Christmas time can be a very difficult for many.  Although the season is not about presents, giving back to others can lift their spirits.  Just to know that someone else is thinking about them, can make this time of the year a little easier.

Here at GIC we were able to adopt a mother this year who is living at the Mother’s Refuge house in Independence.  If you are not familiar with this organization, this is definitely one to get to know.  Mother’s Refuge is a home where teen mothers are able to care their newborn babies in a safe and loving environment for the first year.  These teens are also able to take classes to further their education, while learning important life skills that will help them raise and support healthy babies.

When dropping off the gifts, we enjoyed a tour of the Refuge home.  The environment provided for these girls is an amazing space.  You can feel the love and care that went into making this home a safe haven.  Also the staff and volunteers obviously give so much of themselves to make this possible.  Now don’t think this home is a free handout to the girls.  While being provided with the necessary needs, the girls are expected to keep up their responsibilities in the home.  Like many of us, they have to share cooking and cleaning responsibilities.  As well as completing an educational plan set up for them.

This is such a wonderful opportunity for those in need.  We are extremely excited to be able to provide a few presents for one of the girls to open on Christmas day.  Hopefully they will feel that someone cares and one day help make a difference for someone else.

Thank you to the Mother’s Refuge family for letting us be apart of their holiday this year.

Remember to give back this season and make someone smile!

The post Tis The Season For Giving Back first appeared on Kansas City Attic Insulation Professionals | Energy Audits.

KCP&L has been experiencing an increase in reports of phone scammers.  They are posing as KCP&L employees, as well as recordings for customers to key in their payment information.

We have provided information below from the KCP&L website to help keep you safe:

With the phone scam, customers are prompted by a recording to input their payment information. This phone number is not associated with KCP&L. There have also been reports of a live person posing as a KCP&L employee who notifies the customer of a past due bill and demands immediate payment to avoid service disconnection. In some instances, the caller requests that the customer purchase a money gram to pay their bill. If the customer is unable to make an immediate payment or does not answer, the caller gives out a return phone number for customers to call back. 

Utility Scam Warning Signs

KCP&L employees do not:

• Call and threaten disconnection if a payment is not made within 30 minutes or an hour. KCP&L employees will never give this type of deadline. Instead, we provide advance notice and work with the customer to resolve billing issues.
• Call and request that customers buy a pre-paid debit card, scratch off the covering and read the number beneath to pay a bill. KCP&L employees will never ask you to pay a bill this way.
• Ask for personal information via email or social media.
• Sell products door-to-door.
• Deliver cash refunds or rebates.
• Charge for line-clearing or tree-trimming work.

How to Protect Yourself

Before providing personal or payment information:

• During in-person visits always ask for identification. All employees carry KCP&L photo identification badges, wear KCP&L clothing and drive vehicles with the KCP&L logo on it.  Employees are required to display their badges if asked.
• Verify the information. If you are unsure about the person’s identification or the work that they’re doing, call KCP&L before letting the person onto your property.  You can call KCP&L at (816) 471-5275 or (888) 471-5275.
• Protect your personal information. If someone claiming to be from KCP&L calls you on the phone, request the person’s name and contact information. Do not give out your account number or any other personal information on the phone.

Phone and Email Scams

The post Be Aware Of KCP&L Utility Phone Scammers first appeared on Kansas City Attic Insulation Professionals | Energy Audits.

Many of today’s jobs include multiple hours in front of a computer screen without taking breaks.  Some of us even have a tendency to eat lunch at our desks.  Although tasks may be completed by working this way, you are putting your health is at risk.

Many studies have proven that long hours of sitting can put you at a higher risk for health problems like heart disease, strokes and weight gain.  It can also lower your productivity and contribute to depression.  Making sure to take a short break every hour will help lower these risks.

Still need some more convincing, here are the top reason why you should take a break:

You will feel better physically.

With most people working 55+ hours every week, we are already making our health risks higher.  Not taking breaks just adds to this risk.  Consider taking some of those hours to run or walk while making needed phone calls.  This will help lower obesity rates, keep your heart strong, prevent diabetes and possibly avert some types of cancers.

Productivity will raise.

Those who take a short break every hour will much more productive.  Concentration is like working a muscle, breaks are needed to increase your focus.  Brief breaks will highly improve your ability to focus on long term projects.

You get to socialize!

Studies have shown that constant interaction with peers boosts your mood and creativity.  As a result this combination can give you a leg up when it comes to collaborative projects.

Breaks can help lower stress.

Long work days can be very stressful on a person.  Taking time to decompress everyday, will help lower your stress levels.  Try activities like exercise, meditation or even watching your favorite show.

You will help improve your mood.

Working without breaks can cause you to feel overwhelmed and slowly onset depression.  Depression can be very debilitating and create multiple problems in your life.  Going outside for a few minutes or exercising will help boost your endorphins, which will fight off depression.

