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SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 4, 2017

UPDATE YOUR FLOORING WITH THESE HELPFUL TIPS (NAPSI)-Designer-inspired looks, rich embellishments and technological advances are changing the way people look at flooring.

Floors have become more than a surface to walk on. Today's residential flooring makes a statement not only of fashion, but also of homeowner philosophy that transcends taste and space.

For example, floors today feature recycled leathers and suedes, woods that are not merely "exotic" but also "green," self-cleaning ceramics, and carpets made from corn sugars.

Wood Flooring For wood flooring, tropical looks that are also environmentally friendly are the rage as manufacturers show an understanding of newly established environmental standards. Hardwoods from sustainable forests undergo natural staining and aging treatments that leave them looking much like their highly sought but endangered rainforest cousins. Unfinished vintage looks and high-gloss, piano-finish contemporary wood planks are also growing in popularity. Coconut palm floors resembling zebrawood are a new trend--and they are eco-friendly, durable and affordable.

Carpets and Area Rugs The ever-popular plush carpet appears in a wide variety of alternative and sustainable materials and styles, including a new, luxurious hemp weave that looks and feels like silk and a cozy "fisherman-style" wool weave rug that's like a sumptuous sweater for your floor.

Neutrals will also hold their place in plush flooring but the color du jour in carpet and rugs is turquoise, bringing a clean, fresh representation of water and sky into the home.

To add a bit of sparkle to your plush floors, a number of manufacturers have woven shiny tinsel into new carpets and rugs.

Laminates Giving American homes an international look for less, laminated floors are made to look like exotic woods inspired by tropical varieties from Hawaii, Honduras and Africa. One new line of wood-look laminates offers a beautiful alternative to timbers that can no longer be harvested without harming the environment--and breaking the law. Homeowners can enjoy an exotic look underfoot without having to fear for the rainforests because of it.

Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles are now available in every color, texture, shape and size imaginable. In fact, a rapidly developing trend in the category is to design your own. Many companies are now offering completely customizable tiles in a wide assortment of materials and a rainbow array of colors. Many will even create custom dyes for consumers who send in swatches of fabric or paint to be matched.

Then there's this feat for your feet: A new tile line infused with antimicrobial protection that won't wash off or wear away provides a layer of defense from stain- and odor-causing bacteria.

Realistic Resilients The resilient category--which includes vinyl, cork and linoleum, among other surfaces--offers new looks that closely resemble travertine, limestone, concrete and slate but leave out the high price and high maintenance. New lines of richlooking leather and suede tiles are made from recycled car seats and jackets.

Find Help To help you find flooring to suit your sense of style, the World Floor Covering Association website, www.WFCA.org, has answers to floor-covering questions.

It also offers a product catalog and practical tips on manufacturing details, varieties and styles available, things to consider before you buy and how to prepare for installation, plus a database of retailers to help you find a store nearby.

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USE COLOR TO REVAMP THE LOOK OF YOUR HOME (NAPSI)—Choosing a new look for your home can be a liberating, rejuvenating change that will pay off in the future. By choosing the right color, you can express yourself, freshen up an old look and increase the value of your home. According to a recent Cost vs. Value Report conducted by Hanley Wood, LLC, an exterior makeover -such as installing fiber cement siding-can be a great investment, returning more than 83 percent of the project cost upon resale.

Here are several tips to help you increase the value of your home while boosting curb appeal: • Go Green. Color choice can affect the energy efficiency of your home. Darker colors absorb the sun and therefore warm the home, while lighter colors reflect the sun’s rays, keeping the home cooler. This is an important consideration depending on the amount of sunlight your home is exposed to on an average day.

• Get Back to Nature. Look to your natural surroundings for inspiration. For example, in a wooded area, vivid greens and browns can help blend the style of a home with its environment. In an urban setting, bright, eye-catching colors can help to offset the sometimes drab hues associated with city living.

• Go Back in History. If your home is from a certain historical period, play off that history. Find old pictures of your house or neighborhood to use a historically accurate color scheme. Try to select shades that were used at the time your home was built. This will add character and a certain amount of authenticity to your own little historical treasure.

