WhiteFence Tips Archives

Ever needed to try a new service that you didn't know anything about? There can be a lot of unease and trepidation about spending your money with a business that you're not familiar with. I mean, what if they don't do a good job, or if something of yours is damaged because of something they overlooked?

This can happen with mechanics, home repair, electronics — the list goes on and on, really. Most often, we try to find friends, family or acquaintances who can recommend a good service. But what if nobody you know is able to help?

Lucky for us, there are services available that can help us connect to some great recommendations. Whether you need to find a contractor to work on your roof or paint your home, or you need a place to take a date for a night on the town, there are services that can give you all the info you need. Here are some of the review services you can find on WhiteFence:

• Angie's List is a word-of-mouth network designed to let consumers see reviews from other consumers about different services. It's especially useful for local service companies that you might not know about. What better way to find out about new services than from someone who's recently used it?
• Zagat is a service that can send you updates through your cell phone about local restaurants, nightlife, hotels and other attractions in your area. Perfect for someone on the go.

All of these services can be found in the Reviews You Can Use section on WhiteFence. If you'd like to find out about more places in your area, or just need to brush up on some local entertainment, it's definitely worth looking into.

Tags: angies list, entertainment, home improvement, home repair, reviews, reviews you can use, zagat

We've all been there. Waiting in line to go to the movies after having spent several minutes parking. Then, you make your way into the crowded dark theater and end up getting bubble gum and popcorn all over your feet before sitting behind a guy that's taller than Gulliver. You start to wonder if maybe things would be better off at home on the couch.

With the advent of online shopping, it's now possible to get almost anything delivered straight to your doorstep. Did you know that it was even possible to get entertainment services like movies and games online, all from the convenience of your home. What's more, you can even find all of these entertainment services online with WhiteFence. Here are some of the services to choose from:

• Movies. Rent your movies from home! Who needs to go to a store when you can subscribe to a movie rental service? With some rental subscriptions, you can even stream your movie rentals online for no additional charge. The perfect addition to your living room for movie buffs.
  
• Games. Whether you're looking for the next blockbuster video game, or simply like playing word games on your PC, you can find a gaming service that keeps you entertained at a reasonable cost. For gaming aficionados like myself, this is a must-have.
• Music. Let's be honest- it's becoming more and more appealing to purchase music online and download straight to your PC than it is to go out and get a CD these days. With the right music subscription, you can download all kinds of songs from your favorite artists, and listen to tunes at your heart's content.
• Newspapers. Need to do that morning crossword puzzle to unwind? You can get a subscription to your favorite newspaper, delivered straight to you. There's something about holding the news in your hands that is still special in today's world.
  
• Magazines. No matter what your interest, you can find a magazine devoted to it. There are multiple magazine services available that cover a wide array of topics such as sports, fashion and even entertainment. If you're looking for some reading about your favorite subject, getting a magazine subscription online might do just the trick.

It's easier than ever to make your home a haven of excellent entertainment, without leaving it and going through the hassle of all the browsing and waiting in line. All of these services are available at your fingertips, at a moment's notice on WhiteFence.

Tags: download music, entertainment, games, home entertainment, home services, magazines, movies, newspapers, rent movies

If you're like me, then trying to navigate your way through the month's stack of bills is not something that you look forward to. It's no secret that prices are rising as we get closer to the summer, and people are bound to be searching for ways to cut costs.

Fortunately, WhiteFence.com has recently added a section for all of you that are looking for lower bills on home services, utilities and more. The Lower My Bills page is a helpful resource that provides tips for households that need to reduce what they are spending each month on their bills.

The tips cover everything from bundling your services all the way through energy conservation as a way of saving money on electricity bills. There is also a page devoted to lowering credit card bills through credit card consolidation, where multiple credit cards can be applied to one card with just one interest rate, simplifying the bill paying process.

To get started and lower your bills today, read more at WhiteFence.

Tags: bills, conservation, credit cards, home services, lower my bills, utilities, whitefence

Families across the country are hurting—big time. I almost choked when I passed the gas pumps on the way to work this morning. I wanted to share an article I just published over at EnergyBabble, since the price for all our necessities seem to be on a stairway to heaven. I put together some information on our sites and additional resources that can help families budget a little better, and hopefully sleep a little better as well. Hope this helps...