In conclusion, taking breaks will help with stress, health and your over all mood.  Go for a walk outside, stop to talk to co-workers or simply stand up for a few minutes every hour.  For more information on the risks of constant sitting, check out this website https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/national/the-health-hazards-of-sitting/750/.

Your boss may get frustrated at first, but your mood and productivity increase will change the mood.

Happy breaking!!

The post Breaks Are A Must When Working first appeared on Kansas City Attic Insulation Professionals | Energy Audits.

Running a blower door! at a school in Sedalia

Text marketing at Briarcliff office

Brad sealing up a flue pipe at Lori Robinson’s

City Council meeting recognizing local top Energy Star award recipients.

The post Congratulations Brad Whitford for celebrating 6 years at Green Improvement Consulting! first appeared on Kansas City Attic Insulation Professionals | Energy Audits.

Green Improvement Consulting can help with Insulation, Heating and Cooling, Windows and Doors in Kansas City  to name a few. Tax credits rebates available. Our Energy Star certified consultants specialize in conducting in-home energy audits and implementing rebates, incentives and programs to make green efficiency upgrades affordable. We are BPI certified to help you save green by going green.

At Green Improvement Consulting our primary objective is to help reduce our customer’s energy bills and increase their comfort while making the world greener. We will implement any and all available incentives and programs to help make energy efficiency upgrades affordable and cost-effective. Call us now to find out what we can do for you!

Check us us out on Angie’s List

See our Reviews on Google

The post Please enjoy our new site! first appeared on Kansas City Attic Insulation Professionals | Energy Audits.

While we love the coziness of this season, it can also be a very dangerous time.  Keeping your homes Carbon Monoxide emissions in check will allow for a safer season.  Any gas appliances in your home emit a certain amount of CO when in use.  Each unit should have a properly attached flue pipe, which will carry the CO emissions to the outside of your home.  If the flue pipes are not properly attached, CO can leak back into the home causing illness.  Keep your home’s CO in check!

Furnace Flue Pipe

Water Heater Flue Pipe

Since Carbon Monoxide is odorless and colorless, it can be a silent killer.  It is estimated that 8,000 to 15,000 people are examined or treated each year for Carbon Monoxide poisoning.  When inhaled, CO displaces the oxygen in your body and can lead to poisoning.  When exposed to high levels of CO, your body can become very ill.

 It is very important to know the signs of CO poisoning:

• You feel better when your are not at home.

• Everyone in the home seems to be sick at the same time.

• Family members who seem most effected spend the most time at home.

• Your pets seem ill.

• You don’t have a fever or body aches, or swollen lymph nodes common with flu symptoms and other infections.

• Symptoms appear to get worse when using fuel burning appliances.

Having your appliances tested on a yearly bases, can help prevent this from happening.  Also installing a CO detector in your home, can help alert you when the levels are to high.  Making sure your home is a safe environment, will allow you to enjoy the up coming holiday’s.

It is important to have a trained professional test your appliances for CO emissions.

Keep your home’s CO in check!

The post Keep your home’s CO in check! first appeared on Kansas City Attic Insulation Professionals | Energy Audits.

1. Trees changing colors.

2. Pumpkin flavored everything!!

3. You get to wear jeans and SWEATSHIRTS!

4. Saving energy by having the windows open.

5. Sipping on your favorite soup.

6. Fall Festivals

7.  Jack-o-lanterns

8. Baking is fun again.

9. Your favorite shows start up again.

10. FOOTBALL!!!!!!! (Should probably be #1!)

These are just of few of our favorite things about fall here at GIC.  Feel free to leave comments below with some of your favorite things about fall, we would love to hear from you.

The post Top 10 Favorite Things About Fall… first appeared on Kansas City Attic Insulation Professionals | Energy Audits.

Summer is almost here!! 

It’s that time of the year again to start preparing your home for   warmer weather.  Are you energy bills high and your home is still not cool?  Does your home have one room where it seems like it will never cool off?  There are a few issues that could be causing this to happen: 

• First off is to make sure you home is equipped with the correct size a/c unit.  Air conditioners come in different sizes and should be sized according to the total square footage of the space to be cooled.  If your a/c unit is too small it will be constantly running, trying to keep up with the desired temperature.  This will cause your energy bills to be high and your home is still not cool.
• The ductwork in your home could also be an issue.  If your home has flexible ductwork, make sure there are not any kinks or tight turns in the ductwork.  When there is a tight turn in the ductwork, the conditioned air does not have an unobstructed path to the desired living space.  Metal ductwork also has areas that allow conditioned air to leak into unwanted spaces.  Every seam in the metal ductwork should be sealed with mastic tape, in order to created a tight seal.  Also seal the gap between the vent walls and the wall/floor, to give the conditioned air a direct path.  Making sure your ductwork is correctly installed and sealed will help keep conditioned air in the desired living spaces of your home.
• Another issue to address is making sure your home is properly weather sealed.  Weather sealing is not just for the winter months.  Cool conditioned air can leak from windows and doors also.  The doors in your home should have proper weather-stripping around all sides and your windows should also have weather-stripping around the sashes.  Make sure to seal off any gaps or holes on the exterior of your home as well.

