Your family probably spends in the neighborhood of 18 percent of your utility dollars on water heating, according to U.S. Department of Energy estimates. Here are eight ways to lower your water heating bill: Replace old showerheads and faucets in every bathroom. Older models push out way more water than you need to take a… Continue reading.

If you run your dishwasher when it’s loaded to capacity instead of washing a half-load at a time, you’ll use way less water and electricity. Here are five other energy-saving dishwasher tips: Stop rinsing. You’ve been doing it for years, but newer dishwashers do such a good job that you’re simply wasting water and time… Continue reading.

Laundry day may not be your favorite day of the week, but by following these six tips, it can be an opportunity to save some cash. Wash your clothes in cold water and use cold-water detergents. Unless the stains on your clothes are oil-based, warm or cool water in your washing machine will do just… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling In my Christmas column last year, I talked about the gift of warmth. This year, sharing the holiday spirit with those we love and with others less fortunate is more important than ever. To say it’s been a tough year is quite the understatement. This year has transformed our habits, accelerated our… Continue reading.

Top 3 responsibilities in a day Splice internet fiber in the air or on the ground. Happy customers: Make sure they’re pleased before I leave the job site. Be available for any service interruptions or other problems that might arise during the day. What part of your job do you find to be most fulfilling? No… Continue reading.

On Christmas morning, will the family members peeking out from piles of wrapping paper and ribbons have nary a gift to unwrap? Make sure Fido and Fluffy get to join in the Christmas revelry with some special presents of their own. They’ll thank you later. Here are some items that will help ease your pet’s… Continue reading.

Santa Claus or his stand-ins are everywhere this time of year … on street corners, in parades and in malls. As beloved as he is, seeing Santa has become almost humdrum — as ubiquitous as he is. But seeing his tiny reindeer? That’s a whole other matter! Inquisitive kiddies always ask about the reindeer after… Continue reading.

The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most stressful — particularly when it comes to keeping your kids safe through parties, presents, travel and meals. Follow these tips to protect your little ones during this holiday season. Electronic gifts About 70 percent of child-related electrical accidents occur at home when adult… Continue reading.

What do you give to the people on your gift list who already seem to have everything? How about some peace of mind? Here are some gift ideas that just might help your family and friends prepare for the unexpected. A smoke detector with extra batteries Five-pound fire extinguishers for the kitchen and bedrooms A… Continue reading.

You empty the ashes and sweep your fireplace after every use to keep it safe and looking nice. But is it ready for Santa? Your fireplace isn’t really clean until you remove what you can’t see: the creosote, soot, ashes, dust, leaves and even birds that are stuck in the flue and chimney. Unless you… Continue reading.

Wood-burning fireplaces are charming and romantic, but they’re among the most energy-inefficient devices in a home. Keep yours from sucking the heat out of your home and the money out of your wallet. Close the dampers whenever you’re not burning a fire. Fireplaces can exhaust as much as 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour… Continue reading.

Turkey, stuffing, cookies, candy canes, fruitcake — there are so many eating opportunities during the holiday season that it’s easy to imagine becoming a “blimp” by spring. To determine if you’re eating problematically, ask yourself a few questions: Do you know what you’re eating when you’re eating it, or are you just scarfing things down?… Continue reading.