Article From HouseLogic.com By: Jane Hodges Published: September 23, 2009 Reduce your electricity bills by systematically purging your family room of wasteful energy practices. The fun-a video game console, TV, DVR, DVD, and stereo system-that your family room provides comes with a price. By reducing standby power, using rechargeable batteries in remotes, and replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, you could save up to $130 a year in energy costs. And if you're in the market for a new TV, you can ... read more

Article From Houselogic.com By: Charlotte Barnard Published: August 28, 2009 Lighting eats up as much as 20% of your annual electric bill, but using energy-efficient bulbs and making other simple changes can cut lighting costs dramatically. Lighting is one of the biggest energy gobblers in your house, eating up between 10% and 20% of your total electric bill. But it's also one area of the home where a minimal effort can yield major returns. Simply replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescen... read more

> The Brunswick County, North Carolina beach town of Oak Island has beautiful beaches, amazing sunsets, friendly folks, and great fishing. According to Bobbi Diaz-Welch of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty, you'll love fishing in Oak Island, whether you've been fishing all your life or you've never baited a hook. One of her favorite fishing spots is Ocean Crest Pier. Beginner and veteran anglers of all ages come to the wooden fishing pier to fish for King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Sh... read more

Article From Houselogic.com By: Douglas Trattner Published: August 28, 2009 Understanding your laundry room appliances is part of a smart plan to help you save energy in your home. Good laundry room habits, including some occasional minor maintenance, can save energy and shave nearly $300 off your annual utility bills. That's because you can curb the biggest energy culprit: the cost of heating water. WASHING MACHINE The bulk of a washing machine's operating costs-around 90%, says Energy Star - go to replacing the ... read more

The success of any landscaping project depends on having a plan and sticking to it. Landscaping is one of the surest ways to pump up the value of your property. According to research by Virginia Cooperative Extension, going from a plain lawn and a concrete driveway to a well-landscaped lot raises a home's perceived value by 12.7%. The opposite is also true: A "minimal" landscaping job-a thoughtless smattering of scraggly plants-actually detracts from home value. How much should you invest in upgrading your landscap... read more