Food, Entertainment, and Arts

Food, Entertainment, and Arts

Friday, September 30, 2011

9 Unexpected Energy (and Money) Savers 

Here are a few surprising and simple ways to cut your energy bill this season:

Give your pocketbook and Mother Nature a gift this season by taking advantage of these simple, surprising ways to save energy and money.
Put lamps in the corners: Did you know you can switch to a lower wattage bulb in a lamp or lower its dimmer switch and not lose a noticeable amount of light? It’s all about placement. When a lamp is placed in a corner, the light reflects off the adjoining walls, which makes the room lighter and brighter.

Switch to a laptop: If you’re reading this article on a laptop, you’re using 1/3 less energy than if you’re reading this on a desktop.

Choose an LCD TV: If you’re among those considering a flat-screen upgrade from your conventional, CRT TV, choose an LCD screen for the biggest energy save.

Give your water heater a blanket: Just like you pile on extra layers in the winter, your hot water heater can use some extra insulation too. A fiberglass insulation blanket is a simple addition that can cut heat loss and save 4% to 9% on the average water-heating bill.

Turn off the burner before you’re done cooking: When you turn off an electric burner, it doesn’t cool off immediately. Use that to your advantage by turning it off early and using the residual heat to finish up your dish.

Add motion sensors: You might be diligent about shutting off unnecessary lights, but your kids? Not so much. Adding motion sensors to playrooms and bedrooms cost only $15 to $50 per light, and ensures you don’t pay for energy that you’re not using.

Spin laundry faster: The faster your washing machine can spin excess water out of your laundry, the less you’ll need to use your dryer. Many newer washers spin clothes so effectively, they cut drying time and energy consumption in half—which results in an equal drop in your dryer’s energy bill.

Use an ice tray: Stop using your automatic icemaker. It increases your fridge’s energy consumption by 14% to 20%. Ice trays, on the other hand, don’t increase your energy costs one iota.

Use the dishwasher: If you think doing your dishes by hand is greener than powering up the dishwasher, you’re wrong. Dishwashers use about 1/3 as much hot water and relieve that much strain from your energy-taxing water heater. Added bonus: you don’t have to wash any dishes.



Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/saving-energy/energy-money-savers/#ixzz1ZTO3GSn9

   

 




 




101 Things I Love about Portland Maine




191. Zapoteca: Mexican Restaurant:  Nice waitstaff, delicious drinks (blood orange margarita), and yummy fresh food!  http://www.zapotecarestaurant.com/

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

New Listing Gray Maine: Colonial to be built

http://www.postlets.com/repb/6264232

RE/MAX: J D Power and Associates: Highest Customer Satisfaction!!

RE/MAX Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction

9/6/2011

RE/MAX CEO Margaret Kelly talks about results of the 2011 J. D. Power and Associates Home Buyer/Seller Study(SM), which recognizes RE/MAX for providing the highest overall consumer satisfaction in both categories.

http://www.youtube.com/remax

Monday, September 19, 2011

Saturday, September 17, 2011

101 Things I Love about Portland Maine



189. Jameson Tavern in Freeport~~This is an old inn with a lot of Maine history.  The dining rooms are small and not very fancy but the food is good.
We tried the big burger with bacon and cheese and chicken in a white wine sauce with capers and sundried tomatoes.  http://www.jamesontavern.com/ordereze/1000/Page.aspx

Thursday, September 15, 2011

101 Things I Love about Portland Maine

188. Another great lunch spot: 158 Pickett Street Restaurant in South Portland~~ a comfortable, funky place near SMCC (so lots of students), the fare here is hearty and delicious.  I got a yummy grilled cheddar cheese sandwich with tomatoes and bacon.  My friend ordered a big salad that had lots of fresh greens.  The bagels and cookies looked good, too.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

101 Things I Love about Portland Maine



187. Clementine Restaurant in Brunswick Maine:  An elegant and delicious dining experience from fresh chewy bread to fine desserts, this gourmet's delight was a real treat.  We tried spice-rubbed pork loin and Provencal seafood stew--both superb.  http://clementinemaine.com/

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Fast Fixes for Common Gutter Problems

By: Pat Curry
Published: December 4, 2009

Maintaining gutters is the most important thing you can do to prevent water damage to your home.
Mesh covers keep debris from clogging gutters, but they can sometimes be more expensive than the gutters themselves. Image: dmr-gutters.com

Gutters are designed to do one thing—channel water away from the foundation—and they’re critical to protecting the structural integrity of your house. But in order for gutters to do their job properly, they have to be kept in shape and free of clogs, holes, and sags.