• Visualize the Finished Product. The ColorView free online tool at www.certainteed.com l e t s homeowners picture their home complete with new color. You can even mix and match colors of roofing, siding, trim, rail and deck to choose the perfect style and look.

• Make a Lasting Impression. The darker the hue, the more likely it is to fade over time, especially with homes exposed to direct sunlight.

CertainTeed’s Monogram vinyl siding offers consistent quality and variety with over 40 colors and wood-tone blends.

• Look Up. The roof accounts for roughly 40 percent of the exterior appearance of the home, so it’s important to consider roofing shingles.

CertainTeed’s Presidential Shake Shingles deliver the charm and character of hand-split wood shakes with the durability and strength that preside over wood in virtually every surrounding. From aged bark and charcoal black to weathered wood and chestnut, the shingles are available in a wide array of dynamic color options and textures to match your home’s unique style.

GREAT PLANTS FOR FALL AND WINTER COLOR Cool-season flowers bring a splash of color to your garden right when you need it most.

Where freezes are infrequent, you can plant cheery pansies (pictured), snapdragons, English daisies, and more from early fall through late winter. They’ll overwinter, filling your borders, containers, and pocket gardens with months of flower power.

In cold climates, plants will die off in winter but can be planted again in spring.

Look for sturdy plants with good leaf color in six-packs and 4-inch containers.

Giant rosettes of frilly leaves in lavender, rose, white, and creamy yellow make ornamental kales favorite additions to the winter garden.

EASY KITCHEN UPDATES THAT WON’T BREAK THE BANK (ARA) - It goes without saying that the kitchen is one of the hardest-working rooms in the home. For most, it’s the heart of family life and usually the one room where everyone gathers together. With so much hustle and bustle, it’s no wonder that the kitchen runs the risk of looking overworked.

A remodeled kitchen not only reinvigorates the space, but the home overall. This isn’t always easy to accomplish though, as a full-blown renovation can be quite expensive and time-consuming. However, even on a tight budget, there are plenty of ways to spruce up the room without breaking the bank.

As dirt and grease build up over time, appliances around the kitchen can appear old and dull. The easiest way to rejuvenate those appliances without spending a fortune on new ones is by giving them a thorough cleaning. Since the stove is often used most, it’s a good place to start. Clean the entire surface inside and out using a product that is safe for all surfaces. Try Goo Gone Foaming Kitchen Grease Cleaner to cut through the baked-on grease and stuck-on grime clinging to your stove without needing to scrub. Get into every nook and cranny until it sparkles.

Paint the cabinets - A lackluster room can quickly become re-energized with a vibrant new color. Repaint the cabinets a lively hue to brighten the space or freshen the existing paint color with a new coat.

Update fixtures - Don’t expect that the faucet handles you installed more than 10 years ago will last another 10. In addition to being practical, kitchen fixtures can add style and enhance overall design. Look for fixtures that fit your kitchen motif, whether it’s modern and sleek or shabby chic.

Change existing hardware - Think of hardware as jewelry for the kitchen. Add new glass or metal knobs, or bars to highlight cabinets and enhance the overall style of the room. If using metal hardware, choose one type and stick to it for a clean, uniform look.

Create shelving - Removing cabinet doors to create shelving can provide a sense of openness and additional space. Simply remove cabinet doors and fill in holes with wood filler. Then, sand until smooth and paint as desired. You can also paint the inside of the newly open cabinets as a decorative treatment.

Don’t forget about the floor - Update floors without the significant cost associated with new flooring by simply adding a rug. Find a rug that’s durable to high foot traffic, but also complements your kitchen style.

Complete all the updates, or pick and choose to make a difference even on the smallest budget. This process will certainly work on other areas of the home as well.

Just as with the kitchen, always start with a good cleaning to instantly revitalize the items in your home. To save time and money, use products designed to clean multiple surfaces - including carpeting, upholstery, hard surfaces and more, like Goo Gone Original or Spray Gel formulations. Then, look around to see what can be updated without a complete renovation. Your home will have a fresh appeal in no time.

