Here are the financially frostbiting facts: The average cost of home heating is expected to increase by 17.2% since last winter from $1,025 to $1,202, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). Those who heat with natural gas will confront the largest spike, with their cost predicted to soar 34.3% over last year. Conversely, homeowners who use electric heat are forecasted to see the lowest increase at 6.9%.

The good news is that families can prevent a utility bill blitz by following a few simple tips. With home heating and cooling accounting for nearly half of home energy use, small steps can go a long way.

• Ease Into Electric: According to Columbia University’s Earth Institute, electric systems are a solution to decarbonize home climate control. Among the most energy-efficient heating and cooling products, electricity-powered ductless mini-split systems, offered by companies including Fujitsu General America, can save as much as 25% on your energy bill. Plus, they are effective with temperatures as low as -15⁰F. Mini-splits use thin copper tubing to pump refrigerant from an outdoor compressor directly into an indoor air-handling unit, where the air is quietly distributed to the interior space.

• Get “Smart” About Climate Control: When it comes to smart home temperature control, there are Smart HVAC Systems and Smart Thermostats. Smart HVAC systems have built-in Internet capability and can be controlled directly without additional equipment. Smart Home Thermostats create “smart” systems by enabling remote temperature control via a mobile or Internet-connected device or voice-operated home automation system.

• Voice Your Preference: Take control of your comfort. Most HVAC manufacturers offer apps that enable systems to be controlled from anywhere using a mobile device. Voice-control capability uses digital assistants, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home, to verbally dictate home temperatures. Easily controlling the temperature more closely allows homeowners to be more comfortable and improve energy savings.

• Find Your Efficient Comfort Zone: Many of us live in homes designed for bigger families, but have yet to downsize. If you find yourself using a fraction of your home on a regular basis, consider upgrading to a zoned ducted, or ductless, system. This will allow you to save energy by not heating and cooling spaces where you and your family don’t spend a lot of time. With the need for less cooling and the gain from a more efficient system in the spaces you do still use, you can multiply your savings.

• Try Low-Tech Fixes: Simple changes can have a big impact. Take advantage of the sun’s energy to heat your home by opening your south-facing curtains at sunrise to make best use of “passive solar gain.” Denser, cooler air stays closer to the ground, and warmer air rises. Force it downward with a low-speed fan. Another change you can make is to insulate and fill the gaps. Warmed air leaking out around poorly sealed window frames, power sockets, recessed light fittings, and other gaps is a big source of heat loss in homes. Additionally, thick curtains help to insulate glass at windows.

If you’re looking to freeze out these record-breaking bills, a ductless heating and cooling system is definitely a worthwhile investment. Many Fujitsu systems with the Energy Star rating are more than twice as efficient as the minimum standard set by the government.

To learn more or find a contractor near you, call 888-888-3424 or visit www.constantcomfort.com.

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There is a lot to dive into here, so let’s get to it. Winter sports have started for the middle schools in the valley: this includes boys and girls basketball and boys soccer. It’s fun to go out and watch the middle-schoolers play: you get a chance to see what athletes have the potential to play in high school, as well as getting the opportunity to see them grow and develop into elite athletes.

One of these athletes that are standing out is Ethan Saenz of Dartmouth. Saenz is only a 6th grader but is the starting point guard at Dartmouth middle school. He is still young and with that, a little undersized, however, he doesn’t let that affect his game. Saenz is a natural scorer but does a great job at filling out the stat sheet: he gets assists and rebounds on a regular basis and plays “in your face” defense. Last week Saenz and the rest of his team put the smackdown on Diamond Valley. The final score was 36-6. Keep working hard middle schoolers, you never know when we are watching!

San Jacinto’s Arturo Ojeda Jr. finished his league wrestling season as the Heavyweight champ. He was undefeated on the year and has been dominating gyms all winter. Ojeda’s wrestling season will continue with CIF and State tournaments on the way. He is positioned to make a deep run in the brackets and could potentially win the whole thing.

Citrus Hill is currently in the running to finish as the league champs in boys soccer, with an 11-5 record. Hemet High’s girl’s soccer team is expected to finish in first place in the league this year. They have a 16-3-2 record and have scored 79 goals to their opponents 15. They have been awfully dominating this year and could potentially make a deep run in the CIF playoffs.

