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How do you like your pizza cooked– rare, medium or well done?….Outdoor pizza oven adds pizzazz to outdoor kitchen.

CHICAGO, HOFFMAN ESTATES, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

Over the last few years, ‘outdoor kitchens’ have taken cooking on the grill from a summer activity to a year-round thing. Now, outdoor cooking has evolved from burgers, dogs, steaks and other carnivorous delights to pizza. That’s right, according to the DirectBuys of Greater Chicago, the leading home improvement and furnishings clubs with direct insider prices, adding a pizza oven has become the latest trend in outdoor kitchens.

“Pizza is a pretty big deal here in the Chicago area. After all, it’s the home of the deep dish pizza. So it’s not surprising that some people have decided to take their love of cooking in the great outdoors step further by adding a pizza oven to their outdoor kitchens,” said Jeremy Vest, owner of DirectBuy of DuPage County. 

For those who may not have the budget for a pizza oven, you can create your own by purchasing a simple pizza stone. Place that over your grill/fire pit area and you’re ready to serve up your family’s favorite pizza with the extra fun of an outdoor pizza cookout. Or, you can host your own “make your own pizza” night outdoors.

DirectBuy sells many of the items and accessories you’ll need to create your outdoor pizza kitchen at manufacturer’s low prices. In addition, DirectBuy also employs product specialists who can provide helpful pointers on selecting the right equipment and setup for your home.

For starters, when it comes to selecting a grill, DirectBuy recommends considering:

●       Stainless steel gas or charcoal grills – outdoor kitchen means just that: outside sun, rain, wind and in some markets, snow. Even covered, your grill will be exposed to the elements to a certain degree and you want a grill made of material that will withstand bad weather and corrosion.

●       Free-standing or under-the-counter refrigeration units – help minimize trips to the “other” kitchen and give you a place to store leftovers for the next cookout.

●       Infra-red burners – make sure the grill you do select uses infra-red burners, which heat up faster.

●       Storage – choose a grill with plenty of shelving and cabinets

“Whether you’re cooking pizzas or the standard barbecue fare, the beauty of the outdoor kitchen is that it reduces trips to the real kitchen to get supplies. This means you can actually spend time with your guests while preparing your meal,” continued Vest. “By adding something novel like a pizza oven or quasi pizza oven, you’re adding to the ways you can get more use and enjoyment out of your outdoor kitchen.”

Since 1971, DirectBuy clubs have offered members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories by buying wholesale, directly from the manufacturer. With several convenient locations in the greater Chicago area (Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Tinley Park), consumers can enjoy a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuychicago.com/.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.  It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. The DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are part of more than 160 locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting http://www.directbuychicago.com/. 

Locations of the DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are: DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, 2200 N. Stonington Ave Ste. 150 Hoffman Estates, IL; DirectBuy of Chicago North, 6325 Avondale, Chicago, IL; DirectBuy of DuPage County, 1864 Highgrove Ste. 136 Naperville, IL; and DirectBuy of Tinley Park, 18400 S. 76th Avenue Ste. B, Tinley Park, IL.

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

How do you like your pizza cooked– rare, medium or well done?….Outdoor pizza oven adds pizzazz to outdoor kitchen.Read More

High Five! DirectBuy of Greater Victoria celebrates five-year milestone.

VICTORIA, BC…

For five years, DirectBuy of Greater Victoria has been offering consumers in the greater Victoria area a brand new way to save on home improvement projects, home furnishings and accessories.

As the leading members-only home improvement and home furnishing club, DirectBuy of Greater Victoria offers direct insider pricing on products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, all from more than 500 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. DirectBuy also offers design, delivery and installation services.

“The growth we’ve experienced since we opened our doors five years ago is a little hard to fathom. Not only have we grown in terms of the number of our members, but also in the number of manufacturers who want to sell their products through DirectBuy. And that’s got us even more excited about the next five years,” said Jason Grigolato, owner of DirectBuy of Greater Victoria.

In addition to the tremendous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories, DirectBuy also offers design services to its members, as well as a listing of local contractors who offer installation services to DirectBuy members, many times at a discounted rate.

“Our five years in business have not only given us the opportunity to help families create the home of their dreams, but to also establish ourselves as part of the local business community and as a contributor to local charities,” said Grigolato. “We look forward to further cultivating those relationships with our customers and the community as we build toward even bigger and better things in the years to come.”

Since 2004, DirectBuy of Greater Victoria has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 350B Bay Street in Victoria, DirectBuy offers consumers a comfortable, country-club setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

About DirectBuy

For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada and more than 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the United States.

