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The difference and The difference what you canand do what you can do

Oprah Star Nate Berkus Oprah M A K E G UStar E S T S Nate F E E L WBerkus ELCOME MAKE GUESTS FEEL WELCOME FOR THE FOR TH E FO FO

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DS AND CUSTOMERS OF D RS I A T OCMUESRTSO O F E N D S C AUNS D M FE R S O F FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS OF

Heating & Cooling

Serving Southwest Florida

(239) 482-5000 www.thinkcertified.com

Contents 4. Briefs Great ways to save money on your energy bill. You’ll be surprised what a little maintenance and buying the right system will save.

5. Rebates & Incentives Rheem is offering a substantial instant cash rebate on many new systems. Combine that with the federal tax credit and local rebates and save BIG!

6. Nate Burkus (cover) One of the country’s hottest designers gives you tips on decorating your home.

Rheem® Right at Home PUBLISHER William Sabo DESIGNER Richard Johnson Right at Home STAFF WRITERS Hollie Deese David V. King Beth Burcham

10. Recipes Spring means grilling. Tips on buying the right grill for you and some great outdoor recipes.

ADVISORS Rheem Heating & Cooling Cindy Metzler Melissa Thomas Sara Corbett

12. Online buyer beware The Internet is great for a lot of things, but NOT purchasing an HVAC system.

Rheem Heating and Cooling 1100 Abernathy Road Atlanta, GA

All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the express permission of the publisher.

Published by: Private Label Media Partners 709 State Street New Orleans, LA 70118 877-618-6626

Rheem® Voted #1 in Reliability Energy Saving Tip

A leading independent consumer magazine recently conducted a study of 32,550 consumers who bought an HVAC system and ranked Rheem #1 in reliability.

As important as the system you purchase, installation is a key component to reliability. The correct size system, filtration system, duct work and many other factors are tied to the overall comfort inside your home.

The Rheem contractor featured on the cover of this magazine has undergone rigorous training and certification. When considering a new HVAC system, make sure you look at more than just price. Quality Rheem systems that are installed by top-quality contractors will give you years of trouble-free comfort. For more information go to www.rheem.com

When It’s Time To Replace Your HVAC System "Tune-up" your air-conditioning (HVAC) system with an annual maintenance contract. Even a new system, like a new car, will decline in performance without regular maintenance. A contract automatically ensures that your HVAC contractor will provide "pre-season" tune-ups before each cooling and heating season. You save energy and money, and your system may last years longer with minimal costs for yearly maintenance fees.

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If the unit is more than 10 years old, you should consider replacing your system with a Rheem energy-efficient unit. A new unit would greatly reduce your energy consumption, especially if the existing equipment is in poor condition.

In today’s tough economic times, many might think about just patching their system to get through another season, but being penny wise will mean being dollar foolish down the road.

New units that provide two-stage systems will not only lower your heating and cooling bills but will provide a much better comfort level in your home. Also, you can significantly reduce costly service calls for the next 5-10 years.

Local rebates and incentives can really help offset the investment to a higher-efficiency system. Not only will you be more comfortable with a new system, it will likely reduce your heating and cooling costs 35% to 50%.

Answers to your home comfort needs with Rheem DesignStar®

D

esignStar takes the guess work out of what you need. This powerful online tool allows you to see the options for a new heating and cooling unit. And most important, the program provides options for YOUR home based on size, age and local utility rates.

DesignStar is the industry’s first easy-to-use interactive tool that allows homeowners to understand their heating and cooling options in the privacy of their own homes.

Homeowners can see which systems would work best and evaluate options such as better filtration systems, humidifiers, etc. DesignStar can calculate accurate information because all of your home’s information is pre-loaded into the website from sources such as tax and building records.

Going to the website on the front of this magazine is a great way to look for a participating Rheem contractor or go to www.rheem.com and type in your zip code for contractors near you.

Save Big What The Rheem CashBack offer and extended HVAC Tax Credit means for you

By combining the new Rheem Consumer CashBack instant money back program with the reinstated federal tax credit and local rebates, homeowners could save $1,500 or more off a hew heating and cooling system.

Rheem is offering up to $1,200 in hassle-free money back on qualifying systems.

Filing is simple: there is no paperwork for the homeowner to fill out. Everything is submitted online by your Rheem contractor. At the time of the sale, the homeowner’s rebate will be subtracted from the purchase price.

