Your House, Your Home

What do you do with Your Lawn Leaves?

In this month's newsletter, Greenworks, a publication of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services in Concord, NH, you'll find you have some choices. . . As autumn’s leaves start to fall, so will begin our annual raking routines. While many of us have carried on this tradition for years, how many of us think twice about where the appropriate place is to put the leaves? If the leaves are put in the wrong place, they can have negative environmental impacts. In an attempt to rid their lawns of leaves, some people rake their leaves into the road, often around storm drains. This can pollute local water bodies. When it rains, those leaves get washed down the storm drains and eventually into rivers and streams. The nutrients in leaves increase the phosphorus levels in water as they decompose. Algae then feed on the excess phosphorus, creating blooms which take much of the necessary oxygen fish and other organisms need to survive, thus hurting water bodies. Excess leaves can also clog culverts and storm drains, fill ponds or the back sides of dams, all of which can increase the risk of flooding. If your town or city picks up leaf piles in the street, be sure to time your raking as close to the scheduled collection date as possible. Instead of getting rid of your leaves, they can be used around your own property as either compost or as a mulch. Composting is an easy way to create organic fertilizer. Adding either raked or shredded leaves to grass clippings and your kitchen fruit and vegetable wastes to your compost pile will help to create a nutrient rich soil for next spring’s landscaping. According the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, food scraps and yard waste make up 20-30% of the waste stream. Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills, where they take up precious space. Leaves can also be used in quicker fashion as mulch, which provides a protective covering for flower beds or gardens. Gardening experts recommend using a lawnmower with a mulching blade and bagging attachment to shred and collect the leaves. Adding the mulch to your flower beds can protect them from severe winter weather and provide moisture and nutrients for your flowers in the spring. Finally, my Dad was always a firm believer in using his lawn mower to mulch the leaves and leaving the shredded leaves on his lawn as a natural fertilizer. This method works well as long as the leaves are not too deep or wet when they are mowed. Otherwise, you may end up with large clumps of shredded leaves that can choke out your grass. By recycling your leaves in your yard, you are not only benefiting your flower beds and lawn, but you may also be helping to keep our water bodies cleaner. Source:  Greenworks, a publication of the Department of Environmental Services, Concord, NH

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The Neglected Home Repair That Can Cost You $100 or More a Year

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says one in 10 homes has a leak that wastes at least 90 gallons of water per day. Given the average cost of water, that adds up to more than $100 a year. “Easy-to-fix household leaks waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide, which is equal to the amount of water used by more than 11 million homes,” said EPA Acting Administrator for the Office of Water Nancy Stoner. In just 10 minutes, you can give your home a water checkup. Start by looking at winter water bills and fixtures for water waste, then twist and tighten pipe and hose connections. Consider replacing broken or inefficient fixtures with WaterSense-labeled models, adjusting water pressure, and softening well water. 

If winter water usage for a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, it’s likely your home has a leak problem. Here are some easy tips for finding and fixing it:
  • Check toilets for silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank at the back and, if after 10 minutes, color shows up in the bowl before flushing, it may be time to make an easy repair and replace the flapper.
  • Check outdoor plumbing and hoses for damage from winter frost and tighten connections at the water source.
  • For in-ground sprinkler systems, have a professional certified through a WaterSense-labeled program check plumbing features and inspect sprinkler heads and pipes for signs of leakage.
  • Check additional plumbing and outdoor fixtures for leaks. They may just need a quick twist or pipe tape.
Source: EPA
Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this.  Reprinted from Houselogic.com with permission of the National Association of REALTORS®. Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/news/plumbing/neglected-home-repair-can-cost-you-100-or-more-year/#ixzz2f5WS3pS9

Survey Says Curb Appeal Contributes to Home Value

Try these tips to enhance your home's curb appeal.

Is your yard helping or hurting you and your neighbors in getting top dollar for your house this home buying season?

Most homeowners (79%) say having a healthy, green lawn contributes to the overall value of a home and more than half (53%) think the quality of the homeowner’s lawn can tell you a lot about the quality of the home overall, according to TruGreen’s Lawn Lifestyles National Survey.

