How to lower your utility Attosts during the hottest months of the year. Pam Stoler 248.840.0044 Sal Impastato 248.763.2223 www.Pa_mAnciSal.com BIRMINGHAM Four bedroom renovated charmer with a huge yard located on a premier street near town. Living room with arched entry, fireplace and bookcases leads to sunny library/ solarium. Classic white kitchen with granite tops, butcher block island, stainless appliances opens to vaulted family room with fireplace and custom built-ins. Upper level features master suite with walk-in-closet and white marble bath, finished lower level playroom, beautiful landscaping. Open House: June 12, 1-3 pm, 648 Dewey, Birmingham $995,000 rine 12, 1-3 pm DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM Prime location for this updated townhome. High end finishes throughout including newer island kitchen with granite and stainless appliances. Living room and dining room boast cherry flooring, fireplace and doorwall to serene private patio. Master suite with jetted tub and separate euro steam shower. Finished lower level with fireplace. First floor laundry, 2 car attached garage, walk to everything! $465,000 BLOOMFIELD 5,400 square foot newer construction on 2.73 acres with ravine setting. J a rge foyer with open staircase and bridge leading to 6 bedrooms. Living Room with limestone fireplace centered on French doors to bluestone terrace. Formal dining room. Custom Amish kitchen with island, stainless steel appliances and granite tops opens to double story family room. Vaulted beamed screened porch overlooking in- ground pool and spa. Lower level features 10 foot ceilings and exercise room. 3 car garage. Great floor plan. Birmingham schools! $1,479,000 BLOOMFIELD 1.67 acres with 325' of frontage paradise! Spectacular Wing Lake front 7,600 square foot country French dream house. Grand foyer with limestone flooring and barrel ceiling opens to spacious living room with stone fireplace. Gourmet island kitchen with breakfast room boasts curved wall of glass. Main floor master with marble bath and home office space. Glass solarium, walk-out lower level with 2nd kitchen. Every room enjoys lake views. $2,295,000 Hall EXCLUSIVE AF•ILIAT• CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE Ilt er .00 111 50 June 2 • 2011 T he dog days of summer can be brutal on utility bills and a major drain for pocketbooks, but they don't have to be. During the hottest months of the year, water is wasted due to over- irrigation, and air conditioning systems are forced to run longer to keep indoor temperatures cool. While scorching temperatures can push water and ener- gy consumption to its limits, there are ways to consume less and save more. "Reducing water and energy consumption isn't as difficult as many think," says Rhonda Hills of Kudzu. corn, an online resource for homeown- ers looking for expert home advice. "Even minor changes in behavior and small investments in energy- conscious materials can make a big difference." The home experts at Kudzu.com recommend the following actions to provide short-term and long-term relief as the mercury rises. • Install a soil or rain sensor. They are effective water conservation tools. Soil sensors monitor the soil's moisture content and allow sprinklers to operate only when water is needed. Rain sensors detect precipitation and shut off sprinklers if it is raining. Both devices are upgrades from traditional timers and can greatly reduce water usage. • Seal openings around win- dows and doors. Cracks around win- dows and doors are a source of signifi- cant energy loss. The U.S. Department of Energy reports more than 20 percent of the air entering and exiting the home does so around windows and doors. Using caulk and weather strip- ping to seal around these vulnerable areas can make a significant difference in the home's energy efficiency and monthly utility bills. • Replace old windows. Windows are a major source of energy loss in most homes. Old, single-paned win- dows are inefficient and will allow radiant heat from the sun to increase indoor temperatures. Replacing old windows with Energy Star-rated win- dows can save 7-15 percent on energy bills and increase comfort within the home. • Use ceiling fans to circulate air. Fans do not reduce indoor tem- peratures, but they can make the home feel more comfortable. Fans work by circulating air across the skin and creating a wind-chill effect, which makes inhabitants feel cooler. It's been proven that using a fan can allow homeowners to turn up their ther- mostat by 4 degrees with no drop in comfort level. Ensure the fan's blades are turning counterclockwise during the summer to maximize the wind- chill effect. • Increase attic insulation. Adding insulation to a home is one of the fastest ways to reduce energy consumption. More than 10 percent of the average utility bill goes to cool- ing a home, and insulation can help significantly reduce the frequency and duration the air conditioning system is running. Only 20 percent of homes constructed prior to 1980 are properly insulated. • Replace incandescent bulbs. Light bulbs produce light, and they also produce heat as a byproduct. Only about 10 percent of the energy consumed by a traditional light bulb is used to create light. The remainder becomes heat. By switching to Energy Star-rated lighting, homeowners can consume less electricity and produce less heat within their homes. -1