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Category: Green Home

  • Green Is Great With These Unique Eco Friendly ideas

    Oh dear, another post about energy saving in the home, you say? Ah, not quite. Today, we’re going to look at ways to energy save that are unique, inspired and awesome. Are those enough adjectives for you? We hope so and with these ideas, we’re sure you’re going to agree your home is greatly improved. Let’s start with one that’s obvious to a few and unknown to many.

    A Heat Induction Hob

    Have you heard of heat induction hobs? They are incredibly cool gadgets that look stunning. So, if you’re looking for aesthetically stunning eco-friendly changes, this might be next on your list. A heat induction hob will allow you to save power by only heating under the surface of the pan, rather than the whole hob or ring. This is both practical and useful, but there’s another advantage, too. It looks stunning with a futuristic display that will bring your kitchen into the modern age.

    Pellet Burning Stove

    A pellet burning stove is great because it will save a lot of energy, every time you use it. It works like this. The stove burns pellet wood that when burned releases the same level of CO2 as a tree. Cool, right? These pellets are stored at the back of the stove and therefore need to be easy to access. That’s why if you do buy one of these, you need heavy duty drawer slides. These will allow you to pull the stove out whenever you need to, with ease. You can put it back in once you’re finished cleaning it out, hiding the pellet storage area from sight.

    Solar Panels

    We imagine, if you live in an area where it’s sunny a lot of the year, you’ve already seen these on neighbors houses. Solar panels are cool because if you have them in the summer, you’ll be paying almost nothing on your electric bill. Since we hardly ever need the heating on in the summer, that’s going make the cost of bills at this time of year very cheap indeed. The problem is that pesky first cost but, if you speak to your local environmental agency they might be able to ease the weight of that bill too!

    LED TV

    If you’re at home right now, and you’re watching TV, go and feel the back of the monitor. In most cases, it’s going to be red hot, and that means it’s using a lot of energy. In fact, even leaving it on standby is probably costing you a small fortune. The good news is that you can replace it with an eco-friendly model that’s an LED set. These aren’t as expensive as you might assume and will look like a piece of modern art if you fix them to the wall.

    Wonder Window

    Finally, this is a very advanced piece of tech that might be worth looking into. The wonder window contains weightless beads filled with air that gives you the same level of insulation as a wall. That means you’ll no longer need to worry about the curtains not being thick enough in the winter. This will keep the heat in your home all year round.

  • Easy Ways To Build A Green Home From The Bottom Up

    We’re all getting a lot more energy and earth conscious when it comes to how we live in our homes. It’s never too early to start planning for a more sustainable home life. In fact, when you’re preparing to build your own house might just be the best time. Here are some points you might want to consider to make your home a greener build.
    Location
    The location of the home can make all the difference in your carbon footprint. Primarily, you want to make sure your home is in a location that requires as little motor travel as possible. We all have places that we need to be able to access. Whether it’s the shops, school, hospitals or work. Take all of them into consideration when you’re scouting locations for your new build. If you can walk instead of drive or use public transport, you’re already making progress towards that greener home.
    Consider the materials you use
    As for the home you build itself, there are a lot of different materials worth consider. Wood options like timber from George Hill Timber merchants are particularly energy efficient. In fact, natural materials tend to be better at insulation, meaning you don’t need to use your HVAC systems as often. Recycled steel is another material used for energy efficient buildings. But not everyone is suited to the aesthetic of a wholly metal home. Each material has its own special requirements, so do your research on what you might have to prepare for before making your choice.
    Thinking about HVAC appliances
    We hear so often about how bad for your footprint heating, ventilation and air conditioning appliances can be. Some will tell you you’re better off doing without them entirely. However, if you like in a place that’s particularly cold in winter or particularly hot in summer, that’s not the best idea. Instead, try to design your ventilation grates so that air flow is maximised throughout the home. Make sure you check the Energystar rating on your appliances as well. You might have to use them, but you can at least make sure you have the most efficient ones as the ready.
    Using less space
    Homes that are smaller are more energy efficient. That’s the simple truth of the matter. Smaller homes require less time and energy to heat fully, for one. They also cost less money to run. Plus they’re easier to clean. A lot of people think of their dream home as spacious with a room for every possible purpose. Consider whether having that huge manor is more important to you than both your energy bills and energy inefficiency. There are still tons of ways to design and maximise space in smaller homes.
    Start using solar power
    If you live in a place where the sun shines enough to make it economical, get into using solar power for your home. Solar panels are becoming cheaper as more sources for them pop up and it is possible to entirely power your home on them. You can even add them once the build is done if you don’t have the budget for it right now. There’s also an option for places where the sun doesn’t shine quite as strong. In these places, you can attach solar panels to your water heating instead. This keeps a supply of hot water available for us. As soon as it runs out, your water heater is put to work instead.
    Reducing the build’s carbon footprint
    It’s good that you’re thinking about changes to make to your home to make it more energy efficient. But how about the build itself? If you’re in charge of how the build is being done, there are a lot of steps you can make to make the whole process a lot more earth friendly. Recycling your content is one way. Planning the construction site itself matters, too. If you can reduce as much energy movement and reduce the time it takes to travel from one task to another, you have a much more efficient site.
     
