Get more use out of your backyard deck or patio by lighting it up after dark. You’ll find an array of low-voltage deck lighting fixtures that are as eye-catching during the light of day as they are at night.  Installing low-voltage deck lights can be a do-it-yourself job. But if you want an elaborate spread,… Continue reading.

Food spoils quicker during warm weather, so keep your leftovers wrapped up tight and refrigerated — but not for too long. If you notice any odors at all when you open the door of your refrigerator, chances are it’s coming from long-ago leftovers lurking in the back of the shelves. And who knows which of… Continue reading.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that heating water for use in your home accounts for 12 to 18 percent of your energy bill. Here’s how to lower that number: The simplest way to use less hot water is to take shorter showers.  Do take showers, though; you’ll use a lot more hot water filling… Continue reading.

You can save a bundle on major appliances during Labor Day sales.  At this time of the year, stores are making room for next year’s models of refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, microwave ovens, and washers and dryers, which they introduce in September and October.  So, they offer deep discounts at end-of-summer sales.  Look on retailers’ websites… Continue reading.

Humble hot dog no more! Celebrate National Hot Dog Month by upgrading everyone’s favorite summertime staple. Set up a toppings bar of creative extras to bring out the best in the wurst. Turn the page to find out how. By adding a few tasty extras, your dog can explode with flavor. First step in setting… Continue reading.

The restorative power of nature is a recurrent theme in literature, music and art. And if ever Hoosiers could use a little restorative power, it’s right about now. If you are looking to get away this month, but maybe not to a crowded or far away place, Indiana offers a diverse group of public campgrounds…. Continue reading.

By Richard G. Biever As president of her graduating class, Abby Bannon was expected to deliver the traditional speech welcoming classmates, family, faculty and friends to the 2020 Crawfordsville High School commencement in May. Instead, in a year that’s been anything but traditional, the talented singing/songwriting senior penned an ode for her classmates filled with… Continue reading.

Tucked along the state’s southern contours amid the rolling hills of the Hoosier National Forest and the Ohio River, Perry County is one of Indiana’s best kept secrets. Almost three quarters of the county is within the southernmost boundaries of the National Forest which offers Perry County residents and visitors a variety of outdoor activities… Continue reading.

When you plug a lamp or an appliance into a socket, you expect to be able to turn it on. Sometimes, though, you’ll find that the outlet is “dead.” Before you call an electrician, check a few things out: Plug something different into the same outlet. It could be that the problem is with the… Continue reading.

You might plant shrubs and bushes to make your yard look nicer. They might also lower your energy bill.  Careful landscape planning can help protect a house from summer’s hot sun and winter’s cold winds.  Here’s a quick guide to saving energy through smart planting: Determine the climate in your community and even in your… Continue reading.

If just the thought of easing up on the air conditioning in the middle of a summer heat wave makes you sweat, consider this trick to save electricity: Go outside. Spend weekend days outdoors. Before you leave the house for the day, turn the a/c up a few degrees. No need to keep your house… Continue reading.

If it’s too hot to fire up the grill this July 4, then it’s too warm indoors to heat up the oven. The solution: Host an energy-free potluck for the holiday and ask each guest to bring a cold dish that does not require any cooking before the party or heating during the event. Some… Continue reading.