Archive for category Going Green
Green, Chemical-Free Pest Control: Quick and Safe.
Posted by Cynthia in Going Green, Home Improvement, Home and Health on November 10th, 2009
Pest Control has finally evolved into an industry that quickly and effectively eradicates pests in your home without exposing its other living inhabitants to harmful and dangerous chemicals with a system called ThermaPureHeat offered by a company called Expediant in NY, CT, NJ, PA and MA
ThermaPureHeat is a completely chemical-free new process called Structural Pasteurization that utilizes clean, pure heat to kill mold and bug infestations of any size without harming pets, plants or people.
Used effectively in difficult infestations such as bed bugs, it leaves no residues or smell behind. The treated areas can be safely occupied right after the treatment by anyone, including pets and small children.
The process is also scalable: it can be applied to a whole house, to a single floor or even a single area or room and the concept is very simple. Giant heaters — 500,000 bpu each — blast hot air into the house until it reaches the desired temperature. Different infestations require different heat settings but the treatment will kill the mold or bug infestation, with the added bonus of killing many harmful bacteria and viruses as well.
Here’s a Discovery Channel Video about the process:
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Tips for Purchasing Energy-Efficient Windows
Posted by Francine in Budget Friendly, Going Green, Home Improvement on October 26th, 2009
Purchasing replacement windows will put money back into your pocket if you choose to replace your old existing windows with new energy-efficient windows. You will especially notice a difference during the hot summer months and cold winter months.
It’s important to remember your current location and the design and layout of your home. This plays a major role on the style and selection of energy-efficient windows you select for your home.
A family living in the northern region will need different windows than a family living in the southern region. The environment and climate conditions are entirely different, and windows will need to serve each purpose.
The windows you select should be purchased by the design of your home. The direction and size of the windows are more important than one would think.
In hot or heat dominated regions, windows facing south should be heavily glazed. This is done to make efficient use of solar heat during the cold and bitter winter months. The windows should also possess a solar heat gain co-efficient of more than .6 but a U-factor of less than .35 to assure heat transfer is reduced during the hot and humid summer months.
Energy Efficiency Through the Roof
Posted by Francine in Going Green, Home Improvement on August 24th, 2009
When many people think of energy efficiency, they think of power sources, turning off the lights, using less gas, maybe the utilization of solar panels for a single home or a wind farm for an entire community. However, energy efficiency can come in the form of new roofing materials developed by professionals, with different climates and budgets in mind. A new roof is a major investment, but don’t let the prospect take its toll on your mind. The right roof can save you an astronomical amount of money in the cost of energy. The right roof will keep you and your family safe and comfortable for the rest of the life of your home.
In general, homes with slanted roofs will use energy efficient metal or tile roofing materials. Metal reflects sunlight and is very durable. Tile is made of clay or concrete, both of which are sustainable and eco-friendly. Often, tile roofing can have an additional energy efficient coating added.
Extreme Energy Efficient Housing
Posted by Cynthia in Budget Friendly, Going Green, Home Design, Home Improvement, Home Remodeling on July 24th, 2009
Energy Efficient Homes
Can you imagine a house that is able to warm itself without the need of a furnace or any separated heat contraption? Paying less for your monthly electricity than you pay for a pizza?
The creators of German Passive Houses Project go beyond imagining it. They actually made it a reality and proved it is indeed possible to have a home that is so energy efficient that you need no separate heating system to keep the house warm and there is no loss of comfort.
The Passive House is the world’s leading standard in energy efficient construction: Energy saved on heating is 80% compared to conventional standards of new buildings. The energy requirement for heating is lower than 10 to 20 kWh/(m²a) (depending on climate), adding up to a low cost of 10 to 25 € ($15 to $36 USD) per month.
For you to have an idea on how energy efficient those houses are, keep in mind that the average home in ths U.S. spends 40 kWh a day. Almost twice of what a passive house spends in a month!
According to the website, such efficiency is achieved through a combination of the following:
- Proper insulation methods
- Design without thermal bridges
- Air tightness
- Ventilation with heat recovery
- Proper comfort windows
- Innovative Heating Technology
This technology can be easily applied in new construction as well as existing buildings.
The next step? The Self-Sufficient Solar House, conceived by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy in Freiburg, Germany.
House Detox: Controlling Indoor Pollution
Posted by Cynthia in Going Green, Home Improvement, Home and Health on July 17th, 2009
Controlling indoor pollutants
A few more weeks and summer will be over. Outdoor furniture will be folded or put away, pools covered, and gardens prepared for a long winter nap. Our windows will be closed, and we will try to close, seal, insulate and caulk every air leak to protect our families from the bitter cold and maximize the efficiency of our heating appliances.
However, once all the windows are closed, another danger emerges: indoor pollution, which according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is 2 to 5 times worse than the outdoor pollution, and can aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms.
This article How to Detox Your House from Good Housekeeping magazine offers a step-by-step guide on how to control indoor pollution, detecting the main problem areas in the house and listing simple measures that can significantly improve indoor air quality during the winter months.
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