summer Archives - Page 5 of 5 - Bruzzese Home Improvements

Warm weather means more time spent enjoying the outdoors: picnics, bike rides, hikes and sporting events. While the summer months should be enjoyed to the fullest, outdoor enthusiasts must remember that the sun, with all of the benefits it brings, also has many dangerous effects.

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are at their strongest during the spring and summer; unprotected skin and eyes can be damaged in as little as 15 minutes. While applying sunscreen and wearing sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection is important throughout the year, taking extra sun-safety precautions during the summer is especially important.

Try these simple tips on your next trip to the park, pool, beach or casual stroll outside and learn to enjoy the sun safely:

* Wear sunscreen: While this may seem like a no-brainer, many people still need to be reminded. Keep some handy in your car, purse and around the house. Sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 protects the skin from the sun. Apply one ounce of sunscreen (about the size of a ping pong ball) to all sun-exposed areas of the body. Don’t forget the ears, feet and behind the neck. Because sunscreen can take up to 30 minutes to go into full effect, it’s a good idea to apply it at home before going outside.

* Wear the right shades: Find a pair of sunglasses that will give you adequate UVA/UVB protection so you can reduce the risk of burning your retina, cornea or eyelids. Most of us don’t realize it when sunglasses do not provide adequate UV protection. If you wear sunglasses that feature UV blocking lenses, but the frame does not block sunlight from reaching your eyes from the sides, you are still being exposed to harmful UV rays. For example, Solar Shield Sunglasses feature Advanced UV Protection designs that help protect your eyes through the combination of 100 percent UV protection lenses and frames that wrap around to block stray light.

* Wear protective clothing: Warmer weather inevitably means less clothing, especially when you’re laying by the pool or on the beach. When bathing suit shopping this summer, pick up a few lightweight wraps and cover shirts; they offer much more protection than sunscreen.

* Cover your head: Whether it is a baseball cap or floppy, wide-brimmed hat, find one to protect your head and face during the summer months and wear it. Anything that keeps your sensitive scalp protected is going to lower your chances of skin cancer.

* Avoid the danger times: The Food and Drug Administration says that UVA/UVB rays are at their most dangerous from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Do your best to stay in the shade and stay even more on top of your sun protection during those hours. If you must be in the sun during peak hours, be sure to wear SPF 30 sunscreen and wraparound sunglasses with advanced UV protection and polarized lenses.

If you follow these simple tips, you can look forward to an active, fun and safe summer.

As summer heats up, air conditioning bills can rapidly rise. As homeowners feel the heat, many are looking for ways to save and stay cool.

Many U.S. consumers strive to conserve energy at home. Forty-seven percent of Americans say they try to conserve energy all or most of the time, according to researchers at Iconoculture.

One way to help lower utility bills in the summer and year-round is to replace drafty or leaky old windows with new, energy-efficient products.

According to ENERGY STAR, replacing single-pane windows with ENERGY STAR qualified windows can save up to $126 to $501 a year on utility bills depending on your location.

For example, the Pella 350 Series vinyl windows provide durable, triple-pane insulating glass window options. These highly energy-efficient windows help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Cool tips
Once energy-efficient windows are properly installed in your home, try these inexpensive, easy ways to help keep your house cool.

* Provide shade for east and west windows.

* When possible, delay heat-generating activities like baking or dishwashing until the evening on hot days.

* Use ceiling fans to circulate air to help make the house more comfortable without over-using the air conditioning.

* Seal air conditioning ducts and insulate ducts that run through unheated basements, crawl spaces and attics.

* Install white window shades or mini-blinds. Mini-blinds can reduce solar heat gain by 40 to 50 percent, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
If you like energy savings, but dread cleaning blinds, consider Pella Designer Series windows and doors with optional between-the-glass blinds or shades. Since they’re between glass, they accumulate less dust and dirt than traditional roomside window treatments. Plus, they can be closed when you are away to keep the heat out and opened when you are home to let the light in. With their outstanding energy-efficiency and built-in window treatments, it’s a winning combination.

Ready to update your windows to help save on energy costs? Give us a call or send us email and we’ll be happy to give you a free in home estimate. We love Pella products and install Pella windows & doors on almost all of our home remodel projects!

Pet parents know that the best way to put an extra wag in a dog’s tail and a spring in his step is to mention the word “walk” or “outside.” We’ve all seen it before. Pets automatically perk up at the opportunity for time outdoors. Additionally, an active lifestyle is just as beneficial for the pets as it is for the pet owners and promotes a healthy routine, while strengthening the loving bond.

It’s the perfect time of year to incorporate some extra activities into your pet’s schedule. The warmer weather and longer daylight hours offer additional time outside. When planning vacations, weekend getaways, or even weeknight outings, be sure to include activities that are pet-friendly. Try these tips and share in an active summer with your four-legged friends.

