Month: June 2007

Real Estate Investing News has an article on how to prevent Air Conditioner theft by building a rebar metal cage around it: “How to build a cage for your Air Conditioner (A/C) to prevent stealing for $90 or less. An A/C condensor on a Houston, Texas foreclosure I bought had been stolen long before I bought it. The idea of putting a brand-new 13 SEER unit into a neighborhood known for A/C theft was not attractive. I am told that the scrap metal dealers are doing thumbprint, photograph and 3 day waiting period now before paying for copper. The A/C cage will consist of 3 bars north/south and 3 bars east/west. See picture. This should provide more than adequate room to work on the unit and have un-restricted air-flow. The goal is to make the cage so the unit cannot be removed from the cage without destroying it…”

NY Daily News has an article on green home remodeling: ‘…Last fall, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry launched a green remodeling educational program toencourage contractors nationwide to incorporate cost-saving and Earth-sustaining green concepts into their clients’ homes. It focuses on indoor air quality, energy conservation, resource conservation, reduced material waste and the useof products that are better for the environment. One of the key ideas is energy conservation. According to the federal Energy Department, residential and commercial buildings would use $20 billion less energy a year if they were more energy-efficient. As a result, green remodeling putsa strong emphasis on modifications such as energy-efficient appliances and thermostats that can be programmed at different temperatures for different times of the day…’