The surprising home improvement that will save you a bundle

If you are considering making home improvements to address your energy use and utility bill, you may be in for a surprise. The biggest energy change is not what most people think.

The Surprising Home Improvement That Will Save You a Bundle

There are a couple reasons for improving the energy efficiency in your home. You may realize we are impacting our environment and want to do your part to stop this. On the other hand, you may be tired of paying ever increasing utility bills. Regardless, you are ready to do something, but need to take a quick break before jumping in.

Most people automatically think the biggest cost associated with energy use in their home is heating it in winter and cooling it in summer. This would certainly seem to make sense from a logical perspective. In the case of energy, however, logical fails the test.

The biggest use of energy in your home is heating your water. This may be surprising at first, but think it through. How many times a day is the shower or bath cranked on? How many times a week is the dishwasher cranked on? Do you have a pool? How about a Jacuzzi? Each of these energy requirements adds up very quickly, particularly hot water for showers and dishwashers. The good news is you can make relatively painless home improvements to address these issues.

There is no denying we all need to take showers each day…at least I hope! To improve your shower energy use, there are a couple of basic steps you can take. First, get a low flow shower head. They cost a few bucks, but restrict the volume of water coming out. The less hot water used, the less your water heater has to crank up. Don’t worry, you will not notice a difference. Second, consider going with a solar water heater or a tankless system. Solar works best because there are no energy requirements from your utility, but a tankless water heater has advantages as well because it does not waste energy by firing up over and over during the day when you are not home. Regardless, just make the change.

As to dishwashers, there are two solutions. Again, solar water heaters overcome the problem by heating the water without tapping your utility lines. If you aren’t ready for that, get an energy efficient dishwasher. You are looking for a product that has an Energy Star rating. The rating signifies the dishwasher is designed to minimize energy use with a savings of at least 25 percent compared to traditional machines.

Going green is not nearly as painful as most people think. Making small changes, such as how you heat your water, can make a major difference to both the environment and your utility bill.

Living air purifiers cleaning your air

Living Air purifiers are manufactured, along with other brands, such as Fresh Air, by Ecoquest, a company that strive to improve the quality of the living environment of families all over the world. And while this is undoubtedly a noble quest, many experts and consumers question the ability of Living Air purifiers to meet this task adequately.

Living Air purifiers take their place at the higher end of the indoor air cleaner market, costing as much as $700 for a single room clean air purifier. And while many consumer reviews rate Living Air purifiers highly, there is no escaping the fact that these indoor air cleaners contain a substance that an increasing number of experts claim is damaging to our health – ozone.

While many consumers report improved air quality in their homes with the use of a Living Air purifier, even those who suffer with such debilitating conditions as asthma, an increasing number of experts are citing evidence that suggests that ozone can cause long-term damage to an individual’s lungs. So while a Living Air purifier might bring instant relief to allergy and asthma sufferers, there might well be a more far-reaching price to be paid with the use of these indoor air cleaners.

The more immediate effects that consumers have reported with the use of a Living Air purifier include a strong odor of ozone in the home, and persistent headaches. Some users find that these effects can be reduced by operating Living Air purifiers at a lower setting, and while this might eliminate the typical symptoms that an indoor air cleaner is introduced to combat, there remains the threat posed by ozone.

Though expensive, Living Air purifiers are generally reported as being effective in removing particles and dust from the air. But, by using ozone in their design, it is likely that these clean air purifiers are emitting something far more dangerous than the particles they eliminate.

Living Air purifiers are expensive and emit ozone. Maybe they aren’t the best indoor air cleaners.

Contemporary home decor

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Contemporary home decor is thought off as minimalist and cold however they tend to be comfortable and welcoming without being cluttered or dark. One of the dйcor styles that is equally suitable for offices and homes. The style is recognized on its sheer simplicity and sophistication. The texture of the furniture and the cleanliness of the dйcor are additional features of contemporary home dйcor. A home that is designed contemporarily can be a comfortable and quiet retreat in today’s high stress work environment. For decorating your home or office contemporarily you must consider the following ground rules to achieve the desired look.

Contemporary home dйcor must concentrate on the space available, color, shape and the sleek stylish contemporary interiors. Let consider the core elements of design to bring that contemporary look in your home and office that could be a head turner.

