Listening Green

Ever wonder if your home television or music entertainment system is helping or hurting the environment? Monica has posted an interesting find over at CommJunkie about a new speaker model from Klipsch. For those who are unaware, Klipsch is a maker of high quality audio products. Apparently they are doing some revamping with one of their speakers. Typically, "the line is made from zebrawood, an exotic type of wood which is often used in the production of high-end speaker cabinets".  Unfortunately, this type of wood is found in the Rainforest.

To make things better, Klipsch is changing its ways and moving to a veneer made from different trees from a controlled harvesting forest. For more information about these greener speaker cabinets, hit up CommJunkie, WhiteFence's new blog that helps you feed your home entertainment addiction.

The Upgraded WhiteFence Index

Want to find out what the people in your city are paying for their utilities? WhiteFence is proud to introduce the new-and-improved WhiteFence Index. If you aren't familiar with the WhiteFence Index, it's a tool to help you compare your monthly utility bills to the average that your neighbors pay. Whether you're switching, transferring home services or moving into a new home, the WhiteFence Index is a great resource to help budget your move and monthly utility bills.

The WhiteFence Index is currently available for 21 of the nation's top cities. The averages for telecommunications services are based on the orders that we see from our many websites, while the averages for electricity and natural gas are obtained differently. Due to our widespread relationships with service providers and our knowledge of the energy industry, WhiteFence has been able to get the actual price for each city published. If you'd like to read more about how these averages are compiled, feel free to read more at the WhiteFence Index methodology

A couple of features and improvements have been added to the newest version. One of the more notable upgrades is that each city now has its own city-specific page, so that you can compare between two different locations. This is especially useful for movers who are relocating and can really help you plan out a secure budget for your first few months in a new home or apartment. The other important addition to the WhiteFence Index is the ability to compare the average costs on individual home services. This means that you can compare what people in Houston paid for Internet service to what people in Atlanta paid for Internet service.

To discover more about what you could be saving on home utilities, head on over to the WhiteFence Index.

Save Money on Your Home Services in the New Year

Which would you rather do? Cough on the magic dust cascading from Santa's sleigh as your holiday high quickly fades to the reality of post-holiday pocket strains, or enter the new year with a viable way to save money on your bills. I'm going with option two, "thank you may I have another." (In your best British accent... it's really fun)

Bundles my friends! Bundling your phone, TV and internet services is one of the most efficient and affordable means to enjoy all of your essential home services. Here are some wonderful reasons why:

• All your services, one bill to manage. It's like playing Tetris with your phone, Internet and TV bills, scrunching and compartmentalizing everything into a nice, little bundle.


• Companies provide special incentives and prices when customers bundle multiple services.


• Avoid the headaches of researching and connecting several different home services with several different companies.


• Save hundreds of dollars per year and enjoy the latest features—unlimited local calling, Internet downloads faster than a cheetah in a one-legged turtle race, and the best in digital cable with video on demand and more.

One bill, same company. Not bad for a post-holiday treat, with the best part being the look on your face when you open your utility bill. Just think of the money you could save, and the smile on your mailman's face when he hands you a lightened load. Just think of bundles as your friendly pat on the back for being such a good little boy or girl this year. No really, you deserve it.

Fall is Fundamental for Home Maintenance

Fall is a great time to start those home improvement projects that you have been putting off all year. With the holidays steadily approaching, many people are looking to get their homes ready for friends and family. Prior to tackling home improvement projects, it is wise to gauge the scale of the project and decide if it's necessary to call a professional. Here are a few tips can help keep you and your family comfortable, healthy and safe for the holiday season.

Since the heater hasn't been used for several months, calling your HVAC professional or utility company to have it checked is wise. Dust can collect in and around the system, so cleaning the air vents in your home and changing the filters will keep your heater working more efficiently. A professional should clean the ducts where your vacuum will not reach to rid your home of any hidden hazards.

