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Energy Star rated new homes must go through third-party inspection process to guarantee that it complies with government rules on energy efficiency defined at www.energystar.gov. If you’re looking at a new home that is energy efficient, such as Energy Star rated new homes on Long Island, you want to be sure that the homes are Energy Star certified.

Unfortunately, some builders claim to build energy-efficient new homes when, in fact, they’ve built the same houses they built a decade ago. Energy Star homes require specific qualifications, including propertly installed insulation, high-performance windows, snug ducts and construction, efficient heating and cooling, efficient appliances and third-party verification. If you’re searching for new homes on Long Island that are not Energy Star certified, we suggest you keep looking.

The upside of Energy Star rated homes are incredible – both now and in the future. Suppose in ten years you decide to move. Having an Energy Star certified home goes a long way to raising the value of your home as well as the ease of reselling your new home.

Almost everyone likes new construction. You get precisely what you want, designed the way you want it, and it is a house that no one else has lived in. This is highly desirable.

When it comes time for resale, people who are looking at existing homes also prefer a recent construction, a fresh house and energy efficient new appliances. Energy Star rated new houses may hold up better over time, because the windows were UV coated to protect against fade inside the house; the windows are designed to minimize cold from the outside; the construction is done with the goal of eliminating drafts; and heating and cooling systems are current and designed to reduce operating costs.

With all of these advantages, your new house becomes far more desirable. Energy Star rated new construction also increase the chance that you will be able to sell your new house in the future at a higher price and with greater ease. Of course, nothing replaces the feel of being the first person in a house-such as Long Island new construction.

Be sure to consider all of your choices before making a buy, and even if you intend to live in the home for the next 20 years, remember this: if you have to sell in five years, can you? Stack the deck in your favor with an energy-efficient home that is Energy Star certified.

Craig Axelrod is one of the executives with Emmy Homes. Emmy is one of Long Island’s premier home builders. Emmy’s Commack development features luxury homes in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more information.

Maintaining and cleaning your gutters is a critical part of the exterior maintenance of your home. This is a job that you can do yourself provided you do it safely. Here are some safety tips you before starting the job.

1. Be sure to use a sturdy ladder and be sure it is resting firmly on level ground. Clear away any straw or mulch if your ladder will be resting in a flower bed.

2. If you are using an extension ladder and have to lean it against the gutters, cut a small 2×4 at least as wide as the ladder and place it inside the gutter. This will give you a firm area to lean the ladder against and reduce the risk of damaging the gutter.

3. Once you’ve climbed the ladder, keep your hips square over the ladder to maintain your balance. You should never lean away on either side of the ladder.

4. When climbing the ladder you should not stand on the top 2 steps of the ladder. It is easy to lose your balance when standing on these two steps.

5. When working from the roof, never lean out over the gutter. You may want to purchase a safety harness and secure it to a sturdy item such as a chimney.

6. Don’t attempt to work on a roof during wet, icy, or windy conditions.

7. You should wear shoes with non-slip soles like sneakers or work boots while working on a ladder or working from the roof.

8. Always wear heavy duty work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal corners and screws sticking through metal surfaces.

9. Always wear protective eye wear or safety glasses to protect your eyes. Gutters will contain many small particles that could get in your eyes causing you eye damage or to lose your balance.

10. Never work around or near power lines.

By following these safety tips when cleaning your gutters you’ll do it safely. Safety is the most important thing you can do when preparing to do work to your home.

Hubert Miles is a blogger for many websites and the webmaster of Lake Homes. Get more information on Lake Houses websites.