To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com or www.DirectBuyCares.com.

High Five! DirectBuy of Greater Victoria celebrates five-year milestone.Read More

High Five! DirectBuy of Orlando North celebrates five-year milestone.

SANFORD, FLORIDA…

For five years, DirectBuy of Orlando North has been offering consumers in the greater Orlando area a brand new way to save on home improvement projects, home furnishings and accessories.

As the leading members-only home improvement and home furnishings club, DirectBuy of Orlando North offers direct insider pricing on products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, all from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. DirectBuy also offers design, delivery and installation services.

“The growth we’ve experienced since we opened our doors five years ago is a little hard to fathom. Not only have we grown in terms of the number of our members, but also in the number of manufacturers who want to sell their products through DirectBuy. And that’s got us even more excited about the next five years,” said Randy Cover, co-owner of DirectBuy of Orlando North.

In addition to the tremendous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories, DirectBuy also offers design services to its members, as well as a listing of local contractors who offer installation services to DirectBuy members, many times at a discounted rate.

“Our five years in business have not only given us the opportunity to help families create the home of their dreams, but to also establish ourselves as part of the local business community and as a contributor to local charities,” said Cover. “We look forward to further cultivating those relationships with our customers and the community as we build toward even bigger and better things in the years to come.”

Since 2004, DirectBuy of Orlando North has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 4150 Church Street, Suite 1024 in Sanford, DirectBuy offers consumers a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, the DirectBuy network has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct enables members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality. It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct.

To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com or www.DirectBuyCares.com.

 

High Five! DirectBuy of Orlando North celebrates five-year milestone.Read More

High Five! DirectBuy of Houston North celebrates five-year milestone.

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS…

For five years, DirectBuy of Houston North has been offering consumers in the greater Houston area a brand new way to save on home improvement projects, home furnishings and accessories.

As the leading members-only home improvement and home furnishings club, DirectBuy of Houston North offers manufacturer-direct pricing on products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, all from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. DirectBuy also offers design, delivery and installation services.

“The growth we’ve experienced since we opened our doors five years ago is a little hard to fathom. Not only have we grown in terms of the number of our members, but also in the number of manufacturers who want to sell their products through DirectBuy. And that’s got us even more excited about the next five years,” said Patrick Sullivan, owner of DirectBuy of Houston North.

In addition to the tremendous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories, DirectBuy also offers design services to its members, as well as a listing of local contractors who offer installation services to DirectBuy members, many times at a discounted rate.

“Our five years in business have not only given us the opportunity to help families create the home of their dreams, but to also establish ourselves as part of the local business community and as a contributor to local charities,” said Sullivan. “We look forward to further cultivating those relationships with our customers and the community as we build toward even bigger and better things in the years to come.”

Since 2004, DirectBuy of Houston North has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 19241 David Memorial Drive in The Woodlands. DirectBuy offers consumers a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com.

About DirectBuy

For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.

To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com or www.DirectBuyCares.com.

High Five! DirectBuy of Houston North celebrates five-year milestone.Read More

High Five! DirectBuy of Bucks County celebrates five-year milestone.

NEWTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA…

For five years, DirectBuy of Bucks County has been offering consumers in the greater Philadelphia and Delaware Valley area a brand new way to save on home improvement projects, home furnishings and accessories.

As the leading members-only home improvement and home furnishings club, DirectBuy of Bucks County offers direct insider pricing on products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, all from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. DirectBuy also offers design, delivery and installation services.

“The growth we’ve experienced since we opened our doors five years ago is a little hard to fathom. Not only have we grown in terms of the number of our members, but also in the number of manufacturers who want to sell their products through DirectBuy. And that’s got us even more excited about the next five years,” said Neil Morris, owner of DirectBuy of Bucks County.

In addition to the tremendous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories, DirectBuy also offers design services to its members, as well as a listing of local contractors who offer installation services to DirectBuy members, many times at a discounted rate.

“Our five years in business have not only given us the opportunity to help families create the home of their dreams, but to also establish ourselves as part of the local business community and as a contributor to local charities,” said Morris. “We look forward to further cultivating those relationships with our customers and the community as we build toward even bigger and better things in the years to come.”

Since 2004, DirectBuy of Bucks County has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 46 Blacksmith Road in Newtown, DirectBuy offers consumers a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, the DirectBuy network has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct enables members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy has been serving the greater Philadelphia area since 1990. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality. It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct.

To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com or www.DirectBuyCares.com.

High Five! DirectBuy of Bucks County celebrates five-year milestone.Read More

Are we there yet? Travel tips for a smoother family vacation.

