Parents who own homes try their best to make their dwellings as safe as possible, especially for their kids. Yet more than 4.5 million children are injured in the home every year, according to Safe Kids USA, an organization dedicated to preventing childhood accidents and deaths.
Get Your Kitchen Remodeling Off to a Good Start
Now that you have decided that the time has come to start your dream kitchen remodeling project, where do you begin?
The first step is finding and hiring a professional kitchen remodeling designer. A kitchen remodeling specialist will guide you through every phase of your project from decorating, design, construction, and plumbing and electrical systems.
Specifically, kitchen remodeling specialists will:
Cooling costs can make up a large part of a home’s energy bill. In fact, air conditioning can account for more than one-third of the energy used in an average home.
BENEFITS OF ENERGY STAR QUALIFIED COOLING EQUIPMENT
Builders of ENERGY STAR qualified homes choose energy-efficient heating systems based on available fuel choices and regional preferences. Common heating systems include boilers, furnaces, and heat pumps. Here’s how they work:
Moisture, odors, and other pollutants can build up inside a home if it does not have mechanical ventilation to provide fresh air. Mechanical ventilation systems circulate fresh air using ducts and fans rather than relying on airflow through small holes or cracks in a home’s construction assemblies (e.g., walls, roofs, or windows). Homeowners can breathe easier knowing their home has good ventilation.
The benefits of proper home ventilation include the following:
A variety of mechanical ventilation systems are available to select from, based on local climate and the home’s heating and cooling system. In addition to one of the primary ventilation systems described below, “spot” ventilation fans should also be provided for ventilating kitchens and baths to remove the concentrated moisture and odors that can occur in these rooms. Here is a description of the typical ventilation systems and recommended climates:
Did you know that the average home spends about $1,900 on energy costs every year? By switching to home appliances such as washers and dryers and kitchen appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators and ovens that have earned the status of ENERGY STAR qualified appliances you can save $80 a year in energy costs, while saving the environment.
A list of Energy Star qualified home appliances and kitchen appliances includes the following appliances:
