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A stick-on foam tape works well on aluminum, but it must be applied when the surface is warm and dry.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

• They use less power. They use almost a tenth of the energy of incandescent bulbs and half of the energy of CFLs.
• They last long longer. In fact, you would have to replace an incandescent bulb almost 40 times before replacing an LED.
• They’re more durable than incandescent bulbs. They use light emitting diodes as opposed to filaments. They’re also less likely to shatter if dropped.
• They come in a wide variety of colors. These include white, cyan, blue and red.

If you like the idea of switching to LED lights, shop online and have them shipped to your local Westlake store.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Many people prefer the doorjamb weatherstrip. It works on metal with screws or wood with nails. Unlike the v-strips, foam strips or felt, these can't fall off.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Installing switch and outlet insulating sealers is the easiest and most cost effective DIY weatherization project. By simply installing these sealers on all of your light switch and electrical outlets you can reduce cold drafts in your home during the winter and keep the cool air from escaping in the summer. The energy cost savings for this simple project can be up to 5% of your heating and cooling costs. An added benefit of reducing air infiltration through the use of switch and outlet sealers is to help stop dust, dirt and pollen from entering your house.

The only tools needed to complete this project are a screwdriver and scissors. The foam insulated seals are made specifically for outlets and switch plates and they merely go behind your faceplate to insulate against drafts. Simply remove your existing faceplate, insert the foam seal, and then reattach your faceplate. It just take a couple of minutes and can make a big difference.

When you think about the number of outlets in your house and consider that each one can let in cold or hot air 24 hours a day, you'll soon realize it adds up to a lot of lost energy. And it's so simple.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

• The installation is much easier than lighting that requires a transformer and cable.
• Because there are no cables, you can be flexible in the number of lights you place in your yard, as well as where you want to place them. You can place them in areas of your yard where cabled lights would be impractical or impossible. These include areas far away from your house, which is typically where you’d mount a transformer. (The further out a cable goes into a yard from the transformer, the weaker the current. This isn’t an issue with solar landscape lighting.)
• They’re energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

While most solar lights are single-piece lamps, some are available with the solar panel separate from the lamp itself. This configuration is so similar in wiring requirements to that of low voltage sets, it should be viewed as low voltage lighting with the same advantages and restrictions.

The key to solar lighting is the use of high-efficiency LED light sources. LEDs (with expected lifetimes of 10+ years) give a bright, cool light which some people find unpleasant. The power requirements of incandescent bulbs used in the low voltage systems will deplete the charge of a solar battery too quickly to give all-night illumination. With current technology, if you wish to use solar lighting, you have to use LED light. There are many advantages to using LED lighting.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Going "green" in our everyday lives is all the rage these days. From CFL bulbs to organic cotton T-shirts, it seems everyone has some skin in the eco-game. Your family - and in particular your home - should be no different. Below are 15 easy do-it-yourself projects that will save you money, reduce your environmental footprint and have you playing your eco-part in no time.

1. As the cost of energy continues to rise, there is a way to lower your electric bills. Compact florescent light bulbs, or CFLs, use up to 66 percent less energy than conventional incandescent bulbs and can last up to five years. Replacing the five most-used bulbs in your home can save you up to $60 a year on your electric bill.
2. Your water heater can do a better job keeping the water in the tank hot if you buy it a jacket. Insulating jackets can be installed on most conventional water heaters and reduce the number of times a water heater "fires" during standby. In fact, 20 percent of your energy cost to heat water is used up during standby!
3. Fix that leak! Did you know that a dripping faucet or leaking toilet can waste up to 20 gallons of water a day? Repairing these leaks takes just a little time, and a small investment for the parts needed. The payback - both in dollars and for the environment - is huge!
4. Adding a rain barrel to your drainage system can help you capture some of the water Mother Nature sends us during rain showers. A 1,000 square foot roof can shed up to 650 gallons of water during a 1-inch rainfall. By placing a rain barrel under a down spout, you can use this water for your lawn, garden or even a car wash.
5. Plant a tree and reduce the carbon footprint of your home. To counteract the footprint from the use of electricity and natural gas or oil in the average American home, you would need to plant 42 trees... while that's a lot of green, start slowly to help shade your home and absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
6. Using a ceiling fan can not only help you feel more comfortable in your home, both in the winter and the summer, it can also help to lower your energy bills. By circulating the air in your home, your furnace and air conditioner will run less, which means savings for you.
7. Cutting your lawn just got a lot greener with Earth-friendly mowers. Gas-powered mowers are terrific for larger lawns, but if you have a smaller space to take care of, an electric or new cordless mower can do the trick, and with no fuel or harmful emissions. Mother Nature will thank you!
8. Composting is a great way to reduce your waste and your impact on landfills. By collecting and placing compostable materials in a collection bin, you can create a super-charged natural fertilizer for your garden.
9. Natural cleaning products have come a long way. You now have a choice to use products that lessen their impact on the environment. Many of these new cleaning items have natural ingredients and use less water during shipping to reduce fuel use.
10. Tankless water heaters are here to stay, and are a viable choice when it comes to installing a new water heater in your home. Standby energy use is completely eliminated, and you will never run out of hot water from a properly-sized unit!
11. Reduce your usage. How many cups of water do you boil for a cup of tea? Do you leave the TV or lights on when you leave the room? Does the water run from the faucet when you brush your teeth? These small changes in your lifestyle can make a difference for all of us!
12. Did you know that almost 25 percent of water used in the home is for showers, and each member of a family of four taking a 5-minute shower can use up to 700 gallons a day? By installing low-flow shower heads, you can reduce that use by almost half, and with new technology, still feel a brisk force from the water.
13. Stop all the leaks in your home! Drafty windows and doors can greatly raise your energy consumption. According to the EPA, if you caulk or seal those air leaks with weatherstripping, you can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1,000 pounds a year.
14. Let the sun shine! Not only will it brighten your mood, it will keep you from flipping the switch. In the colder months, the rays from the sun can help to heat your home, and the best part of this tip: it's absolutely free!
15. Your indoor air is three times more polluted than the outdoor air. While painting is a great way to liven up your living environment, make sure you are not harming it during the process. Low VOC or zero VOC paints work just as well and are a great choice for those with allergies, asthma or homes with young children.

