The Home Depot to Launch Martha Stewart Living Paint Line and Offer Martha Stewart Clean Products

Planning to spruce up your home with some new paint or be greener in the New Year? The Home Depot may have you covered on both. The home improvement store recently announced that it plans to add more products from queen of homemaking herself, Martha Stewart.

Beginning in March 2010, The Home Depot will offer a Martha Stewart Living paint palette that will consist of 280 handpicked colors created by Martha Stewart and the her design team. The company plans to offer the line in stores across the U.S. and Canada and all colors will be available in interior and exterior paint in four interior and two exterior sheens.

If you aren't planning any major home improvement projects but you still want to your house to be a little greener, The Home Depot will also offer the Martha Stewart Clean collection, which includes 10 environmentally friendly cleaning products for laundry, kitchen, bath and general cleaning needs for every room. The collection will carry the Eco Options label, The Home Depot's certification for products that meet certain environmental performance criteria.

"I'm thrilled to be working with The Home Depot to provide consumers with a beautiful paint palette inspired by nature and unique objects," said Martha Stewart. "I'm also delighted that our natural Martha Stewart Clean products will be available at The Home Depot, providing safe and effective cleaning solutions for those who are concerned about the environment in their home and in the wider world beyond it."

For more info on these new products, check out The Home Depot To Launch Exclusive Martha Stewart Living Brand of Paint in March 2010.

Cable vs. Satellite

There are more options for television service out there than ever before. While this is good news for consumers, all the choices can be a little daunting when it comes time to order a television package. One of the first things most people have to figure out is whether they are going to go with a cable provider or a satellite provider.

In order to make that first big decision just a little easier, I’ve come up with this handy list of things to consider when comparing cable and satellite.

• Similarities – Cable and satellite have a lot in common. All of these are features available on both platforms: HDTV service, local channels, pay-per-view programming, on-demand options, DVR service and premium channels (such as HBO, Showtime and Starz).
• Availability – Unfortunately, not every area is served by a cable provider. In areas like this, satellite is usually the only choice for non-broadcast television. If you’re unsure on what your options are, enter your address at WhiteFence to find a list of providers that serve your area.
• Digital vs. Analog – All satellite channels are 100 percent digital, but with cable some channels may be analog. Analog is quickly becoming a thing of the past though, so it’s possible to have a totally digital cable package.
• Equipment – Satellite service requires more equipment than cable, the biggest addition being a satellite dish that has to be mounted on your house for reception. Depending on the provider or contract you sign up for, this equipment may come at a price. Also, while both satellite and digital cable require a box for each television, basic cable content does not require a box.
• Bundling – In general, cable companies provide a little more choice when it comes to bundling telephone and Internet service with your television package.
• Programming – While most channels are available on both platforms, some things can be exclusive to one provider. For example, NFL Sunday Ticket is only available on DIRECTV.
• Weather – In bad weather, satellite reception quality can suffer. If you live somewhere with lots of extreme weather, this may be something to consider.
• View – For satellite television to function, you’ll need to have a clear view of the southern sky. This is not a problem for most people, but something to keep in mind if you live in dense forest.

Whichever option you end up choosing, WhiteFence has you covered. Start comparing your options now at our television service page!

Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency Home Improvements

It's tax time again! When you are filling out your returns (before April 15, 2010!), don't forget to claim any tax credits relation to energy efficiency home improvements you did in 2009.

For improvements made in 2009 and 2010, you can get an income tax credit of up to $1,500 for installing efficient new windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in your home. However, efficiency criteria will vary dependent on when these items are installed.

Not sure what counts and what doesn't? The Alliance to Save Energy offers a handy Guide to Energy-Efficiency Home and Vehicle Tax Credits.

TV and the 3D Question

The tech-minded among the WhiteFence blog readers are no doubt aware that a major event is happening in Las Vegas this week and throughout the weekend. Well, at least major to geeks like me. CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, happens every year around this time and it's pretty much the summit for techies and gadget-o-holics.

Like last year, this year's focus seems to be on bringing 3D to the home TV center, allowing viewers to wear dorky glasses and become immersed in movies and shows in a new way. No, it's not really that new. Yes, it's just like what happened in the 50's and the 70's, only in your house and all the time.

My question is this: given that HDTVs are just now starting to hit a 50 percent adoption rate among US households, is 3D TV really the way to go? Now that people are just starting to get warmed up to the idea of buying new TV sets, are we going to really want to drop the money on even newer sets?

It's not just the TV manufacturers pushing this, either. There are already 3D TV channels being talked about. Last night, the Texas/Bama game was being watched in theaters in 3D at several places across the country (I watched it in a theater myself, though in boring old regular 2D).

The message from the entertainment industry is clear: 3D is coming, whether we want it or not. So how do you feel about it? Are you excited about viewing 3D content in your home, or are you OK with where things are right now? Tell us in the poll and in the comments!

Charter Customers Watching More Video On Demand

Charter Communications recently announced that its digital video customers are watching more Video On Demand programming with a record 110 million programs viewed from July through September of this year.

The company says that the many choices and features now available with Charter On Demand is what is driving the growth.

“By using Charter On Demand, our customers have access to a wide range of outstanding network shows," said Rich DiGeronimo, Vice President of Product Management at Charter. "There are more than 50 programs from our On Demand Primetime Free category, many of which are available a day after their cable television premiere."

