10 Easy Tips for a Green Christmas

Christmastime is generally one of the least eco-friendly parts of the year—but it doesn’t have to be. Stay off of Santa’s naughty list this year with these simple green tips.

• Buy LED lights – LED Christmas lights use up to 90 percent less electricity than incandescent.
• Shop online – Driving across town all day buying gifts really racks up the carbon emissions. Instead, plan ahead and buy your gifts online.
• Use real plates and cutlery – It’s no secret, people love to eat around the holidays. This year, make sure you aren’t generating trash and wasting resources by serving everything on real plates and silverware.
• Put up less lights – Many times, people keep putting up lights just because they have more to put up. Make sure you’re only putting up lights you really want to put up—less can be more.
• Buy a sustainable and/or potted tree – Plastic trees are not eco-friendly at all, but cutting down a tree every year isn’t either. Look for trees that have been raised sustainability or ones that are potted. Potted trees can be reused for years and eventually re-planted.
• Reduce, reuse and recycle wrapping – Americans generate countless tons of waste each year just in Christmas gift wrapping. Instead of adding to the pile, look for ways to cut down on the amount you use, reuse gift bags and ribbon and recycle paper.
• Organic and local foods – For your Christmas feast, try to buy as much organic and locally raised foods as possible. Bonus: your food will probably end up tasting better!
• Send e-cards – Instead of paper cards, send out virtual cards this year. They may not have the full effect of a real card, but they cut down on lots of waste and carbon emissions.
• Recycle your tree – If you end up with a real tree that isn’t potted, don’t just feed it to the landfill. Instead, find a recycler that can chip it up for use in gardening.
• Turn off lights – Lights are great at turning up the holiday spirit, but only have them on when you are around to enjoy them. Leaving lights on while you are out of the house is just a waste.

WhiteFence Running Team

Every year in January, thousands of runners participate in the Chevron Houston Marathon/ Amoco Half Marathon. This year, WhiteFence is sending its own team of runners to take part in the event, and we couldn't be more excited. The team is made up of people from different departments who have been training for the last few months to run the 13.1 miles of the half marathon. Even yours truly is a part of this awesome group.

We started back in August, which in Texas is probably the worst time of the year that anyone can do just about anything. While the 100 degree training temperatures were rough, it more than likely prepared us for the eventually longer runs we're getting up to now, which are about 10-12 miles. The running team meets every 2 weeks, gradually increasing the mileage each time we get together.

Comcast Launches Fancast Xfinity Internet Video Service

Comcast has launched a nationwide beta program for Fancast Xfinity, the company’s new initiative to allow subscribers to watch TV on their computers. The beta is open to Comcast customers with a bundle that includes both high-speed Internet and television service.

Subscribers simply log in at fancast.com and can watch any content that they currently subscribe to via their television package. Content available now weighs in at about 2,000 hours from 30 networks, including HBO and the Discovery Channel.

Programs like these are really the future of the entertainment industry. Computer and television content will continue to merge, giving providers a wider catalog of services they can sell to a wider market. They are also great for consumers, as they open up new ways to enjoy the programming they are paying for.

A few years ago we were all watching standard-definition television on bulky CRT televisions on the strict schedule of the broadcasters. Now, we can enjoy HD programming on our own schedule on anything from a massive plasma TV in our home to a laptop in a coffee shop. Just imagine all the crazy ways the next generation will be able to watch content.

J.D. Power and Associates: Customer Satisfaction with High-speed Internet Service on the Rise

According to a recent study by J.D. Power and Associates, overall customer satisfaction with residential high-speed Internet service providers has increased from 2008. The study pointed to improvements in performance and reliability as a major factors.

The Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study^SM found overall satisfaction with residential high-speed Internet service is 639 on a 1,000-point scale-an increase of 22 index points compared to last year.

Among customers who bundle services from their Internet service provider, the most popular option is a combination of video and Internet services. The percentage of customers who bundle voice, video and data services has increased from 16 percent in 2008 to 19 percent in 2009.

High-speed Internet service providers were examined in four regions, with Verizon coming out tops in the East, Bright House Networks' Road Runner service in the South, WOW! in the North Central, and EarthLink in the West.

Not satisfied with your current high-speed Internet service provider? Find other options in your area!

WhiteFence on Facebook and Twitter

Social media. It's awesome. Which I'm guessing is why everyone and their mom (literally, in some cases) seem to have a Facebook or Twitter account these days.

I think the coolest thing about these sites is the spread of information in a viral, instantaneous way. It's actually affected the way people advertise and communicate information, particularly movie studios who can no longer bank on a big opening weekend for potential flops due to the "Twitter effect" and faster than ever word-of-mouth.

If you feel like joining us in the social media sphere, check out the WhiteFence Facebook and Twitter pages. We share some cool home services information, pictures from around the office, and cool stuff in general. Join the conversation!

AT&T; Offers More Free TV Apps to U-verse Customers

AT&T; recently announced the launch of two new TV apps for AT&T; U-verse^SM customers: Offers On Demand, an app that lets you redeem a coupon code on-screen for discounts on movie rentals; and Caller ID on TV, an app that lets you view your U-verse Voice Caller ID and voicemail notifications on your U-verse TV screen. These new offerings bring the total TV apps available to 20.

