End of Summer Home Maintenance (for the Exterior)
With Labor Day Weekend fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about fall maintenance for your home. While it might be a little early for an HVAC tune-up (we’ve got another six weeks or so before OKC will be cool enough to require heating), there are several things you can do to prepare your…
Save Money with a Programmable Thermostat
While modern HVAC technology is the most energy-efficient that it’s ever been, a Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) reveals that heating and cooling still accounts for 48% of energy consumption in U.S. homes. The good news is that this figure is down from 58% just a few years ago, which reflects the increase in more…
Cooling Tips for the Dog Days of Summer
Now that the summer season in OKC is heading into the dog days, when temperatures rise to near-unbearable heights, we find ourselves looking into ways to keep cool. For most of us, dealing with the heat at some point is inevitable; whether it’s driving to work, walking the dogs or making that trip to…
HVAC: A Brief History
You probably don’t think much about your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system until it isn’t working properly. Your HVAC system ensures the health and comfort of your family throughout the year and accounts for over 50 percent of your utility bills, so it’s a fairly essential component to your home. The evolution…
Maintaining a Healthy Summer IAQ
If you are a frequent reader of our blog, you know how important healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) is for your home. It is especially important in the summer and winter to be mindful of your IAQ as the extreme heat and cold can ensure a house is locked up tight for weeks and…
Lighting Choices to Save You Money
effort to save money on electrical bills, we set our sights on one of the easier money-saving decisions you can make concerning your home. Making the switch to energy-efficient lighting is one of the fastest ways to start lowering your electric bills, and it’s also one of the smartest. In 2012, new lighting standards…
Dog House Air Conditioning
Source Summers in Oklahoma only seem to get hotter. While this hot and humid weather can directly affect our health and comfort, our pets are even more impacted by the intense heat. Dogs in particular feel the effects of the weather, as they need to be outside for exercise and bathroom breaks at least…
The Dangers of Scented Products (Limonene in Candles, Cleaners and Air Fresheners)
While there are several factors that can affect your indoor air quality (IAQ), one of the more surprising is the use of popular scented products. Candles, air fresheners and cleaning solutions sometimes contain chemicals that, when mixed with other airborne elements, can create cancer-causing agents. A chemical called limonene, used to give products a…
Summer Energy-Saving Tips for the Backyard
One of the beloved traditions of summer is spending family time outside in the yard. Kids enjoying the backyard pool, running through the sprinkler (or maybe a Slip ‘n Slide), having a barbecue picnic or just spending time on the porch with a drink… These are all timeless social activities that bring families and…
Should I Get An IAQ Evaluation?
How much thought have you given into getting an IAQ evaluation? With temperatures already hitting the triple digits in Oklahoma City, many people are staying inside earlier in the season, for longer periods of time. Staying inside your home with the air conditioning running nearly-nonstop can promote unhealthy indoor air quality. This situation is exacerbated…
Plants that Keep Your Home Cooler
Another hot OKC summer is just around the corner, (though the triple digit temperatures we’ve recently experienced make it feel like it’s already arrived). The oppressive heat and humidity outside ensures that people stay indoors for the majority of the day. This helps keep the indoor air quality just as compromised as it was during…
How to Shop for Energy-Efficient Appliances
Modern technology has changed the way home appliances are designed – and in many instances for the better. There are several energy-efficient appliances that will help lower your utility bill and help protect the environment. But the marketplace varies greatly in quality, efficiency and price. Expensive doesn’t always mean “better,” but many of the most…