According to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® data, 71% of homebuyers think curb appeal is important in choosing their home. And most homeowners purchase a home with a healthy, green lawn (71%) and well-maintained landscaping (72%).

Try these tips to maximize your home’s value by getting your lawn into shape:

Water Right

In spring, check the working condition of sprinkler heads and related water lines to ensure they’re functioning properly. Also, make sure your automated or manual watering method efficiently covers the landscape. You can place a one-inch deep, empty food can in the middle of your lawn to measure depth of water collected each watering cycle.

Don’t over- or under-water your lawn. Give your lawn and landscape a slow, steady watering about once a week, and adjust your watering schedule depending on your area’s rainfall, grass, and soil type.

Complement with Color

Consider your home’s exterior colors when selecting flowering plant combinations for plant beds, window boxes, or front porch planters. With a white house, any color combination will work well. With a yellow house, red or pink blooms tend to complement best.

Dead plants can quickly wilt your home’s walk-up allure. When preparing to plant, ensure proper drainage, nutrients, and moisture for healthy root systems and blooms.

Go Green with Grass

Plant the right type of grass for your lawn to ensure a green, healthy turf. Where your grass has difficulty growing, plant shade-adapted groundcovers for landscape appeal.

Periodically test your soil for pH and basic nutrient content and adjust your fertilizer needs accordingly to maximize your lawn’s health and use of added nutrients and to allow new grass shoots to develop.

Keep your lawn mower tuned, sharpen mower blades twice a summer, and mow your lawn regularly, keeping the grass higher to prevent scalping and to save water. Ditch the lawn mower bag and recycle grass clippings back to the soil for added lawn nutrients.


Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from Houselogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Don't Be A Drip, Fix That Leak!

Drip. Drip. Drip. The average American household wastes more than 10,000 gallons each year from easy-to-fix water leaks—that’s the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry. If that doesn’t seem like a lot, consider that across the country, easy-to-fix household leaks can add up to more than 1 trillion gallons of water lost every year, not to mention all the wasted energy used to treat and pump this water.

That’s why the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES), as a partner of the EPA’s WaterSense® program, is encouraging homeowners to find and fix leaks. There are easy steps homeowners can take to help save water in their community now and for future generations.

Fixing household leaks not only saves water but reduces water utility bills—by about 10 percent. Be for water and start saving today with three simple steps: Check. Twist. Replace.

1. Check

First, check your home for leaks. An easy way to start is with your water meter, normally located in the basement. Record the numbers on the water meter and do the same again in an hour or two during a time when no one will be using water. The difference indicates potential leakage. Walk around your home with eyes and ears open to find dripping faucets and showerheads and don’t forget to check pipes and outdoor spigots.

Some leaks are not easy to find, including a common water-wasting culprit, the silent toilet leak. Take part in the Silent Toilet Leak Challenge by placing a blue toilet dye tablet, available in the DES lobby, or by adding a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank and waiting 10 minutes before flushing. If any color appears in the bowl during that time, your toilet has a leak. Most likely you have a faulty toilet flapper which is a very easy and cheap fix. Visit http://xml2.des.state.nh.us/NHisForWater for instructions on how to fix leaks and fill out the Silent Toilet Leak Challenge Survey to let us know you took the challenge and be entered to win a new water efficient showerhead and other prizes.

2. Twist

Apply pipe tape to be sure plumbing fixture connections are sealed tight and give a firm twist with a wrench. If you can’t stop those drops yourself, contact your favorite plumbing professional. For additional savings, twist a WaterSense labeled aerator onto each bathroom faucet to save water without noticing a difference in flow. Faucet aerators cost a few dollars or less and can save a household more than 500 gallons each year—the amount of water it takes to shower 180 times!