The federal government has retroactively reinstated the 25C tax credits for highefficiency HVAC equipment

that expired at the end of 2011. The credit extends from Jan. 1, 2012 through Dec. 31, 2013 for qualified equipment.

Because the credits were made retroactive to Jan. 1, 2012, they can be used for qualified equipment that was installed any time during the past year as well as going forward in 2013.

The extra savings provided by the Rheem CashBack program and federal tax credit can be combined to allow homeowners to upgrade to high-efficiency HVAC systems for little or no additional money.

The Rheem offer is good now until June 15th, 2013 so don’t wait!

HOW TO FIND LOCAL UTILITY REBATES Heating and cooling bills too high? You’re not alone. According to the ENERGY STAR® program, homeowners of a typical single home can expect to pay approximately $2,200 for their annual energy bill.

New, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems can help homeowners reduce their energy consumption while lowering their monthly energy bills. For example, the ENERGY STAR program notes that replacing a central air conditioning unit that is more than 12 years old with an ENERGY STAR-qualified model could cut cooling costs by 30 percent.

Homeowners can learn about these and additional rebate programs by visiting the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy™ (www.dsireusa.org).

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TV’s hottest designer share his secrets for guests

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NATE BERKUS KNOWS HOW TO MAKE GUESTS FEEL RIGHT AT HOME

The Things That Matter In his first book, The Things That Matter ($35), Nate Berkus opens up about the experiences that have changed his life and gotten him to his current design aesthetic. From his favorite flea market finds, to his collection of storied mementos from his travels, every piece defines who he’s become in design and in life.

“I really sat in this for about six years until I really had the concept down for what I had to say, and the book represents exactly that,” Berkus says. “My hope is that people will read the book and they will find a way to create the space that they need and make the right decisions for their home.”

Berkus invites readers into his own home as well as into twelve others, including a sleek Chicago high rise and a rustic cottage in the Hudson Valley. The distinctive interiors displayed in the book were chosen by Berkus because they offer revealing portraits of their owners’ lives.

“I wanted to demonstrate what an interior can look like when it reflects the personalities of the people who live there,” he says.

Celebrity designer Nate Berkus knows a thing or two about making people feel right at home, no matter where they are. A seasoned world traveler, Berkus has learned certain design tricks over the years to instill a sense of comfort in any farflung location-or even right in your own guest room.

“What a great guest room offers is similar to the conveniences you expect when you stay at a great hotel,” Berkus says. “Fresh flowers from the grocery store are always beautiful, and just the little conveniences that make it feel like it is not a temporary place.”

In order to make his house someone else’s home, Berkus keeps a lot of framed photos and books around. He knows how hard it can be to fall asleep in a strange environment, so having items to thumb through can be much appreciated. And maybe he can even find a new fan for an old favorite. “I want them to be able to pick a book out of the bookshelf and take it with them when they go.”

BED AND BEYOND When setting up a room for temporary guests, Berkus, who creates his own line of sheets, blankets and linens for Target, knows it all starts with the bed. ‘The most important thing is the bedding,” he says. And it doesn’t require buying a whole new set to impress either.

“My bedding is designed to layer in with pieces you already have, so if you have a great quilt or a fantastic blanket or throw pillows that you have bought that are sitting on your living room sofa, move that stuff around. I love the idea of incorporating a new duvet or new shams or a new set of sheets and creating something really fresh and special just by mixing with what you already have.”

FINISHING TOUCHES Berkus is also not one to keep things sparse, preferring instead to sprinkle mementos from his travels throughout his home for everyone to enjoy, with special care given to the needs of a guest.

“It is important to get the details right throughout the house,” he advises. “Every surface is an opportunity to do something beautiful and the nightstands in the guest bedroom are important as well. I always have a bowl or a tray for people’s wallet and jewelry and cell phone on the night stand, a great drinking glass and a beautiful lamp so people can read when they stay with me.”

When it comes to ultimately making a home welcoming to any guest, Berkus encourages people to really embrace the personal touch, whatever that means to them. “In my home, I literally have treated every horizontal surface as an opportunity. Every table has three objects on it that are very precious and dear to me. I feel that they tell my story.”

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Simple Switches to Sp ora real fl s a g Using na brin u a f d an . to life room

Furniture displays: Create a " "cabinet of natural curiosities by putting seasonal elements from nature on display. Birds' nests, seashells, moss and acorns take on a sculptural s. quality when displayed in group

Flowers: If your home receives natural sunlight, try growing plants inside. Bright flowers in pretty and unique pots can bring great pops of color in your design.