The main colors that lighten the interiors of a contemporary home dйcor are neutrals, whites and blacks. Black colors are mostly used over the ground to define the contemporary room. The walls are painted in neutrals that act as a beautiful background for bold colored accessories. In cases where the walls are ad widows are colored in pastels the trims should be neutral. While if the walls are dark in color it is advisable to used neutrals everywhere.

Line is another distinctive yet obvious element of contemporary design of interiors. Lines are found in almost everything like architectural details, use of bold color blocks, bare windows and high ceilings. In contemporary home dйcor less is considered to me more. Every object receives individuality and uniqueness of its own. The bare pace between the furniture or on walls and in upper areas becomes equally important as the occupied areas. One can also take advantage of the structural elements in the house like the broken bricks can be used to provide texture and stability. These structural details must be painted in bold contrasts for drawing the line as this would diminish their importance and blend them with walls.

Furniture of a contemporary home dйcor should be bold, clean and in geometric shapes. The texture of fabrics is well accepted to provide a distinctive textured look to the dйcor. All the pieces of furniture are simple and uncluttered without curves an decoration or curves. The beds have no trims or skirts usually. The pillows are a medium to add colors to the geometric shapes.

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Shopping tips for furniture for the children s room

The options appear endless and you probably have gift certificates from a baby shower to use. As you fast forward to your second or third child the wonder of shopping for children's furniture has likely worn off a bit and the realistic aspects of shopping for children’s furniture begins to creep in. In either event, the ideas that you should keep in mind are fairly simple. Keeping to them as the children age may be a bit of a different thing, but the principles remain the same.

Check for safety

One would think that checking to make sure that children's furniture is safe would go without saying. One would also imagine that manufacturers would make sure that the furniture is safe as a matter of course. Unfortunately, neither is true. Shoppers tend to be more interested in how a piece of furniture will look in their home then how safe it is. Also unfortunate is that manufacturers cater to this interest. It is up to you, the shopper, to make sure your child will be safe. With this in mind consider these safety areas; spaces where a head can get lodged between to surfaces - this is most important between the mattress and rail or wall, Sharp corners, exposed bolts, uncapped tubing, uneven chair legs, lead paint, ill-attaching shelving, to heavy pictures and spaces where hands/legs/feet or clothing can be stuck or caught.

Think longer term

Durability of children's furniture has quite a bit to do with practicality and cost effectiveness. As you troll down the furniture isles, shop with the idea that you may be having more then one child or more to come. You may have had financial help, and a somewhat smaller selection of furniture needs when you were dealing with an infant, but now you need to think a bit longer term and how much these children are actually going to costs. This is why the word hand-me-down came into existence. Bunk beds are a prime idea to think about in this instance. If you find the right set, they can be used as singles or doubles. Desk sets are another item to consider when thinking long term. In either instance, try to stay somewhat gender neutral for longer term purchases so both sexes can be equally disappointed.

Color choices

As you shop, consider the color of the pieces you are looking at. Will they go with a variety of wall colors and paper patterns? The wall color will change as the child ages and finds their own taste. Reality dictates that this will happen quite a few times during the younger middle ages. The furniture that you pick out should be able to keep pace with a variety of odd colors and patterns.

First, middle and last child

As much as you would like to buy furniture for the first child and have it last through the last child it is readily apparent that this will not happen. Furniture does break and wear out. So is the life cycle of children’s furniture. As the children age, however, your tactics and choices begin to change as well. If you are buying for the last child, you may want to consider that you are also buying for yourself, unless you buy to well and the child takes the piece with them when they leave the house. From this perspective, you have two routs to choose from when you are buying furniture for the latter children in your life: buy it with the intention of giving it away or throwing it out or buying it as a quality piece that will end up in another location for your use when the child is gone.

Child's input

As much as you would like to be in total control of the children’s furniture buying process, at some point the child will speak up for their own tastes. This is a good sign in the child’s development but slightly annoying, to be sure, in the middle of a furniture store. Let the child have their say on a few “important” items that they simply “can’t live without.”Do, however, exercise you veto power if you feel you need to.