Normal time periods are one month to three months. Be sure you are choosing the best furnace filter to fit your needs.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

The Energy Information Administration projects heating bill hikes ranging from 31 percent in the Northeast to 71 percent in the Midwest. Electricity prices could rise as well, as almost one-fifth of electricity is generated using natural gas.

While it's no secret that you'll be spending more to heat your home this winter, if you take measures to conserve energy, you can significantly minimize the impact. Here are my top 10 energy savings tips:

Service your heating system

This is my number one rule. By paying a service technician $75 to $100, depending on where you live, he or she will clean the unit and replace filters in the furnace and humidifier, thus insuring that the equipment is running at its most cost-efficient and optimum capacity. This should be done annually.

Install a programmable thermostat

A recent study revealed that only 24 percent of Americans have installed this handy device - for shame! Well-insulated homes can save up to 30 percent on heating costs with one. You can program these thermostats to automatically lower temperatures when at work or while sleeping, thereby saving energy hours at a time. Prices for programmable thermostats range from $40 to $100, and will quickly pay for themselves.

Add weather stripping around windows and doors

Use of door thresholds, window caulking and plastic window film can go far in saving your money this winter. If you live in a drafty home, you could save up to 20 percent with an investment of as little as $25. One product to consider is a product called Windjammer (Ace no. 1200989), a clear, weatherproof gel that dispenses from a can and seals drafts. What's more, it can be easily removed at the end of the season.

Install ceiling fans in your home

Running the fans slowly and in reverse will keep warm air circulating throughout the house, thereby reducing running time for the furnace. Ceiling fans add a nice decorative touch as well.

Check furniture arrangement in your rooms

Are you unknowingly blocking vents and radiators with a big sofa or armchair? If so, you're restricting the airflow in your home, resulting in higher output from your furnace or boiler. Rearranging the furniture can save your units from having to work overtime.

Install a tankless water heater

I always remind people that this amazing technology has been around for 70 years, yet U.S. homeowners have been slow to adopt it. These days, units are less expensive, and by creating hot water on demand as opposed to continuously heating stored water, homeowners can save hundreds of dollars over time.

Be smart about setting the temperature

Homeowners can save up to 3 percent on energy bills simply by turning down the thermostat just one degree. You won't even notice the change in temperature, but your heating bill will.

Install thermo-pane windows in your home

These multi-pane windows can have R-values of as high as 9.1. The higher the R-value, the more resistant the glass is to losing heat. Conversely, your typical single pane glass has an R-value of 1. The difference is an increase in energy efficiency of up to 70 percent.

Properly insulate your ceilings and attic

Heat rises, and if there isn't enough insulation in the space above, your money literally is going out the roof. Most ceilings and attic spaces should have at least an R-30 rating, although some areas of the country recommend an R-40-50 rating.

Let the sun be your guide

It's free energy! During the day, open up drapes and blinds and let the sun heat your home. At night, draw the curtains to keep the heat inside.

Credit:  Lou Manfredini's Tips From the Tool Box, Ace Hardware

• Remove your old threshold. You may need to use a chisel or a pry bar. Be careful to avoid damaging your floor or trim.

• Vacuum or sweep the floor to remove any dust and debris.

• Measure the width of your door opening, as well as the distance between the bottom of your door and the floor.

• Cut your new threshold to fit the width of your door opening.

• If necessary, notch your threshold so that it fits around any stops on the doorframe.

• Caulk the doorway between the door frame. This will ensure that your threshold has an airtight seal.

• Tap the new threshold into place with the sloped edge facing away from the house.

• Drill holes in the threshold that are slightly narrower than the nails you plan on using to secure the threshold to the floor.

• Nail the threshold into place.

• Fill the holes with wood filler and sand when dry.

• Apply stain and/or a varnish to seal the threshold against moisture.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.