Here is a brief blurb, and you can read more about these money saving tips over at Energy Babble.com:

Families are hit the hardest. Single folks like myself (though being a single father isn't cost effective) still feel the weight of rising utilities like everyone else, but we are fortunate to not be providing for a family of five or more.  So again, I am going to list a few links and resources—some our sites, some outside resources—to help families find easy and efficient ways to save money.

Tags: cable, electricity, energy conservation, gas prices, green energy, home tips, internet, money saving tips, natural gas, phone, satellite, save money, television, utilities, whitefence

As a consumer trying to make an informed decision about essential home services, sometimes it can be a little daunting if you don't quite have all the facts. For instance, do you know about the coming digital transition for television? Do you know the differences between cable television and satellite television?

If you don't know about those things, there's no need to worry, because WhiteFence has Knowledge Centers about these very subjects. Recent posts at EnergyBabble and CommJunkie both highlight some of the different Knowledge Centers that are available for home service shoppers, in order to help educate about some of the lesser-known details that aren't always easy to come across.

• Energy Knowledge Centers
  
For the green, gas and electricity Knowledge Centers.


• Communication Knowledge Centers
  
Knowledge Centers having to do with high-speed Internet, home phone and television.

Tags: energy, energy conservation, green, high-speed, knowledge center, phone, resources, tv, whitefence

Rising energy prices is a frightening prospect for hard working families across the United States, and trying to strike a balance between energy efficiency, protecting the environment and managing the costs of energy in your home is a daunting task. In fact, it's quite common to feel overwhelmed by a wall of information surrounding energy costs and the fight against global climate change.

In the spirit of affordable earth-friendly (and wallet-friendly) practices, we've compiled a list of energy conservation resources and tips to help ease the stress and worry as the hotter summer months approach. Conserving energy and saving money can go hand-in-hand with the idea that families can participate in an eco-friendly America, and reduce wear and tear on your finances along the way.

Simple Conservation Tips at Home

Conserving at home is far simpler than you probably imagined. Your cleaning, eating and energy habits, really just everything you encounter and do on a "typical" day, all contribute to increasing both your impact on the ecosystem, but also the costs of operating a comfortable home.

With tips to cleaning with baking soda and water to changing out your traditional light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), there is a plethora of great ways to be energy conscious in your daily habits. Here are just a few:

• CFLs alone can use up to 75 percent less energy than traditional light bulbs - meaning simply by switching all your light bulbs in your house, you can save time and money.
• Look into purchasing a programmable thermostat. According to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Web site, installing and using these types of thermostats in your home can help you save as much as 10 percent a year on your heating and cooling bills.
• Examine your water heater's settings. Many water heaters' factory settings are higher than they need to be. Setting your water heater to 120°F will not only be hot enough to provide comfortable water, but also save you money in the long run. You can visit the EERE Web site for other water heater tips.
  
• Be energy conscious in your everyday life! Just remembering to shut off lights as you leave is one little thing you can do every day to conserve.

Here are some additional tips on going green at home from our green blog at EnviroMojo.com

Energy Efficient Appliances at Home

ENERGY STAR^® is a fantastic venture between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the DOE to help families save literally billions of dollars in annual energy costs. Look for the ENERGY STAR^® logo on your home appliances, with all approved appliances following strict energy efficiency standards set by the DOE and EPA. In 2007 alone, people across the country helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to 27 million cars and save $16 billion with ENERGY STAR^® products.

For more information on energy efficient products, home improvement and more:

• ENERGY STAR^® Web site
• Green Guide to energy efficient appliances from GreenEnergyChoice.com.

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Many of the concerns over rising oil prices only increases the importance of renewable energy options to meet the growing demand for energy. The DOE has unveiled an ambitious goal to increase wind energy capacity to 20 percent by 2030, a phenomenal feet considering wind power accounts for 1 percent of our total energy capacity. The cost of renewable energy tends to be confusing information for families shopping for better electricity prices. In many states the costs of renewable energy are actually quite comparable to what you traditionally pay for non-renewable electricity.

