The Beverly Hills Real Estate blog Thursday 10-15-09

The Beverly Hills Real Estate blog Thursday 10-15-09 

(link for video blog will be here later)

Champagne Thursday at the Mighty Met!  That's what we used to call it.  Today the weather will be like champagne crystal clear, sunny and warmer .  Another super southern California weekend on the way!  Today we post Video Blog four I look forward to doing it again. 

Also check www.paraquatkelley.com   Meanwhile, I will continue to do this written one on a daily basis too. 

Thank for emailing the jokes... The blog is just beginning; who knows what going to happen because of it.  Also, getting real estate inquiries because of it.  Remember; this is our daily fun/real estate blog serving - Los Angeles area including Westside, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Malibu, Marina Del Rey, Venice, Mar Vista, Palms, Culver City, Century City, Beach Cities,  West Hollywood, West Los Angeles,  Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Playa Del Rey, Playa Vista and beyond.

Let us help you relocate to a new home or property in Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, Sunset Strip, Los Feliz and Hancock Park as well as the Los Angeles County areas. We can direct you to a church or synagogue, a hotel, local news, maps, city info, city statistics, and more - everything you need to become familiar with any of these beautiful areas.

This blog is for you.  Use it and use us for all your real estate needs and important tips like this one:

Energy Saving Tips - Preparing for Cool Weather
Brought to you by The Green Committee
Andrew Jay Gross, Chairman

According to the U.S. Department of Energy: As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills � and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. For more information, see our Guide to Energy Efficient Heating & Cooling.

Change your air filter regularly

Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool � wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system � leading to expensive mainteenance and/or early system failure.

Programmable Thermostat

Install an ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostat � A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about up to $100 per year in coastal areas and over $150 inland and pays for itself in less than 12 months. Make sure to install it away from natural cool and hot spots.

Seal Your Ducts

 Have your heating and cooling ducts professionally sealed to save up to $120 in coastal areas and up to $190 inland per year.

  Ducts that move air to�and�from a a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent � and sometimes much more.

Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage. Use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts. After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap them in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Next, look to seal any other ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house. See our Duct Sealing brochure for more information.

Seal Your Home

Seal your home's envelope � walls, floor, ceiling and roof � to save up to 10% on your annual energy billl:

Add weather stripping around windows and doors to reduce drafts.

Use caulking to seal around ducts, plumbing and any other openings in walls, floors and ceilings to reduce air leakage. Begin in the attic, a common place for warm air to escape.

  Seal larger gaps that cannot be covered with caulk or with expanding foam.

In an uncertain economy, investing a little time and money in home efficiency is just one way to yield guaranteed returns. By taking just a few minutes, you can be on your way towards saving money and protecting the environment.

There you go... Our video blog will be posted before noon our time so come back and see us.  Whoo ya!