Earth Day

Buy new light bulbs
When it's time to buy light bulbs, opt for the premium fluorescents. They will shine a pure-white or buttery-golden light and can cut your electricity bill by 5%. These bulbs can range from $3 to $12.

Have a barbeque
Outdoor grilling doesn't just result in a tasty burger — it's also good for the air. Outdoor grills use less energy that your electric kitchen stove and also keep heat out of the house; therefore, lowering air conditioning costs. Choose a grill that uses propane or natural gas because they emit 5.6 pounds of carbon dioxide per hour whereas a charcoal grill emits 11 pounds!

Brew coffee with an energy-efficient coffee machine
The energy-efficient coffee machines brew coffee at the exact temperature recommended for coffee; therefore, it doesn't waste any extra heat and you'll never have burnt coffee again!

Buy a flat screen monitor
The old, bulky monitors not only take up space, but they also increase your electric bill. You'll save money by switching to an LCD flat-panel model because a flat screen uses as little as a third of the electricity as the conventional tube-based models. You should also consider this when shopping for large-screen TVs — the savings are in the LCDs and rear-projection models because they use less than half the energy of plasma TVs.

Clean-up with recycled papers towels
Next time you're in the paper good aisle, throw the recycled paper towels into your cart — they're cheap and environmentally-friendly.

Become an expert recycler
Local recycling practices may vary, but there are a few universal rules that you can follow. First of all, shopping bags never go in your recycling bins. Look on the bottom of your plastic items for a number and only put the items with a one or two in your bin. Second, don't put light bulbs, broken glass or bits of food into your bin — they slow up the process and make waste professionals feel like they've been tossed to the curb.

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Questions or comments post or email:
eugene.dougherty@realliving.com
www.realtyone.com/eugene.dougherty
YOUR Personal Guide to Real Estate

Landscaping Tips for Your Home

Create a plan
It's the classic statement of think before you act. Creating a well-thought-out plan and design will save you time and money and even reduce stress.

It's about quality, not quantity
When it comes to materials or contractors, don't go for the cheap stuff. Flimsy construction will end up costing you in time and money to correct mistakes.

Preserve existing landscape
Think about other uses for structures or plants before you dig and tear down. For example, a crumbling concrete sidewalk can easily be turned into a stepping-stone path or garden edging.

Go organic
Using organic matter like compost, rotted manure and chopped leaves is said to be one of the wisest landscaping investments possible — it's inexpensive and will improve your existing soil.

Do it yourself
Get your hands dirty! It will save the cost of hiring a professional and you can take pride in your work. You can also hire neighborhood kids to shovel or lay sod — they are probably in need of extra cash and it will be easy on your wallet.

Use the experts
Visit your garden center and ask them about what will be the best plants to plant in your garden and learn how to take care of them.

Avoid the impulse buy
An impulse buy is never a good idea when it comes to shopping for anything — so always keep your landscaping budget and plan handy when you are out buying materials.

Use your new garden to save on your grocery bills
Plant the fruits, vegetables and herbs that your family enjoys — it will make for a tasty home-cooked meal and will cut down on the bills.

For more home improvement tips, contact me today.

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Questions or comments post or email:
eugene.dougherty@realliving.com
www.realtyone.com/eugene.dougherty

Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning is a great time to complete those chores you've been putting off all year — or in some cases, for the last few years. The process can be overwhelming at times, but if you create a list of projects and complete a few each day, the spring cleaning process can be quite manageable and even fun! Here is a helpful list to get your started:

Wash your blankets, comforters and rugs, and have your carpet shampooed and floors waxed.

Clean all walls, ceilings and woodwork, including baseboards. Repair any cracks in the plaster.

Empty everything out of the refrigerator and freezer. Throw away any unused or expired items and place the rest in a cooler. Scrub down all interior surfaces, including around the doors.

Clean and sweep under the refrigerator and other heavy appliances like your washer and dryer.

Empty your kitchen cabinets and closets, and discard any unused items or stale chips or cereal. While you're at it, organize your spices and put them in alphabetical order for easy access.

Dry-clean all curtains and draperies, and wash your windows inside and out.

Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades, light fixtures and window blinds.

Go through your closets and wash and pack away all out-of-season clothing.

Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks. Also, fix your leaky faucets and remove any water or rust stains in these areas.

Tighten loose doorknobs, pulls on drawers and cabinets, towel racks, switch plates and outlet covers.

If you have a garage, clean it out. Create efficient storage for sporting goods, camping equipment and garden tools.
It's also important that you enjoy yourself during spring cleaning. Turn up your favorite music, open your windows for some fresh air and have fun! If you're looking for more cleaning or home maintenance tips, contact me today

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Questions or comments post or email:
eugene.dougherty@realliving.com
www.realtyone.com/eugene.dougherty