To learn more about Goo Gone products, as well as cleaning tips to undo your messes and revitalize your home, visit www.googone.com.

Because these showy cabbage relatives tolerate cold weather and can hold their brilliant color all the way into spring, they’re ideal for display on porches, patios, or beside entryways, or for massing in garden beds. They grow 1 to 2 feet tall.

Plant kale as soon as possible so heads develop fully; the color will intensify in the cold. Plant in full sun or light shade. W ater regularly and feed every other week with a dilute liquid fertilizer like fish emulsion.

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WINTER PLANNING What are we gardeners doing or thinking about in winter? To an extent, we are worrying about the present, though it might be wiser to dig those drains when the ground has dried out a bit.

If you have to be out there, make sure you are as comfortable as is possible in the circumstances. Put on plenty of layers of clothing; make yourself watertight; have several changes of dry gloves. If you must plant, be light in your touch and don’t compress the soil. Above all, don’t tread on and compact it, making it lose structure and air spaces.

Planning for the next year is, one might say, a good excuse for being inside and warm. You can get inspiration from browsing through catalogues and well illustrated gardening books. But to confine your planning to the winter is sheer escapism; it should be a part of the whole year’s thinking.

Indeed, you can usually get a far clearer picture in summer, when it’s all actively in front of you, of what changes and improvements are desirable. That’s where the vital garden notebook comes in, capturing the brilliant thought that has come into your head and setting it down forthwith, before it is lost. The notebook should be small enough to be carried around or slipped into a pocket and it should have waterproof covers.

Always keep yourself on the rails by noting the date of any entry. It doesn’t matter how grubby and battered the book becomes. Read over what you have written within the next day and when you’ve come indoors. That way you can be sure to read your own writing and also to fix the place and occasion in your mind (it may be in your own garden or it may be in someone else’s).

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Many improvements are just a question of minor adjustments, rather than out-and-out planning. In fact, I’m not keen on plans, as the site always looks different once you’re on it. In a few weeks, you’ll be enjoying the appearance of one of the earliest daffodils, the little yellow trumpet, ‘Tete-a-Tete’. It is so small that there are many spots where it can simply be left to get on with its life, whether active or dormant, and will not be in the way.

Under a deciduous shrub, for instance. Look around you and think where else it might be nice to see some of it. Stock soon increases, so it won’t be long before you have enough to spread around. Then think, what would it be nice to see with this little fellow that would make a good companion at the same time?

My own answer, here, is primroses - the unimproved wild primrose. You don’t have to (must not, in fact) dig it up from the wild. A plant is easily bought or grown from seed and will soon be large enough to be divided. The primrose is pale yellow; the narcissus, deep yellow and they are well contrasted in shape.

Anyone else to join the party? Well, what about some bulbs of the little Iris reticulata? Purple is wonderfully highlighted by yellow and again we have a different shape but a flowering season that coincides.

And this iris can easily multiply if left undisturbed in the garden, as it never would were you growing it in a pot. To own whole clumps of it, thick with blossom, will be a source of great pride.

For a site, I am still invoking the protection of some deciduous shrub - it might be a weigela or a deutzia - which is itself doing nothing at this season, so that there is plenty of light beneath it.

Another good spot is around some hardy perennial, which takes up a lot of space in summer but retires to virtually nothing in winter. A number of hardy cranesbills come to mind. Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ would be ideal. There is always a great deal of space around a single plant of this, in winter, and that space will remain vacant until well into May, by which time the bulbs will naturally be dying down and the primrose can put up with any amount of summer shade anyway.

You should surely be growing more snowdrops and there’s currently so much ground doing nothing where they’d be happy. For an accompaniment I always think that the marbled foliage of hardy Cyclamen hederifolium looks ideal as a background to them.

All this is just a start to the year but can go on in every week through the seasons. Plan now on paper for the summer by all means, and make lists of the plants you yearn to have, but be prepared for some major rethinking when that time actually comes along.

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Outdoor Kitchens Are What’s In: Top Tips For Creating A Better Outdoor Kitchen (NAPSI)—It’s quickly becoming the most popular gathering space in the home.

