Austin Olive

Tax credit extensions

To no one’s surprise 2009 proved every bit as difficult as the end of 2008 indicated that it would be. Despite some positive news, and there was a little to be found, most of 2009’s headlines...

Fireplaces: the good, the bad and the ugly

As temperatures plunge around the region for the first time this season homeowners who have fireplaces, whether gas or wood, are probably prepping their units for the additional cold weather that is sure to come. As cold as it...

The compact fluorescent revolution

This past month the European Union enacted restrictions regarding the sale and importation of incandescent light bulbs. The restrictions are designed to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of incandescent light bulbs in homes across the European continent and...

Safe buying practices for homeowners

Buying home improvement products and services is no small or inexpensive undertaking. It some cases it may be the most expensive purchase a homeowner makes short of buying the home itself. And as with any industry filled with...

Radiant floors add efficient comfort and luxury

Yes, it’s hot outside. Really hot. But with the Panther’s first pre-season game only a week away, the colder months are just around the corner and there’s no better time to...

Air quality in a tight house

Making every effort to reduce air leaks in a home is a sure-fire way to ensure that most of the conditioned air that an HVAC system produces is kept indoors. And a “tight” house, or a...

Duke Energy and you

Each month homeowners (and renters) send part of their hard earned wages off to Duke Energy, the area's power utility. Sometimes it's a small amount, but most of the time it's not. Especially...

10 energy myths

Who, when they were younger, didn't have them beat into their head? Those words of aged wisdom that parents and grandparents imparted on their children and grandchildren and that sounded so logical and simple once they made sense...

Get serious with a solar power system

Cramming a few insulation batts into an empty wall cavity is all well and good, and cooking on a cow-manure stove might be fun for a week or two. But let’s face it. It...

Insulating against the elements

If you were outside this weekend, or if you got any further than three feet from an air conditioning vent, you noticed that Mother Nature kicked off the official start of summer with the hottest temperatures of the year, along...

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