15 home maintenance tips

Home maintenance is something we often neglect. Between our daily and weekly responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc., maintenance is something that often falls by the wayside. But it’s essential. Like your vehicle, your home and property benefit from regular tune-ups.

Fun, right? We know: not so much. But here’s the good news. Tackling home maintenance in 10-minute bursts is the smart way to get it done. 

Here’s our checklist of 15 things you can keep on top of, each in 10 minutes or fewer. Killing time before Lost?  Cross off one of these tasks.

1 Vacuum the condenser coils at the back of your fridge annually.

2 Replace your furnace filters seasonally.

3 Polish your natural wood front door. If painted, surface wash it.

4 Clean the air conditioner grill and register. 

5 Dust and test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (twice a year).

6 Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (annually).

7 Self-clean the oven (Okay, technically this takes hours, but it only takes a few minutes to set it up).

8 Clean your coffeemaker. Technically this takes more than 10 minutes, but each step itself takes only a minute or two. Tackle each step during commercial breaks in your favourite show. 
9 Clean your kitchen exhaust hood. Clean or replace the filter.

10 Check your water heater for signs of leakage or rust. 

11 Look for worn extension cords. Replace them. 

12 Inspect your furnace. Any signs of rust or scale? Any weird noises? If so, book a professional inspection.

13 Pick a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet (GFCI) and test it. Push the Test button, check that this has popped out the Reset button and that anything hooked up to the outlet will no longer power on. Push Reset and you’re good to go. Test a different GFCI outlet next time. 

14 Conduct a garage door safety check. 
• Put it into manual mode and lift it: it should glide smoothly and stay open on its own three feet from the ground: if not, have a pro counterbalance it.

• Put a pet- or child-size object on the ground (a small cardboard box or lightweight plastic laundry hamper, for example) and close the door. It should pop up as soon as it meets the obstacle. If not, call a pro.

15 Check your emergency flashlight. Do the batteries work? If not, replace them, or consider upgrading to a non-battery powered, manual wind-up model.

7 WAYS YOUR HOUSE IS WASTING WATER

The average American wastes thousands of gallons of water each year. Gallons of water are wasted during our daily activities as we take long showers, wash our cars, pre-wash the dishes, water the lawn, and more.

In America, our water consumption has increased 127% from 1950, and 95% of that water goes straight down the drain, while much of the world lives off of 3 gallons of water per day or less. To put that into perspective, we can waste 3 gallons of water with one flush of the toilet.

Here are some common ways that clean, potable water is being cast away down the pipes.

1. Showering and Brushing Teeth:

Showers account for 20% of total indoor water use. While waiting for shower water to heat up, Americans waste a trillion gallons of clean, potable water. Up to 7 gallons is used every minute that the showerhead is running.

How many of us leave the tap running while we brush our teeth? Up to three gallons of water are used each minute that the faucet is running. If every American moistened their toothbrush and turned off the flow, countless gallons could be saved.

2. Leaky Toilet, Faucets, and Pipes:

Leaky toilets, faucets, and pipes account for a lot of wasted water. The average US household leaks up to 9 gallons of water a day, but with a leaky toilet, that number can easily jump to 200 gallons a day. Faucets leaking at a rate of one drop per second account for 2,700 gallons of water wasted each year.

3. Washing Cars:

We are a culture that loves our cars. Ten times more water is used to wash cars with a hose compared to washing with a bucket or going to a professional car wash. And we just let that contaminated water pool in our yards or storm drains, eventually finding its way into lakes, rivers, and streams, polluting the environment.

4. Pre-washing Dishes:

Pre-washing dishes in not necessary if you scrap off the hard, dried on bits first before placing the dishes in the dishwasher. Similarly, turning the dishwasher on when it’s not a full load is an efficient use of water. An old model can use up to 13 gallons per cycle, while a newer, water-efficient model will use around 4 gallons per wash cycle. Remember, much of the world’s population exists on just 3 gallons of water per day.

5. Washing Machine:

Inefficient washing machines can use up to 20 gallons for each load. Many Americans do not fill their washing machines to capacity, instead spreading their laundry duties over many loads. Using your washing machine for full loads only makes the most of the water used.

6. Using the Toilet as a Garbage Can:

Older toilets can use 3 gallons of water per flush. Some people use their toilets as garbage cans, flushing down single cigarettes, paper towels, and tissues into the system, which is not only bad for skeptic tanks, but waste clean, usable water. Residential toilet use accounts for 40% of urban water demand. In the US, 4.8 billion gallons of water is flushed down the toilet every single day.

7. Watering Lawns:

Did you know that watering our lawns uses 8,000,000,000 gallons of water each day in the US alone—again, that’s every single day? The average lawn uses 264 gallons of water each hour. The garden hoses and sprinklers we use to water our lawns can waste more water per hour than the average US household with four members use in a day.

