Latest news with #localcontractor
CNET
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- CNET
Shrink Your Electric Bill This Summer With These 6 Tips
Mid-summer is the hottest time of the year, and 2025 is not playing. With massive heat waves, and record-breaking temperatures across the US, you might be running your air conditioner nonstop just to keep from baking. However, running your AC constantly can skyrocket your power bill, and for families on a tight budget, this can be unsustainable. But there are smarter ways to stay cool without breaking the bank. Simple changes like closing the blinds during the hottest parts of the day, using ceiling fans efficiently, or making sure your air conditioner is running as effectively as possible can all help cut costs. Before you reach for the thermostat again, check out these tips to keep your home cooler and your electric bill under control all summer long. For more, we also recommend investing in a smart plug or a smart thermostat, adjusting the temperature of your thermostat and weather-stripping to save extra cash. 1. Sign up for an energy audit CNET If your home isn't brand new, the cold air inside is probably seeping out through doors and windows with spotty seals, a poorly insulated attic and other locations of sneaky cracks. To see how well your home is holding in the cold, sign up for a home energy audit with your utility provider or a local contractor. A certified home energy rater or auditor will check your home for leaks and recommend the best way to make your home more energy-efficient. Don't want to spring for an audit? You can do a DIY audit instead. Stand outside your home and run your hand around the windows and doors. Can you feel the cold air escaping? If you do, caulk around leaky windows and add insulation around doors. 2. Get a smart thermostat If you haven't upgraded to a smart thermostat -- such as one by Ecobee or Nest -- it might be time to make a change. Smart thermostats can regulate heating and cooling when you're not home to save money. Plus, you can adjust the settings remotely using an app on your phone or via voice commands. Here's our list of the best smart thermostats to help you make the best decision for your home. 3. Check the placement of your thermostat Thermostat placement can play a big part in how well your air conditioner works. If you put the thermostat on a wall right next to a hot window, for instance, your air conditioner will kick on much more often than it needs to because your thermostat will think the room is hotter than it actually is. Here's how to pick the perfect wall for your thermostat and the ideal temperature you should set it to. You can also consider a smart thermostat that comes with extra room sensors, allowing it to keep track of the temperature throughout your home. 4. Close the blinds A window letting in the hot sun won't just heat up your thermostat, it'll heat you up, too. During the warmest part of the day, close your blinds to keep out the sun. It can also help insulate your windows, which stops the cold air from escaping. There are also special insulating blinds, curtains and drapes that can keep your home even cooler. A fan can help save on cooling costs. Chris Monroe/CNET 5. Try a ceiling fan You don't always need to amp up the AC to feel cooler. Using a ceiling fan can make a room feel cooler, enough that you can increase the thermostat temperature by 4 degrees "with no reduction in comfort." If you want to get high-tech, you can install a smart ceiling fan that connects to an app and automatically adjusts based on schedules you create. Just make sure your fan is rotating counterclockwise in the summer to get the most benefit. 6. Increase the temperature To save the most money, always set your thermostat to the highest temperature you can comfortably stand. A programmable thermostat makes it easy to keep your AC at the right temperature. You can program the unit to hold at higher temperatures while you're at work and cool down right before you get home. You can save 10% a year on your cooling bills by setting your thermostat just 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit higher for 8 hours each day, according to the Nebraska Energy Office. The US Department of Energy recommends aiming for an indoor temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home. If 78 degrees isn't doable for you, even a small change in temperature can knock your energy bill down by up to 3% annually. For more energy savings, explore our home sustainability cheat sheet full of eco-friendly tips and read about how you can save money by unplugging certain appliances when not using them. More money-saving hacks for your home
RNZ News
05-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
'Can still get to the pub': Whangamomona president shrugs off floods
President of the self-declared Republic of Whangamomona John Herlihy. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin The president of the self-declared Republic of Whangamomona in East Taranaki says the area has been hit pretty hard by this week's torrential rain , but he can still make it down to the pub, so things can't be too bad. The Forgotten World Highway was closed between Whangamomona and Taumaranui, and all non-essential travel along the entire SH43 route was discouraged. Forgotten World Highway, SH43. File photo. Photo: 123RF John Herlihy said tourists were turned back at Douglas on the Stratford side, but locals were still allowed through. "We had a pretty bad day on Thursday and yesterday [Friday], but SH43 is closed and the road is closed at Mōkau [SH3] down the bottom, and [Okau Road to] Mount Damper and the Tangarakau Gorge [on SH43] is closed. "Apparently, there's been no traffic come through there [Tangarakau], so I presume it's still closed. There's plenty of important roads at the moment by the sound of it and the Awakino Gorge [SH3] is closed as well, so there's no traffic on the road. It's quiet as, which is unusual for us." The mudslide that has closed SH3 at Awakino in Waitomo. Photo: Supplied / NZTA Herlihy said the area had about 150mm of rain, but a local contractor was able to keep the roads around