    Taking care of your roof

    To top off the house, you’re going to need a roof. Similar to the materials used for the walls, you can make sure that your roof is a lot more energy efficient. For one, metal is considered a material that’s lot better at insulating than slate. Foam insulation works just as well, providing it’s well installed. Caring for your roof after is wholly necessary. Check for cracks or missing parts, as they can drastically lower the insulating effect of the whole thing.

  • How to Find Affordable Flats for Students

    Studying far from home is not easy. This is true especially if it is your first time. It is even worse if you have not booked the university dormitory, and they have run out of rooms. Perhaps, even if you did, you might still prefer a room off-campus. Considering how small and rowdy university dormitories are, you might rather stay in a flat which you can have all to yourself. The only downside is that you are not yet earning money. Therefore, paying for a flat located outside the university might cost you more. Dormitory fees on the other hand are discounted. To avoid spending a lot, there are a few things that you can do.

    Find someone to share the flat with

    Most universities have a policy of randomly assigning people to share rooms. If you find accommodation off-campus, you can have the freedom to decide who to share it with. If you have a very close friend, then you can talk in advance so that you won’t have to spend so much, as you can share the total cost. You need to make sure that the flat is big enough and there are two separate rooms and a common room, so you can live your private lives.

    You may have to sacrifice a bit

    Places that are just off the university campus might be more expensive. If you go further afield, then you can find cheaper flats. Therefore, you will need to wake up earlier so that you won’t be late for classes, as you will have to travel. As long as the place still has access to public transportation, then it should be fine. If you have a car, then try to find a flat which is not in an area with heavy traffic.

    Take luxury apartments out of the list

    Remember that you are still studying. Unless you come from an extremely wealthy family, don’t think about getting a luxury apartment that has all the amenities you need. As long as it is a comfortable size and it has the basic needs for everyday survival, then it will be good enough. Luxury apartments are way too expensive, especially for students like you.

    Keep searching

    You need to be patient. Try to look for options that are within your budget range. There are a lot of flats to rent in Chelmsford. If your university is in that area or in a neighbouring area, then there are tons of choices waiting for you.

  • Enhance Your Curb Appeal with Commercial Sprinkler And Irrigation Systems

    If you own a home or a commercial property you’re always trying to increase its value, be it through making repairs and upgrades, or finding new ways to attract clients or potential homebuyers. Everyone likes a nice lawn, but you might not consider a nice lawn a way to increase your home or commercial property’s value, but it is. In fact, studies show that the lawn and exterior of your business, is the first thing that possible clients often see, and it is also the first factor that affects whether or not they will enter your establishment or consider buying your home.

    When it comes to lawn care, there is one system that will keep your lawn looking its best: an automatic sprinkler and irrigation system. There are a few different styles and models of these systems, but they all work on one shared principle which is that, if you plot out your water schedule ahead of time, based on a number of factors such as slopes and depressions, exposure to sun and shade, nearby plant-life, and soil type, then you will be able to automate a system that will take care of your lawn better than a team of gardeners ever could.

    And automated sprinkler systems save you money. An automated system greatly reduces the requirement for maintenance personnel and frees up their time for other tasks. On top of that, automated sprinkler and irrigation systems greatly reduce the chances of wasting water. This is a big one. Most companies will err on the side of watering their lawns too often, thinking that there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing. It’s that logic that results in lots of water being wasted, which leads to skyrocketing hydro costs, as well as being detrimental to the environment.

    Lastly, automatic sprinkler and irrigation systems will keep your lawn green and healthy. Over and under watering, more often than not, lead to brown dead grass, which some business owners think needs to be replaced. You’ll save a lot of money if you’re not replacing your sod every spring. There’s really no reason to, with EZ Lawn Sprinklers irrigation systems. EZ Lawn Sprinklers are one of the most trusted names in the lawn care industry and with good reason. They’ve installed many automatic sprinkler and irrigation systems over the 29 years they’ve been active. They only use the best materials at the best prices and pass the savings on to their customers.

    Don’t delay, see what and automatic sprinkler and irrigation system can do for your home or business today.

