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Page 14, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, October 12,1994 A HOME DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT FEATURE G~et 'ower Smart With temporatures falling, the demand for electricity rises, and se, does the average energy bill. But there is an alternative, and that 18 savirig: the Power Smart way. October is Power Smart month in Ontario, and to hel~ customers control their bills ang onvironmental preservation and cost containrnent, Ontario Hydre recently joined Power Smart Inc., a Vancouver-based consortium of utilities and energy organizations committed te, jointly promoting the smart use of energy. Save on feature-priced applicances and'low-E" windows. Save on more than 25 energy-efflcient products -- inciuding insulation, weatherstripping, caulIcing and pormmale thermostats. Look for the Power Smart label in stores. As winter's grip grows tighter, uncontrolled' air leakage can accounit for 30 te 40 per cent of a home's heat lose. Insulation 15 the best way te maintain comfort and energy efficiency, as it keeps heat in, and cold and daxnpness out. There are numerous types of insulation, among them, fiborglass batt, high-density foamn board, mineraI wool and polystyrene board. Weatherstripping around exterior doors and windows will reduce both drafts and condensation. Caulking heips plug air leaks and seal cracks around windows, doorframes, baseboards, sa11 plates and pipe opening and choices include clear silicone, acrylic latex, butyl rubber and polyurethane foam. A thorough job of air sealing can cut up te 25 per cent from any heating bill. Because windows are particularly vuinerable to heat loss, energy-efficient windows, or 'low-E" windows, are best. Specially coated to reflect heat, they are as effective as triple glazed windows,, but without the added bulk and weight. The six major appliances -- refrigerators, freezers, stoves, dishwashers, clothers washers and dryers -- consume 24 per cent of the average household's electricity use. When purchasing a new apRpliance, consult the "second price tag," or the Energuide label. This is the label that indicates the appliance's electricity consumption in kilowatt hours per year. The lower the number, the more efficient the appliance, and the cheaper it is te run. *Today's refrigerators use at least 40 per cent less energy than models built in 1990. The most energy-efficient refigerator is one that is kept clean, both inside and out, and neyer overcrowded. The best temperature setting is 3 degrees Celsius (37 degrees F). If not frost-free. a freezer should ho defrosted often for maximumn effectiveness, kept ne more than two-thirds full, and set at 18 degrees celsius (0 degrees F). When using the tep elements on a stove, the size of the pot should match the aize of the element and lids shoulcl be used whenever possible te conserve gnergy. When using the oven, it should be pre-heated for baking no more than 10 minutes in advance, and always kept ýscrupulously dlean. Although more expensive at the outset, a self-cleaning oven is botter insulated than a- regular one, and consumes less energy during normal usage. The best dishwasher cornes equipped with an "econo-wash" cycle, which uses less hot water, and an energy-save sWiteh te turn off the heating element thus allowing dishes te air dry. Since one quarter of alI bot water is used for clothes washing, wash only a full load, rinse it in cold water and run it through the spin cycle twice before loadinig it inte the dryer. One of the largeat users of monthly kilowatt hours is the dryer. To counter this, avoid over-drymng, which damages your clothes, use the cool-down feature te reduce the heat in the Iast- five te 10 minutes and dlean the lint filter after each load. Decorate-ît-You rself Home Improvement Tips fromn Cherlie Slack Sunshade Binds & Draperies Fabric variety offers freedom of choicefor windows When selecting fabrics for custom window treat- ments, trends are usually inhibitive, requiring fol- lowers of fashion te pigeon- hole their tastes inte the moat popular definition of Stoâay>e fabric trends, however offer consumers the freeâom te choose from a wide range of colours, styles and designs -- at the window and in the rest of the room -- te create a truly individualized look that fits your lifostylo. The onfly restriction on current trends mnay ho refinement. Fabricaters and manufacturers of window treatments report that while just about anything goes in fabric these days -- from white- on-white patterns te bold, statement-making designs __ the trend is leaning toward an elegant, scale d- down look. Contributing te a softer and more elegant look are embellishments, including tassels, fringes, rosettes and tiebacks, which add a flnishing touch te the window. 'Trim is aise helpful in' giving a transition between wali and fabric or drapery and valance. 