(NC) Many of us would love to save on our home water and energy use. Whether your motivation is to cut your costs or help the planet – or both – here are a few things you can do that won’t break the bank.

Cut back
Of the three r’s of reduce, reuse and recycle, the first is the most powerful – and the cheapest – way to go green. It’s the simple stuff you’ve heard of forever, but the steps can be effective. Put on a sweater instead of raising the heat as fall temperatures arrive. Cut back on long showers. Only do your laundry at off-peak hours. They may not be convenient but they’re...

(NC) The pre-delivery inspection, or PDI, is an important step for buyers of newly built homes. If done properly, it can set the stage for happy home ownership in the days, weeks, months and years to come. But how do you know when you’ve had an effective inspection? One way is by knowing what to expect at the end of it.

Here are some things every new home buyer should walk out of their PDI with:

1. A complete list of items that require further attention. If you notice something that is damaged, missing or incomplete, you need to note it down on the PDI form provided by your builder’s...

(NC) Summer camp is sometimes thought of as a rite of passage. It’s a time and place to make lifelong memories, have oodles of fun and develop independence, confidence and new skills. But don’t sweat if your kids aren’t attending this year - there are plenty of easy and affordable ways to create their very own summer camp experience at home.

Pick a theme
Choosing a theme is great way to get kids excited and it can join separate activities together into a cohesive camp experience – plus it just makes everything a lot more fun. Space camp, magicians, an enchanted forest, under the sea, a...

(NC) When it comes to home safety, preparation is critical. The following tips will help you ensure your family and home are well protected in the event of a fire or carbon monoxide (CO) incident:

(NC) Firing up the barbeque is synonymous with summer. While warm weather brings much to look forward to, it’s also a reminder to brush up on grilling safety measures. Eighty per cent of Canadian households own a grill or smoker, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association so, it’s important to take safety precautions.

Check out these four grilling safety tips before putting on your apron.

(NC) A recent survey found that while four out of five Canadians are aware of how smart home technology can make it easier to manage their energy consumption, only one in five have adopted these tools in their home. You can ask your contractor to elaborate on these four basic questions to help you better understand smart home technology.

What do smart home technology products do?

(NC) Cottaging is a quintessential Canadian pastime – satisfying the desire to escape the urban bustle and kick back with friends and family. But as owning a cottage or cabin becomes more and more expensive, many Canadians face a dilemma: “How can I get out of town for a few days without breaking my budget?”