Cold days are here to stay, and the lower the temperature goes, the higher the utility costs are to heat your home. What if there was a way to heat your house for significantly less? Biomass fuels – natural, clean-burning, inexpensive fuels – offer a smart solution that can lower your heating costs and reduce your carbon footprint. Biomass fuel 101 Biomass fuels are natural fuels that are renewable and clean burning. Examples of biomass fuels include wood pellets, wood chips, paper a
Category Archives: Home Tips
Prepare now for a dream summer outdoor living space
Beat the winter blues by taking the first steps to create a summer backyard oasis. By preparing now, you’ll be ready to install – and enjoy – a dream deck once warmer weather arrives. The outdoor living experts at Trex recommend checking these outdoor projects off your “to-do” list early in the year. Create a distinctive design Start thinking about the style, shape and color scheme of your outdoor space. Are your tastes country cottage or mostly modern? Do you desire a basic de
Avoid the lingering effects of the holidays
There are two moments of debate that surround holiday lighting at our house, one in November on how early to hang them, the other in January on when to take them down. Chill weather and unrelenting wind make it easy to argue that it’s better to delay removing them, and I convince myself that leaving them up is a smart, modern approach to a time-pressed gardener’s schedule. “Twinkle lights are festive year round,” I tell myself in support of procrastination. But as year to year those ligh
January is National Radon Action Month: Local resident is assisted by the Center for ReSource Conservation in protecting their home
When Boulder resident, Roger Harris, bought his home he was aware of the high level of radon in Boulder County. Being aware of the risk he purchased a kit from the Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC). After his experience Roger recommends, “Every two years people should go to the CRC and purchase a test.” Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking cigarettes. Radon claims more than 20,000 American lives every year. Being exposed to a level of 11 pCi/L in your home is
How to avoid scary heating bills this winter
The only thing scarier than this picture is the heating bill the homeowner can expect this winter. This year’s winter weather has been unpredictable, but homeowners can take a few simple steps now to ensure chilly temperatures and monthly heating bills don’t take a bite out of their wallet. Seeing your home through the lens of an infrared camera is one simple way to evaluate heat loss – an infrared lens is able to capture thermal energy emitted from weaknesses in the home’s “therma
New garage door technology makes your life safer; secure
As the American home has continued to evolve with the speed of new technology, so has the garage. In order to keep up with the everyday busy lives of homeowners and the need for these homeowners to spread out and utilize all the space within their homes, garages have become a new frontier for functioning space within the home. The majority of homeowners use the garage as the main entrance way into their homes, making the garage door and its opener imperative to the security of the home, protecti
Today’s boomers downsize, but upsize the amenities
Say goodbye to the McMansion. According to a leading real estate website, Trulia.com, 2010 was officially the year that homes over 3,200 square feet ended their dominance and appeal. But don’t think that downsizing means downgrading. In fact, homeowners are looking to upsize their amenities to help them enjoy every inch of their homes. And, while many different generations are following this trend, Boomers are a unique group, looking to enjoy their smaller nest now that the kids have flown the
DIY Decisions
Before you rip down any walls or start tampering with outlets, it’s best to access your do-it-yourself skill level. Here is some expert advice on what to embrace, what to ponder and when to call a professional Walk into a Home Depot or Lowe’s store on Saturday morning and you’ll be surrounded by the home improvement equivalent of cheerleaders shouting “you-can-do-it!” Classes, displays and advice on everything from caulking a window to installing a skylight can make you feel like there
Demand for healthier building options drives the rediscovery of ceramic tile
One time-tested product at the heart of the healthy building trend is ceramic tile. In fact, the Healthy Building Network recommends ceramic tile as an alternative to widely used vinyl, one of the biggest generators of VOCs in home environments. The experts at Tile of Spain point to the healthful benefits of ceramic tile: Cleaner surfaces Whether you use it on the bathroom floor or the wall of a master bedroom, ceramic tile is cleaner than other traditional surfaces. VOC-Free Ceramic tile does n
For winter fun, sprout an avocado
Deep in the heart of winter, when the itch to grow overpowers a gardener, the balm to soothe it can be found in the local grocery store. Nestled in the produce section a tree lies dormant, an adventure in growing offered for the bargain price of $2.99. Avocados (Persea americana) abound at this time of year, and if you’re interested in sprouting some winter fun, pick up a couple for an in-home experiment. An ancient food crop, avocado has been grown for millennia by humans; its appearance, c