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Spruce Up Any Home

Rugs: C hange up area rug accordin s g to sea son usin natural g fibers s uch as in the s j u te um materials mer and shaggier in coole r month Better y s. et, creat e your ow custom n rugs wit h kits lik those fr e om Vecc o, allow yo u to pain which t rugs u stencils sing to creat e pattern inspired s by the s eason fo truly un r a ique loo k.

Want to give your home a fresh look but don't have the time or energy for a complete makeover? Ditch the daunting DIY projects. Think small projects to make a big impact according, to design bloggers from www.

VeccoStudio.com, an online resource for simple, customizable DIY design projects.

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Outdoor cooking

takes on many flavors

by Hollie Deese Outdoor cooking connoisseurs know that the taste of the food depends on the tool, and there are more ways than ever to cook a piece of meat. And because it all boils down to personal preference, John Smith with Nashville Fireplace and Grills suggests people do their research a bit before investing in a grill.

Charcoal Charcoal grills start out for as little as $20 and go as high as $500 or more for deluxe models, which makes them very accessible for any price point.

And if you ask any charcoal fan, you just can’t beat the flavor, especially when you toss in some flavored wood chips.

“People will cook with gas on a weeknight when they get home from work and want to cook something in 15 minutes, then on the weekend they tend to use the charcoal because the flavor is better,” Smith says. “They have more time to devote to it.”

Gas According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) grills are generally priced from just over $100 to $299, and in fact, 80 percent of all grills sold are priced under $300.

Top-of-the-line stainless steel models with lots of features can go as high as $5,000 to $10,000 but may be worth it if you cook year

round and are ready for an upgrade.

“Everything is going stainless steel, and everyone is going for higher quality so they don’t have to do as much service work,” Smith says. “And the quality is just getting a little bit better each time.”

He warns consumers that while incredibly convenient, the chemicals released with gas grills will affect the flavor of the food.

Electric The HPBA prices these grills at around $50 for small units up to $2,000 or more for larger, highend stainless steel models. Newer models even incorporate infra-red cooking to lock in juices.

“These grills are insulated better now than they used to be,” Smith says. “They maintain temperature a little better now and they don’t have hot spots and cold spots as much as the old ones do.

They tend to be more consistent.”

Smokers One accessory gaining in popularity big time, especially in warmer states,

are backyard smokers. The HPBA recommends water smokers for beginners because they’re affordable and easy to use. Charcoal is the favorite, but electric and gas are very convenient because they maintain a consistent temperature.

“People choose smokers for low temperature cooking, for cooking barbecue pork or brisket or something like that,” Smith says.

Water smokers start at about $40 and can go as high as $200 or more for a stainless steel version, but can be $1,000 or more for a built in along with a grill.

Pellet The grills that accommodate wood pellets are also seeing higher sales as people look for alternatives to using chemicals in their cooking.

Prices generally range from $600$2,500.

“I think if most people had they choice they would tend to go with a wood grill,” Smith says. “If you cook with chemicals you can taste the chemicals, so we recommend you try and cook as natural as you can, whether it be wood or chemical-free charcoal.”

Get Your Grill On No grilled salads or quiche here. Real meat and potatoes!

Beef Rack of Ribs Serves: 4 to 6 Salt (to taste) 1 tablespoon black pepper (to taste) 1 tablespoon seasoned garlic salt (to taste) Cayenne pepper (optional) 1 to 2 racks of beef ribs (number of racks based on number of people) 1 tablespoon yellow mustard 1/3 cup brown sugar One bottle of favorite barbecue sauce

side of the ribs. Grill for 5 to 8 minutes until each side is slightly browned and caramelized.

Remove ribs from grill and slice with sharp knife.

Place individual ribs in a crock pot on low. Add one bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce. Let simmer 6 to 8 hours.

The night before serving, prepare rub for beef ribs (salt, pepper, seasoned garlic salt and optional cayenne pepper). Sprinkle both sides of ribs and then rub vigorously. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, place on medium temperature grill and spread yellow mustard and brown sugar on each

Country Barbecue Potatoes Serves: 4 to 6

2 pounds small red potatoes 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 teaspoon honey 3 teaspoons seasoned salt 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 4500F. Coat 9 x 13 baking pan with nonstick spray.