Luckily, most common gutter problems are easy for homeowners to fix themselves. And it’s worth the effort. “Gutters are one of those things where routine maintenance and inspecting them can really prevent bigger problems down the road,” says Jason Stutzman, director of home maintenance and repair for Brothers Redevelopment in Denver.

Here are the gutter problems that the pros see most often, and the recommended solutions.

Clogged gutters
This is the most common problem of all. Left untended, gutters and downspouts get so clogged with debris that they’re rendered useless. The excess weight of leaves, twigs, and standing water can also make them sag and pull away from the fascia.
Clean them at least once a year, and twice a year if you have a lot of trees nearby. Gary Mindlin, managing partner of New York City-based Top Hat Home Services, schedules gutter maintenance four times a year, with additional checks after big storms.
You can clean your own gutters if you’re comfortable on a ladder, don’t mind getting wet and dirty, and don’t have an extremely tall house. After you’ve cleared the muck, flush them with a garden hose to make sure they’re flowing properly. If you’d prefer, you can hire someone to do the job for you for between $50 and $250, depending on the size of your house.
Another option for dealing with chronically clogged gutters is to outfit them with gutter covers. These include mesh screens, clip-on grates, and porous foam. They still need regular maintenance, though, and the cost can be more than the gutters themselves.

Sagging gutters and gutters pulling away from the house
This is usually a problem with the hangers, the hardware that secures the gutters to the fascia. They might have deteriorated over time, the fasteners may have backed out of the wood, or they’re spaced too far apart to support the weight of full gutters. The cost to fix it yourself is cheap; hangers generally cost $10 or less apiece, and the fasteners run about $1 each.

Leaks and holes
Leaky gutter joints can be sealed by caulking the joint from the inside with gutter sealant, says John Eggenberger, vice president of training and corporate development for the Mr. Handyman franchise of home repair companies. A tube costs about $5. Very small holes can be filled with gutter sealant. Larger holes will require a patch. If you can’t find a gutter patching kit at the hardware store, you can make a patch from metal flashing.

Improperly pitched gutters
Gutters need to be pitched toward the downspouts for the water to flow properly. You want at least a quarter inch of slope for every 10 feet. Get on a ladder after a rainstorm and look in the gutter; if there’s standing water, it’s not pitched properly.
To correct this yourself, you’ll need to measure from the peak to the downspout. Snap a chalk line between the two and find the spots where the gutter is out of alignment. You might be able to push it up into place by bending the hanger. If that doesn’t solve the problem, you might need to take a section down and rehang it. If you have seamless gutters, call the company that installed them to correct the problem.

Downspouts draining too close to the foundation
Downspouts need to extend several feet from the house, or they’ll dump right into the basement. Gutter extensions attached to the bottom of the downspout will discharge water well beyond the foundation. They’re inexpensive and easy to install. “I like the downspout material extended four or five feet and screwed on,” says Reggie Marston, president of Residential Equity Management Home Inspections in Springfield, Va. Cost: less than $20 per downspout.

Missing gutters
If your house has no gutters at all, consider investing in a system. The cost depends on the material. Most residential gutters are aluminum, which is lightweight and durable. “Unless an aluminum gutter is damaged by something, it will last forever,” says Scott McCurdy, vice president of Jacksonville, Fla.,-based disaster repair contractor Coastal Reconstruction. Vinyl, galvanized steel, and copper also are available options.
Aluminum gutters range from about $4.50 to $8.50 per linear foot installed. On a 2,000-square-foot house with about 180 linear feet of gutters, that’s roughly $800 to $1,500.



Serial remodeler Pat Curry is a former senior editor at BUILDER, the official magazine of the National Association of Home Builders, and a frequent contributor to real estate and home-building publications.


http://www.houselogic.com/articles/fast-fixes-common-gutter-problems/

Saturday, September 3, 2011

101 Things I Love about Portland Maine

185. The Ogunquit Playhouse is summer theater at its best.  Enjoy one of their fun musicals while you are visiting Southern Maine.  Began in 1933...
http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/

Happy Labor Day!

                                                 Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!