In boys basketball, Citrus Hill has dominated the league. It’s important to note some of the basketball players that stood out this season as exceptional athletes who should be playing at the next level when they graduate: Tahquitz’s Jaden Haywood, Citrus Hill’s Brain Brown Jr., West Valley’s Elijah Edwards, Beaumont’s Riley Sutton, and San Jacinto’s Jorden Hudson. All of these young men played hard all season long and showed the true spirit of “Mamba Mentality.” In girl’s basketball, Hemet and Beaumont are neck and neck, although Hemet has a better overall record. Beaumont’s leading ladies; Jada Long and Jana Roman aren’t ready to call it quits just yet  though. The Freshman and Sophomore tandem is going to keep playing until the final whistle in hopes to break into a CIF bracket. If they don’t, expect both of them to be a force to be reckoned with next season. With a full year of training under their belts, they will be a problem for the opposition.

Well, that’s it for the winter sports round up! Spring sports will be starting soon, so until then…stay tuned.

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The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) is once again rolling out a special 25-cent fare for youths who ride the bus between December 21 and January 12. That means anyone 18 or younger can ride for a quarter to the movies, the mall, a friend’s house, Disneyland — anywhere RTA buses goes, anytime they operate.

Plus, with comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi service and USB charging ports, there’s never been a better time to ride the bus. Show up in style, not in Mom’s minivan.

Parents, rest assured that we’ll get your kids where they need to go safely. With trained drivers and a clean environment, customer safety is our number-one priority.

Planning your trip is easy. Click on the link below to view maps and schedules or contact our Customer Information Center at (951) 565-5002. We’re open until 10 p.m. every day.
https://www.riversidetransit.com/…/riding-th…/maps-schedules

Getting to and from the bus stop may require a short walk, skateboard or bike ride. And yes, you can take your bike or skateboard on the bus. While a school ID is the preferred method of getting a 25-cent ride, bus drivers also accept RTA Youth ID cards, or California driver’s licenses or state IDs showing the rider is under 19 years old.

#RTA #Transit #Winter #December

QUARTER RIDES AVAILABLE

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Winter is here early this year. Usually here, in Southern California, we do not see snow or rain until middle to late January. The forecast is for more of the same. It appears this is a similar story in major areas of the U.S. Will this year bring us a white Christmas?

Starting this week, the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Index released their November reading. This is a good leading economic indicator (LEI) of the economy and helps gauge changes in the business cycle. Changes in this index are highly correlated to changes to the gross domestic product (GDP).  It is the difference between new orders and inventories which is a good measure for future production. The market was expecting an increase over October’s reading of 48.3. Anything below 50 is believed to indicate the US economy is in a contraction and if over 50 reflects the economy is in expansion. For the fourth month in a row the number came in below 50 and surprising Wall Street came in below October’s reading at 48.1. This is near the low of 47.8 in September.

New Orders Index read 47.2 in November, a decrease of 1.9 when compared to 49.1 in October.  This reflects a higher rate of contraction for the fourth straight month. There are six top industry sectors and of those, five contracted and only one expanded from the October performance. Other Manufacturing Indices (OMI) reporting a slowing trend include Employment, Inventories, Customer’s Inventories, Backlog of Orders and New Export Orders. Rising Manufacturing Indices include Production, Supplier Deliveries, Prices, and Imports. There are no indices expanding at this time.

Economic forecasts for 4^th quarter performance surged in November to 1.7%. After this report, forecasts dropped to 1.3%. Economists are debating if this is the bottom and if in future months this will be reversed both in the U.S. and globally.

With the Federal Reserve lowering rates mid-cycle labeled as an adjustment, the economy is expected to turn upward in coming months. It is also argued that the Fed did too little too late. Others argue that the trade tariffs have impacted the economy and the economy can’t move forward until this dispute is resolved. Reviewing the corporate earnings, most companies have lowered expectations and have seen results come in above them. This is a case of, “not as bad as expected.”

There is more data to come and most expectations are that 2019 will end strong. December is historically known for its strong performance. We will have to wait and see how this quarter plays out and what the reports show us through this month and in January for the 4^th quarter. This is a different winter.  Stay prepared and on your toes.

If you have questions on a particular company or investment and would like our feedback, contact us at my email below. Our team will research and respond to you with our recommendation and opinion.

Andrew F. Kotyuk, CIMA* is CEO and Principal of Alpha Wealth Management LLC. For questions or investment topics please email me afkotyuk@alpha-wealth.com.

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Search: Winter is Here

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