Organization

However much you would like to avoid the concept, technology furniture is a reality of life in today’s world. A good solid piece of furniture that addresses today’s technology is a good investment and will stay with the child through a good portion of their young life. There are, however, two very important considerations to think about; do you want to buy a piece that will last forever like a good old fashioned, well made couch or do you buy knowing that nobody knows where technology will lead us in the reasonably near future? A tough call to be sure. Consider, however, just a good solid table, at adult height, that could be used for finger painting, home work with paper and table top technology.

Which door handle should you choose

The most basic of doorknobs is simply a protrusion on a door which provides a place for a hand to grab in order to pull the door towards you. However, most households prefer to use doorknobs which incorporate a mechanism which ensures the door remains closed until the mechanism is activated.

Doorknobs with this mechanism in work by use of a latch which extends from within the door into a recess in the frame This ensures that the door cannot be pulled open or perhaps blown open by a draft, but that the knob must be turned in order for the mechanism to work. The turning of the knob causes the latch to withdraw into the door itself, removing the blockage between the door and the frame and allowing the door to be opened. It is possible for knobs such as these to also incorporate a lock into them, which works by preventing the action of turning the handle. Generally these are in the form of a button in the centre of the knob which must be pushed in, or twisted depending on the style of knob, and which then stops the handle form being able to be turned. This is the simplest form of lock and can be useful in rooms such as bathrooms as they are simple to operate and means an additional lock does not need to be installed. However, there are cases where an additional lock can be beneficial, for example if the door is external, in which case a mortise lock is always recommended for security reasons.

These doorknobs are thought by many to be the only option as they fulfil all the criteria of a door handle. However, there are occasions when a different style of handle may be beneficial. Because these knobs require a good grip in order to turn them they may be difficult for elderly people, or those with grip problems, to utilise easily. They may need to use two hands to operate the knob which is not always practical, for example if they are carrying something. If the knob is situated close to a wall it may also cause problems as you may find yourself making contact with the wall when turning the knob. In these situations you may be advised to use a lever-style handle.

These work on the same mechanism as the door knob but they are operated by use of pressing down on a lever. This is often much easier for the majority of people to use as it relies not only on the power of the individual but also on gravity and the laws of physics regarding levers. They do not require you to have a firm grip on them either, so those who find gripping objects difficult should be able to use them much more easily.

When considering which handles to buy it is wise to bear in mind the people who you think may be using them before you make your final decision.

All you need to know about whirlpool and spa baths

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WHIRLPOOLS AND AIRSPAS (Jacuzzi and Airbath):

There are two type of hydro massage bathing systems:
1. Whirlpools, more commonly known by the brand name Jacuzzi.
2. Airspas, more commonly known by the brand name Airbath.
Whirlpools are characterised by having jets on the side of the bath about half way up and a suction point (similar to a colander) in one of the bottom corners. This type of system produces hydro-massage by sucking water from the bath and pumping it out of the jets on the side under pressure. To increase the pressure of the jets most whirlpools have a control on the top of the bath which allows air to be sucked in to the jet of water.
The main difference between a whirlpool and a Jacuzzi is that the size of the jets is bigger on the Jacuzzi and the air and water mix is different. This difference produces a more powerful jet of water with the Jacuzzi (whether this amount of power is necessary with a standard domestic sized bath is a matter of opinion).
The difficulty with all whirlpools is that they hold a small amount of water in the jets and pipe work when emptied. Depending on who fits the system this amount can vary between an egg cup full and several pints.
The second difficulty with some whirlpools is that not all baths are designed to have them fitted. This can result in the jets being sited very high up the sides of the bath, with the effect that when you lay in the bath the jets of water do not hit you but spray over the top of you and only agitate the top one inch of water. This will result in a longer bathing period required to achieve the hydro-massage effect.
Baths where the jet positions are moulded into the side allows the jets to sit lower and so intensify the massage. With this type of system it is not advisable that small children or older people are left unattended whilst in the bath.
The third difficulty with whirlpools of all types is that they do not have the ability to maintain the water temperature. The result of this is that the average length of time a bath stays warm is approximately 30 minutes. That is unless you add more hot water. Dependant on the type of whirlpool system you choose it may take between 10 minutes and 25 minutes to achieve the hydro-massage effect on the body.
Airspas are characterised by having a series of jets or holes fitted/drilled into the base of the bath. They produce air through the jets under pressure to fill the bath with bubbling water. This agitation of the water is what causes the hydro-massage effect. The difficulty of this type of system is that it has a tendency to cool the water in the bath. It is possible to with this type of system to have any level of water in the bath whilst the system is in use and so makes it ideal for children and older people. However due to the reduced pressure of the air jets over the whirlpool jets it can take longer to produce the hydro-massage effect. The Airbath system has a device called a Warm Air Injection which allows a small amount of hot water to heat the air stream as the air is pumped through the jets. The result of this is that Airbath claim that the system will
maintain the bath water temperature. This then allows a person to stay in the bath for longer and so gain the full benefit of the hydro-massage.

