Maine Modular & Custom Home News

Did you know that you could clean brass with ketchup?  That particular use of ketchup was new to me.   I never have brass polish in my home but I always have ketchup in my refrigerator.  Good to know that you can use it as a cleaner in a pinch.  That was just one of the tips I found at My Home Ideas.  My day is now complete because I have learned something new.  I hope that when you read the ten tips at My Home Ideas you learn something new too.

Roger Valdez wrote this great article: Does Green Building Have to Break the Bank? Valdez explores the intuitive feeling we get when we are building green that it is going to cost us a whole lot more money.  There are several links to good articles in his post that validate the idea that green building doesn’t have to be impractical – it just feels that way.  He also brings up a definition of what green building is according to the Federal Reserve Bank.  It is a much more workable definition than we are use to.  If you want to look at the practical side of green building, read Valdez’s article and click on the links he provides.  There is a lot of useful information that will calm your fears about how you can afford to build green.  As always, if you want some additional information on green building, contact one of our housing specialists here at Schiavi Home Builders.  We will help you find answers to your questions.

If you still aren’t convinced to build a new home check out the National Association of Home Buyers brochure that will answer a multitude of questions.  This brochure is available as a .pdf download and has information on income tax savings for a home owner, the new tax credit for home buyers and the adantages of building your wealth through home ownership.  Making  a decision such as building a new home is hard at any time, but even more so in times of economic uncertainties.  Schiavi Home Builders can help walk you through the process and alleve your building worries.  Folks who are making the decision to build new homes now are reaping all the usual benefits, plus some really great bargains in the process.  Contact one of our home specialists now to find out how much you can save by building a new Schiavi Home.

I found this blog post on the Best Green Tips site that has so much information it was too good not to share.  This post is broken into three sections:

• Cons of remodeling green
• Pros of remodeling green
• Pros of Building or Buying a New Green Home

Each section lists pros and cons with multiple links for more information.  It is a great one stop look that helps you make a more informed decision about your building project.  If you have any additional questions after reading all of this information, call one of our Home Specialists to help you decide what your best course of action is.

Are you interested in learning more about energy sources and issues but you don’t have time to sit down and read a lot of technical data?  Try listening to this broadcast from New Hampshire’s Public Radio station.  They devoted a lot of time to looking at renewable energy in New England and then broadcast their findings with a knowledgeable panel of experts.  Sometimes it’s easier to listen while we’re doing other things, rather than stopping everything to read an article.  This will give you an opportunity to learn a lot of information

So it’s coming…..I read this article about a new program called Autodesk and my usual Pollyanna attitude went right out the door. What is presented as a tool to help control the carbon emissions in the cities around the world, I see as a government windfall. Here it comes….a manipulative software application of measuring the carbon footprint…a way to create an across the board evaluation of our carbon footprint so a new tax on the people can be created. Perhaps we can start a betting pool for the beginning date of this new tax…it’s not too early. I have to say, I hope I am wrong. I hope that this really is just a tool that gets used to monitor the carbon emissions and then we correct the problems. That would be the best scenario – yet I am not all that hopeful. Either way, with carbon emissions “measurable” instantly it will effect the building industry, making everyone that much more conscientious of how their new home is adding to the numbers.

Have you wondered if all this talk about green will wither away when the hype settles down and the economy is strong once again? That’s what I thought would happen until I read the 10 Trends that Will Keep the Green Economy Growing. It was easy to jump on the green bandwagon when it all began, and like others I’ve found it easy to fall right off again. I have been “greened out” and I don’t even want to hear the term green again. All that aside, I do believe that change is here to stay, it is too beneficial to cast away. As I was reminded when I read Glenn Croston’s post, fossil fuels are expensive and will continue to rise in price, carbon emissions come with a price tag, and water is incredibly valuable. Life as we know it has changed

There have been attempts in the past to come up with a solar roof shingle and the efficiency has been limited. Dow is working with a Tuscon firm on a new thin photovoltaic film to put on roof shingles that has a higher rate of conversion to power than in the past. The ease of installation is a big plus for this form of solar power. You need to install roof shingles anyway, so installing a shingle that has a photovoltaic film and acts to capture the solar energy, eliminates the need to install solar panels over a regular roof shingle. The hope is that the new type of solar roof shingle will be ready to be distributed to the public in 2011. For the full details read the entire article here.

You’ve always wanted to live in the country and you finally built your dream home in a rural area. If you’ve never lived in the country before, beware of the rural lifestyle and don’t be caught being a “Citiot.” According to the Granite Hill Design Rural Handout – a Citiot is defined as: “An urban or suburban person, in a rural area, who fails to respect local culture or standards of behavior. Derivation: city + idiot. Opposite of bumpkin.”

You might be a “citiot” if you think…
“There are no rules out in the country.”
“Driving fast on these winding roads is fun!”
“Insects are pests, and should be killed.”
“Wildlife is dangerous, and carries diseases.”
“Everyone will love our decorative outdoor lights.”
“I have a well, so I can use all the water I want to.”
“Get your horse off the road. Roads are for cars.”

A few more bits of wisdom coming from years of living in the country:

• We like our privacy – do not under any circumstances cut down all of the trees on your lot so you can see our home.
• There should not be sidewalks on rural roads – do not petition the town office for money to be spent building a sidewalk in your rural neighborhood.
• Yes it is dark in the nighttime, no we do not need streetlights.

Any more questions about rural life? Talk to your neighbor, I’m sure they will be happy to let you know the ins and outs of living in the country. They truly don’t want you to earn the reputation of being a “citiot.”

Miscellaneous tidbits picked up from Natural Home Magazine:

• You can use a garden hose to spray tung oil or linseed oil on a wood fence to keep it fresh.
• In the United States, coal-generated electricity produces more carbon dioxide emissions than the entire transportation sector.
• Demand for photovoltaics in the U.S. has grown by 30% every year for the past decade.
• Ceiling fans can save up to 40% on summer energy bills and up to 10% in winter.
• To get oily stains off from a painted wall mix a paste of 1/4 cup baking soda and 1-2 tbsps of water. Pat onto the stain with a damp sponge. Let dry and brush off with a soft cloth. Wash wall as usual.
• Whether you have air conditioning or not, grow native plants on the east and west sides of your house to block the sun and keep it cool.
• Put a milk jug full of water or pebbles in your toilet tank to save water with each flush.

Little bits of information can make our life easier and more earth friendly. Look for more This and That as I gather small helpful hints in my random reading. I’ll share them with you!