'A wide variety of fabric designs, influenced by the elegance trend, bas resulted in somo exciting cheices for, window treatment consumera. The blending of hues je popular, often with stronger-than- pastel 'ce ours, b ut the brightest colours are iisually reserved for accents. Accommodating both the brights and the-bIen de are teday's; stable fabrics. They are very colour fait, making ail sorts of hues and blends possible. Fabrics oe er fedmand current styles . offer great variety te hofashio- conscieus cns mer looking for the « perfect, personalized window treatment. ..... ....... .......................... .. .......... .............. .............. ... ....... ... ........................ ................ ....................... ..... ....... .............. . ... .............. ... ... ........... .. . ... .... ........ . ... .............. ... ... ...... ..... ..... ................ ......... The dlifference is dramatic. Today's wood heat appliances bear only an external resemblance te those produced during the seventies and early eighties. Internally, through the use of catalytic combusters or secondary burn chambers, today>s wood steves, inserts and fireplaces offer superior performance, which means less work, more heat and environmentally-safe operation. Woodburning appliances teste4 and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency offer 25 te 33 per cent les chopping, hauling and fueling fer the same amount of heat as produced frem cenventional, non-certified woed heaters. They aIse burn 85 per cent cleaner, at an average emissiens level of just six grama te particulate per heur, relative.te a conventienal stovea' 40-plus grams per heur. Flammable creosote build-up la reduced 90 per cent fer safer operation of lesa maintenance. Product refinementsalase have mad&e overnight huma easier and heavy soot build-up on viewing glass a thing of the past. While drastically red ucing the environmental impact. burning Beverley I'arnum Sales Reprce'.enýlli'.e «X)5)57<1 (VN) .X)5)<686 % I r)i wood in an EPA Phase II-certified steve or fireplace also utilizes a renewable resource that, as it grows, helps to repair the damage done by global warming. Both catalytic and noncatalytic modela are available. Each offers unique benefits and technologies to limit emissions and enhance efficiency of igniting potentially polluting volatile gasos releases from burning wood. Cast-ir on, steel and soapstone models are available, many with blower systems te help distribute heat in the home. Some operate on the basis of radiant heat alone, which emanates from the appliance in straight Uines te, warm room surfaces. Others add the warming benefits of conventive hoat, with convection chambers around the firebex te channel, warmi and return room air. Elegant solid . brassecustemize the appliances te diverse tastes and various decors. 1Wood steves vent through a chimney systern run through the ceiling' and roof. Fireplace inserts are approved for installation in open masonry fireplaces, and specific modela of metal, manufnctured fireplaces. But manufactured fireplace systema offer* the most styling diversity, because the hearth la actually built around them, and can be finished in a wide array of materials including marbie, stucco, stene and decorative tile. For more information on today's high-tech wood heaters, consumera can get a free copy of the 84-page 'Hearthwarmning: A Guide te Hearth Products' by calling 1-800-835-4323. BUILERS: 1 I'N ou buy1 ,ii r 110 hro h ls.yu -niu are no l ay Iil ' rc ao U1-va.~I"- o pur lis t.wIIiing tS anXo ti rg o cQuhussii 2 - ieiSCjIC:&IkIII- I .,c..1' ime A.ItAhîuif<friliedi. ~ekuIe sveia, z .~g-in VcnnarslCeniury Homes. Town & Country * mis 's sotisiened Io soicit propertesaready ised 4Ç(ýiAK wt4, à. b é i'à0 t * -1 àà I rr__ SCRATCH & SNIFF No Odeur? That's what you get with AIRx odeur eradicators. AIRx products contain Airicide, a unique compenent which physically alters odoreus molecules, se that yeur nose doesn't register unpleasant fragrances. AIRx products were specifically designed for commercial use, where continueus foui odeurs are a real problemn - chrenic care wards in hospitals, nursing home applications, the back of garbage trucks, kennels, etc. AIRx products are NOW AVAILABLE FOR HOME USE. For musty« basements, garbage rooms or drains that smell, try AIRx 60 Foui Odeur Eliminator. To eliminate pet odeurs in carpeting, add AIRx 60 te your solution when cleaning the carpet.' For continueus odeurs from an incontinent shut-in, pets or coeking, try AIRx 19 super strength microceli. Whatever your odeur preblem, we have the solution. Coe down te the Swish Clean-It Centre and let aur trained friendly staff help you with your odeur control preblem. m* aM to 5prnj CLEAN-IT CENTRE 500 Hopkins Street, Whitby 666-1224 . . . . . . . . . . ............. l>_ 177 7,77 ý 7. 77 ý sutton aroup - executive realty (1993) inc., 1614 Dundas St. E.. Whitby 1 1 1 à]iàlcký%7e It! 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