With the Offers On Demand app, U-verse TV customers can redeem coupons from their TV for discounted movie rentals. After entering the coupon code on channel 199, you can redeem the coupon to select and watch a movie. The app will also save a list of your available coupons and their expiration dates if you want to return and watch the movie later. Coupon codes can be found on channel 200, at uconnect.att.com and in the monthly U-guide magazine. U-verse TV and AT&T; wireless customers can also opt in for Offers On Demand coupon codes via U-verse Mobile Alerts by texting “On Demand” to 9696.

With Caller ID on TV, on demand customers can view their U-verse Voice caller ID and voicemail notifications on the U-verse TV screen. Without interrupting your program, a small message will appear on the TV screen for six seconds when a new call comes in or when you receive a voicemail message.

If you aren't a U-verse customer, find service in your area to get access to these new apps.

Viewing of Movies and TV Shows Online Doubled in 2009

According to Parks Associates, a market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services, the number of U.S. broadband households watching premium online content, including movies and TV shows via the Internet, doubled in the last year. They found that more 25 million U.S. broadband households regularly watch full-length TV shows online, while over 20 million watch movies online.

In their study Broadband, Communications, and Entertainment Bundles, the company found that the growing popularity of online portals such as Hulu.com shows rapid growth in the number of viewers who use the Internet to watch premium content. Parks concluded that this shift highlights the opportunity for Internet service providers to extend their current pay-TV and video-on-demand services to include online and mobile video features. In addition, they say that these providers will have to embrace online video services, including the ability to deliver content across multiple platforms, if they are to remain competitive and attract new subscribers.

Does your high-speed Internet service handle all the online content you want to experience? If not, it might be time to search for a new provider.

Image via Nielsen Wire

On Home Improvement

As new home owners, my wife and I have recently become a bit obsessed with anything related to home improvement. One of our favorite new shows is Holmes on Homes, which is all about the world of shady contractors and the people that have been burned by them. I'm a TV junkie, what can I say?

I think the most shocking thing for many homeowners (myself included) is just how hit or miss the process of choosing the right contractor can be. You never know if you're getting someone trustworthy, or someone that's going to cut corners as he works on your home. Luckily, that wasn't the case with us.

When we moved in, we actually had a pleasant experience with a contractor who did some fairly extensive electrical work on our house, as well as a few interior and exterior touch-ups. Our current plans are to use the same people for some master bathroom upgrades we'd like to make in the future. You know, whenever we've got the spare money lying around. On second thought, that might be awhile.

What has your experience been with contractors? What home improvements have you made to your house? Answer with our survey!

Also, did you know that you can find home improvement services near you with WhiteFence? Check it out!

Warner Bros. Offers Blu-ray DVD Upgrades

If you are trying to decide whether to upgrade to a Blu-ray player this holiday season, perhaps the opportunity to upgrade movies you already own will help you make the decision to switch! Warner Bros. recently launched DVD2Blu.com, a site that allows you to upgrade the movies you already own on DVD to Blu-Ray Disc. Currently, more than 50 of Warner Home Video's titles are available to upgrade including Body of Lies, A Christmas Story and Michael Clayton.

Movies can be upgraded for $7.95 to $9.95 plus shipping, with free shipping for orders over $25. Just select the titles you want to upgrade, mail in your standard DVDs with pre-paid postage and get the same film on Blu-ray Disc in four-to-five weeks.

Check out DVD2Blu.com to see all the titles currently available.

How to Switch Electricity Providers Online with WhiteFence

Looking to save on your energy bills? With WhiteFence, switching to a new electricity company is quick and easy. If you live in a deregulated area, you have the power to choose your provider based on what matters most to you — whether that is the lowest price, the best customer service or the availability of green energy choices.

To get started, simply visit WhiteFence.com and enter your address. WhiteFence will search for the electricity providers and plans available at your location and present you with a list of results in just seconds. You can then compare all of the plans to find the one that best meets your needs.

Here is some of the information you will find about each plan:

• Price per kWh – What price you will pay per kilowatt-hour. On average, most homes use around 1500 kWh per month or more, depending on the size and energy efficiency.
• Pricing Type – What type of rate the plan uses, whether it is fixed or variable.
• Contract Term – How long the rate is guaranteed not to change.
• Energy Type – Whether the electricity you will be using is renewable or not.
• Cancellation Fee – What you will have to pay if you cancel the contract (if there is one).
• Specials – Any special promotions the company might be offering, such as a rebate.

Once you have made your selection, it’s time to order your service. For most states, to switch your service to a new provider, you will have to provide your current provider and account number (Texas residents do not have to provide an account number). You will also have to enter your service address, contact data, billing details and other pertinent information.

After you have submitted your order, it will be processed by your new electricity provider and they will contact you if any further action is needed on your part. Depending on your state, your new electricity service could start as soon as within three business days, but might take one to two billing cycles.