Wildfires Ravage Southern Plains
 In parts of Texas, 2005 has been driest year since 1956.

All together, the grass fires destroyed more than 1000 of buildings across Texas, including many homes.

Wind gusting to 40 mph drove the flames across nearly 20,000 acres in Texas and Oklahoma. At least 73 blazes were reported in Texas over two days just before New Years, and dozens more broke out in Oklahoma.

Severe drought has set the stage for the fires, which authorities believe were have been started mostly by people shooting off fireworks, tossing cigarettes or burning trash in spite of bans imposed because of the drought.

Rainfall this year in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of North Texas, where many of the fires have broke out, is about 16 inches below the average of about 35 inches, the weather service's long-term forecasts show the drought intensifying through early 2006.

Question: Should I water my yard to prevent fires?

A: Once your grass is dried, there is not too much you can do but keep it short. Watering it during a fire will help but otherwise it will dry out. again. One thing you can do is plant winter rye grass. It will be green and fire resistant.

Question: WIth the drought should I be watering in the winter?

A: Many of us in North Texas have expansive soil. When it gets dry is shrinks. When it gets wet it swells. We also have floating slabs. Our houses are constantly moving. It's really important to control moisture around the home. This means we should control drainage and control watering to provide a consistent lever of moisture to our home. We should be watering 18 - 20 inches from the foundation on a regular basis. This will allow the soil to soak up water, swell and provide stability to our home, reducing the possibility of foundation problems.

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Every home is different. With a quick trip to your local hardware store, you have even more choices at hand.

Choose ENERGY STAR® Products. Replace incandescent light bulbs with ENERGTY STAR® compact fluorescent light bulbs, especially in high use light fixtures. Compact fluorescent lights use 75 percent less energy than incandescent lights.

Plug your home's leaks. Install weather-stripping or caulk leaky doors and windows and install gaskets behind outlet covers. Savings up to 10 percent on energy costs.

Install low flow showerheads. If you do not already have them, low flow showerheads and faucets can drastically cut your hot water expenses. Savings of 10-16 percent of water heating costs.

Wrap the hot water tank with jacket insulation. This is especially valuable for older water heaters with little internal insulation. Be sure to leave the air intake vent uncovered when insulating a gas water heater. Savings up to 10 percent on water heating costs.

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Do you know what's in your attic?

Do you know where you are loosing energy in your home?

Let us do a Energy Audit on your home to help you find out.

Thermal loss costs you $$$

This was taken recently while performing a energy audit. It shows insulation missing at the ceiling and window header.

Infrared Technology is shows amazing things