Keep in mind that insulation is not just for colder climates. A home with proper insulation will help you achieve lower heating and cooling costs year round. Insulating your home involves relatively easy tasks like caulking and weather-stripping around windows and doors, to bigger jobs like having insulation installed in attics and basements. For wall insulation jobs, you should seek professional assistance. There are building codes involved in major insulation projects designed to prevent fires and harm, so make sure the company you contract is up to date with the latest information.

Don't forget about the outside of your house. Clean leaves and debris from gutters to reduce pest infestations and wood rot. Insulate your pipes from the colder weather; wrap the pipes with old t-shirts or foam insulation to prevent the pipes from freezing. Keep your landscaping near the top of your to-do list, and prune your trees, bushes and fertilize the lawn.

The cooler weather is a good time to take care of any painting projects as well. The windows can be opened to help dry interior rooms, and you decrease the likelihood of heat exhaustion in the cooler climate. This also goes for shampooing carpets, cleaning out the garage and crawling in the attic to inspect the roof for any leaks or damage, which are all miserable jobs in the midst of summer heat.

By following a maintenance schedule and routine in your home you can save money, conserve energy and prevent costly repairs. Removing dust and debris will help keep your family healthy and avert potential fire hazards. Not to mention you get to spend less time worrying about your home maintenance, and more time with your family during the holiday season.

Toughen Up Your Home Turf with Lawn Care Tips from WhiteFence

With the holidays coming up the last thing you may want to think about is gardening. However, this may be the best time of the year to attack your landscaping needs. There are a few simple things that you can do to keep your yard healthy and inviting.

Early in winter is a great time to prune trees and shrubs in many parts of the country, since the leaves haven't detached quite yet. Keep in mind that plants that bloom in the spring need to be pruned just after the blooms fall off. If you wait until winter to prune those plants in particular, you may stop the plant from flowering.

Winter is also a good time to mulch your trees and plants to moderate the soil temperature and moisture. It is also a good idea to fertilize in the beginning of winter to strengthen your plants before the colder weather has a chance to settle in and do harm. Winterizing your lawn and landscaping can help your garden make it through even the toughest winter. Also, don't forget to water your lawn. Although it may look like its dying on the surface, the roots could be healthy and strong.

To help with your seasonal landscaping needs, many lawn care services have specials during this time of year as well as programs throughout the year. Companies often offer a free evaluation of your lawn, so that they can tailor the perfect solution to your landscaping needs—whether it's fertilizer, pest control, disease or just maintenance.

As for your lawn equipment, winter is a great time to take care of any lingering problems you may have. Check ads for specials on equipment and see your local repair facilities, as they may lower prices or offer special repair incentives during the slower seasons.

Your yard is the first thing people see when they come to your home. With a little extra care throughout the year you can keep it looking welcoming and healthy, without breaking your back or the bank.

Tips To Keep Your Home Safe When Traveling

Every time you turn on the news you are reminded of dangers that surround you. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that home robbery is down over time, but has increased over last year in many parts of the country. This would be a good time to remind people of simple ways to safeguard your home while you're away.

Remember that if a home has the appearance of being occupied, would be robbers are often deterred. There are many easy ways to make it look like someone's home. Here are a couple of the top ways to avoid making your home an easy target:

• Get a timer for your lights for about $25 at a hardware store, so that some lights will turn on when you are out. Also, make sure to leave your blinds in an every-day position.
• Rely on your neighbors and friends for help. Have someone pick up your mail, newspapers, flyers and any deliveries that could arrive when you are out. A simple door hanger sitting for days is an obvious sign your home is unoccupied. You can even have your mail and newspaper deliveries stopped in your absence.
• Make sure that your answering machine message is general; don't notify people that you won't be home for some time.
• Most homes with alarms are hit when the alarm is off, so make sure to turn on your alarm before you leave. Home security is a definite deterrent for would-be robbers. Some companies offer customers the ability to enable and disable their alarms from a cell phone, and to receive emails if there is any activity when you're out of the house. When choosing a home security company, be certain that their services meet your needs and that they will available when you need them most.