Home Reno & Repair
- 7-Day Programmable Thermostats
- Residential Energy Independence
- Reel Lawnmower Update
- Landscaping and Lawn Tools
- DIY French Drain Systems
- Choose Your Kitchen Countertop
- Green Building Products Save Money
- I Love my LED Light Fixtures
- Building Green and Eating Organic
- A Springtime Mushroom Garden
7-Day Programmable Thermostats
Posted by
Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
Honeywell touch-screen programmable thermostats bear the Energy Star label. This way you know it'll save money on your utility bills. It's a green technology. Get it.
I wrote an article some time ago about troubleshooting and tuning up your thermostat. Proper operation is always important. But sometimes you can do much better than just having proper operation. I always say that lowering energy bills isn't one big thing, it's a grab bag of a lot of little things.
Menu-Driven Touch Screens
Installing a 7-day programmable thermostat is a prime example. Using the menu-driven touch screen makes it a snap to control your central air conditioner and heater, four periods a day, seven days a week. Different days, different settings.
The ones I looked at were Honeywell thermostats. For one thing, that's the kind I have and it's operated flawlessly for over ten years. Secondly, they're the leader in the industry. Can't argue with success.
Thermostat Pricing
One thing, they ain't cheap. But at $120 or so they're still a bargain. You'll be saving on your utility bills beginning right away, and from here on out you'll be money ahead.
Cheaper models are available. Hunter makes one without all the bells and whistles for around half of what the Honeywell runs.
Look for the Energy Star
Ah yes, you knew it was coming. If you want to save money in the long run, it's got to be Energy Star appliances. Whether you buy into the global warming thing and spend your spare time camping out in the tree tops or not, saving money is still saving money.
And What'll you do with all that extra cash? As Tim Allen would say, "More tools, more tools!"
Menu-Driven Touch Screens
Installing a 7-day programmable thermostat is a prime example. Using the menu-driven touch screen makes it a snap to control your central air conditioner and heater, four periods a day, seven days a week. Different days, different settings.
The ones I looked at were Honeywell thermostats. For one thing, that's the kind I have and it's operated flawlessly for over ten years. Secondly, they're the leader in the industry. Can't argue with success.
Thermostat Pricing
One thing, they ain't cheap. But at $120 or so they're still a bargain. You'll be saving on your utility bills beginning right away, and from here on out you'll be money ahead.
Cheaper models are available. Hunter makes one without all the bells and whistles for around half of what the Honeywell runs.
Look for the Energy Star
Ah yes, you knew it was coming. If you want to save money in the long run, it's got to be Energy Star appliances. Whether you buy into the global warming thing and spend your spare time camping out in the tree tops or not, saving money is still saving money.
And What'll you do with all that extra cash? As Tim Allen would say, "More tools, more tools!"
Residential Energy Independence
Posted by
Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
Discover three steps homeowners can take to reduce utility bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and their carbon footprint. Capture renewable energy sources.
Residential energy independence. It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Easy to contemplate, a cash outlay to get started; but oh, the long-time returns in energy savings!
Residential Wind Turbines (Try to Catch the Wind...)
This type of technology goes way, way back. What would our concept of the Dutch be without windmills slowly spinning in the breeze? Generally speaking, windmills use the wind's kinetic energy to perform work such as grinding grain.
A residential wind turbine usually refers to a triple-blade mounted on a horizontal axis that generates electricity. Comercial power generating plants construct wind farms for large scale electrical production. Homeowners can install a small turbine to generate from 50% to 90% of the home's energy consumption. Not too shabby.
Solar Panels Have a Smaller Footprint
This is one reason to choose Solar panels over wind power. Wind towers are best suited to lots of at least one acre; photovotaic (solar) panels can be mounted on the roof or right out in the yard (neighborhood associations permitting).
Green Lawns with Reel Lawnmowers
Yeah, you're getting sick of me going on about reel (push) lawnmowers, but I'll just include a blurb for the sake of rounding out today's topic. Not having to drive to the store to fill up that 5 gallon gasoline can is a relief. Financially and time-wise.
