REALTY NEWS

FAN FARE

     If you’re looking to stay cool and save on energy bills this summer, look up. A good ceiling fan, when properly used and maintained, can help keep your cooling and heating costs down throughout the year.

     To reap the maximum benefits—in comfort level and savings—it’s important to make sure that ceiling fans are properly installed and that you use the right size and model for the room.

     Consider ceiling fan blade spans, which range from 29 to 54 inches, and room size, and be sure that the fan is mounted in the middle of the room, at least 7 feet above the floor and 18 inches from the walls. Other performance factors to consider include the motor type and grade (performance, medium or economy), and the blades’ pitch and material. The fans with the best blade and motor designs are most efficient and quieter as well. Look for models with the highest air flow efficiency, which is measured by cubic feet per minute per watt (CFM/watt) at each speed.

     An Energy Star-rated fan is 50 percent more efficient than a conventional fan and can save $10 or more annually on utility bills. If this doesn’t seem like much, consider the additional savings that come from adjusting the thermostat accordingly and keeping air conditioner (or heater) use to a minimum.

     Ceiling fans keep people cool, not the spaces they’re in, so be sure to turn off the fan when not in a room. In the summer, make sure the fan is moving in a counter-clockwise direction so that it produces the downward windchill effect; in the winter, reverse the direction and use the fan at a low speed to force the warm air near the ceiling up and then down along the walls and floor. 

     And don’t forget about the lights. Most ceiling fans include some kind of light fixture, which is often used as the main light source in a room. Be sure to use an energy-efficient light kit and to turn it off when a room is empty.

Source: CRS Magazine. May/June 2008

GOLF COURSE NEWS

     The Oak Grove Island Golf & Country Club management sent us the following note:

     We had an additional 13 new members join us in April, which is a credit to the greens staff who have the course in excellent condition for this time of the year. We will be aerifying the greens on the 27th of May. This will help the Bermuda Grass to take over the greens for the summer months.

     You will have noticed new drainage projects on holes 7 and 17 and they have been very successful. We are paying a lot of attention to the back of the green on hole 14. This has been a problem area for a number of years and we have taken steps to solve the problem once and for all. It will take a few weeks for the area to come back into full play. The main problem was drainage and shade to the green.

     We have a night tournament coming up on May 24th (9 holes in daylight, 9 holes in the DARK ) starting at 5.00pm. This is a charity tournament for United Way. If you have never played in one, it is great fun.

"Proud Mary III"

CRUISING NEWS