* Go for a hike. Getting out in the woods is a thrill for dogs – everywhere they turn, there’s something to sniff, look at or maybe even chase. Hit the trails with him for an active outing that’s refreshing, healthy and fun. It’s important to be well-supplied for hikes. Be sure to bring plenty of water as well as wholesome snacks.

* Explore new neighborhoods. Most people and pets have a well-worn path on their neighborhood walks, so why not switch up the scenery? Stray off the usual route, or drive somewhere different to go for a stroll. Try to find dog-friendly business districts that encourage visitors to bring pets along. In urban cities, dog-friendly parks are great places to spend time with your dog and even meet fellow pet parents. Make sure to pack treats to keep everyone refreshed and fueled, and be courteous by bringing baggies to pick up after your dog.

* Do good for charity. Supporting local and national charities that benefit dogs and other pets goes a long way toward giving animals in need the life they deserve. One way to participate is through fundraising walks that support charities such as animal shelters and animal welfare organizations. Charitable organizations that are also pet-friendly are the perfect way to participate in a great cause while being active with a pet.

Health and activity are closely linked for both people and pets. So what’s good for people is good for furry family members. Think creatively about how to do more together with your pet, and you’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy the season and each other.

Cool breeze is a precious commodity as things outside begin to warm up this late Spring and early Summer.

One strategy in getting your fair share of it is by the simple and stylish addition of the screened in porch. The reason that many seek to find out how to install a screened in porch is because it solves a few issues when it comes to an outdoor living space.

One big one is gaining that precious breeze that defines late Spring and early Summer seasons without the presence of flying insects. Another is that a screened in porch lends itself to a wider range of design possibilities; reading areas, interior container gardens, outdoor dining spaces, and all-around indoor and outdoor continuity.

To help outline some of the practicalities, and frankly some eye-popping designs, of screened in porches, here are 8 examples of how a screened in porch can be a defining element to any outdoor living space.

Source: BuildDirect, By CATE MORGAN-HARLOW

Ready to add a fabulous screened in porch to your home? Contact Bruzzese Home Improvements at 914-576-2572 or by Email: bruzzesehomeimprovements@gmail.com. We specialize in room additions and screened in porches!

Areas we service: Westchester, NY, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Scarsdale, Eastchester, Larchmont, Tuckahoe, Bronxville, Mamaroneck, Rye, Harrison, New Rochelle, White Plains, Lower Westchester New York.

Water and the summer months tend to go hand-in-hand – water skiing or fishing at a lake, taking a dip in a swimming pool and watering home-grown plants with a garden hose are among the season’s most popular activities. Recent summers have also been some of the driest on record, prompting grass fires, drastically low lake levels and water utilities having to implement water restrictions on their customers.

According to the United Nations’ Water for Life campaign, around 1.2 billion people, or almost one-fifth of the world’s population, live in parts of the world where access to clean water sources is extremely difficult. Additionally, water around the world is unevenly distributed, taken for granted and wasted, polluted or unsustainably managed.

So how can you positively impact water usage inside and outside your home? Here are five simple tips for the summer months:

* Start with smart landscaping decisions. Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting – longer grass shades the root systems and holds moisture in soil better than shorter grass. Also, consider composting kitchen scraps, lawn clippings and garden waste to retain more water, reduce erosion and even decrease weed growth.

* Water your yard responsibly. When summer temperatures heat up, water your lawn in the mornings to reduce water loss from evaporation. You can also set your sprinklers to a lower pressure. Why? Higher pressure creates a fine mist that evaporates faster or will blow away, thus wasting water.

* Start your day by showering with a low-flow showerhead. Low-flow showerheads limit the water flow to around three gallons per minute as compared to twice that for a normal showerhead. Pick one up at a local home improvement or hardware store. If you’re remodeling a bathroom, you can look at other water- and energy-saving gadgets like tank-less water heaters or low-volume flush toilets.

* Reduce the amount of water that runs down drains. It’s estimated that 95 percent of water that flows through a home runs down the drain, but simple steps like turning off the running water while brushing teeth or washing hands until it’s time to rinse decreases water waste. Consider collecting some of this water when there may be another use for it, such as watering a plant. Also, rather than running cold water from the tap until it’s cold enough to quench your summer thirst, refill and store a pitcher of water in the refrigerator.

* Save water and energy in the laundry room. Reduce water waste by running a washer only when it’s full. Using cold water also reduces the amount of energy used and conserves hot water for other household needs that require it. Need a new washer? According to ENERGY STAR, the average American family washes almost 300 loads of laundry each year, but can significantly reduce energy and water usage by purchasing ENERGY STAR-qualified products. For example, a full-sized ENERGY STAR qualified washer uses 14 gallons of water per load, nearly 50 percent less water than a standard machine.

For more information on water savings tips this summer and information on incentives or rebates in your area, check with your local water utility.

Call Us

Simple tips to stay safe from the sun while outdoors

The heat is on outside, keep cool inside

Fun with Fido: Tips for an active summer with your dog

8 Cool Screened In Porches For Spring and Summer

Five tips for conserving water during warm-weather months

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