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

Long before the Griswolds and the “Vacation” trilogy of movies, the family trip had a certain painful nostalgia for people that could only be appreciated many years later—usually when they had their own families and attempted trips of their own. Resort Maps, creator of customized travel maps in more than 90 cities and towns across the U.S. and U.K. has some family travel tips that can help you optimize the pleasure of family trips and minimize the inconvenience.

“In a perfect world, every family trip goes smoothly and years later your memories center on where you went—Disneyworld or the Grand Canyon—rather than little Joey getting sick on the plane or on his sister in the car. But we all know the world is not perfect,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps. “There are some things you can do to prepare for the mini ‘disasters’ that happen on your journey so they don’t impact the rest of your trip.”

Some of the areas to focus your pre-travel preparations include:

·         Attitude – expect a few snags and glitches both in packing and getting to and from your destination. By adopting a roll-with-the-punches approach, you really can keep the molehills from becoming mountains.

·         Drugs – there is never a drug store around when you need one. Keep this reality in mind when packing. Make sure to pack some travel size containers of cough syrup, cold or allergy medicines. Benadryl, in particular, is very helpful in getting sick children to rest comfortably on a flight or long car ride.

·         Baby wipes – even if the kids are out of diapers, wipes come in handy for a variety of quick clean ups.

·         Zip lock bags – make sure to carry a variety of sizes, which can have numerous uses. Oversized bags come in very handy for packing wet clothes.

·         Night lights – do not forget them, particularly if you’re sharing a hotel room. A bad night for one of your kids means no sleep for the entire family and that certainly can impact fun activities.

·         Scheduling – if you’re kids are younger, leave around the time they usually nap. This might buy you some extra quiet time for the drive. If flying, you may want to weigh the pros and cons of flying overnight. Sure, it will impact your zzz’s, but it may beat entertaining a pre-schooler for six hours on a daytime flight.

·         Flying – utilize resources like SeatGuru.com to strategize where you want to sit (e.g. windows, aisles, front of the plane or back). Maybe you want to split the kids up to minimize the possibility of bickering and fights.

·         Games, toys and other entertainment – ultimately, the key to traveling with children means keeping them occupied. Whether it’s playing their favorite DVD in the car, a deck of cards for the car or plane or finding some fun travel games (www.momsminivan.com has a list of 101 Car Travel Games and Road Trip Ideas for Kids), keeping your children entertained for as long as possible is the real difference maker in a good or bad trip.

“For many people, the memories of trips they took with their families last a lifetime. You’d be amazed at how a little bit of pre-planning, including having the right map of the town or city where you’ll be staying, can go a long way towards ensuring that the memories of your family trips center on the fun you had and the places and things you saw,” said Hans.

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Free to area visitors, each map advertises restaurants, accommodations, retail stores, factory outlets, recreation and attractions, real estate and other local services. Each advertiser is represented with a display ad surrounding the map, including a color-coded grid locator and a building drawn, highlighted and labeled making it easy to locate. With landmarks prominently displayed, Resort Maps are an easy and fun way to find your way around town whether you are visiting, new to the area or you just want to know what’s happening around your town.  And kids love them so you can add Resort Maps to the list of things that will keep them entertained.

For more information on Resort Maps or to inquire about ownership of a Resort Maps franchise, please visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

 

About Resort Maps

Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps has been creating and publishing advertising maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Today, that network of franchises grown to nearly 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. Nearly 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.

For more information on Resort Maps the company and/or the franchise opportunity, visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

Are we there yet? Travel tips for a smoother family vacation.Read More

Why ENERGY STAR makes dollars and sense.

CHEEKTOWAGA, NY …

Most people want to know what they can do to make their dollar go farther, particularly when purchasing household appliances. While most consumers have their eyes on the price tag, it really should be on how much it costs to power those appliances, and that’s where ENERGY STAR comes in.

ENERGY STAR is the program created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce energy consumption. Typically, ENERGY STAR products offer 20 to 30 percent savings on your energy bills. DirectBuy of Buffalo, the leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, sells a wide ride range of ENERGY STAR products to help members save.

“The irony about ENERGY STAR products is the program itself was set up to combat the negative effect running our appliances was having on our environment,” said Mark Klinger, owner of DirectBuy of Buffalo. “While most people do want to minimize their carbon footprint, in today’s economy, it’s just as much about how much you can save by having appliances that run more efficiently.”