3. Replace

If you just can’t nip that drip, it may be time to replace the fixture. Also, water-using fixtures that were manufactured prior to 1994 are much less efficient and should be considered for an upgrade. Look for WaterSense labeled models in your local home improvement store. WaterSense labeled fixtures use at least 20 percent less water and are independently certified to perform as well or better than standard plumbing fixtures. Replacing an old, inefficient showerhead with a WaterSense labeled model will shrink your household’s water footprint by 2,900 gallons annually while still letting you shower with power, thanks to EPA’s efficiency and performance criteria. With less hot water passing through, WaterSense labeled showerheads can also save enough energy to power a television for a year.

For more information and tips about how to find and fix leaks, and for tips on using water more efficiently visit http://xml2.des.state.nh.us/NHisForWater .

Source: Greenworks Newsletter from DES, Concord, NH

Thinking about Purchasing a New Car? Think Fuel Efficiency!

Ask Not Only What a Fuel Efficient Vehicle Can Do For the Environment, But Ask What It Can Do For Your Wallet Are you thinking of buying a car with your tax refund? February is a popular time of year to buy a vehicle with the majority of NH dealerships promoting specials in honor of Presidents’ Day. Purchasing a car is an important investment. With gasoline prices well above $3 a gallon, buying a fuel efficient vehicle makes sense. Fuel efficient cars use less gas, reduce the amount of emissions produced by your vehicle, and release fewer pollutants into the air. Have you ever thought of purchasing an electric or hybrid-electric car? Many hybrid-electric vehicles already travel NH roads. Plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles are starting to be purchased and leased in our state. Hybrid-electric vehicles run on gasoline and electricity (from a large battery), allowing for increased fuel economy - over 50 mpg in some cases. Plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles get over 50 mpg; an electric motor powers the vehicle for the first 15 miles of travel before engaging the gasoline motor. The pure electric vehicle uses no gas at all. These vehicles can be charged via household electricity. The federal government currently offers incentives in the form of tax credits for the purchase of plug-in hybrid-electric and pure electric vehicles. A tax credit of $2,500 is allowed on a Toyota Prius Plug-in; $7,500 for electric vehicles like the new Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt. Vehicle owners can also receive a tax credit of up to 30 percent off the cost of an electric charging device for their home. Fuel efficient vehicles come in all makes and models. There are over 130 models from which to choose, from small cars to SUVs - each with combined miles per gallon (mpg) of 30 or better. These vehicles are listed on DES’ Granite State Clean Cars program website, along with a list of participating dealers (visit: http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/air/tsb/tps/gsccp/index.htm). If you need a bigger rig, such as a truck, van or larger SUV the US Department of Energy’s fueleconomy.gov website lists “2013 Most and Least Efficient Vehicles.” This can steer you to a smart, fuel efficient choice in all types of vehicles. This website also has a feature that allows you to compare two or more vehicles. No matter what you choose for your ride, it’s bound to be more fuel efficient than the vehicle your parents purchased at your age. Since the 1970’s, the EPA has worked with other organizations to establish fuel economy standards which has resulted in cleaner, more fuel efficient vehicles. Purchasing these vehicles can save you money, reduce our country’s dependence on petroleum, and reduce air pollution from transportation. To find more ways to reduce your gas consumption, visit DOE’s Techniques for Drivers to Conserve Fuel webpage: www.afdc.energy.gov/conserve/behavior_techniques.html. For more information on petroleum reduction in New Hampshire, visit DES’s Granite State Clean Cities Coalition web page: http://www.granitestatecleancities.nh.gov/. Source: GREENWorks, the February publication of the NH Department of Environmental Services, Concord, NH

