Worried about high fuel costs?

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Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for about 16% of your utility bill.

There are four ways to cut your water heating bills:

Use less hot water.
Turn down the thermostat on your water heater.
Insulate your water heater.
Buy a new, more efficient water heater.
A family of four, each showering for 5 minutes a day, uses 700 gallons of water a week; this is enough for a 3-year supply of drinking water for one person. You can cut that amount in half by simply using low-flow aerating showerheads and faucets.

Interior Leaks

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In some cases what appears to be a roof surface leak is not a leak at all, but rather an interior source of water. Here are some examples –

Air leakage from the house: If household air can leak into the attic, the warm moist air will condense on surfaces in the attic during cold weather. This can cause damage to the roof decking and structural framing and in severe cases cause water to drip back into the house. Sealing the house from the attic in cold climates is very important.
Leaking forced air ducting: If heating and cooling ducting runs through the attic, they should be well sealed, to prevent condensation in cold weather.
Air conditioning ducting: If air conditioning ducting runs through the attic, it should be well insulated and should have a good vapor barrier.
Attic mounted heating and cooling: High efficiency furnaces and air conditioning evaporators located in the attic can create condensation and leak into the house.
PILLAR TO POST ® HOME INFORMATION SERIES

Local Unemployment Rate Drops

There are more ads for employment on the radio and in the newspaper, which is a sign the local economy is picking up. The unemployment rate in
Brooks has dropped a notch from 7% last September to 6.1% this year, likely due to an increase in activity in the oil patch. Many in that industry are reporting a busier period.

The good news is that economists are predicting a busier period for the oil patch and for the retail sector, which is good news as the Christmas season approaches.