And why not? It can come complete with pizza ovens, keg tappers, wine chillers and more. It can be the epicenter for home entertaining. It can be used to store, prep and serve your favorite dishes.

Of course, “it” is the outdoor kitchen.

According to a survey of residential landscape architects by the American Society of Landscape Architects, 92 percent said outdoor living spaces would be a popular design element in the coming year.

Not only do they add to the quality of life at home, outdoor kitchens can have a return on investment similar to an indoor kitchen remodel.

around or over the grill to see food being cooked, but make sure the lights’ beams are not blocked by the grill hood, causing a shadow to be cast over the cooking surfaces.

“You need space to work, stack and serve,” Faulk said of three major tasks that take place on a countertop. Having enough room in the right places is key to creating an outdoor kitchen that will be functional and enjoyable for years to come.

Faulk said there should be several “landing areas”—or uninterrupted space—on the countertop where certain tasks can be accomplished.

“A grill should have 24 inches of counter space on one side and 12 inches on the other, so the cook can take food from one platter and put it on the grill,” Faulk said. “After the food is done, the cook can take it off the grill and place it on a platter on the other side of the grill.” He said sinks should have 18 inches on either side to give enough room to wash food or stack dirty dishes.

Staying Cold and Dry Not all cabinetry or refrigeration is made the same.

Before deciding on a piece of refrigeration, Faulk suggests asking two questions: “Is it rated as food safe?” and “Can it be kept outside all year?”

Insider Tips

Outdoor kitchens can range from a grill, some cabinetry and countertop all the way up to something that resembles a backyard sports bar and grill complete with TV, sound system, keg tapper, pizza oven, grill and refrigerators.

With so many options available to homeowners, Russ Faulk, a nationally recognized expert on outdoor kitchen design and vice president of design for Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, has several tips to keep in mind when thinking about creating an outdoor kitchen, no matter the budget.

A Better Fire There’s one rule that should never be broken when deciding on appliances for the outdoor kitchen, said Faulk. That rule is “never scrimp on the grill,” he said.

“A grill drives overall satisfaction with the outdoor kitchen. When choosing a grill, think about the kind of cooking you aspire to, not the kind you do now,” Faulk said. “There are no uniform depths, widths or heights, so if you have a grill built into a countertop and you no longer like it, it may be a serious headache to have the grill replaced and the surrounding counter recut to fit it.”

While Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet is known for its Hybrid Fire Grill—which allows for cooking with gas, charcoal and wood all in one grill—there are many viable options at various price points.

Finding one that will enable your cooking capabilities to grow is key.

Avoid Common Mistakes Insufficient lighting and counter space are the two most common mistakes Faulk sees in outdoor kitchens. He said these mistakes greatly limit how well the kitchen works. “Without enough lighting around the grill, it’s hard to cook at night, especially in the spring or fall when night comes earlier,” he said. Faulk recommends placing lighting

SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 4, 2017

“Lots of people are surprised to learn about what’s available for outdoor refrigeration—drawers, freezers, beverage chillers and even keg tappers,” said Faulk. “By asking if the refrigeration is rated food safe, you learn that the unit can hold a set interior temperature even when the thermometer rises above 95 degrees outdoors. Food-safe refrigeration means that poultry and other groceries won’t go bad and drinks will stay chilled to the temperature that best suits you.”

Faulk also suggests asking if outdoor refrigeration can be left outdoors all year, even during the winter.

“Several manufacturers suggest bringing the appliances indoors during the winter,” he said.

“They’re difficult to remove in the fall and even harder to replace and make level in the spring.

It’s just easier on homeowners if they have a unit that can be kept outside all year long.”

While some think a cabinet is a cabinet, Faulk said not all are created equal. “Look for cabinetry that has a way of keeping the elements out, fullextension shelves and all its parts made of stainless steel,” he said.

To protect from rain and the elements, weathertight cabinetry is another good investment. There are different ways to keep the inside of a cabinet dry, including magnetic gaskets that create a seal, or rain gutters—which are built into Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet’s cabinetry—that surround the door and drawer openings to channel water away.