One difficulty experienced by all massage baths to a greater or lesser extent is that of hygiene. There is a commonly held belief that this type of system is unhygienic.
This is both true and untrue! I will explain. All massage systems require cleaning from time to time. Because of the design some systems may need to be cleaned every 3 months. All good manufacturers will supply a cleaner designed for their type of system and advice on how to use it. The main problem is that people do not follow the cleaning regime and as such problems then ensue. The system is as hygienic as the user. You would never dream of not cleaning the toilet or basin so why assume that the massage bath has the ability to clean itself.

STEAM AND SAUNAS (Turkish and Swedish):

Turkish steam sauna's and Swedish dry heat sauna's are both types of hydro-massage system. The difference is in the way they achieve the effect.
Swedish dry saunas use dry air to heat the body to high temperatures causing you to perspire heavily. They are supplied in the form of a wooden box inside of which is sited an oven upon which sit hot coals. These coals produce more heat when a small amount of water is splashed on them and the humidity increases. As people we can stand quite high temperatures of dry heat but only relatively smaller amounts of heat in high humidity. The average temperature within a Swedish sauna can be over 100 degrees.
Turkish steam saunas produce steam in large amounts to cause the hydro-massage effect and, like the Swedish type, also make you perspire heavily. This is wet heat and as such achieves the desired effect at much lower temperatures. This can be as little as 40 degrees and is seldom higher than 50 degrees. The main difference between the two systems is that the steam system appears to be less of an irritant to the breathing and as such is better in general for those suffering from respiratory conditions where a moist atmosphere is beneficial. You may have experienced this as a child if, when suffering from a cold, you were told to put your head over a bowl of steaming water and than had a towel placed over you.

HYDRO-MASSAGE EFFECT:

The Hydro-massage effect has never been proved to be a scientific fact. This effect cannot make the blind see, the lame walk, cure aids or prevent cancer. It is claimed by many however to provide relief from the effects of many debilitating conditions.
The Hydro-massage effect is the action of the heat and or movement of the water on the body. The result of this is two fold. The first is that it causes the muscles around the arteries and heart to relax. This in turn allows the heart to pump more blood with each beat, without pumping any harder. The result of this is increased and improved circulation. Improved circulation is of benefit in many conditions. It reduces inflammation around the joint of those suffering from arthritis and rheumatism and allows for the removal of stress causing toxins from the blood stream by improving kidney function.
The second effect is that when fully relaxed the body produces its own chemical relaxants such as noradrenalin. These natural relaxants have none of the side effects of the manufactured kind and enable you to totally chill out.

Air purifiers - know your pollutants

People use air purifiers in the home and office to screen pollutants and contaminants out of the air. But just what are these pollutants, and why should they matter to you?

Bacteria: Airborne bacteria can be a problem, to say the least. Such diseases as tetanus, typhoid fever, pneumonia, syphilis, cholera, leprosy, and tuberculosis are all the nasty products of these airborne pathogens. Lucky for us, not all bacteria are this vicious; there's also 'friendly bacteria', which if it's any help to you at all is living some place private, like your pancreas, out of reach of an air purifier.

Mold spores: Mold is a fungus just like mushrooms. Mold reproduces itself through spores, which fly around in the air and aggravate your allergies. Some molds are toxic when inhaled. Black mold, which can grow on food, can produce the serious lung disease aspergillosis if large quantities are inhaled. Mold is a problem in buildings which are too air-tight and have too much trapped moisture.

