Our Community in Fairfax County, Virginia

Does the promise of hot summer days and even hotter energy costs make you simmer?  Check out these no-cost or low-cost tips, from the U.S. Department of Energy for saving money and energy during the summer months.

• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.
• Air-dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
• Use a microwave oven instead of conventional electric range or oven.  For more savings cook on your back yard grill.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Plug home electronics, such as televisions and VCRs, into power strips and turn power strips off when equipment is not in use.
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120 degrees.
• Take showers instead of baths to reduce hot water use.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Clear bushes and shrubs at least three feet away from the outside air conditioning unit.
• Set the thermostat up 5 degrees F. when you're not home.

• Install white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house.
• Install awnings on south-facing windows.
• Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows.
• Caulk and weatherstrip windows and door frames.
• Add insulation around air conditioning ducts located in non-air-conditioned spaces such as attics, crawl spaces and garages.
• Hire a professional to repair holes or separated joints in your ducts.
• Have an air conditioning service contractor tune up the air conditioning system.

Finally, the days are getting longer. The temperature is rising. Spring is on its way bringing many rituals, including spring cleaning!

Most people don't realize it, but spring cleaning is also a fire safety activity.  All of those boxes, stacks of paper, old clothes and other useless clutter offer excellent places for fires to start.  Most of the debris that accumulates over the winter months isn't just unsightly, it's also flammable.  Start spring off on the right foot by increasing your home's fire safety.

Start by cleaning up all those newspapers.  If there are too many to stack on your curb for recycling, take them to the recycling center.

Are there any old oily rags you can get rid of?  This is a good time to start a fresh shoeshine rag and a new furniture polishing cloth.

What about cloths that were used to wipe up fuel spills from the snow blower?  Get rid of them!  It doesn't have to be very warm in your garage or storage area for oily rags to heat up and start a fire.

Go through the attic, the basement and the closets to get rid of things you've outgrown or don't ever use.  A charitable organization might make good use of some of these items.  If you can't bear to part with them, consider renting space at a mini warehouse or self-storage facility.  At the very least, straighten things up and be sure everything is at least three feet from water heaters, furnaces and other heat sources.

While you're thinking fire safety, test your smoke alarm, check your fire extinguisher and review your home escape plan.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will be happy to assist you in making your home fire safe.  Just call your local fire and rescue station and make an appointment for firefighters to visit your home to conduct a free home safety survey.

For more information on this or other safety issues, please contact the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department's Public Information and Life Safety Education Section at 703-246-3801, TTY 703-385-4419, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire.