SpringFest and AquaPalooza!

If you live in the Austin area, there are two events coming up that you will not want to miss. On April 24, the Hill Country Galleria will be the site of the 2010 SpringFest. Boasting 150+ vendor booths, a BBQ Cook-Off competition, live music and a Kidzone (complete with dunk tank, bounce houses and more), SpringFest is free and open to the public. Check the website for more information.

Then on July 10, Brad Paisley will headline for the Sea Ray AquaPalooza 2010 Signature Event at The Reserve at Lake Travis. AquaPalooza has been referred to as the “World’s Largest Party on the Water.” According to CMT News, “Paisley’s concert is free, although there will be no land access to the concert which is expected to attract thousands of boaters.” While smaller AquaPalooza festivals are held throughout the U.S. as part of the promotions sponsored by Sea Ray boats, Lake Travis has been chosen as the site of this year’s Signature Event. According to Austin’s KXAN.COM, “Last summer’s event in Alabama drew 30,000 people and 4,000 boats.”

Hot Links From The Home Blog, Second Edition

I subscribe to various feeds from other blogs and websites. Here are a few of my favorite links from the past few weeks.

• If you are in the market for a new cooktop, take a look at this new gas/ induction combination that KitchenAid is now selling in Europe!
• Looking for something fun and different hanging in your home? Love Gummy Bears? Why not combine the two??? I stumbled across this recently and thought it was nothing if not unique. (Of course, you know what they say – if you have to ask how much it costs, you probably can’t afford it!)
• If you love the modern look and are searching for the perfect vanity for your home, you might consider this Brillante vanity. I don’t think I have ever seen anything quite like it before – it’s completely made of glass!
• I really got a kick out of this blog post. Be sure to read the comments, as well.
• Finally, with summer on the horizon, Jandy has just released this:

“Introducing Jandy’s new AquaLink® Touch™, designed with the style and features today’s consumers demand in a technologically advanced controller. AquaLink Touch’s smart, intuitive user interface, customizable features and attractive styling present the best touch panel experience for the pool industry today.” (source: Jandy)

Appliance Rebate Program

Due to the time-sensitive nature of this post, we have chosen to postpone the second installment of “How Safe Is Your Safe” until later this week. Stay tuned!

If you are in the market for a new appliance, I have great news! The U.S. Department of Energy has allotted $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to be used by individual states toward the purchase of new ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. “Under this program, eligible consumers can receive rebates to purchase new energy-efficient appliances when they replace used appliances” (source: U. S. Department of Energy).

The program varies widely by state, so see the U. S. Department of Energy website for specifics. For instance, our state – Texas – begins the rebate reservation period next week:

The reservation period starts on April 5, 2010. The mail-in rebates will apply to eligible appliances purchased between April 16 and April 25, 2010. The 10-day period will coincide with Earth Day. Consumers will have 60 days from reservation date to install the appliance(s) and submit their paperwork for the rebate. (source: SECO)

Details vary by state, but in Texas, rebates are available for clothes washers and dryers, refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, room air conditioners, central air conditioners and heat pumps, and hot water heaters – all of which must fall within specifications detailed in the following article: http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/arra/rebate/docs/SECO_ApplianceRebateFlyer_03_09_10.pdf. There is also a further credit for recycling old appliances, and possibly a city rebate over and above the state rebate being offered.

For instance, in Austin, TX, an example from a local appliance store, Wilson AC & Appliance, lists the Whirlpool Frontload Washer, sale priced at $619, as eligible for $180 state rebate plus an additional City of Austin rebate of $150, bringing the price down to $289 + tax! There is even a further rebate of $75 available for those who recycle their old appliances, bringing the price down to only $214 + tax! This machine lists for $749 on the Whirlpool site. That’s $535 in savings!

So take a few minutes to click on the sites listed above and see if you are eligible for a rebate. Not only will you be doing yourself a favor on the initial cost, but these appliances are designed to save you money on energy costs over the long term! It’s a win-win!

Hot Links For The Home Blog

Every week we come across articles that we think our readers might find interesting.

• Zillow is reporting here that the 30-year fixed mortgage is at 4.80%!
• In this article, entitled “The kitchen is still king”, Steve Kerch of MarketWatch talks about the trends in new homes today. It’s not surprising that #2 is: “Energy-efficient appliances, high-efficiency insulation and high window efficiency.”
  
• And on that note, read here about Low-E Argon windows, explained in a way that makes sense.
• Fortune magazine writer, Michael V. Copeland, has written an excellent article about the popularity of the LED bulbs in American households. In the article he says, “By the end of the decade, analysts predict, LEDs will be the dominant source for commercial and residential lighting.” Click here to see the rest of the article.
• Finally, for some great tips on lowering your energy bills, click here.
  

So what do you think? Should we make this a weekly part of our blog?

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