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OCTOBER 14, 2015
Magnolia news
QueenAnneNews.com
VOL. 96, NO. 42
Cost-Effective Ways to Heat Your Home How to Conduct a DIY Home Energy Audit T
his fall, why not consider making needed improvements in your home to help increase energy efficiency and save big in the long run?
Here is a short checklist for a DIY home energy audit. Seal Air Leaks According to the U.S. Department of Energy, sealing air leaks around the house can save up to 30 percent of energy costs annually. To find leaks, conduct a thorough visual inspection for gaps and cracks by baseboards, where the walls and ceiling meet, around door frames, and near cable and phone line wall plates. Spot a gap? Caulk it. Use painter’s tape for a cleaner job. Hold the caulking gun at an angle for best results, and apply in a continuous stream. Improve insulation around windows and doors with weather-stripping. Measure the gap you need to fill to identify the width of weather-stripping needed and determine whether you should apply it from the inside or outside. Before starting, read the package instructions to ensure you’re using the right materials. Cut to size and install. ➧ AUDIT Page 3
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W
hen keeping your home warm becomes a top priority, utility bills can get pricey. But upgrades featuring new technologies and heating strategies can help lower costs comfortably -- plus these changes can also help make your home more environmentally friendly. Zone Heating A central furnace cycles on and off several times an hour, heating your entire house, including unoccupied rooms. But supplemental heating
products can warm the living areas that your family occupies most, allowing you to turn down the thermostat for the central furnace. This practice can save up to 40 percent off your heating bills, according to an American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy report. Instead of a utilitarian space heater, consider alternative zone heating tools, such as fireplaces, stoves and fireplace inserts, which look great and add ambiance. Wood Stoves In addition to adding ambiance, new innovations are making wood
stoves a more convenient way to stay warm this winter. For example, the Quadra-Fire Adventure II is the first wood stove that maintains a room’s temperature via a programmable thermostat and tells you when to add more wood. Plus, its four-point burn system produces intense rolling flames for powerful and efficient heat, so warming your home can be as simple as loading the wood, lighting the fire, and walking away -- and it can reduce home heating ➧ HEATING Page 3
LUXURIOUS QUEEN ANNE PENTHOUSE 2627 Warren Avenue #300 Breathtaking 360° views! This one-story home consists of the entire 3rd floor plus the private roof-top deck! (Exclusively for this unit!) Spectacular spaces & volume. Private attached 2-car garage that hosts a shop and previous wine cellar with no stairs to elevator. Security elevator which opens directly into your unit! Three large bedrooms and two bathrooms. Two gas fireplaces with one in glorious master bedroom with 5-piece spa bathroom. Air conditioner to keep you cool in the summer! Dual treated windows allow for seeing out but keeping the hot sun out as well. Beautiful kitchen with abundant storage and counter space open to the dining room perfect for entertaining. Two large garden beds deeded to this unit to keep your green thumb green! MLS # 815886 | $975,000
Portia Strong Gray Realtor® CNE
Cell: 206-818-7195 | PortiaGray@CBBain.com
Managing Broker, CRB, CRS, ABR, e-Pro, Luxury Property Specialist (206) 216-3440 | LaurieWay@CBBain.com| RealEstateWays.com