Whangamomona clear, so people could get into the village. "The water's been pretty high in places across the road, so unless you want to go out, you just stay at home really. I can still get to the pub and have a beer - that's the main thing, because rugby's on tonight. Herlihy, who was picking an All Blacks win by 20 points, said it was a pretty quiet time of year and no guests appeared stranded at the Whangamomona Hotel. "Last night was pretty quiet. There were no outsiders, but they had a group coming in tonight, apparently to stay, but from Stratford to Whangamomona is okay - after that, it's closed. "Some of the locals came back from town [Stratford] last night, and they were stopped at Douglas and told the road was closed. "They were turning around all the tourists trying to get through, because people were trying to get out of Taranaki to go north and they can't come this way either, so they got to go down to Whanganui, if they want to get out of Taranaki at the moment." Meanwhile, he said locals were just getting on with life. "It doesn't really worry us, you know. There's not many people travelling through this way at this time of the year anyway, so it's just what it is. "It's happened before, it will happen again." NZTA said its crews would reassess SH43 on Saturday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Malay Mail
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
North-South Expressway southern corridor widening project to begin on July 28, PLUS assures no traffic disruption
JOHOR BARU, July 4 — PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) in a statement today said the additional lane construction project on the North-South Expressway's (NSE) southern corridor involving the widening of the number of lanes from two to three for the Sedenak to Simpang Renggam route (Phase Two), over a distance of 17 kilometres, is expected to commence on July 28. It said the implementation period for the works will take 36 months, with the contract for the additional lane construction project awarded to a local contractor after undergoing an open tender process. 'However, when the preliminary work on this route is carried out, it will not disrupt the flow of traffic because the two existing lanes in both directions of the affected highway will remain open to all vehicles,' said the statement. According to the highway operator company, the project is being implemented in phases, starting with Phase One (Senai Utara to Sedenak), followed by Phase Two (Sedenak to Simpang Renggam) and Phase Three (Simpang Renggam to Machap). The statement also said that the NSE widening project on the Kulai to Sedenak route (Phase One Package A), which began in July last year, is reported to be progressing smoothly according to schedule, while preliminary works for the Kulai to Senai Utara route (Phase One Package B) have also begun on site. 'The high-impact project is expected to benefit nearly 90,000 daily highway users and is hoped to act as a catalyst for more vibrant socio-economic development in the surrounding areas such as Sedenak, Kulai, Senai, Iskandar Malaysia and Pagoh,' according to PLUS. This effort is a government initiative to address the congestion on the NSE in the southern corridor, which often occurs during peak hours, and is aimed at providing a smoother journey for highway users in the future. Overall, PLUS said that the construction of this additional lane project is for the people's welfare and the economic development of the country. — Bernama
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: New mountain road opens in Dhofar just in time for Khareef 2025
Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology has inaugurated a new mountain road (Argout-Sarfait) in Dhalkut, Dhofar Governorate, as part of its efforts to enhance the efficiency of Oman's road network. The Minister, Eng. Saeed bin Hamoud Al-Maawali, stated that the road will improve connectivity to Dhalkut and the border crossing with Yemen and has been designed to meet the highest technical standards for all weather conditions. The project included construction work and a revised route to ensure sustainability while avoiding landslide-prone areas. A local contracting firm was responsible for the project, which involved a 13.5 km road, retaining walls, drainage systems, and safety signage. Additionally, the ministry has begun work on several major infrastructure projects in Dhofar, including: - Raysut-Mughsail dual road (33 km), - Mughsail bridge project (11% completion), - Atin Tunnel project in Salalah (75% completion, expected to ease traffic congestion during the khreef season), - Sultan Taimur Road dualization (6.8 km, 31% completion), - Farouq Road dualization (7.6 km, 35% completion). The ministry remains committed to improving Oman's road network and enhancing traffic safety while supporting economic growth and development. © Muscat Media Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Times of Oman
16-05-2025
- Times of Oman
New mountain road opens in Dhofar just in time for Khareef 2025
Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology has inaugurated a new mountain road (Argout-Sarfait) in Dhalkut, Dhofar Governorate, as part of its efforts to enhance the efficiency of Oman's road network. The Minister, Eng. Saeed bin Hamoud Al-Maawali, stated that the road will improve connectivity to Dhalkut and the border crossing with Yemen and has been designed to meet the highest technical standards for all weather conditions. The project included construction work and a revised route to ensure sustainability while avoiding landslide-prone areas. A local contracting firm was responsible for the project, which involved a 13.5 km road, retaining walls, drainage systems, and safety signage. Additionally, the ministry has begun work on several major infrastructure projects in Dhofar, including: - Raysut-Mughsail dual road (33 km), - Mughsail bridge project (11% completion), - Atin Tunnel project in Salalah (75% completion, expected to ease traffic congestion during the khreef season), - Sultan Taimur Road dualization (6.8 km, 31% completion), - Farouq Road dualization (7.6 km, 35% completion).