  • How to Prepare Your Home for a Storm

    Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to prevent severe weather changes but you can at least react in time and prepare yourself for what’s coming. We give you suggestions for preventing damage caused by high winds:

    • Roof: In order to prevent water leakage that high winds may cause changes your metal roof (in case you’ve got one). You can do this recoating by simply visiting a hardware store or a lumberyard. In case you have shingle roof, don’t let the shingles flap or stay loose in the wind. Further, make sure your roof is completely free from debris because they can cause rot and deteriorate both metal and shingled roofs.
    • ‘Flying’ objects: If you know the windstorm is coming, make sure you remove all bikes, shovels, poles and lose articles from yard as they can quickly become dangerous flying objects!
    • Your home: Never store any hazardous, caustic or flammable material beneath your manufactured home. No, not even grass clippings or newspapers, and it would be smart to invest in a professional to install proper tie-downs on your home and sheds. Also, if there is a chance, make sure you establish a windbreak around your property if possible. Yes, tall trees are efficient in providing a natural windbreak but you still need to keep them healthy by removing dead limbs. If your budget allows it, consider replacing older windows with modern impact-resistant glass.
    • Appliances: Don’t try to save up on appliances that will literally save your home from collapsing. Buy sturdy “L-brackets” at your local hardware store and use them to anchor your major appliances to the counter-tops of your home or your walls. In order to prevent electrical hazards hire a professional.
    • Cupboards: To prevent any spillage, put child safety locks on your upper and lower cupboards.
    • Wall Decorations and Pictures: Instead of using nails, you should use “V-hooks” to mount artwork instead. Unlike nails, these enable pictures to shift without falling from the wall.
    • Exterior repairs: Always make sure your manufactured home skirting is vented in such a way that it allows water to escape, and keep your storm water drain unclogged. In case your gutters, brackets, downspouts and exterior siding are damaged by the previous storms, make sure to do storm water repairs to be ready if the ill occurrences repeat.
    • Utilities: It is really important to know how to turn off your home appliances as well as water and gas.

    Apart from doing all necessary repairs and preventive measures, there are more things you need to do and safe yourself from a windstorm.

    What to do before the storm: The final checklist

    • Park the car in a garage. If you don’t have a garage, park it somewhere away from large trees.
    • Prepare a shelter to stay at in case you are unsure of your home’s security.
    • Keep all yard appliances and furniture locked in a shed or garage. These are variety of ornaments, then bikes, children’s toys, ladders…
    • With electrical storms, remove the aerial from the TV set
    • Don’t be in the streets when you are aware of the danger and the storm
    • Have all necessities with you in a small kit – such as bandages, scissor and other small first aid pieces.

  • Shipping Containers: The Future of Housing

    Environmentally-conscious people can finally take a breath of relief because a new type of housing has just arrived. The newest trend in architecture is a combination of recycling and practicality. We are talking about shipping containers which are most likely to become the future of housing. Not only are they affordable and nature-friendly, but they have many more advantages as well. Take a look!

    It Saves Time

    Purchasing an already used container, or a few of them, saves time for building a house because you already have everything you need: a floor, a roof and four walls. The only thing you need to invest is your imagination and decide how exactly you want your new home to be designed. If you have a big family, we suggest purchasing two or three containers which can be combined and attached one (on) to another. No matter where your house is, in the woods, in a town, on the beach, there are plenty of options you can rely on and turn it into the most modern house your neighbourhood has ever seen.

    It is Budget-Friendly

    Shipping containers are affordable and the only thing which you will actually have to pay for is the insulation – which will pay itself off on the long run. If you decide to buy a container, you will not need to worry about the elements and repairing the damage caused by bad weather. They are made of steel which is resistant enough for any type of weather. Also, on top of your container home you can install solar panels to reduce the energy bills and live a happy, green life in your beautiful eco-friendly home.

    It is Safe

    Another asset of container houses is that they are practically thief-proof. There is a minimal chance of an intruder entering your house without you knowing about their existence. There is no chance of fear someone will come in from the basement, because containers are built into the foundation, leaving space only for plumbing and sewage drains. And the roof is tightly sealed during the production as well, so no fear from that side either.

    It Lets Your Creativity Flow

    Since you are already thinking green thoughts, green it all the way! We mentioned solar panels, but there are other ways of saving energy. You can insulate the pipes and your boiler, you can reuse your old furniture, and you can make your own new furniture if you have the time. Do not let the four walls limit you – be creative and cut it out, making a whole wall out of glass. This will not only save you money for electricity – while there is still daylight – but you will enjoy the look during the whole day. If you do not want to be cut out from the world, you can organise your neighbours to join you and make a neighbourhood of container homes. Talk about nature-friendly community! The Earth will be thankful for a long time. We are sure these were interesting enough, so you may take a look at some more fresh ideas which can help you create your very own container home.