Viruses: Submicroscopic and microorganisms particles that can infect the cells of a biological organism - you, for instance. Needs no introduction here. People with weakened immune systems from a present medical condition can especially do with fewer viruses in the air.

Pet dander: Dander is hair and skin particles that fly off of a pet and cause an allergic reaction in people so inclined, frequently manifested in a sneeze. Skin rashes can also be an allergic reaction to pet dander.

Dust: No, it's not a matter of how much you clean; even in the tidiest households, dust happens. Some people with dust allergies can have an extreme reaction. Another airborne dust problem is found in industrial workplace environments. If the product being manufactured produces enough dust, it can even constitute a safety hazard.

Dust mites: These little critters live in that dust that you didn't want around anyway. They're known as Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in Europe and Dermatophagoides farinae in America, but by any name are regarded as a nuisance. Dust mites are thought to be the number one cause of asthma worldwide. Unlucky for us, dust mites like it best in the same kind of carpeted, draft-proof, cushioned environment that we people like.

Smoke: Oooooh, do we smokers ever take a lot of heat for our filthy habit! An air purifier can help you live with that human chimney in your home. It can even help the smoker's health, when they no longer have to stand outside in the snow.

Odors: The obvious one that nobody ever thinks about. Air purifiers can help dispel the taints of paint, bleach, cooking, and chemical solvents from the air. If it offends your nose, an air purifier gets rid of it.

Well, that covers most of it. It's surprising to see how much is going on right in front of our noses that we can't see, isn't it?

Wood or metal playground equipment

What better surprise for a child than a fantastic playground in your own backyard. There are few things children love more than slides, swing sets, and playgrounds in general. Instead of making the trek to your neighborhood park, installing a playground in your own backyard is a great solution. There is a spectacular selection of quality playground equipment on the market, but the main choice you will have to make is between the actual materials. There many reasons why to make a backyard playground, but evaluate the differences between metal and wooden sets carefully before your purchase.

Regardless if you choose a piece of wooden or metal playground equipment, be sure that it follows all the proper safety standards. Also, keep in mind that children each year are injured by improperly playing on playground equipment without appropriate supervision. Even though this playground is in your own backyard instead of at the neighborhood park, your children should still play under adult supervision.

Years ago, most playground equipment was made from metal. Even today, most swing sets are still made from metal tubes attached to which is a chain. Metal equipment, although still available, has been far surpassed by wooden equipment. The main reason for the rise in popularity of wooden playground equipment is the customizations options. Also, many individuals choose wooden playground equipment since it can be built for less money than the purchase of a metal play set.

If you are the handy type looking to build your own fantastic outdoor playground creation, then wood is the best way to go. There are numerous kits that allow you to combine different types of slides, swings, climbing walls, and a variety of other aspects to customize the set. The planning and construction process required in creating wooden playground equipment is a great project for the entire family. Involve your children and allow them to express themselves in creating a custom set. Let your imagine roam wild!

Picking up a hammer and nails not sounding so attractive? Look to pre-made sets instead. Although you will not be able to customize the equipment, there are many fantastic options available in both metal and wood. Keep in mind that metal equipment should be regularly inspected to avoid and prevent rusting. If necessary, apply a rust-preventative paint or topcoat. Also, wooden playground equipment should also be evaluated for potential splits or splinters. Just like metal equipment, those made out of wood should have the proper weather coatings to keep the wood looking fresh.

Organizing your home what a challenge

Organizing a whole house can be a major challenge. It is harder than organizing a workspace, or office because of the larger space, and the many rooms. Because of the larger space it could take some time for you to organize it, and proper planning is needed so you can get it right the first time.

There are some resources you can use before starting. You should ask the help of a friend or a professional to get some insight to help with your planning. Another thing is to look at interior design magazines and to get ideas of the internet and see how those houses were organized.

The main reason for organizing your house is so that it remains clutter free, and presentable to friends and family who visit. The first thing you should do is make sure you know the areas of your house, do a visual inspection of the area. This will get you familiar with the area and give you an idea on how to organize each room so that it flows with the next.

Next is to ask your friends and family members to help you. With more people helping work can be done faster, and more efficiently. You should inform the people of the date they are going to help on a week or so in advance so that they can't make excuses and back out.

