You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2435 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Going Green At Home (NAPSA)—An increasing number of homeowners have found an easy yet effective way to help the ecology and their own economy. Every time they buy a home appliance, tune up their heating system or fix a leaky faucet, they make decisions that affect the environment. According to the Department of Energy, the cost of using appliances and heating and cooling equipment averages more than $1,200 each year. By following these tips, homeowners can have a house that’s friendlier to the environment—and to their bank account when it comes time to pay energy bills. Shop Smart Energy-efficient appliances can save you as much as a third off your energy bills, with similar savings in greenhouse gas emissions. If you’re in the market for new appliances, you may want to consider products that the Environmental Protection Agency has certified as Energy Star efficient. Save Water Simple things, such as fixing leaky toilets or keeping a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap until the water is cool, can add up to more than a drop in the bucket in water and money savings. More high-tech solutions include dualflush toilets and water-saving washers and dishwashers. Bright Idea Consider putting lamps on timers in your home, so that they shut off at night in rooms you’re not using. Also, switching to Fit Right In! (NAPSA)—Finding a healthy lifestyle often starts with determining the right combination of diet and exercise. Whether you want to lose 5 pounds or 50—or just want to have more energy—here are some healthy suggestions: To keep energy costs from going through the roof, experts advise, you’d be wise to insulate your attic. more energy-efficient, compact fluorescent lightbulbs could add up, as these lights use 50 to 80 percent less energy than incandescents and last up to 10 times longer. Insulate The right insulation can keep heating and cooling costs down. Fiber glass insulation, which is a longtime favorite, does a superior job of saving energy and is produced from renewable materials such as sand and recycled glass. It has a positive effect on the indoor environment by controlling heat loss and gain, reducing condensation and providing sound control. Some, including InsulSafe SP Premium Blowing Wool from CertainTeed, are certified for superior indoor air-quality performance. Learn More For more information or ideas on building a greener house, visit www.certainteed.com. Nutritious snacks can play an impor tant role in a healthier lifestyle, particularly as a source of protein and carbohydrates. • Set realistic objectives and stick to them. When putting together a fitness regimen, consistency is key. • Burning calories is more fun with a companion. It doesn’t matter if it’s your spouse, your kids or even your dog; find a friend to work out with. • Eat nutritious meals, and if you snack, snack healthy. For example, Heart Thrives are made from an excellent blend of complete proteins and clean carbohydrates. They consist of all-natural, non-GMO ingredients that digest slowly, providing sustained energy for hours, along with 30 percent of your daily protein, fiber and calcium needs. Heart Thrives are doctor and clinic recommended, 97% fat free and fruit flavored. To learn more, visit www.sun cakes.com, call (800) 830-0309 or write to California Suncakes, P.O. Box 8688, Emeryville, CA 94608. Tips For Clearing The Clutter In Your Home (NAPSA)—Getting organized to cut clutter in your home can be easier than you might think—and the benefits of being organized could extend beyond a tidy house. For instance, organized people save money because they can assess their shopping needs at a glance, making them less likely to buy something out of uncertainty. Additionally, organized people eliminate stress associated with scrambling to find misplaced items or tidying their homes on short notice. So how do you join the ranks of the orderly? Closet Tailors, a franchise company that provides custom storage solutions for homes and businesses, offers these tips to tidiness: Perfect Piles Gather your things into five piles, bins or baskets: • Keep • Donate/Sell • Discard • Repair • Goes elsewhere in the house. Start Small Instead of saying, “Today, I’m going to organize the garage!” say, “Today, I’m going to organize these two garage shelves” or “I’m going to sort the vanity drawer.” Attacking the problem in smaller chunks allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment and will motivate you—or others in your household —to continue the task. Use A Labeler Once you decide on a space for an item, hold its spot with a label. You’ll increase the likelihood that the item will be replaced, but will also prevent other items from taking its place. Toss 50 Set a goal to throw away 50 unused, unwanted or broken items Use labels to ensure that items find their way back to their assigned place. in a week. Start in one area and do your best to rid yourself of unused stuff that’s taking up space in your home. Also, if an item has been in the “Repair” pile for longer than six months, chances are it will never be repaired. Toss it. “Go Back” Baskets Use a “Go Back” basket on each level of your home. If you see an item that belongs in a different area of the house, place it in the basket and set a time each day to return the items to their appropriate places in the house. A Place For Everything Once you decide what items will stay, Closet Tailors space designers will meet with you to discuss your organizational needs, measure the space, create a computer-generated image of the finished area and install your custom storage solution in your closet, garage, mudroom, pantry, home office or other area of the home. For more information on getting a custom storage solution for your home, visit www.closettailors.com or call 1-800-519-6296.