Homeowners can combat the water waste by taking simple conservation steps with these low-cost options that you can implement immediately to reduce your household’s water waste.

http://www.goinggreentoday.com/blog/7-areas-your-house-is-wasting-water/

Economy grew by 1.8 per cent in Q2: StatsCan

The economy grew at an annual rate of 1.8 per cent in the second quarter, as companies increased investment in equipment and added substantially to their inventories.

The pace of growth was slightly higher than economists' expectations and nearly in line with the Bank of Canada projection for 1.9 per cent.

But it's the third quarter in a row for sluggish economic performance below two per cent.

"The Canadian economy did slightly better than expected in the second quarter, but the pace was still nothing to write home about," Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, said in a note to clients.

"The economy is essentially growing right in line with the U.S. now and is still rising below potential."

Statistics Canada said business investment was mainly responsible for keeping the economy afloat from April to June — as if on cue in the wake of scoldings from the Bank of Canada and federal government, who recently chided companies for sitting on their spare cash.

The agency said investment in plant and equipment grew at its fastest pace since this time last year, up 2.3 per cent from the previous quarter. Purchases of transportation equipment and industrial machinery were particularly strong.

And non-farm inventories surged during between April and June. Businesses increased their inventories by $15.2 billion in the second quarter — $7 billion more than in the first three months of the year.

But demand for exports slowed and imports rose substantially, dragging down overall growth.

In June, gross domestic product grew 0.2 per cent from May, propelled by output in the mining, oil and gas sector. Output declined in the wholesale and retail trade sectors, as well as manufacturing.

Sluggish economic growth prompted a warning from Ottawa on Friday.

The Finance Department recorded a shrinking deficit for the first three months of the 2012-20113 fiscal year, but cautioned that the fiscal outlook is at risk of deteriorating.

In its monthly Fiscal Monitor, the department said the deficit for the first three months of the 2012-13 fiscal year was $2 billion — less than half the $4.2-billion recorded for the same period last year.

The department said that's consistent with its plan to reduce the 2012-2013 deficit to $21.1 billion.

But it also warned that a weak economy poses a mounting risk for the fiscal situation.

From April to June, federal revenues rose 4.7 per cent because of higher income tax payments and a hike in the Employment Insurance rate, while expenses rose at a more modest pace.

For the month of June alone, the deficit was $1.1 billion, compared with $2.3 billion for June 2011.

http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/life/money/article/222346--economy-grew-by-1-8-per-cent-in-q2-statscan

Are Your Windows Energy-Efficient?

With heating and cooling costs continuing to rise, it makes sense to look at one of the leading causes of energy inefficiency in the home: the windows. Installing energy-efficient windows can mean increased comfort as well as savings on utility bills in any climate.

The transmission of air and light is generally the most important function of windows. However, this can mean heat loss in the winter, overheating in the summer, and higher energy bills. A typical home may lose up to 30% of its heat or cooling through windows. Properly installed energy-efficient windows can go a long way toward improving this situation.

There are many factors that affect a window's energy efficiency. Whether they are single or multiple-paned, gas-filled, Low-Emittance (Low-E) coated, and even the material of the window frame all contribute to a window's performance. One excellent resource is www.efficientwindows.org, which provides detailed information on these specifications and how to select windows appropriate for various climates. An experienced window contractor can also be a good source of information and recommendations.

Homeowners should check with their local utility to find out about possible rebates and other incentives for the purchase of new, energy-efficient windows.

Of course, replacing windows is not always a viable option. However, there are steps homeowners can take to improve their energy savings without replacing windows such as making sure windows are properly caulked, keeping weather stripping in good repair, and using storm windows will help. Putting window coverings is another good way to reduce heat loss in winter and avoid overheating during summer.

Improving energy efficiency throughout the home means cost savings to the homeowner. Energy-efficient windows are a significant step toward that goal.


Asif Khan, ABR
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Re/Max Hall of Fame
 
click here: http://bit.ly/Phzcqe

Labour Day Weekend: What’s open and closed

Labour Day weekend means fall is afoot, but some Toronto businesses will remain open to visitors and last minute back-to-school shoppers.

Open Monday: Eaton Centre will run on holiday hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some other shopping centres, including Square One, Vaughan Mills and Pacific Mall, will also remain open. Canada’s Wonderland, ROM, Casa Loma, Ontario Science Centre and Toronto Zoo are open.

Closed Monday: All Beer Stores and LCBO locations. Government offices and most banks. The Art Gallery of Ontario. All Toronto Public Library branches are closed Sunday and Monday.

Transit: TTC will operate on a holiday schedule Monday. GO trains will run on Sunday hours.

Weather: A warm and sunny long weekend is predicted, with temperatures peaking around 30C. A chance of thundershowers Monday. Off-peak hydro rates apply all weekend including Monday.

