Donna Rudd

The new year brings forth new beginnings and aspirations, and what better way to start off the year than getting your home organized. Your biggest obstacle will be getting started, but if you follow these tips, you are sure to face this obstacle head on and come out successful and most importantly clutter-free!

Garages are notoriously the messiest parts of the house, because items can be placed there and forgotten. A great way to combat this problem is to toss away any items that you have not used in the past 6 months. This task may be difficult as people tend to have a hard time parting with items that they think they may "someday" utilize; however try to visualize all the space you'll gain rather then the things you will lose. Next, make it a family affair, although your kids and spouse may dread this project getting them involved will pay off over the long run. Keeping a home clutter free is a team effort. Start off by getting everyone involved by assigning individual tasks. Family meetings are a great way to establish a housekeeping routine, plus the meetings can double as problem solving time. Ask kids why they're not cleaning up after themselves and brainstorm solutions. Enlisting your family members makes cleaning more fun — and kids learn important lessons. Getting your home in order will sure give you and your family that boost you will need to start off the year on the right track.

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Whether you live in a hot or cold part of the country, one of the best ways to improve energy efficiency and comfort is to make sure the shell of your home - the outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors – is properly sealed and insulated. Many homes have air leaks and insufficient insulation which means it takes more energy to heat and cool the home. An ENERGY STAR estimate shows that homeowners who undertake a sealing and insulating project can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs.

Before adding insulation, a home should be inspected for air leaks. Some leaks, like those around windows and doors are easy to find. However the bigger problems are often the harder to find holes in attics, basements, and crawlspaces. All leaks found should be sealed with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping. If your house has forced-air heating and cooling, check the seals of any exposed ducts in attics, basements, crawlspaces and garages, and fix leaks with duct sealant.

Once the air leaks have been remedied, then it is time to add the insulation. Insulation comes in many forms, including fiberglass, cellulose, rigid foam board, and spray foam. Before choosing a type of insulation you need to determine the insulation R-value you need for your area. The R-value rates the ability of the insulation to resist heat flow, with higher numbers being the most resistant. To find the recommended R-value insulation for your area visit the Department of Energy fact sheet at http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_01.html>

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