Cut potatoes into small to medium-sized pieces and put in pan.

Melt butter and honey, and then drizzle over potatoes. Sprinkle with seasoned salt, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Toss well to coat.

Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and golden brown. Stir potatoes at least once.

Grilled Skirt Steak with Roasted Corn Salad Skirt Steak: • 1/3 cup Chipotle Hot Sauce (We like Tabasco) • 1 tablespoon ground cumin • 1 large garlic clove, crushed • 1 1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut into 4-inch pieces Corn Salad: • 4 ears corn on the cob, shucked • 2 large tomatoes, chopped • 1 small red onion, diced • 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil • 2 tablespoons lime juice • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 1 tablespoon Chipotle Pepper Sauce • 1/4 teaspoon salt Prepare skirt steak: In large bowl, combine chipotle pepper sauce, cumin and garlic; add skirt steaks. Toss to mix well; cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or overnight.

Prepare corn salad: Preheat grill to medium. Grill corn about 5 to 10 minutes, turning frequently, until tender-crisp.

When cool enough to handle, cut corn from cob. In medium bowl, combine corn, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, basil, lime juice, olive oil, chipotle pepper sauce and salt; toss to mix well.

Preheat grill to high. Grill skirt steak about 5 minutes, or until of desired doneness, turning once. To serve, plate steak with corn salad.

Twice baked potato with cheddar and chives (Makes 6 to 8 servings) Servings: 8 Cook Time: 20 minutes • 4 Russet potatoes (10 to 12 ounces), scrubbed and pierced with a fork • 1/4 cup milk • 1/4 cup butter • 8 slices smoked cheddar, torn into pieces • 1/4 cup chopped chives Preheat oven to 400F. Bake potatoes in microwave on high (100% power) until tender, about

9 to 10 minutes per side.

Cut potatoes in half; scoop cooked potato flesh into mixing bowl, leaving 1/4-inch thick “potato boat.”

Add milk, butter, four slices of smoked cheddar and chives in mixing bowl; mix well with potatoes. Season with salt and pepper.

Spoon mixture into “potato boats.” Cut remaining four smoked cheddar slices into strips;

place over tops of potatoes.

Place potatoes on sheet pan. Bake until potatoes are heated through and skins are crisp, about 20 minutes.

Summer cold or allergies?

Ways to feel better

Relieve springtime allergies with these tried-and-true techniques.

Spring means flower buds and blooming trees, and if you’re one of the millions of people who have springtime allergies, it also means sneezing, congestion, runny nose and other bothersome symptoms. Springtime allergies, also called hay fever and allergic rhinitis, can make you miserable. But before you settle for plastic flowers and artificial turf, try these simple strategies to keep springtime allergies under control.

Reduce your exposure to allergy triggers There are a number of things that you can do to reduce your exposure to the things that trigger your allergy signs and symptoms (allergens): - Stay indoors on dry, windy days; the best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.

- Delegate lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens.

- Consider installing a Ultra Violet light in your HVAC system to kill airborne germs and bacteria - Remove clothes you’ve worn outside; you may also want to shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.

- Don’t hang laundry outside; pollen can stick to sheets and towels.

- Wear a dust mask if you do outside chores.

Take extra steps when pollen counts are high Seasonal allergy signs and symptoms can flare up when there’s a lot of pollen in the air. These steps can help you reduce your exposure: - Check your local TV or radio station, your local newspaper, or the Internet for pollen forecasts and current pollen levels.

- If high pollen counts are forecasted, start taking allergy medications before your symptoms start.

- Close doors and windows at night or any other time when pollen counts are high.

- Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning when pollen counts are highest.

Keep indoor air clean There’s no miracle product that can eliminate all allergens from the air in your home, but these suggestions may help: - Use the air conditioning in your house and car.

- If you have forced air heating or air conditioning in your house, use highefficiency filters and follow regular maintenance schedules.

- Keep indoor air dry with a dehumidifier.

- Use a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom.

- Clean floors often with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter.

Healthy Air Tip

Installing an ultra violet light in your current or new system can help reduce bacteria in the air and the allergens that grow inside your HVAC system.

By using UV lamps, particles and germs are destroyed and prevented from being recirculated to the air in your home. For cleaner air trust an Ultraviolet Treatment System from Rheem.