10 surprising facts on how the average person can really get in shape

Gretchen Reynold's best advice on exercising better, training smarter and living longer

Gretchen Reynolds knows a thing or two about the overwhelming world of medical journals, health studies and research. As the writer behind the popular “Phys Ed” column on The New York Times ‘Well’ blog, Gretchen's sifts through countless articles offering her advice and single-handedly changing the way millions of people exercise. Her book, The First 20 Minutes, will help even the most average of reader understand the science of fitness. The working mother and avid runner, whose work has also appeared in O: The Oprah Magazine, goes straight to the experts for answers that will maximize your goals. Read on for some surprising findings that will forever change the way you workout:

1. We were made to walk. A recent study, led by researchers at the University of Utah, worked with zoologists to compare human locomotion to that of cheetahs and gazelles (animals who are natural runners). They equipped athletes of different ages with face masks and asked them to run in three different styles measuring their oxygen levels for each. What they found was that running itself wasn’t efficient at all for humans,walking was. “We consume more oxygen to run than the typical mammal our size,” the researchers stated. So it seems if you’re looking to get somewhere walking, rather than running, would be the best option. If you've given running a try and it's not for you, don't feel bad — walking is a great way to lose weight and stay in shape while being the easiest on your body.

2. Justin Bieber can improve your workouts. “Our bodies are made to be moved by music and move to it,” says Nina Kraus, Ph.D. and professor of neurobiology at Northwestern University. A recent British study showed that men listening to high-tempo music while on a stationary bike sped up when their music’s speed was increased. So whether it’s Bieber, Beyonce or Abba, load your iPod with fast, upbeat music that will keep you keep you motivated.

3. Ditch the carbs. We’ve all heard of carb-loading but what most people don’t know is that if you’re intensely working out for anything under an hour you don’t need extra carbohydrates. Gretchen states, “If you’re not a competitive or serious athlete, you don’t need to be concerned with sports nutrition.” If you’re working out for more than two hours, she suggests eating abanana or Popsicle for energy — not an extra helping of pasta at dinner. Those of you chugging water while working out should stop that she warns noting that over-hydration has claimed more lives during recent marathons than dehydration.

4. Chocolate milk is better than Gatorade. While Gretchen discourages you from changing too much of your diet for everyday exercise, what she does encourage is reaching for low-fat chocolate milk post-workout. Containing, “an almost ideal ratio of sugars and proteins,” chocolate milk is perfect for energy replenishment instead of expensive protein shakes and powders.Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair swears by this as well.

5. Weight train. Studies show that “any amount of weight training improved older people’s body composition”. On average older people that added weights to their routine added 1kilogram of muscle to their bodies which is impressive considering most people's muscle mass actually declines after age 50.

6. Your birthdays don’t dictate your age. In a McMaster study, mice were watched to see how the effects of exercise affected the aging process. The results concluded that the mice who exercised regularly (in this case 45 minutes of running on the wheel, three times per week) aged at slower rates than the mice that didn't do added exercise. After five months, researchers found the running mice were more youthful, had more hair and better balance. They were like, “little fury Betty Whites” they explained.

7. Sex can make you smarter. When male rats, in a Princeton University study, were given “sexually receptive” females, the resulting activity created an, “increase in neurogenesis in their brains.” Essentially, sex created new cells in the brain, a until recently, scientists thought was impossible.

8. Your run time does count. Gretchen suggests running a mile and timing yourself if you're trying to break into the hobby. If you’re 40 and can’t run a 12-minute mile (or 1.6 kilometers) you are the least in shape of the spectrum. Aim for a nine-minute mile if you’re around 40, if you’re 30 or under aim for seven minutes. Just 20 minutes is enough to maximize health benefits. And when it comes to stretching, don’t worry about doing it beforehand, Gretchen’s advice is to simply start easy by walking for a few minutes before starting your run.

9. Take your runs outside. Running inside on a treadmill eliminates wind and change in terrain meaning if you’re running indoors you're actually using five percent less energy than you would be running outside. If you live in Canada and running outdoors is only possible (er...tolerable) a few months of the year, the book suggests setting your treadmill to at least a level one incline to better simulate nature.

10. Move. Often. If you don’t exercise at all, the book encourages you to get out there for even five minutes a day. The physiological effects of movement start to work almost immediately. It’s never too late to start but just be sure you’re consistently adding length every few sessions. Your body and mind will thank you — studies show the longer you stick with a regular exercise routine, the greater reduction in your level of stress.

Scotiabank Buys ING

CTVNews.ca Staff

Last Updated Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012 6:19PM EDT

Scotiabank announced Wednesday it has reached an agreement to buy ING Bank of Canada for $3.13 billion in cash.

