TOP 9 GREEN HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Take some time to get your home ready for fall now and you won’t be caught unprepared when the temperatures begin to cool. Here are the top 9 GREEN Home improvements based on cost & return on investment according to HomeGain.com
1. Plant native trees & plants
2. Replace air filters
3. Green home staging
4. Weather strip, caulk doors and windows
5. Install programmable thermostats
6. Install low flow shower heads
7. Use auto turn-off power strips
8. Install CFL or LED lights
9. Paint with low VOC paints

FUN IDEAS FOR FALL

The crisp weather of fall is almost upon us and football season is well underway. While the prospect of relaxing into a lazy Sunday schedule calls to many home owners weary from the routine of weekend lawn mowing, why not prepare some fun activities to enjoy during the upcoming cool weather.

- Get fall and winter sports equipment ready for action.

- Stocking up on crossword puzzles, compelling books and other brain-stimulating items.

- Dust off board games and plan playful activities. Set up a series of game nights to host for friends and family

- Get rid of any unnecessary summertime items and clean your home from top to bottom

- A great time to get your house ready for group gatherings and other social activities.

Make sure you have plenty of open, inviting space in which to host people so your home will accommodate any and all guests!

 

8 SMART FALL HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS

Continue to mow your lawn until the first frost. Remove the leaves when your grass has stopped growing.

Falling leaves clog your gutter. Not cleaning your gutters can lead to wet basements.
Clean your outdoor furniture. Refinish it if necessary to prevent rust. If you store it inside, allow for airflow so you avoid moisture damage.
Schedule any indoor painting you need done. The weather is usually ideal for leaving windows open for ventilation.
Check your insulation in your attic, basement and other areas. If you find any dirty spots, it often indicate air leaks into or out of your home. If you find any holes, seal them with caulk.
Exterior lighting is very important. With dark days ahead, check all your bulbs and consider using timers to turn lights on at dusk and off in the morning.
Properly discard or store paint, caulk or adhesives in a heated area to prevent them from freezing. Check with your local hazardous material recycler for instructions on discarding products that could be toxic. Drain all gasoline-powered tools.
Clean and/or repair your chimney. Before you light the first log, get your chimney cleaned and make any necessary repairs.

GET INDOOR SPACES READY FOR FALL

Maintain your pipes. Wrap your pipes with heating tape every winter. Keep your house warm - at least 65 degrees.
Check your heating systems. Be sure to maintain your furnace, boiler, water heater, and wood-burning stove and have your heating system serviced every year. Change your heating and air conditioning filters regularly.
Know your plumbing. Learn where and how to shut the water off. If your pipes freeze, the quicker the water is shut off, the less chance pipes will bust.

Clean and vacuum dust from vents, baseboard heaters and cold-air returns. Dust build-up in ducts is a major cause of indoor pollutants and can increase incidences of cold weather illnesses.


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GREEN BUILDING TAKES OFF IN REAL ESTATE SLUMP

Green building remains the bright spot in an otherwise dull U.S. real estate market as companies and homeowners look to lower utility bills according to an article in the USA TODAY. In fact, green building has increased from 2% in 2005 to nearly one-third now.


The Washington based USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) program is set up like an arbiter of a sort of building Olympics. Projects earn points for various features. Use renewable cork flooring, for instance, get a point in the materials and resources category. Use paint that doesn't give off toxic substances — score a point for indoor environmental quality. There are categories for water efficiency and energy. Pay the fees, rack up enough points, and win a basic, silver, gold or platinum rating. Around 155,000 designers, contractors, consultants and others have studied up online using courses, and then passed the test to earn the designation LEED Accredited Professional — or "green associate." Employ a LEED AP on a project and you get a point for that.

The number of homes receiving LEED approval tripled last year, from 1,151 in 2008 to more than 3,000 in 2009. Homes, like office buildings, get points for water conservation, energy efficiency, durability, location, air quality and other factors.

FALL COLOR TOUR

Catch the last spectacular show of fall color in East Central and Southeastern Michigan in October. A loop of 150 miles from Bloomfield Hills, to Flint and back down to the Brighton area.
Fall Tour Website