Whether you’re adding a grill and counter space to your backyard or building a fully-equipped outdoor kitchen, incorporating design fundamentals is key. It will ensure that your family and friends will have a truly memorable experience— every time, for years to come.

The smallest details make a big difference in how an outdoor kitchen works. Here are some of Faulk’s favorite insider tips that make an outdoor kitchen even better.

On The Edge—A drip edge is a narrow, shallow groove cut into the underside of the countertop.

Its purpose is to prevent water from curling under the counter and into cabinets. By cutting a -inchdeep groove that’s just of an inch from the counter edge, a barrier is created that interrupts water from making its journey under the counter and into your cabinets.

BTU-tiful Power—To get the best performance out of the gas appliances in an outdoor kitchen, they have to be fed the proper amount of fuel.

That means the pipe sending gas to the appliances has to be the right size. Take into account everything that will be using the supply of gas. For example, do you have a pool that will be heated off the same pipe that the grill is using? Likewise, do you have a fire pit that will be fed from that pipe?

If that is the case, the contractor needs to take all those factors into account. Then he’ll determine the proper size of the gas line to effectively feed enough power to everything.

Pump It—If it’s going to cost too much to run a water line to the outdoor kitchen, but you still want a sink and running water to wash veggies and other items, use an RV pump. “I know it seems unorthodox, but I have seen where this has been a really economical and efficient solution to having running water without the expense of running a water line,” said Faulk.

A VIEW TO SAVING (NAPSI)—Homeowners can see their way clear to saving on cooling and heating costs, and protecting their skin and home decor from the sun’s damaging UV rays, all thanks to something they can scarcely see at all—window film.

Instead of replacing structurally sound windows, they can turn to a simple yet cost-effective solution: professionally installed window film—a thin layer of polyester film with high-tech coatings that are nearly invisible to the eye.

The International Window Film Association (IWFA) points out that once installed, window film can deliver up to seven times the energy savings per dollar spent.

“Many consumers are looking for ways to improve the curb appeal and efficiency of their homes,” said Darrell Smith, executive director of the IWFA. “Window film can reduce energy consumption by reducing solar heat gain and cut cooling costs by as much as 30 percent and at the same time allow you to enjoy natural light without the negative impact of harsh glare and UV exposure,” he added.

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WINTER HEATING TIPS ENERGYWISE HOMES Stay Warm We’re in for a cold winter, but you can keep frosty weather outside. Usethese energy saving tips to stay warm and comfy in your home while keeping your heating costs down.

Save Money The average family will spend over $1,300. on utility bills this year. About half of that will go to heating and cooling the home.

The rest is spent on water heating, refrigeration, lighting, cooking and appliances.

You can reduce your energy bills by ten to fifty percent by using a few inexpensive energy-saving measures.

Think Comfort Comfort tip number one: Keep drafts out!

A small leak around a door or window can be the equivalent, in terms of air flow, to removing a brick from the side of your house and letting the wind blow through.

Seal those gaps and keep winter winds on the outside. Make sure all your doors and windows shut tightly. Check for leaks, and replace old weather stripping or caulk. To find out where cold air is seeping into your home, light a stick of incense and carry it around the house. Hold it up to window frames, door sills, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and any possible air path to the outside. Watch the smoke to see where air leaks are occurring. This trick works best on a windy day. Your best investment of the year could be a simple caulking gun, which costs less than ten dollars. By sealing all the gaps around doors and windows, your foundation, and places where pipes pass through the walls, you can save a bundle on your heating bill this winter.

Thermostats Instead of unbundling from all your many layers when you come indoors, try keeping your house at a temperature where you will feel comfortable with a sweater on.

Keep your thermostat set to 70 degrees, or lower, during the day. Set your thermostat to lower temperatures at night, or when you are not at home. 65 to 69 degrees is comfortable for most people at night. Try reducing the temperature to 55 or 60 when you are away from the house for more than a few hours. A five degree reduction in temperature setting for an eight hour time period can save you up to twelve percent on your energy bill. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to reduce the temperature while you are away at work, and to reduce it a little less while you are asleep at night. If your thermostat is not programmable, put a little hook in the wall beside

it. Hang you keys on the hook, and that will help you remember to turn down the temperature when you leave the house. You’ll also always be able to find your keys.