The company said its acquisition, known as ING DIRECT, will continue to operate separately and the transition should be seamless to its 1.8 million customers.
"Scotiabank is committed to preserving what ING DIRECT's customers have come to love about it," the company’s head of Canadian banking, Anatol von Hahn, said in a news release, adding that ING customers’ existing account numbers and passwords won’t change.  
ING DIRECT is the 8th largest bank in Canada with approximately $40 billion in assets, $30 billion in deposits and 1,100 employees. It has no physical branches, so customers manage their accounts online or through mobile devices and make deposits or withdrawals at ATMs.
ING arrived in Canada in 1997, touting its no-fee banking services, including high-interest savings accounts. ING also offers mortgages and mutual funds.
"ING will now benefit from a strong stable Canadian owner who will provide additional resources to continue to expand and to grow," Scotiabank president and CEO Rick Waugh said during a conference call with analysts Wednesday.  
ING DIRECT’s Netherlands-based parent company, ING Group, has been struggling to overcome declining margins and bad loans amid the European financial crisis.
ING Group sold its U.S. division to Capital One for US$600 million in February. It still runs divisions in Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Scotiabank said the Canadian deal, which is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in December, will add to its earnings within the first year.
In a statement, CEO of ING Group Jan Hommen, said Scotiabank will be a “complementary owner with the ambition to further grow the business.”
Scotiabank also announced a public offering of 29 million common shares at $52, with a goal of making $1.5 billion in gross proceeds to fund the acquisition.
The bank reported this week that its profits grew by 57 per cent in the third quarter, boosted by improved performances in several divisions and the sale of Scotiabank headquarters in Toronto.
With files from The Canadian Press


Asif Khan, ABR
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Re/Max Hall of Fame
 
click here: http://bit.ly/Phzcqe

How automotive technology lightens the burden on drivers’ budgets

Now more than ever, car buyers are focused on fuel efficiency. At the same time, they have demonstrated no desire to sacrifice performance, safety and style.

To satisfy car buyers’ tastes, automakers have been busily developing ways to squeeze more miles out of a gallon of gas. In addition to better engine design, an often overlooked transformation has led to increased fuel efficiency: more and more, automakers are replacing heavier materials with lighter-weight plastics.

Generally known as “lightweighting,” reducing a car’s weight minimizes the load on the engine, so it needs less fuel. Replacing traditional materials with plastics has contributed significantly to lightweighting, so much so that experts estimate plastics make up 50 percent of today’s automobiles by volume – but only 10 percent by weight. This progression toward plastics occurred over many decades, as cars also became generally more reliable, safer and better designed.

So if roughly half of today’s car is made with plastics – where is all this stuff? This trend is probably most readily apparent inside the car. Other than windows and perhaps leather seats, nearly everything a driver or passenger sees and touches is made with plastics: the ceiling, visors, dashboard, instrument panel, door panels, carpeting, seat fabrics and cushions, seat belts, air bags … the list goes on. It may be less obvious on the exterior, but today’s bumpers, quarter panels, headlights, taillights, grills, spoilers, running boards, and some other parts are generally made with plastics – or are rapidly headed in that direction. And take a look under the hood: a plethora of hoses and housings are made with plastics.

Flexibility, transparency, strength, lower weight – a wide range of properties led the automakers’ shift toward plastics. And the development of advanced plastics with special properties – such as shatter-, heat-, and corrosion-resistance – is leading to even greater inroads in vehicles. For example, polycarbonate plastic is emerging as an alternative to glass. Nearly unbreakable, this plastic has long been used in race cars because it’s less likely to shatter in a crash, and it also reduces the weight of the car to help improve speed. Some carmakers today use polycarbonate for sunroofs and other windows to shave off unneeded pounds.

Lightweighting, and the resulting increase in fuel efficiency, contributes not only to the car owner’s bottom line but also to a lighter environmental footprint. Better gas mileage saves money at the pump, and cutting fuel consumption can reduce a car’s CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the impacts associated with energy production itself. Lightweighting contributes significantly to the efficiency of hybrid and electric vehicles, too.

Some automakers are taking further steps toward sustainability by using recycled plastics in their vehicles. For example, one major automaker is recycling an estimated 2 million plastic bottles into fabric for car upholstery. Car designers also have begun using plastics sourced partially from plants, such as the plastic foam in some seat cushions.

With federal regulations requiring an increase in fuel economy to nearly 55 miles per gallon for cars and light trucks by 2025, automakers must continue to seek ways to do more with less. More technological advancements, more safety features, more fuel efficiency. And less weight. To meet these goals, many experts predict even wider-scale adoption of plastics in future models – including plastic composites in the chassis and engine – leading to ultra-lightweight cars with better gas mileage and lower emissions than ever before. That’s good news for the car owner’s wallet and the environment. For more on the use of plastics in automobiles, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com.