For those of us in areas that do not have renewable energy options, Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) give you the ability to use your purchasing power to reduce the impact of daily energy consumption. Carbon dioxide accounts for 3/4 of global greenhouse gas emissions. A single REC represents one megawatt hour (MWh), or 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh), of renewable electricity generated and delivered somewhere on the power grid. So your purchasing power not only replaces power generated from fossil fuels with 100 percent pollution-free renewable energy, but allows you to play a part in encouraging the development of renewable energy resources. Sites like GreenEnergyChoice.com allow you to calculate how many RECs you would need to effectively counteract your household energy usage.

The Value of a Home Energy Audit

The savings a professional energy audit can provide are substantial. With the summer months and higher energy costs steadily approaching, an energy audit can greatly improve your home's energy efficiency, helping to pinpoint air and water leaks, insulation quality and ensure your cooling and heating systems are working efficiently and properly. A professional auditor will inspect the structure and foundation, roof, HVAC and mechanicals, plumbing, and interior and exteriors, providing detailed information on areas that are lacking in proper insulation and efficiency standards.

If you decide a professional energy audit is not for you, there are still some simple ways to perform an audit yourself and help reduce your energy waste.

For more information on energy audits:

• Home Audit Can Save You Money from ElectricityTexas.com
• Home Energy Audits from ENERGY STAR^®

Additional Home Energy Conservation Resources from WhiteFence:

• EnergyBabble - News, tips and resources on electricity, natural gas, green energy, conservation and more.
• EnviroMojo - Expressing our love for Mother Earth with green news, tips and resources for the environmentalist in us all.
• GreenEnergyChoice Green Guide - Renewable energy information and resources, as well as the ability to purchase green energy and RECs.
• What is Green Energy Lens at Squidoo - Our dedicated study to the green energy phenomenon.
• WhiteFence Green - Our combined efforts as a company to offset the carbon impact of our daily business practices, and offer you additional ways to go green and save money.

Outside Resources

• 20 Percent Wind Energy by 2030
• Energy Conservation Wiki
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• Texas State Energy Conservation Office
• Home Energy Conservation Tips - 10 Bright Ideas to Make Your Home Energy Efficient
• U.S. DOE - Your Home
• Do Something - Using the Power of the Internet to Help Young People Change the World
• Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005
• Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Continue reading "Your Guide to Home Energy Conservation" »

Tags: energy conservation, home energy conservation

Amber at EnviroMojo recently posted an article about eating earth-friendly when you're out and about. Like CommJunkie and EnergyBabble, EnviroMojo is a new WhiteFence blog. However, it is devoted solely to all things green. The topics range from green energy to living green at home and abroad.

The recent article focuses on the Certified Green Restaurant™ Guide provided by the Green Restaurant Association^SM, "a national non-profit organization that is helping the restaurant industry to become more environmentally sustainable". The great thing about this guide is that it gives you tips on where to eat and what to look for when trying to find a green restaurant.

To get more information about the Certified Green Restaurant™ Guide, be sure to read about it over at EnviroMojo, your home for anything green.

Tags: conservation, environment, green, green company, green energy, restaurant

So if you haven't had a chance to get in on the energy talk over at EnergyBabble, you might want to try it out. EnergyBabble is a new WhiteFence blog dedicated to giving you the scoop on energy and natural gas — and how that relates to you in your world. Definitely worth a place among your regularly visited websites.

EnergyBabble is often updated with new and exciting material. Just this morning Brett penned some thoughts about wind power and its place in the future of energy. Apparently, while wind power is growing in and around the country, significant changes need to take place in order to make it a more viable long term option for renewable energy. As of now, it only accounts for a small percentage of total energy. If you're interested in learning more about wind energy and would like to be a part of the energy conversation, be sure to read up on it at EnergyBabble.

Tags: energy, energy conservation, renewable energy, whitefence, wind power

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.

Tags: conservation, environment, green, green company

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.

Tags: electricity, internet, natural gas, phone, television, utilities, utilities average

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 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.

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.

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.