How to Kill and Prevent Bathroom Mold

By: If you’ve never experienced bathroom mold, perhaps you aren’t looking deep enough into the corners of your bathroom.
It’s one of the most common problems in any house; it’s also one of the easiest to prevent and cure — as long as you haven’t let it get out of hand. “Bathroom mold occurs primarily because mold loves damp, dark, isolated spaces,” says Larry Vetter of Vetter Environmental Services in Smithtown, N.Y. “Typically, a bathtub, shower, or entire bathroom remains damp enough for mold growth just from showering or bathing.” Common Causes of Bathroom Mold
  • Lingering moisture caused by lack of ventilation.
  • Damp cellulose materials such as rugs, paper products, wood, wallpaper, grout, drywall, and fabric.
So how do you know if you have a mold problem? Matt Cinelli, owner/operator of AERC Removals in North Attleboro, Mass., says, “If you can see it or smell it, you’ve got it.” Finding the Mold in Your Bathroom Bathroom mold isn’t always obvious. Check out hidden areas, such as under sinks, access doors to shower and bath fixtures, around exhaust fans, even in crawl spaces and basements underneath bathrooms. “It could be starting in the bathroom but actually forming in another room,” says Cinelli, adding that lack of proper ventilation is the biggest culprit for mold growth. Preventing Mold The best defense is preventing moldfrom occurring in the first place. Yashira Feliciano, director of housekeeping for Conrad Conado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, offers the following tips for keeping mold out of your bathroom:
  • Use your bathroom ventilation fan when you shower or bathe, and leave it on for 30 minutes following the end of your bath; if you don’t have an exhaust fan, install one.
  • Use a mildew-resistant shower curtain, and wash or replace it frequently.
  • Don’t keep bottles of shampoo or shower gel, toys, or loofahs in the shower, as they provide places for mold to grow and hide.
  • Wash your bathroom rugs frequently.
Getting Rid of MoldWhat do you do if mold growth is already a problem? As long as the infestation isn’t large, you can take remedial measures yourself:
  • Strip away and replace any caulking or sealant that has mold growth.
If you have a problem area bigger than 10 sq. ft., refer to guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or call in a professional. “When you see it creeping into walls and insulation, you need a professional,” says Cinelli, who notes that tearing out walls (which may be necessary for a big problem) can release mold spores into the rest of the house and create an even bigger issue. “The idea is to kill it and then remove it,” he says. “And the most important thing is to figure out why you have it before you clean it up.”

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this.  Reprinted from Houselogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Give Your Old CDs a New Purpose — Plus 3 More Tips To Repurpose Old Items

By:

Ah, the weekend! It’s a great time to relax, and to not think about the chores you should be doing, such as cleaning out your basement and attic, and — finally — getting organized.

You’re not a slacker — you’ve got energy. What you need are a few creative sparks that’ll make you roll up your sleeves and get going in the right direction.

Recently, I’ve come across some smart ideas for repurposing old stuff — fun and frugal ways that’ll help you declutter and keep your junk from ending up in a landfill. Here are some of my favorites:

Turn CDs into garden scarecrows

Chances are your music collection has gone all-digital in the past few years, leaving hundreds of old CDs sitting sadly in their jewel cases, with nothing to do except take up space.

Put them to good use by scaring birds away from your berry garden. Thread string through the hole in the CD and tie it off to make a large loop. Hang several CDs from a tree near your berry bushes. The shiny, moving objects will frighten birds, keeping them away from your sun-ripened berries.

Make a coat rack out of doorknobs

Do you have a collection of old doorknobs lying around? Put them to work again by turning them into a coat rack. Take four or five doorknobs — use a mismatched array for extra whimsy — and space them evenly apart on a piece of wood trim. Screw the knobs to the wood, then mount the wood to the wall. Voila — you have a new place to hang your coat or purse.

Use old pots for garden tool storage

Basements and garages are graveyards for old pots that became too small for grownup plants, kind of like the shells that hermit crabs vacate for a bigger home. Put these pots to good use by filling them with sand mixed with enough mineral oil to make it slightly damp. Stick your gardening tools in the sand for easy storage. The mixture protects tools from corrosion and rust.

Store tall tools in old golf bag

Perhaps it’s been years since you’ve teed off, or maybe you’ve just upgraded to a better bag, but here’s a new use for an old golf bag: Make it a home for your bigger gardening tools. Shovels, hoes, and rakes slide right into the compartments that once held clubs.
Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/blog/recycling-reusing/give-your-old-cds-new-purpose-plus-3-more-tips-repurpose-old-items/#ixzz2HOzN80f9

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

HouseLogic’s Top-10 List of New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

When the new year arrives, promises and resolutions abound.  Here's the top 10 list the resolute home owner should  should accomplish this year.

