Sustainable Home Solutions for Summer

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -06/27/12)- This time of year, the heat is literally on to make affordable, sustainable improvements to home comfort. "Our favorite products offer all kinds of savings," says Tom Kraeutler, home improvement expert and syndicated radio show host of The Money Pit. "They save water, electricity and even human energy, with simple installations and everyday convenience."

Kraeutler recommends five sustainable solutions for summer comfort.

Hands-free convenience for the kitchen"The MotionSense Arbor pulldown faucet provides hands-free kitchen convenience," says Kraeutler. "Just activate it with a few simple hand movements, and you can wash hands, clean dishes and prepare meals, all with greater water savings and reduced risk of cross-contamination." MotionSense's Wave Sensor and Ready Sensor allow hands-free water flow, with a side handle for manual operation. Featuring transitional styling, it's available in Chrome, Oil Rubbed Bronze or Spot Resist Stainless finishes. Learn more about MotionSense at http://www.moen.com.

Easy-care, efficient replacement windows"If you have old, drafty windows that are hard to open or need frequent scraping or painting, replace them with beautiful, energy-efficient windows from Andersen," says Kraeutler. "Andersen's 400 Series Tilt-Wash Double-Hung Insert Window is available at The Home Depot and is custom-sized to fit inside an existing window frame, with minimal disruption to your home." Easily installed from inside, it features a tilt-to-clean function for easy care and High-Performance Low-E4 glass. Design an efficient new view at http://www.andersenwindows.com.

Smarter lighting controlLights that are left on can be a big energy drain and bulk up your electric bill. Install the Lutron Maestro Occupancy Sensor, and lights will turn on automatically when you enter a room and off again when you leave. Maestro's sensing technology ensures that lights stay on when a room is occupied, and detects natural light so that fixtures only turn on when needed. It works with all types of light bulbs and doesn't need special wiring. Switch to automatic energy savings at http://www.lutron.com/occvacsensors.

Better bulbs for your bottom line"The right light can do wonders for your home's energy efficiency, ambience and comfort," says Kraeutler. "And Philips AmbientLED bulbs provide dimmable soft-white light that lasts over 22 years, on a fraction of the energy used by incandescents." Philips AmbientLED bulbs are available in a range of shapes and wattages, provide instant-on light, and are mercury-free. Find the right Philips AmbientLED bulb for any lighting fixture at http://www.philips.com/beautifullight.

Customized cooling for summerMitsubishi Electric residential cooling and heating systems provide energy-efficient comfort to specific rooms or a whole house, all without ductwork. "These compact cooling systems are 35% more energy-efficient than central A/C systems and 40% more energy-efficient than window units, and that means big savings during the hottest days of summer," says Segrete. Mitsubishi Electric cooling units have long-life allergen filters, a whisper-quiet sound level, and offer a variety of convenient control options. Design more efficient cooling at http://www.mehvac.com.

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Sustainable Home Solutions for Summer