Windows If you want to make single glazed windows function like new double pane glass, you can provide and inexpensive “second pane” by covering the inside with tight fitting plastic sheeting. Window kits are available at discount or hardware stores. Make sure you do your caulking to seal any air leaks around the windows first.

Window Shades Use your window shades and drapes to maximum benefit. Keep shades closed at night to conserve heat. During the day, open shades on sunny windows to take advantage of passive solar heating. It also helps to keep south facing windows as clean as possible. You can use Venetian blinds or mini blinds to block out the cold while still letting light in. Think of the cold air as a heavy liquid flowing down off your window panes. Angle your blinds to block the flow by tilting the slats at a 45 degree angle to the window glass. Heavy drapes or quilted roman shades make great winter window coverings. If they cover an area larger than the window itself, they are also adding insulation value to your walls.

Humidify Your Home Add humidity. Humid air feels warmer than dry air. Increasing the humidity of your home also helps you resist winter colds and moisturizes dry skin. Operating a room humidifier will make you feel more comfortable. If your heating system has a humidifier, make sure that it’s functioning properly. You can also add humidity by keeping house plants. Plants clean the air and add moisture to it at the same time. Putting trays of water on top of radiators also helps.

So does leaving the bathroom door open after a shower, to let that warm steamy air circulate through the house.

Heat Zones If you’re not using a room, don’t heat it.

Close off vents to rooms that are infrequently used, and shut the door. When you do need to use the room, just open the vent for the time you are in there and keep your sweater on. [Note: Don’t try shutting vents if you use a heat pump as this could harm your heat pump.]

Ventilating Fans Don’t overuse kitchen or bathroom ventilating fans. Turn them off as soon as they have done their job, or put them on timers to limit their operation to fifteen minutes

at a time. A fan can draw out an entire houseful of heated air in about an hour.

Heating System Keep your furnace air filter clean, clean, clean. A dirty or clogged filter can make your furnace and fan work harder, which costs you more. You’ll be warmer for less money, and breathe easier, if you clean or replace your furnace filter often. Check the filter at least once a month, and more often if you have a lot of dust. Make sure it gets cleaned or replaced at least twice this winter. Keep registers or radiators dust and clutter free. Make sure that they are not blocked by furniture, drapes or carpeting.

If your home has radiators, make a trip from room to room bleeding trapped air from each radiator as you go. You can also increase the amount of heat that goes into a room by placing a heatresistant radiator reflector behind the radiator, between the radiator and the exterior wall. Check air ducts in your attic or basement. Make sure that there are no leaks, and that the ducts are well insulated. You can seal leaks with duct tape, but make sure that it is UL (Underwriters Laboratory) approved.

You may want to seek professional help for making major repairs to ducts or installing insulation. Keep in mind that heating and cooling systems in the United States emit about half a billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. By following these energy saving tips, you are helping to reduce the effects of global climate change Hot Water Warm water feels wonderful, but it can be costing you more than you think. A typical household spends 14 percent of their energy bill, or about $200 a year on hot water. About half of this is used to wash your body (showers and baths), and about a fourth is used to wash your clothes. You can reduce your water heating costs by using less hot water. Do this by installing low flow showerheads and fixing leaky faucets.

When doing laundry, try using warm or cold rather than hot water, and try to wash one large load rather than several small ones. If you use a dishwasher, you can reduce the amount of hot water used by scraping, instead of rinsing dishes before you load them into the dishwasher. Make sure you dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, and avoid using the “rinse hold” option. When shopping for a new washing machine or dishwasher, look for the Energy Star label.

Energy Star products are certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to use less energy than other products, cost less to operate and help protect the environment. You an also save energy by re-

ducing the temperature in your water heater.

If the water coming out of your tap can burn you, it is far too hot for safety and for most household needs. Try setting the thermostat on your water heater to 115 degrees.

You can save money by making sure that your water heater and pipes are well insulated. Ready made kits are available at hardware stores and building supply stores. Be careful not to cover the thermostat. If you have a gas or oil water heater, be careful not to cover the water heater’s top, bottom, thermostat, or burner compartment. Consider heating your water with solar energy.