Online Buyer Beware

Most consumers go online to research big purchases. It’s one thing to do online research but it’s a big and costly mistake to try and buy an HVAC system online. Our experts tell you why.

Question: I found a good deal online. Should I purchase from an online sales site?

Answer: HVAC products are unlike most products for sale on the Internet.

A trained professional must review the unique requirements of your structure to ensure proper equipment selection and safe, efficient installation. Even the most skilled do-it-yourselfers should not attempt to install HVAC products. Consumers should never install heating and cooling products themselves. A professional HVAC contractor should always be involved

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in job-site inspection, product selection, and installation. There are many online sales companies that engage in the dangerous and deceptive practice of selling HVAC equipment directly to consumers bypassing the expertise of trained, professional contractors. These unscrupulous companies advertise “Savings By Cutting Out the Middle Man by Buying Direct”. There is no short cut to a safe, quality, professional HVAC installation that conforms to local building codes, meets manufacturer specifications, performs at peak efficiency, and operates safely.

Question: Why is a Contractor visit important?

Answer: An HVAC system that’s too small won’t keep your home comfortable and one that is oversized will not maintain acceptable humidity levels or be efficient. Oversized systems cycle (turn on and off) more than necessary; this cycling wastes precious, expensive energy puts undue strain on components like compressors and often reduces the expected life of the system. A professional contractor will determine the optimal size of HVAC equipment for your home by making a careful

Only an in-person home visit by a trained HVAC professional contractor can ensure that you buy the right equipment that your home requires to be safe and efficient for a long time. study of your cooling requirements by performing a heating and cooling load calculation of your structure. A load calculation is a scientific process that uses industry standards that take into account the number of windows and doors in your home, window dimensions, and average number of hours of sun exposure. Subtleties like shade trees and shrubbery in your yard, open floor space, the R-value of wall, floor, and roof insulation, local climate patterns, the design and condition of your current central duct system, number of heat-generating appliances, the type of interior furnishings, number of fireplaces, and many other factors effect in unique ways the heating and cooling requirements of every HVAC system.

Only an in-person home visit by a trained HVAC professional contractor can ensure that you buy the right equipment that your home requires to be safe and efficient for a long time.

Question: Does Rheem approve any online resellers of HVAC equipment?

Answer: Rheem does not endorse, approve, or certify any online sale of its products through auction websites, online retailers or any other method of online sales direct to consumers without an in-person site visit, inspection, and installation by a qualified, trained HVAC professional).

Q: What happens if I purchase Rheem equipment from an online sales company?

Answer: Rheem-published warranties are not applicable for any equipment manufactured by Rheem that has been sold direct to the consumer via the internet or auction websites without an in-person site visit, inspection, and installation by a qualified, trained HVAC professional.

Q: How do I contact a contractor to make an equipment purchase?

Answer: Please use the Find a Contractor system on the left side of the Rheem website to locate a professional contractor near you. Contractors listed on the Rheem Locator system are independent contractors.

Q: What should I look for in a professional HVAC Contractor?

Answer: Consider the following:

REPUTATION – Ask for a list of customers and check references. A call to the Better Business Bureau is worthwhile. Contractors who are members of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, the Plumbing-HeatingCooling Contractors Association, and other similar professional contractor groups most likely have a commitment to professional standards and ethical business practices. Check with the

Rheem Wholesale Distributor in your area for names of dependable, reputable contractors.

CREDENTIALS - Ask about required certifications. Many states, provinces, cities, and towns require HVAC contractors to be licensed; check local requirements and be sure your contractor meets the required standards. Ask about recent training received; new and long-tenured contracting businesses regularly invest in professional HVAC technical training to stay current.

North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification is the HVAC industry’s leading authority for technical certification of HVAC technicians; the industry’s best contractors have some level of NATE certification and proudly display their credentials on their websites and in their advertising.

COMMITMENT - Look for a dealer you see as active, present, and involved in your local community. You want a local contractor who is close by, who cares about your needs, who has a commitment to your community, and is able to provide fast, dependable, convenient service when you and your family need it. Look for a contractor who will be there in your hometown tomorrow to help you maintain and service what you purchase today.

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Instant Rheem速 CashBack Rebate Up to $1200 OFF Qualifying Systems

Feeling Hot? Energy bills high?

Exp. 6/15/2013

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(239) 482-5000 www.thinkcertified.com