Winter comes early here in Vermont and usually stays longer than most of us would like, but that's nature and we all make the best of it! Then there are some of us that love winter and can't wait for the snow to fall - well these Vermonters are in luck because snow showers are in the weather forecast for today and tomorrow! We've already had some snow in the higher elevations - Mt. Mansfield, Camel's Hump, etc. And apparently the ski guns are already starting to shoot out their  frozen water at some ski areas.  Bottom line is  Old Man Winter is  coming - are you ready?? More importantly...is your HOME ready?  Here are some helpful tips to keep your home green when it's white outside:

Change your furnace filter once a month to keep your furnace running more efficiently and keep the air in your home cleaner.  This can cut your heating costs by as much as 5 % !! You can buy a new filter at any local hardware store or at Lowe's where they have an entire webpage on their website to help you decide which filter is best for your furnace, home and budget. A new filter can reduce the dust in your home as well!

Don't block heat vents or radiators. Air will circulate better when unobstructed.

You can also make sure to keep your heating bills low by winterizing your windows, doors, attics and basements. Use weather-stripping around any older drafty windows and doors. Or if you've got some extra money and want to invest in your home, may decide to upgrade your windows. Most new Energy Star windows qualify for a federal tax credit for energy efficiency in which you can get up to $1500 of the cost credited to your tax return. For specifics on this visit Energy Star's website or ask a tax consultant. If you are seeing ice dams on your roof, you may have heat escaping from your attic causing snow to melt and freeze. This can affect your energy bills as well as risk serious damage to your roof. Insulate your attic! It's an easy do-it-yourself project! Remember the pink panther? Well he's the mascot for the Owens Corning brand and they have a lot of great advice on this simple home project. And insulating your attic (or basement) qualifies for a tax credit too!

Turn your water heater down to at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Trust me, the water will still be plenty warm enough for showering and dishwashing. Also, put some sort of  wrap or blanket around your water heater to keep heat from escaping. Here are some great tips for insulating your water heater from the U.S. Department of Energy. You can cut your water-heating costs by 6-10%  if you follow some of this advice!

Finally, when shoveling or plowing snow in your yard or driveway, be sure to keep your furnace exhaust system outlet free from snow or any other objects. This vent blows out carbon monoxide from your heating system. If it gets blocked CO2 can build up in your home and the only way you would know is if you have CO2 detectors because this deadly gas is completely odorless. In addition, make sure the batteries in your CO2 and fire detectors are charged and working properly.

Happy Winter!

Last night Geri Reilly hosted a "girls' night" wine tasting/fundraiser to benefit the Lund Family Center, an organization that focuses on reducing child abuse and neglect by helping pregnant or parenting teens and young adults. They also help create new families through adoption being Vermont's oldest and largest private non-profit adoption agency. The Lund Center is also a leader in woman-focused substance abuse recovery services having the state's only residential treatment program for pregnant and parenting young women and their children. The fundraiser was held at Shelburne Vineyard, a unique winery with a state of the art tasting room offering award-winning wines. Their space is beautiful and a great place for people to mingle and enjoy some Vermont wine. The event was a huge success with over 70 women attending.

Even though the economy has been a little shaky lately, one thing that has helped our state's economy is the abundance of snow we've had thus far this winter season! As most know, Vermont has some of best skiing/snowboarding on the East coast. Even though most of our ski resorts make their own snow, they definitely rely heavily on natural snow to cover their trails. Thankfully this season, Vermont has had it's share of snow. We've had at least 5 or 6 decent storms so far, giving Burlington and the Champlain Valley over a foot of  snow on a few occasions and giving  higher elevations several feet of snow! This natural snow may be a pain sometimes - shoveling, plowing, icy roads, etc. - but for most of us Vermonters who live here for a reason and gladly endure 5 month winters, we love to play in it! Whether we're skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice skating, or simply making snow angels, Vermont just wouldn't be Vermont without snow! If you like to play in the snow too, here are some great websites to check out:

Sugarbush Resort - downhill skiing and snowboarding. It's their 50th anniversary - check out their website for deals!

Mad River Glen - a cooperative resort (owned by its skiers) downhill skiing only (no riders) - Ski It If You Can!

Stowe Mountain Resort - downhill skiing and snowboarding - Vermont's biggest and most popular mountain.

Smuggler's Notch - downhill skiing and snowboarding - get $20 off coupons for lift tickets when you buy Coke products at participating Mobil Gas Stations!

Catamount Outdoor Family Center - for cross country skiing and snowshoeing

Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce's Visiting/Tourism Web Page - Winter Outdoor Recreational Activities

Leddy Park Arena - ice skating and hockey

Penguin Plunge - Vermonters jump in the icy cold Lake Champlain in February to support the Special Olympics!

Burton Snowboards -  leading snowboard manufacturer worldwide started in 1977 by Jake Carpenter in Londonderry, VT with it's headquarters and flagship store in Burlington.

Vermont Weather Forecast from WCAX

And if you're from out-of-state but just love Vermont and its long, cold winters and you're thinking about moving to our beautiful state - give me a quick call or email -  my team will help you find your dream winter home!

Camel's Hump Winter '08-'09