Solar water heaters can be great investments, even in our cold climate.

Attic Insulation Much of the heat escaping homes is lost through the attic. Be sure to close off any attic vents or fans during the winter and check on how well the attic is insulated.

You should have at least nine inches of fiberglass batting to achieve the minimum recommended R30 value for our area. A local study found that increasing the level of insulation from 2-3 inches (R5) to 8 - 14 inches (R30) can save 95 to 145 dollars per year for every 1,200 square feet of ceiling area. Lay batts or blankets between joists or trusses with the vapor barrier facing your living space.

You can add additional insulation without a vapor barrier over existing insulation, if needed.

Fireplaces Make sure your heat isn’t going out the chimney. If you have a fireplace, remember to close the damper tightly when it’s not in use. Having the damper open is just like having a full sized window wide open all winter long. Shut outside vents too. If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue. When you are using a fireplace, keep in mind that while it seems cozy and warm, it is not an efficient source of heat for your house. The heat in your home goes right up the chimney with the smoke. To minimize this, close the doors to the room with the fireplace, and lower the thermostat or turn off heaters. If your fireplace has dampers in the bottom of the firebox, make sure that they are open, so that the fire will use outside air rather that the warm air from your home. If you don’t have an outside air source for the fire, open the nearest window about an inch while the fire is burning. You can greatly improve the efficiency of your fireplace by installing tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.

INNOVATIONS SAVE MONEY, ENERGY (NAPSI)—In today’s real estate market, more Americans are choosing to stay in their homes and focus on renovations and improvements rather than moving. Home improvement expert Jodi Marks notes that many homeowners are looking for meaningful fixes, such as decorative enhancements and space-saving strategies, that can make a home feel fresh again.

“People are also focused on saving money and energy by looking for building products that offer both current and long-term benefits,” said Marks. “Like many architects and designers, homeowners are turning to plastics to help reduce energy and maintenance costs.”

According to Marks, innovations in plastic building and construction products have made it even easier for homeowners to save money, make their homes more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint. Some of these innovations can be made of recycled plas-

tics. All types of plastic bottles and containers, when properly recycled, can go on to lead a “second life” as new products for homeowners, such as decking and furniture. Here’s a look at the ways: • Windows: Applying plastic-based caulks and sealants is a quick, easy fix for drafty windows. If replacement windows are needed, vinyl plastic windows provide excellent insulation to help maintain an even temperature in the home. This cuts down on heating and air-conditioning, saving homeowners money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• Decking and fencing: Lumber made with plastics is durable, doesn’t require painting or staining, and is easy to maintain. It’s also resistant to fading, mold and mildew. Some plastic lumber is even made with recycled plastic grocery bags.

• Flooring: Plastic-composite laminate flooring is readily installed over almost any existing, hard-floor surface.

Each piece simply locks into another, so even a large room can be installed in an afternoon. Because of plastics, composite flooring is durable and both stain and moisture resistant, which means it requires little maintenance and works well in just about any room of the home.

Luxury vinyl tile—a tough, durable tile that’s already proved itself for many years in commercial settings—is thicker and made entirely of plastics, with a beautiful finished look to rival traditional materials. It also locks into place over existing flooring for a do-it-yourself project.

• Roofing: Plastic roofing can look like slate or wood shakes and it’s long lasting and tough enough to withstand extreme weather. Manufacturers often offer a 50-year warranty; some even offer a lifetime warranty when the product is installed by a professional. It can also help provide additional insulation protection as part of the roofing system, as well as reflect heat, so it helps

reduce heating and cooling costs and energy use.

• Insulation: Adding foam and other plastic insulation when renovating or residing a home can help homeowners save on heating and cooling bills. For example, plastic house wrap can reduce infiltration of outside air by up to 50 percent.

To learn more, check out Plastics Make it Possible® at www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com.

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SERVING THE EVANSVILLE & TRI-STATE AREA • EVANSVILLETHRIFTYNICKEL.NET

SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 4, 2017