This time, it’s going to be different. A brand new year, brimming with possibilities, and you’ve resolved to move through your house like a whirling tornado of can-do, fixing, painting, and organizing. This year, nothing will stop you. Welcome to your home improvement New Year’s Resolutions. Based on the most-common top-ten resolutions gathered by Time magazine, USA.gov, and other sources, we’ve put together an inspiring list of home management goals.

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this.  Reprinted from Houselogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Looking to Remodel Your Kitchen? 3 Hot Trends for Kitchen Remodeling in 2012

By:  Jamie Goldberg Mulling a kitchen remodel but want to keep costs low? You’re au courant with today’s trends that emphasize options and high-tech wizardry at affordable prices.

Trend #1: Remodeling scales back A new focus on moderation and value has entered the remodeling mind-set. Trends that are likely to show up in your kitchen next year include: You’ll repair your existing appliances instead of replacing them, extending their life with good maintenance and care. If you’re replacing cabinets, you’re likely to build around your current appliances rather than choosing new models. You’re scaling back your cabinetry purchases, with an increased emphasis on kitchen storage and functionality over elaborate decoration. For example, rather than stacked crown moldings throughout the kitchen, you’ll put your money into practical roll-out trays and drawer organizers. Small-scale kitchen projects are big news. Changing out cabinet hardware, replacing a faucet, and refacing your cabinets upgrades your kitchen without major expense. Trend #2: Simpler, warmer styles dominate Fussiness and excess have faded away in favor of pared-back looks that present a more timeless, value-conscious style. Cabinet decoration continues to streamline. For example, massive corbels, once fashionable as undercounter supports, will give way to sleeker countertop supports and cantelivered countertop edges. Stacked moldings will pare back or disappear entirely. Elaborately glazed finishes will yield to simpler paints and stains. Kitchen finishes will continue to get warmer and darker, and feature natural and stained woods. Walnut especially is growing in popularity. Laminate countertops will continue to surge in popularity, especially in contemporary design. The latest European-inspired laminates offer more textured and naturalistic finishes than ever before. While exotic wood kitchen cabinets are out of reach for most home owners, glossy, look-alike laminate versions can be had for about one-third the price. Trend #3: Technology expands its kitchen presence Many of the techno products and trends that relate to your smartphones and tablets have just started making their way into your local showrooms and home centers. Appliances will be equipped with USB ports and digital screens so you can display your family photographs and kids’ artwork. Smart, induction built-in cooktops ($500-$3,000) remember your temperature settings as you move your pans across their entire surface. One light finger touch is all it takes to open the electronically controlled sliding doors of your kitchen cabinets — a boon to people with limited mobilities. You’ll pay 40% to 70% more for cabinets with electronically controlled doors than standard models. You’ll be able to use your smart phones and tablets to control lights and appliance settings from anywhere you have a wi-fi connection, as well as to shop for appliances from major manufacturers. You’ll be opting for LEDs for your recessed lights, under-cabinet task lighting and color-changing accent lighting. You’ll see more LED-powered pendants and chandeliers from major manufacturers as inefficient incandescent bulbs continue their march toward extinction. A wide selection of affordable microwave ovens with convection and even steam features gives owners of smaller kitchen spaces more high-end cooking power. What improvements — big or small — are you planning for your kitchen this year? Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this.  Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® 

