May 28th, 2009
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.
May 26th, 2009
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.”
May 21st, 2009
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!
May 19th, 2009
Remodeling can be just what you need, or it can be a disaster. From Natural Home Magazine comes the suggestion to ask yourself some important questions before you begin:
Are there any rooms or spaces you would like to have but don’t have room for? Commonly-
- Family room
- Laundry room
- Sun room
- Mudroom
- Pantry
- Storage room
Will you require an addition or can you use the existing footprint?
Which spaces are “musts” and which are “wants”?
Of your existing spaces, do any need updating or improving?
What characteristics would you like to use to tie together all of the interior spaces aesthetically? Color scheme, trim, etc.
By asking and answering these questions you will begin to evaluate where to start on your remodeling project. Envisioning the end product and working towards a goal will help your remodeling effort to become a success instead of a stress. After deciding what you really need done, then work on the budget. Staying within your budget will make satisfaction with your project guaranteed.
May 14th, 2009
Another new term: High Performance Green Building. This is being used for the Green Home that proves the highest results – results in the energy conservation category. Taken off Don Vandervort’s HomeTips.com is this list of common elements of the high performance home:
- An airtight, moisture-managed, and well-insulated building
- Manifold plumbing systems
- Climate control “zones” throughout the house
- Performance testing at each stage of the building process
The first item on the list comes with modular housing in the base price. For years systems built homes have been air tight and moisture-managed with great insulation. This has been one of the benefits of building homes in a factory setting right from the beginning. The rest of the items on the list are extras that can be engineered into your final home plans to be done on site by your contractor. If you are looking for a high performance green home contact a home specialist at Schiavi Home Builders and get started today.
May 12th, 2009
Read this article in the Natural Home Magazine and follow the steps of one retired couple in Maine building a non-toxic, eco-friendly home. I thought it was interesting that they had to almost bully their subcontractors into building their new home with the materials they wanted. With perseverance they were able to communicate what they wanted and now have a totally energy efficient as well as beautiful home that over looks the ocean. This article is very informative and gives you all the information they learned as they were building a home that has zero dependence on fossil fuels. Definitely worth the read!
May 7th, 2009
Not sure where to start when looking for “green” products? Natural Home Magazine has compiled a 2009 resource guide with over 500 vendors that can meet your needs. The list is arranged alpabetically by topic so you if you need an appliance look under the A’s and all the vendors that sell appliances will be grouped together. It’s a handy place to start shopping without ever leaving home.
May 5th, 2009
Yes, I know we are just coming out of a long cold winter but summer really is almost here. Instead of worrying about how much oil we are using to keep warm, our focus is about to change to how much it is costing us to keep cool. Did you know that approximately 1/6 of all electricity used in the United States is used to keep residential and commercial buildings cooled down? You can also lessen the cost of cooling down your home by about 25% by having a well placed shade tree. Intrigued about ways to naturally cool your home? Check out the 30 environmentally friendly ways to keep your house cool in the summer at Home Guide 123. Times dictate that we conserve energy summer and winter and all the days in between.