To help you catch your favorite shows, Charter is also offering a new On Demand reminder service that sends text or email reminders alerting you about upcoming movie releases, events or premieres available On Demand. You can register and then receive these reminders by title or category searches.

If you are not currently a Charter customer, find service available in your area.

American Wind Energy Association Says 2009 a Good Year for Wind Energy

The American Wind Energy Association thinks that 2009 was a pretty good year for wind energy in the United States. The association recently identified the wind industry’s top accomplishments and developments of the year, including:

• Saving Water: The electricity from the entire fleet of turbines installed through 2009 will conserve over 20 billion gallons of water annually, which would otherwise be withdrawn for steam or cooling in conventional power plants.
• Avoiding Carbon: Those same turbines will avoid emitting over 57 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, based on the conventional mix of fuels used for electricity generation. That is equivalent to taking over 9.5 million cars off the road!
• Improving Environmental Health: They will also help avoid annually 200,000 additional metric tons of acid-rain causing sulfur dioxide which would otherwise have to be abated to achieve the national Acid Rain Program goals and 80,000 additional metric tons of smog-causing nitrous oxide which would otherwise have been emitted.

To see all the AWEA's thoughts on wind energy in 2009, check out American Wind Energy Association Notes Wind Industry Highlights of 2009. If you'd like to purchase greener energy in 2010, be sure to visit Green Energy Choice to find the best offers available in your area.

Customer Satisfaction With Home Claims Experience Much Lower Than Auto

According to a new J.D. Power and Associates study, satisfaction among homeowners insurance customers who file a property claim is significantly lower than that of auto.

The study found that customer satisfaction with the home claims experience averages 828 on a 1,000-point scale. In comparison, satisfaction with the auto claims experience averages 842.

"Home claims are typically far more complex than auto claims, and homeowners insurance claimants tend to have less knowledge of the specifics of their policy coverage than do auto claimants," said Jeremy Bowler, senior director of the insurance practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "Although satisfying home claimants is particularly challenging, it's still crucial for insurance providers to meet the needs of these customers, given the significant impact the experience has on long-term policy retention."

If you are happier with your auto insurance than your home insurance, it might be time to find new homeowner's insurance!

Hughes Expands High-Speed Satellite Internet Access for U.S. Troops

Hughes Network recently announced that it has expanded high-speed satellite Internet access for U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Available at U.S. military bases, the broadband Internet service is being delivered via the company’s new operations hub in Dubai.

“Hughes Network is proud to provide high-speed Internet service to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, reinforcing the military’s Morale, Welfare & Recreation efforts in the region,” said Rick Lober, vice president and general manager of Hughes Defense and Intelligence Systems Division.

HughesNet high-speed satellite internet service is currently available at U.S. military bases in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.

Need Help Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions?

Every year, millions of us start the new year off with promises to make positive changes. Millions of others swear this is the year they won't make any resolutions at all! For those of us in former group, there are plenty of resources to help get started and stay motivated. And we'll probably need all the help we can get!

According to ProactiveChange.com, between 40 to 45% of American adults make one or more resolutions each year. However, only about half of those resolutions make it past the six-month mark. You shouldn't give up all hope, as they also found that people who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't.

New Year's resolutions are so popular for Americans that even the government wants to help. USA.gov provides links to resources on everything from weight loss to saving money to reducing stress. If you need a little more help setting and keeping up with your goals, check out the New Year's Resolution Kit from Psychology Today. This handy worksheet walks you step-by-step toward resolutions that are, "realistic, achievable, and meaningful."

If your resolutions include lowering your bills, moving to a new city, or making greener energy choices, WhiteFence.com is here to help, too!

Here's to a happier, wealthier, greener 2010!

Make a Resolution to Save on Your Bills in 2010

It’s that time again, when we all make a list of optimistic goals for the year ahead. With economic times still tight for millions of Americans, one of the top resolutions this year is saving money. Home service expenses are one of the biggest components of a household budget and one of the biggest targets for easy savings.

WhiteFence is here to help trim those costs with a list of simple ways you might be able to lower your bills this year:

• Bundle your services – There are lots of savings to be found out there for consumers that bundle their high-speed Internet, home phone and television packages.
• Audit your television package – Are you paying for channels you don’t watch? Are there channels you want to watch that you don’t subscribe to yet? Look over what you’re paying for now and compare that to television plans offered on WhiteFence. It may be the money you’re spending on certain premium channels you don’t watch would be better spent on the channels you’ve been craving.
• Shop for a lower natural gas rate – There is still plenty of cold weather forecasted this winter throughout the country. Shopping for a lower natural gas rate now could still let you save big on your heating costs.
• Find a better deal on high-speed Internet service – With blazing fasts Internet speeds cheaper than ever, it might be the time to see if you’re paying too much for your current service. Shop Internet plans on WhiteFence to see if you could be getting either the same service for less or faster speeds for what you’re already paying.
• Upgrade to a home phone plan with unlimited calling – Did you rack up a lot of long distance calling charges in 2009? Check over your bills and compare the costs with a home phone plan that includes unlimited long distance calling. You might just find it’s cheaper to upgrade.
• Prepare your home for lower electricity usage – Cutting your kilowatts helps save both money and the planet. Investing in CFL light bulbs and upgraded insulation are two easy ways to save big on electricity costs. For more tips check out our post 7 Ways to Easily Lower Your Electricity Bill.

Visit the WhiteFence homepage and enter your address to get started saving now.