46 The Courier sun • at home • july 17, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com at home SAVE MONEY BY CATCHING THESE Today’s consumers are more environmentally conscious than ever before. They understand that making eco-friendly choices not only creates a positive impact on your surroundings, it can also translate into actual savings on monthly energy bills. If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint and make your home part of the “green” initiative, Christine Ackerson, head of sustainability at LG Electronics USA, offers the following tips to help you protect both the environment and your bottom line. • Get the most out of your refrigerator. Most consumers focus on keeping the inside of their refrigerators clean, but keeping the outside clean is just as important. Dusty coils actually can impact the refrigerator’s overall efficiency, because when dirty, they trap heat and prevent the refrigerator from cooling efficiently. The grills and coils should be cleaned once or twice a year and more often if you have pets. Use a vacuum cleaner with an attachment to clean the condenser cover and vents of your refrigerator. You can also use a soft bristled brush to access some of the hard-to-reach areas. Also, older refrigerator models can use a lot of energy. Consider upgrading to an ENERGY STAR(R) qualified refrigerator, which is 20 percent more energy efficient than the federal minimum energy standard. You can also look for refrigerators with energy-saving technologies like a linear compressor. New refrigerator features like LG’s Door-in-Door can actually reduce cold air loss by up to 47 percent. The convenient door-within-a-door compartment on the fridge door allows quick, easy access to commonly used snacks and beverages without requiring you to open the entire refrigerator door. • Insulate your home. Heating and cooling your home is one of your biggest energy costs, and if your home isn’t properly insulated, you’re losing money. Start by closing your windows and sealing any drafty areas you find. Hire a professional to insulate drafty areas of your home if you don’t feel you can handle them on your own. • Turn it off. Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips. Turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use as equipment still uses several watts of power when they are in standby mode. And be sure to unplug your cellphone charger when your device is fully charged. • Cold is the new hot. A quick tip when it comes to laundry is washing clothes with cold water whenever possible. Look for washers equipped with “cold wash” technology, which achieves cold water savings with warm water washing performance. Another way to save water is to try to wash full loads, or if you must wash a partial load, reduce the level of water appropriately to avoid usage of extra water. • Do your research. Finding home appliances and electronics that are energy efficient is not difficult. Look for the ENERGY STAR “Most Efficient” designation when shopping for your next appliance, like LG’s mega-capacity washer that allows you to wash more clothes with fewer loads. This distinction recognizes the most energy efficient products among those that already are ENERGY STAR qualified. Or look for an ENERGY STAR refrigerator that’s earned the Green Good Housekeeping Seal, an emblem given by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute in recognition of brand’s demonstration of environmental responsibility. Courtesy BPT INVISIBLE ENERGY THIEVES Today’s Home Decor, Inc. Ozone Park’s Destination for Kitchens & Bathrooms If you’re thinking of remodeling or redesigning your kitchen or your bathroom, look no further than Today’s Home Decor on Cross Bay Boulevard for the latest trends and most sophisticated techniques. The skilled staff aims to take the frustration out of your home renovations by guiding you through the process from beginning to end. Owned and operated by the same family that founded the company in 2003, Today’s Home Decor employs friendly, knowledgeable experts will make your needs and the accuracy of your project their top priorities. Today’s Home Decor uses the very latest technology to help you visualize the possibilities for your space and choose the design that best fits your needs and your taste. The in-house design team uses a 20/20 program, which takes the dimensions of your kitchen or bathroom, uploads them to a computer, and generates a digital mockup of your space. This technology can be used to visualize various layouts for your remodel, and even create a rendering of what the finished product will look like. Thanks to this cutting-edge program, you’ll never be in the dark on how your kitchen or bathroom will turn out. Though its home base is in the heart of Ozone Park, Today’s Home Decor serves New York City’s five boroughs as well as Long Island. Services include all-wood cabinetry, quartz countertops, sinks, faucets, hardware, tubs, toilets, and showers. The team at Today’s Home Decor only uses the highest quality products from vendors including Omega Cabinetry, Diamond Cabinets, Modern Cabinet Company, Bertch, Omega Vanities, JSI Cabinetry, and Delta. To schedule a time to begin your next kitchen or bathroom project, call 718-835-7400 today. Today’s Home Decor 137-07 Cross Bay Blvd. Ozone Park, NY 718-835-7400 ADVERTORIAL
SC07172014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above