Ten Tips for Saving Energy in the Kitchen

By:  Douglas Trattner

Maintaining your large kitchen appliances is part of a smart home energy efficiency plan.
Refrigerator/freezer Energy-efficiency experts tell us to focus our efforts on the biggest energy hogs in the house, and that definitely includes the fridge. Because it cycles on and off all day, every day, the refrigerator consumes more electricity than nearly every appliance in the home save for the HVAC systems. The average refrigerator costs about $90 per year to operate, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The good news is that a few simple adjustments can trim roughly $38 to $45 off those utility bills. 1. Adjust the thermostat. By setting the thermostat colder than it needs to be, you might increase your fridge's energy consumption by as much as 25% on average. Adjust the refrigerator so that it stays in the 37-40 degrees F range. For the freezer, shoot for between 0-5 degrees F. You could save up to $22 per year. If your model doesn't display the current temps, invest in two appliance thermometers (one for the fridge, one for the freezer). They cost roughly $3-$20 apiece at online retailers. 2. Clean the coils. As dust accumulates on the condenser coils on the rear or bottom of the fridge, it restricts cool-air flow and forces the unit to work harder and longer than necessary. Every six months, vacuum away the dust that accumulates on the mechanism. Also, check to see that there is at least a 3-inch clearance at the rear of the fridge for proper ventilation. This routine maintenance can trim up to 5% off the unit's operating cost, says energy savings expert Michael Bluejay, saving you about $4.50 a year. 3. Use an ice tray. Automatic ice makers are a nice convenience, to be sure, but it turns out the mechanisms are energy hogs. An automatic ice maker can increase a refrigerator's energy consumption by 14% to 20%, according to Energy Star. By switching off the ice maker and using trays, you can save about $12 to $18 off your annual electricity bill. Most units require little more than a lift of the sensor arm to switch them off. To reclaim the space remove the entire unit, a simple DIY job on many models. 4. Unplug the "beer fridge." Many homes have an extra fridge that runs year round even though it's used sparingly. Worse, these fridges tend to be older, more inefficient models. By consolidating the contents to the main fridge and unplugging the additional unit, you eliminate the entire operating cost of a fridge. The second-best solution is to make sure the extra fridge remains three-quarters full at all times. The mass helps maintain steady internal temps and lets the fridge recover more quickly after the door is opened and closed, according to the California Energy Commission. Ovens and ranges "Green" cooking all comes down to proper time and space management. By using gas and electric stoves more effectively, you can painlessly save a few dollars a year. 5. Cut the power early. As anybody who's ever bumped a burner on an electric stove can attest, those heating elements stay hot long after they've been switched off. Put that residual heat to work by shutting off the burner several minutes before the end of the cook time. The same technique can be applied to the oven. The savings can add up to a couple bucks every month. 6. Match the burner to pan. When a small pan is placed on a big burner you can practically see the money disappearing into thin air. By matching the burner to the pan, electricity won't be squandered heating the kitchen rather than the food. The reverse is true, too. A small burner will take considerably longer to heat a large pan than would an appropriately sized burner. For gas stoves, don't let the flames lick the sides of the pot. Follow these tips and watch the utility bills shrink by a few dollars a month. 7. Do away with preheating. You can save about $2 a month by not preheating your oven (20 cents per hour to operate electric oven; eliminate 20 30-minute preheats a month). Many cooks agree that the practice is wholly unnecessary for all but a few recipes, namely baking breads and cakes. This approach may add a few minutes to the overall cooking time, but it eliminates all that wait time on the front end. Dishwasher  As with washing machines, most of a dishwasher's energy needs to go to heating the water. Still, says Lane Burt, an energy policy analyst with The Natural Resources Defense Council, a 10-year-old dishwasher can be made nearly as efficient as a newer model simply by knowing when and how to run it. Follow a few simple tips, and you can reduce your annual utility costs by roughly $35-$54. 8. Manage the load. Most dishwashers use the same amount of water and energy whether they're run full or half-full. You can cut your operating costs by one-third or one-half by running the machine only when it's full. It costs about $54 to run a pre-2000 model dishwasher per year, based on government data. Proper load management can save up to $27 each year. 9. Activate energy-saving features. A dishwasher's heated dry cycle can add 15% to 50% to the appliance's operating cost. Most machines allow the feature to be switched off (or not turned on), which can save $8-$27 per year, assuming an operating cost of $54 annually. If your dishwasher doesn't have that flexibility, simply turn the appliance off after the final rinse and open the door. 10. Use the machine. Many homeowners believe they can save water and energy by hand washing dishes. The truth is that a dishwasher requires less than one-third the water it would take to do those same dishes in the sink. By running the machine (when full), you can cut down the operating time of the hot water heater, your home's largest energy hog. Not only will you save a buck per month, you won't have to do the dishes. Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this.  Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®  

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