While these are just a few of the ways to make sure your home is prepared for the summer months, these improvements can make a big difference.  Having an Energy Audit preformed can help you figure out if any of the above issues are keeping your home from feeling comfortable during the summer months.  Saving money each month and keeping cool will equal a better summer.

The post Energy bills high and your home is still not cool? first appeared on Kansas City Attic Insulation Professionals | Energy Audits.

RESOLUTION NO. 140811
Declaring October, 2014 as Energy Awareness Month in Kansas City, Missouri.
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to address our growing energy and
environmental needs across the world and we need energy policies that promote
environmental sustainability and economic growth; and
WHEREAS, one program supporting these efforts is a presidential proclamation
issued in 1991 to make October Energy Awareness Month; and
WHEREAS, for 19 years, non-profit organizations, large and small businesses,
government organizations, and concerned citizens have celebrated this month with
activities and actions to promote public understanding of our energy needs and ways to
reduce the amount of energy we consume in our everyday lives; and
WHEREAS, locally the Midwest Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®
(HPwES) program which is a partnership of the Metropolitan Energy Center, KCP&L,
and the former Missouri Gas Energy, now owned by LaClede Gas Company; and
WHEREAS, the Midwest Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program
issues annual Century Club Awards that, in 2014, recognizes Energy Efficient Home
Services (Erik Henson); Green CAT Services (Rob Jones); Green Improvement
Consulting (Luke Smith); The Hayes Company (Jeff Classen); Smart Energy Solutions
(Janin Carlson); Star Energy Consultants, LLC (Ben Meyer); each having completed
energy efficiency improvements of at least 100 buildings in Kansas City; and
WHEREAS, our City benefits from decreased indoor health and safety problems,
decreased energy use, and the resultant monthly utility bills; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
That the Mayor and Council hereby declare October, 2014 as Energy Awareness
Month in Kansas City, Missouri; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes
of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to the Century
Award recipients for their important contributions to the environment and sustainability
in our city and country and congratulate and encourage their efforts.

The post KCMO City Council Recognizes Green Companies Energy Star Award first appeared on Kansas City Attic Insulation Professionals | Energy Audits.

It’s that time of the year again to look forward to leaves changing, pumpkins growing and thoughts of warm comfort foods.  This is also a time to make sure your home is also ready for the change in weather.  There are many ways you can help make your home more comfortable during the winter months and also save on energy bills.

“Fall Savings” List!

• Change Your Furnace Filter – A furnace is always a big expense during the winter months and if not properly serviced it can cost you even more.  It is recommended to have a professional service your furnace at least once a year.  Also changing the furnace filter every sixty to ninety days will help keep the unit running properly.   When the filter is full, the unclean air is push aside to other areas of the furnace and can cause build up on parts of the furnace.   The build will eventually damage these parts causing your furnace to fail.
• Seal Around Windows and Doors  – Window and door gaps are among the top reasons for air leakage in a home.  Most homeowners are not aware of how well their windows and doors are sealed beneath the trim.  If you are not up to removing the trim, you can simply seal the edges of the trim with clear caulk.  Placing weather striping around the edges of the window opening also helps create a tight seal.  Adding a door sweep will  help seal your home as well.
• Install a Programmable Thermostat – This improvement alone could save you up to 15% on your energy bills.  Just by simply programming the thermostat to keep your home comfortable when you are there and then setting it to lower the temperature while you are gone will make a big difference.  You won’t be wasting money on keeping your home warm while you are away.
• Keep Fireplace Damper Closed When Not in Use – When your furnace is running it is pulling air from inside the house and if your fireplace damper is open the furnace is pulling air from the chimney as well.  Also the conditioned air in you home can escape through the chimney, causing your furnace to run more often.  Make sure your fireplace damper is closed when not in use and if a tighter seal is desired, install a chimney balloon.  This balloon can be deflated when the fireplace is in use and the inflated when not in use.
• Take Advantage of Window Heat From the Sun – Open your blinds during the day on the windows that get direct sunlight and when the sun goes down close the curtains to keep the heat from escaping.  This is a good way to heat up your home naturally and save you money on energy bills.
• Add Humidity to Conditioned Air – Humid air holds heat better than dry air.  Therefore having a humidifier running in your home will help keep the conditioned air at the desire temperature.  If you would like to take efficiency one step further, use a collection of live plants to add humidity to your home instead of using a humidifier.
• Make Sure Your Attic is Properly Insulated – Hot air rises, therefore if your attic is not properly insulated you will lose warm air through the roof of your home.  A properly insulated attic has an R-49 rating.  The insulation will help slow down the warm conditioned air from leaking through the attic and help keep the living spaces comfortable.

Once all of these “Fall Savings” improvements are checked off, you will be able to enjoy all that the cooler months have to offer!

The post Time to Start Thinking About “Fall Savings” first appeared on Kansas City Attic Insulation Professionals | Energy Audits.