Local artist and illustrator Alan Peters is a regular visitor to the Center for ReSource Conservation’s ReSource Yard and Tool Library in Boulder. Alan, the owner of Jupiter Visual, a local graphic design business became a member of the ReSource Tool Library when it first opened its doors just over a year ago. Tool Library members pay a low annual fee and rent from a selection of over 3,500 tools donated by community members. Using tools from The Resource Tool Library and recycled building mat
Category Archives: Home Tips
Selling or staying put, ‘daylighting’ improvements pay off for homeowners
If your home will be on the market this spring, you’re probably looking for every possible edge that will make it stand out to potential buyers. But even if you’re staying put, you still want to make your home as attractive and valuable as your budget will allow. “Daylighting” improvements that boost your home’s brightness and energy efficiency offer substantial return on investment for both home sellers and those who will be staying in their homes for the foreseeab
Fungus gnats annoying
One of the more annoying problems with houseplants is that they often become hotels for creatures of the six-legged kind. Some of the most annoying are tiny bugs slowly flying about in winter, often drifting right around our heads. Naturally this causes otherwise calm people to start flailing their hands in front of their faces, grasping at what seems to be thin air in an attempt to squish the pesky insect. If you’re lucky, you’re able to catch one flying by and remove it from this world. Th
Hot trends for spring home improvement projects
Warmer temperatures, green grass and increased daylight help shake off the winter blues and inspire home and yard improvements to spruce up your surroundings. Whether you’re remodeling to stay put, or putting your home on the market, consider home improvement and design trends as you plan your renovation projects. Add bold, bright colors Need a color boost? Fresh color recommendations from the Pantone Color Institute include Tangerine Tango, Solar Power, Bellflower and Cabaret. Try adding a sp
Make your home stand out with new exterior trim
With the housing market showing its first signs of improvement in years, many homeowners hope to attract interested buyers this spring. Replacing old or damaged exterior trim is a great way to freshen up your home today and make it stand out among others tomorrow. After location and price, curb appeal is one of the top factors for choosing a home. Curb appeal sells 49 percent of all homes, according to the National Association of Realtors. In fact, even before putting your home on the market, yo
Testing your home for Radon offers peace of mind
Radon (Rn) is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You can’t see radon. You can’t smell it or taste it. But, it may be a problem in your home. Radon is estimated to be the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and is estimated to cause over 20,000 deaths each year. Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. As you breathe, the radon molecule proceeds through its half-life cycle releasing alpha and beta particl
Revolutionary gardening in your own yard
Eating that ripe sugar snap pea, carrot or tomato straight out of your yard is all it takes to be part of a gardening revolution – the urban farm garden movement. Colorado residents are beginning to take a hard look at the amount of water used on landscapes such as the once popular bluegrass lawn. It makes sense in our arid climate to seek ways to reduce outdoor water usage. Vegetable gardens fit in nicely here, with multiple benefits to society. Growing food crops uses water in a useful way,
Last walnut standing
When you watch a television sitcom, you must suspend reality or risk driving yourself nuts arguing their implausible scenarios. Lucille ball proved this weekly, as she and Ethel managed to get into some ridiculous shenanigans, as do the ultra-geeks on Big Bang Theory today. But when a sitcom takes an uneducated stand on a heartbreaking topic of tree catastrophe, well, any person who considers themselves a Lorax is bound to rise up in protest. Such was the case on the show Last Man Standing,
A gift from the heart
In the world of love, never underestimate the power of a gift. A small token demonstrates devotion, wins hearts, and keeps your sweetie from tearing off your limbs and serving you up as supper. As we romance over wine and candlelight, consider the value of gifts in our arthropod brethren, and be happy for chocolate and flowers. If you pay attention to television ads, you might think the true token of love is diamond, but I say a dead insect is a lot more telling of a suitor’s prowess than
DIY insulation projects make for a more comfortable home
Do-it-yourself home improvement projects are more popular than ever, as homeowners are looking for simple, low cost ways to update their household and increase overall home efficiency. Kitchen upgrades and a fresh coat of paint can make a big difference aesthetically, but sometimes the most effective DIY projects happen in areas not always visible. For example, small insulation changes are easy and can help improve indoor comfort. Additionally, ensuring adequate insulation can have a significant
