space
Ax kitchen clutter. The heart of the home also tends to be the least neat because cabinets often hide organizational chaos. Denver ShelfGenie franchise owners compiled these ideas to help people establish clean, calm kitchens. More about ShelfGenie’s Glide-Out shelving at .
Get in the zone. Divide the kitchen into specific zones. Food-preparation tools like cutting boards, measuring cups and mixing bowls should be located near the largest available workspace. Cooking tools like pots and pans should be near the stove. Serving supplies like dishes, glassware, flatware and napkins should be near the dining room.
Minimize it. Identify and remove things that do not belong in the zones like paperwork, toys and tools. Give away or sell the seldom-used items.
Maximize space. Capitalize on areas that are not being utilized like space on shelves, wall space and the inside of cabinet doors.
energy
Lower utility bills. In spite of the fact that some Coloradans are sweating through record high temperatures, GreenHomes America, a New York company that specializes in energy-saving solutions, is already thinking about how homeowners can cap this winter’s utility bills. Read more at ., or heed these helpful tips.
Attic air leaks can be one of the biggest energy drains, so seal them. Use caulk or foam to seal around the plumbing stack vent, where it goes through floors. This is a pipe that runs from the basement through every floor and out through the roof. Holes for electrical wiring, and around chimneys, are also problem areas worth addressing.
Insulate and air-seal your attic hatch. Often, builders overlook the hatch when they insulate.
Recessed ceiling lights, or can lights, are a notorious source of heat leaks into the attic and between floors. Install new air- tight fixtures, use airtight baffles, or build airtight boxes around them in the attic. With existing fixtures, check with an electrician first.
Only after you’ve done air-sealing, put an extra layer of insulation on the attic floor, on top of the insulation you currently have. Sixteen to 24 inches is not excessive in cold climates. It also will keep the house cooler in the summer.
