for winterizing your home against indoor allergies

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pring and fall are the most notorious allergy seasons, but as any of the estimated 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies know, winter can be just as uncomfortable. As we move our lives back indoors, we often seal up our homes to prevent the cold from seeping in. While that’s good for energy bills and staying warm, if you don’t take some precautions, it can cause problems for those with indoor allergies.

To make sure that your home is a healthy one throughout the season, start taking action against allergens as you winterize your house. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), some of the most common indoor allergens are mold spores, dust mites and pet dander - so pay special attention to preventing those. As the weeks pass, keep to a schedule of cleaning that will maintain a lower level of allergens.

Here are some tips to help you make your home a haven where allergy sufferers will feel comfortable.

Don’t let towels pile up Whether in the kitchen or the bathroom, it’s important that damp towels aren’t left to sit in a pile. The moisture they retain can create perfect conditions for growing mold or provide an ideal home for mites. Hang towels so that they can dry fully and launder them in your washing machine at least once a week to get rid of mold spores.

Stop the fur from flying AAFA notes that cat dander is the most common pet allergy. But whether you have a dog, cat or other furry critter, they can cause discomfort for any members of your household with allergies, as well for any guests who come to town for holiday celebrations.

To cut down on allergens from both dander and saliva, be sure to wash your pets’ toys and beds regularly. Vacuuming up pet hair is also an essential step. A vacuum cleaner like LG’s LuV300B Kompressor is a good option be-

cause its HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of common household allergens. It has also been certified “asthma & allergy friendly” by AAFA. Giving your pets regular baths and brushings can also help to cut down on the amount of hair and dander that they shed.

Make your bed and sleep in it If your sleep is being disrupted by allergy symptoms, you need to make sure that your bedding isn’t part of the problem. Mite-proof bedding and mattress or pillow cases can help cut allergens, but you should also remember that washing, cleaning and replacement are important. Some washing machines from LG feature the Allergiene cycle, a specialized steam cycle that helps to kill dust mites and their eggs; it’s the only such cycle that has also been certified by AAFA. While you’re washing your sheets and comforters, take time to vacuum your mattress with a HEPA-filter equipped vacuum. Pillows should be replaced every two years and it’s suggested that mattresses be replaced every 10 years.

Don’t forget decor Vacuuming your floors is a given, but to really make an impact on the allergens in your home, you need to pay attention the rest of your decor as well. Area rugs in the living room or bedrooms, as well as kitchen and bath floor mats need to be vacuumed often and, if possible, laundered regularly.

Cleaning the upholstery on your couches and chairs is another essential step - pet hair and dust mites can settle there and irritate people with allergies. Large capacity washing machines that are certified “asthma & allergy friendly” are ideal for large items like throw rugs and slip covers from your couch or easy chair. If they can’t go in the washing machine, have them professionally cleaned. And while they beautifully frame your views, your window treatments might be making your life uncomfortable. Make sure that you vacuum and launder them as well.

“It’s important to remember that even in cold weather, allergies don’t go away,” says Mike Tringale, vice president of external affairs for AAFA. “And while cleaning your

house to remove allergens won’t eliminate your allergies, it will have a significant impact on your health, during the winter and throughout the year.”

8 | September 17, 2016 • The Vermont Eagle • Fall Home Improvement

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Is your home under-protected from fire and CO poisoning?

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ust when you think you’re safe, a recent nationwide survey has uncovered that a majority of American homes are dangerously under-protected when it comes to fire and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Even those equipped with smoke and CO alarms are at risk according to the study, which revealed that two-thirds of U.S. households are not in compliance with the national recommendation for the number of smoke alarms set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Even more alarming is the 90 percent of homes that do not meet the recommendation for number of carbon monoxide detectors, including 40 percent that report having zero working carbon monoxide detectors.

“These statistics confirm what we’ve feared for years - that far too many homes in this country are not as well protected as they should be against the dangers of fire and CO,” says Deborah Hanson, director of external affairs for First Alert, a leader in residential fire and CO detection devices. “What’s more troubling is that many people don’t realize that their families are at risk.”

Despite the low number of NFPA-compliant homes, nine out of 10 respondents to the survey reported feeling “certain” their homes are adequately equipped with smoke alarms, and 62 percent reported the same for CO alarms.

“There is a clear and concerning lack of awareness among homeowners regarding the number of alarms required to fully protect a home and its residents,” adds Hanson.

The current recommendation by the NFPA (www.nfpa. org) is to have at least one CO alarm on each level and one

in or near every bedroom or sleeping area. For smoke alarms, homes should have one installed at the top of each staircase and one in every bedroom or sleeping area. To put this into perspective, the average-sized home in America - a two-story, three bedroom house - would need a minimum of four smoke alarms and five carbon monoxide alarms to comply with NFPA guidelines.

In addition to installing the recommended number of alarms, The Home Safety Council (www.homesafetycouncil.org) suggests implementing the following precautions at home to help protect against fire and CO poisoning:

Regularly test smoke and CO alarms Regular maintenance is just as important as having the correct number of alarms. Be sure to test alarms monthly and replace batteries twice a year. Smoke alarm units should be replaced every 10 years and CO alarms every five years. These are simple tasks, but vitally important when it comes to home safety.

Plan and practice a fire safety drill Identify exits and if necessary, equip second-floor rooms with escape ladders. Practice actually going through the motions, and finally, identify a meeting place outside so everyone is accounted for.

Add a “network” of smoke alarms Many homeowners may not realize there are alarm net-

works available for home use, which are wirelessly connected and “talk” to one another to alert to a fire in a different room.

First Alert ONELINK alarms are connected, and if one alarm goes off, all alarms sound and can “tell” homeowners the location of the fire.

“Each year nearly 3,000 Americans die from home fires and CO poisoning claims another 450 lives,” says Hanson. “Our goal is to bring these numbers down by continually educating consumers about the dangers of fire and CO and teaching them how to protect themselves, their families and their homes.”

For those in need of new smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, a wide variety of innovative products are available with an assortment of features to meet different needs. First Alert products range from combination smoke and CO units to smoke alarms with escape lights, along with basic batterypowered products. These smoke and CO alarms are available at national retailers or for at www.firstalertstore.com.

For more information and a complete home safety checklist, visit www.firstalert.com/safety_checklist.php.

10 | September 17, 2016 • The Vermont Eagle • Fall Home Improvement

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12 | September 17, 2016 • The Vermont Eagle • Fall Home Improvement

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