So, how much can you save by purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances? Here’s a small sampling:

  • Clothes washers – replacing a 10-year-old washing with a new ENERGY STAR machine can save a household more than $145 per year.
  • Dishwashers – ENERGY STAR dishwashers use 41 percent less energy and water than non-ENERGY STAR washers. That translates to $30 a year on your utility bill.
  • Refrigerators – a typical two-door, freezer on top refrigerator can cost $100 per year to run. Upgrading to ENERGY STAR can knock $30 per year off that, resulting in savings of $350 in just five years.
  • Home electronics – the average household spends $100 per year powering electronics devices in “standby” mode. ENERGY STAR products use less energy when in standby.
  • LED Lighting – requires 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and lasts 25 times longer. According to energystar.gov, LED lighitn can last more than 25,000 hours than its incandescent counterparts or more than 22 years!

“As a company that deals specifically in home improvement, you often hear the expression that this project will pay for itself, meaning resale. Yet when it comes to ENERGY STAR products, they literally do pay for themselves over time,” said Vest.

DirectBuy carries a large selection of ENERGY STAR products and appliances at wholesale prices direct from the manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. In addition, each DirectBuy club employs product specialists and designers who can help members select the appliance that works best for their works best for their home.

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 4950 Genesee Street in Cheektowaga, New York, DirectBuy offers members a comfortable setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy club membership, you can call 716-684-1400 or visit www.directbuy-buffalo.com.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy has been serving the greater Buffalo area since 2005. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.  It’s a comfortable setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. DirectBuy of Buffalo is one of more than 160 DirectBuy club locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting DirectBuy at 716-684-1400, or visiting www.DirectBuy-Buffalo.com. 

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy club membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

Why ENERGY STAR makes dollars and sense.Read More

DirectBuy promotes achievement through technology.

MERRILLVILLE, IN…

DirectBuy, the home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, recently donated computer equipment to PATINS (Promoting Achievement through Technology and INstruction for all Students) Project. DirectBuy’s donation will help provide computer access to Indiana K-12 public students who are disabled and/or disadvantaged.

“We’re thankful that DirectBuy provided us with much needed computer equipment,” says Walt Daigle, Manager of the Refurbished Computer Program for PATINS Project. “DirectBuy’s contribution will eventually help hundreds of students in underprivileged schools.”

This type of generosity is fairly standard for DirectBuy Corporate. Last year, the corporate campus donated more than 100 CPU’s and monitors to Net Literacy, a youth empowered nonprofit organization headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The donation impacted thousands of individuals in and around the Midwest. Although this year’s donation wasn’t as sizeable, the effects of the contribution will be felt across the state of Indiana.

“We hope our donation will help impact the lives of students for years to come,” said Senior Director of MIS Donna Vaughan. “Every student should have access to computer technology. We are thrilled that our computer equipment will provide this opportunity to disadvantaged and disabled children.”

About DirectBuy

For more than 38 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furniture, carpet and flooring, and custom window treatments, to kitchen and bath cabinets and fixtures, appliances and much, much more.

DirectBuy enables members to purchase most every product offering from several hundred manufacturers and their authorized suppliers at more than 160 showrooms across North America. To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com or www.DirectBuyCares.com.

About PATINS Project

The PATINS Project, an Indiana Department of Education/federal grant initiative, is the official lead agency in Indiana for the National Christina Foundation (NCF). NCF is a not-for-profit, national donation channel for refurbished computers. Together with NCF, CET, and Aidmatrix, PATINS is ensuring access to computer technology to students who are disabled, at-risk or disadvantaged.

             

DirectBuy promotes achievement through technology.Read More

Why ENERGY STAR makes dollars and sense…Less expensive to run and tax credits and rebates make ENERGY STAR products a must.

OTTAWA, ON…

Most people want to know what they can do to make their dollar go further, particularly when purchasing household appliances. While most consumers have their eyes on the price tag, it really should be on how much it costs to power those appliances, and that’s where ENERGY STAR comes in.

ENERGY STAR is the international symbol of premium energy efficiency. Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) promotes the international ENERGY STAR symbol in Canada and monitors its use. Typically, ENERGY STAR products offer 20 to 30 percent savings on your energy bills.  DirectBuy of Ottawa, the leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, sells a wide ride range of ENERGY STAR products to help members save.

“The irony about ENERGY STAR products is the program itself was set up to combat the negative effect that running our appliances was having on our environment,” said Lise Girard, owner of DirectBuy of Ottawa. “While most people do want to minimize their carbon footprint, in today’s economy, it’s just as much about how much you can save by having appliances that run more efficiently.”