Next step is getting rid of clutter like old clothes and toys. You should ask the owner of the items before throwing them away, because they might want to keep it. Sometimes not everyone agrees on how a room should be decorated and organized. Everyone should get together and discuss the plans so that everyone is in agreement before the work is started. Arguments can lead to changing the plan, and therefore slowing work down. Therefore make sure that everyone is in agreement and stick to the plan to get the work done faster.

A good way to enhance the looks of a house is new furniture. You can buy furniture from local stores or from the internet. Make sure that you know exactly what you need and what sizes to get that would make the room flow nicely. It would be a shame to buy furniture that is too small or too big for the space.

Organizing a house can be fun and a good bonding experience. When you work through challenges together and get the job done you can feel a sense of accomplishment. Having a clean and organized house is good for everyone who lives in it, and any guest that comes over to visit.

The time for fire pit

Summer is just around the corner and in some places spending the night out on the patio or in the backyard is a real possibility, one great thing about the summer nights is that you can enjoy a fire pit, sometimes to warm you up in a cool summer night and sometimes to serve as a romantic feature on your outdoor menu.

You should make sure that it is safe and permitted to burn wood in your living area and get yourself a nice fire pit, get some wood and it is almost as simple as that, you just need to find the right distance from where you and your friends are sitting and you could spend all night outside by a burning fire.

If you want to upgrade your outdoor experience, you can always look for a fire pit that has the option of serving as a cooking device, these are not very expensive and sometimes can be a real treat, you can cook all those classic outdoor things while you relax outdoors, the barbeque fire pit is something that you can also use for more serious cooking, it is in fact one of the most traditional and oldest way to cook, so you can even roast a small pig on a decent barbeque fire pit.

The benefits of getting a fire pit are numerous, you can enjoy a nice natural fire outdoor, as the months pas you could also enjoy your backyard in September and October, the only thing is that you will probably have to bring the fire pit a little closer to you, and you will probably have to get more wood to keep it going, but once you got a working fire pit by your side the chances you will be cold are low.

The fire pit provides a nice light in the night, this fire has a very good effect on socializing and having friends over for the evening, you will be surprised at the quality of interaction a nice fire brings out, it is just like those fascinating talks you used to have by the fire place, many years ago.

A fire pit can serve as an addition to a patio, it is a wonderful special thing you can add for parties and family dinners, and with a relatively low cost and low maintenance a patio fire pit is something that can only upgrade you patio.

You can also make your own fire pit, it is not complicated and you can find the basic materials in every do it yourself shop, the advantage of making your own fire pit is that you can tailor make it to fit your garden or backyard and of course serve your particular needs, some families enjoy planning and making the fire pit together, making this a family task, and afterwards everyone feels he has contributed to the new fire pit in the garden.

A fire pit is really plain fun, there is nothing expensive or complicated about it, it will warm you in cool summer nights, and cook nice meals for you as you enjoy a talk with your friends, it can add a nice feature to your backyard or patio and you will find that your friends, neighbors and family members adore the time they spend by it.

Fireplace buying tips

When you begin the search to find the right fireplace for your home you may want to start by researching what the energy efficiency rating is on the fireplaces you are interested in. To assist in finding the fireplaces with higher energy efficiency ratings look for the EnerGuide Fireplace Efficiency ratings on those fireplaces you are considering.

Questions to ask yourself when you start shopping:

-What price range can you afford?

-What style of fireplace will match your homes decor?

-How large is the room it will be installed in?

-How often will the fireplace get used?

-Must have features on your fireplace?

-Features you would like but not critical?

Common features of fireplaces that have higher energy efficiency ratings:

-Direct vent fireplace.

-Ceramic glass.

-Intermittent or automatic electronic ignition system.

-Secondary heat exchanger.

-Insulated outer casing.

-A quiet squirrel cage-type circulating fan.

-Automatic or variable setting control to adjust temperature.

Other things to consider:

-Have a certified professional install your fireplace.

-Shop and review the various models on the market, take your time.

-Carefully review the warranty to clearly see what is and is not covered.

Once installed, plan to have your fireplace serviced at least once a year by a certified professional.