Three Ways to Lower Your Carbon Footprint
April 22 marked the 49th annual Earth Day, when more than 1 billion people in nearly 200 countries were expected to take part in what the Earth Day Network calls “the largest civic-focused day of action in the world.” Since the first Earth Day in 1970 (which was...
Spring Cleaning Tips
Spring is a time for new beginnings, and cleaning and organization around the house are very popular this time of year. If you’re ready to tackle the monumental spring cleaning chore, read on for some helpful information. (And if you’re so tidy and organized...
Home Security Technology: Keeping you ahead of the burglars
Back in the early days of home security “systems,” around the end of World War I, it was common for homeowners to hire “door shakers”—night watchmen who would literally walk around and check doors to make sure they were locked. The most advanced product at the...
Looking at a new piece of jewelry? Make sure to look at your insurance, too
Whether it’s a gift from someone special or a gift to yourself, a new piece of jewelry can bring some sparkle to your life. However, many people who find themselves victimized by burglars—or a fire or some other disaster—also find out too late that they didn’t have...
Is your home as efficient as it could be? An energy audit can tell you
Drafty windows. Leaky faucets. Dirty air filters. All are common issues in homes across the country, and they’re not just annoying—they also cost you money in decreased energy efficiency and higher bills. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star...
Keep Pets Happy and Safe on Vacation
You’re not just imagining it—a lot of people are traveling with their pets these days. According to a TripAdvisor survey of more than 1,000 travelers, 53% of those responding said they take their pets on vacation, and 52% stay only at places that welcome pets....
Five Common (and Potentially Costly) Homeowner Mistakes
Owning a home can be a hassle at times, especially when unexpected issues pop up—whether you have a minor breakdown or a major catastrophe, it’s almost certainly going to require time and money to fix. In many instances, however, those “unexpected” issues shouldn’t...
Five Ways to Protect Your Personal Electronic Data
Online data breaches are just an unfortunate fact of life now—as the New York Times put it, you might as well assume that your personal information has been taken, because cyberattacks happen all the time. That’s why we recommend identity-recovery coverage, which may...
Let’s Keep Our Lawns and Ourselves Safe
For many of our neighbors, summer means more than sunshine and vacations. It also means working in the yard – often with tools that can be dangerous if not used properly. Each year about 400,000 people are treated for injuries from lawn and garden tools, according to...
6 Tips for Getting to Work on Two Wheels
Did you know that hundreds of thousands of people in the United States commute to work by bicycle, according to the U.S. Census Bureau? That’s a lot of cars off the road each day, a lot of gasoline saved and a ton of calories burned. Maybe you’re a bicycle commuter...