So, how much can you save by purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances? Here’s a small sampling:

  • Clothes washers – replacing a 10-year-old washing machine with a new ENERGY STAR machine can save a household more than $160 per year.
  • Dishwashers – ENERGY STAR dishwashers use 41 percent less energy and water than non-ENERGY STAR washers. That translates to more than $30 a year on your utility bill.
  • Refrigerators – a typical two-door, freezer-on-top refrigerator can cost more than $110 per year to run. Upgrading to ENERGY STAR can knock $30 per year off that, resulting in savings of nearly $400 in just five years.
  • Home electronics – the average household spends more than $100 per year powering electronics devices in “standby” mode. ENERGY STAR products use less energy when in standby.
  • LED Lighting – requires 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and lasts 25 times longer. According to Natural Resources Canada, LED lighting can last more than 25,000 hours than its incandescent counterparts or more than 22 years!

In addition to those savings, Canadians who replace their cooling or heating systems with ENERGY STAR systems are eligible for grants up to $5,000 from the federal government. Grant information can be found on the Office of Energy Efficiency Web site at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/.

Canadian residents who replace their heating systems might also be eligible for a Home Renovation Tax Credit for the 2009 tax year. The credit applies to expenditures more than $1,000 and less than $10,000, with the credit being no more than $1,350 per family. For eligibility guidelines, please visit the Home Tax Renovation Credit page on the Canadian Revenue Agency’s Web site at www.cra-arc.gc.ca.

“As a company that deals specifically in home improvement, we often hear the expression that this project will pay for itself, but that usually means at resale of your home,” said Girard. “When it comes to ENERGY STAR products, they literally do pay for themselves over time—without selling your home—and lessen the impact on the environment. That’s really an unbeatable combination.” 

DirectBuy carries a large selection of ENERGY STAR products and appliances at wholesale prices direct from manufacturers or their authorized suppliers. In addition, each DirectBuy club employs product specialists and designers who can help members select the appliance that works best for their home.

Since 1971, DirectBuy clubs have offered members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories by buying wholesale, directly from the manufacturer. With locations all across Canada, consumers can enjoy a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit www.directbuycares.com. For more information on ENERGY STAR, go to

http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca.

 

About DirectBuy

For more than 38 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy’s savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

Locations of DirectBuy by province are:

Alberta:

DirectBuy of Calgary Unit 17 3900 106th Ave. SE, Calgary, 403-543-1620

DirectBuy of Edmonton, 10427 174 St. NW, Edmonton, 780-413-8242

British Columbia:

DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver, 91 Golden Drive Unit #1, Coquitlam, 604-552-5252

DirectBuy of Vancouver, 2659 Lillooet St., Vancouver, 604-251-5822

DirectBuy of Central Okanagan, #5 2260 Hunter Rd, Kelowna, 250-763-4130

DirectBuy of Greater Victoria, 350B Bay Street, Victoria, 250-412-0238

Manitoba:

DirectBuy of Winnipeg, 180-117 King Edward Street East, Winnipeg, 204-925-4190

New Brunswick:

DirectBuy of New Brunswick, 950 Mountain Road, Moncton, 506-384-3009

Nova Scotia:

DirectBuy of Halifax, 60 Williams Avenue, Dartmouth, 902-446-4355

Ontario:

DirectBuy of Toronto Northwest, 2500 Williams Parkway E Unit 37, Brampton, 905-793-0639

DirectBuy of Ottawa, 1392 Cyrville Road, Ottawa, 613-749-2700

DirectBuy of London, 4093 Meadowbrook Dr. Unit 108, London, 519-652-0552

DirectBuy of Toronto North, 205 Torbay Road, Unit #2, Markham, 905-948-1911

DirectBuy of Mississauga, 4120 Ridgeway Drive Unit 26, Mississauga, 905-608-9244

DirectBuy of Kingston, 1121 John Counter Blvd, Kingston, 613-545-1200

DirectBuy of Toronto East, 1735 Bayly Unit 17, Pickering, 905-839-7747

DirectBuy of Hamilton – Niagara, 589 Barton St, Suite 102, Stoney Creek, 905-643-8271

DirectBuy of Toronto Downtown, 20 Banigan Drive, Toronto, 416-467-0078

DirectBuy of Waterloo, 755 Bridge St. Ste. 14, Waterloo, 519-885-3231

DirectBuy of Windsor, 2705 Kew Drive, Windsor, 519-945-3200

DirectBuy of Barrie, 320 Bayfield Street Unit 63, Barrie, 705-719-2999

Saskatchewan:

DirectBuy of Saskatoon, 201 Robin Crescent, Saskatoon, 306-683-3490

 

Why ENERGY STAR makes dollars and sense…Less expensive to run and tax credits and rebates make ENERGY STAR products a must.Read More