The Flame - December 2007

10 Home Security Tips For the Winter Travel Season

As you pack your bags for grandma’s house or prepare to depart for a sunny destination, please take a few precautions before leaving your home unattended:

1. Give your residence a lived-in appearance: Do not leave lights on 24 hours a day. Install automatic timers on lights and a radio. Set them to turn on and off at random times in different rooms, especially the bathroom.
2. Have a relative, friend or neighbor check on your residence and occasionally use your garbage cans.
3. Leave your contact information with a trusted neighbor or your landlord.
4. Leave the heat on low inside your home so pipes won’t freeze and break. Disconnect outdoor hoses and drain water from the pipes.
5. Stop delivery of mail and newspapers, or ask a friend to pick them up while you are gone.
6. Securely lock all doors and windows.
7. Lower the ringer volume on your telephone. Do not leave a message on your answering machine stating that you will be out of town.
8. Have a neighbor park in your driveway.
9. Don’t hide a key under the door mat or in the nearby vicinity.
10. Arrange to have snow removed while you are gone.
    

Holiday Fire Safety

Christmas Trees

When purchasing an artificial tree, look for “Fire Resistant” labels. While the tree will resist burning - it does not mean the tree will not catch fire. If purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green and will better resist fire. Needles should be hard to pull from branches and should not shed excessively. Place trees away from fireplaces, radiators and furnace registers. Because heated rooms rapidly dry out live trees, be sure to keep the stand filled with water.

Holiday Lights

Use only lights that have been tested for safety. Check each set of lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets. Check labels to be sure outdoor lights have been certified for outdoor use. Outdoor lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. Faulty lights present the risk of electrocution.

Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Make sure your extension cord is rated for intended use. Use only lights with fused plugs. Replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulb. Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house.

Decorations

Use only flame resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or non-leaded materials. In homes with small children, avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children. Avoid trimming that resembles candy or food.

Open Flames

Place candles away from curtains, trees and other flammable materials. Use non- flammable holders and place candles where they will not be knocked over. Never leave a candle burning when you go to bed or leave the room. Do not burn wrapping paper or Christmas trees in the fireplace.

Plan the Work and Work the Plan

For Safe, Convenient and Beautiful Neighborhoods

Long before the first spade of earth is turned on a new neighborhood or shopping district, the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Office is hard at work.

Committed to strong neighbohoods, traditional design and historic preservation, planning helps Lawrence grow in a safe, managable manner.

Planning brings together residents, neighborhood associations, city departments, developers and service providers to present workable, affordable solutions.

Good planning has allowed Downtown Lawrence to grow and remain successful. Increased parking and pedestrian-friendly access, public transit service and bike parking have kept Downtown Lawrence accessible. Planning insures that new construction preserves our historic buildings and maintains the historic atmosphere of the entire area.

New planning projects like Transportation 2030 will help target future road dollars to portions of the city growing the fastest Planning plays a role in protecting our environment as well as our pocketbook. Convenient walkable access to work and retail stores environmentally conscious building standards and materials, and tree-lined streets, help improve our quality of life while reducing energy demand and pollution.

Month of Sharing

Lawrence Parks and Recreation Sites To Accept Toys for Area Children

Parks and Recreation facilities will serve as collection sites for toys donated to non profit agencies assisting those in need this holiday season.

Individuals wishing to donate are asked to bring new, unused, and unopened toys to any Parks and Recreation Department facility starting Monday, November 26.

New, unused and unopened toys are being collected at the following locations:

• Community Building:
  115 West 11th St.
• East Lawrence Recreation Center:
  1245 East 15th St.
• Holcom Park Recreation Center:
  2700 West 27th St.
• Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center:
  4706 Overland Dr.
• Prairie Park Nature Center:
  2370 Harper St.
• South Park Recreation Center:
  1141 Massachusetts St.
• Administrative Office:
  947 New Hampshire St., Suite 200B

1-2-3-4-5 Ways to Keep Your House Warm and Your Planet Cool

1. HOME HEATING:
   Turn down your thermostat when you are away from home and at night. You can save up to 1% off your heating bill for each degree you lower your thermostat.
2. HOT WATER:
   Reduce the temperature of your water heater and limit the amount of hot water you use. Reducing your hot water temperature from 130 to 120 degrees can save $50 – $100 a year. Low-flow shower heads make for additional hot water savings, and about 350 lbs of carbon dioxide a year. For further hot water savings: wash your clothes in warm or cold water, and use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry.
3. LET THE SUN SHINE IN:
   Open the blinds and drapes on the south side of your house to let in the sunlight during the day. Even in the dead of winter, sunlight from south-facing windows can warm your house an extra few degrees. Close the blinds at night to trap in the warmth.
4. AIR FILTERS:
   Clean and replace your furnace air filter. This not only cleans out the dust that makes us sneeze, it improves the efficiency of your heating system.
5. LAUNDRY:
   Clean out the lint filters in your clothes dryer. Dryers are some of the most energy-intensive products in your home. American households spend up to $135 a year in energy costs drying clothes. Cleaning out the lint filter could save up to $40 per year.

Source: Simran Sethi, Visiting KU Lecturer and nationally recognized environmental advocate.

Next month: 5 more ways to keep your house warm and your planet cool.