www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday July 21, 2006 - 21 HOME & GARDEN SHOWCASE Quick tips to reduce your air conditioning bills With the rising cost of energy, many Canadians are worrying about their energy bills this summer. There are many easy ways to make your home more energy efficient, helping to keep you cool and to keep your bills in check. Not only can these simple tips help you save money in the summer, but in fact they can help save money and energy year-round. Follow these tips to keep yourself cool while putting a freeze on your air conditioning bills this summer: Install insulation Make your first insulation priority the attic, where up to 15 per cent of the home's energy is lost. For most houses, using Pink Fiberglas insulation for attics is ideal. If your home has a low pitch roof, making it difficult to properly install insulation yourself, hire an insulation contractor to blow Loosefill Fiberglas insulation into inaccessible areas. Plug the drafts The exterior of your house is your first line of defence against drafts, so it's important to caulk, seal and weather-strip around all seams, cracks and openings. Be sure to pay special attention around windows and where siding or bricks and wood trim meet. You can also reduce drafts by caulking around the inside of windows. Install a programmable thermostat Why cool the house when nobody's home? A programmable thermostat can automatically raise and lower your home's air temperature when you're at work or comfortably relaxing at home. Shade your house On warm summer days, lower the blinds and shades on windows on the south and west sides of your house. This helps block out the heat of the sun, keeping your home cooler and more comfortable. Turn on the fans Cold air sinks and hot air rises, making for cold basements and unbearably hot second story rooms. Fans particularly ceiling fans help to generate a breeze and circulate air throughout the home, making temperatures more consistent and air conditioning more efficient. Install energy efficient doors and windows Newer windows with Low-E coatings and insulated doors are designed to be more energy-efficient and when properly installed, leaks and drafts are minimized. Outwit the air conditioner Close cold air registers and returns in rooms that are unused or are naturally cool to force the furnace to draw more hot air from warm rooms, replacing it with cooler air. In this way, you'll reduce the load on your air conditioner. - News Canada PAY NO TAX! On all in-stock patio furniture Offer valid until July 31st Outdoor wicker, teak, aluminum, sling & cushion sets, umbrellas and more! Patio on display exclusively at Oakville location. 490 Speers Rd, OAKVILLE · 905.844.3224 482 Guelph Line, BURLINGTON · 905.639.5952 w w w. b a r b e c u e s g a l o r e . c a How would you like to go to the movies? Become a NEW pre-paid reader for only $ Simply fill out the ballot below to become a new Oakville Beaver pre-paid reader, and you will receive 2 movie passes just for signing up! 72 year ORDER FORM $72.00/year Payment: Cheque Visa MasterCard American Express Yes, I would like to become a pre-paid reader PASSES Card # ______________________________________________________________________ Exp. Date: ___________________________ Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________________________ Postal Code:_____________________________________________ 2 MOVIE Cheques made payable to: Mail to: Oakville Beaver Circulation Department, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON L6K 3S4 or fax to 905-337-5557. Email: lblaik@oakvillebeaver.com