Be as Environmentally-Friend as You Want to Be
You might not be able to implement all these things to get off commercial power crack, but the more I research the subject, the more I realize it's not doing one big thing but as many small things as possible to save on utility bills.
Residential Wind Turbines (Try to Catch the Wind...)
This type of technology goes way, way back. What would our concept of the Dutch be without windmills slowly spinning in the breeze? Generally speaking, windmills use the wind's kinetic energy to perform work such as grinding grain.
A residential wind turbine usually refers to a triple-blade mounted on a horizontal axis that generates electricity. Comercial power generating plants construct wind farms for large scale electrical production. Homeowners can install a small turbine to generate from 50% to 90% of the home's energy consumption. Not too shabby.
Solar Panels Have a Smaller Footprint
This is one reason to choose Solar panels over wind power. Wind towers are best suited to lots of at least one acre; photovotaic (solar) panels can be mounted on the roof or right out in the yard (neighborhood associations permitting).
Green Lawns with Reel Lawnmowers
Yeah, you're getting sick of me going on about reel (push) lawnmowers, but I'll just include a blurb for the sake of rounding out today's topic. Not having to drive to the store to fill up that 5 gallon gasoline can is a relief. Financially and time-wise.
Be as Environmentally-Friend as You Want to Be
You might not be able to implement all these things to get off commercial power crack, but the more I research the subject, the more I realize it's not doing one big thing but as many small things as possible to save on utility bills.
Posted by
Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
Modern push mowers are easy and inexpensive to operate. What's harder is finding compact fluorescent bulbs for a ceiling fan.
In the last blog entry I talked about ordering a Brill Razorcut 38 reel lawnmower. After much anticipation it arrived in the mail. Actually, by DHL. To their credit, they delivered it by the promised time even after seending it to the wrong hub city first.
The Mower Assembly was Reel Easy
It only took about five minutes to put the whole thing together. Weighing in at only 17 pounds it was a breeze to carry outside to try out. Easy to use too. I'm sure I looked just like Beaver Cleaver - he used to use one of these type of push lawnmowers.
The key, as I found out, was to walk at a steady pace. Nevertheless, just as I had read in a review on this model, those cute red hubcaps wouldn't stay on. Into the trash they went. Ironic; here I was doing my green lawn care while sending two plastic hubcaps to the landfill.
Just kidding - I recycled them!
On to Looking for CFL's for the Ceiling Fans
Almost all the light's in my house have been the lucky recipients of compact fluorescent bulbs. All, save the ones in the fans. I first shopped in Home Depo for CFL ceiling fan bulbs. I thought I had the correct ones, but the size of the base was wrong.
Why can't the fan industry standardize this kind of stuff? Anyhow, they were kind enough to refund my money, so the search continues.
The Mower Assembly was Reel Easy
It only took about five minutes to put the whole thing together. Weighing in at only 17 pounds it was a breeze to carry outside to try out. Easy to use too. I'm sure I looked just like Beaver Cleaver - he used to use one of these type of push lawnmowers.
The key, as I found out, was to walk at a steady pace. Nevertheless, just as I had read in a review on this model, those cute red hubcaps wouldn't stay on. Into the trash they went. Ironic; here I was doing my green lawn care while sending two plastic hubcaps to the landfill.
Just kidding - I recycled them!
On to Looking for CFL's for the Ceiling Fans
Almost all the light's in my house have been the lucky recipients of compact fluorescent bulbs. All, save the ones in the fans. I first shopped in Home Depo for CFL ceiling fan bulbs. I thought I had the correct ones, but the size of the base was wrong.
Why can't the fan industry standardize this kind of stuff? Anyhow, they were kind enough to refund my money, so the search continues.
Posted by
Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
High gas prices and carbon footprint aversion have recently boosted interest and sales of modern reel lawn mowers. They're quiet, green, and provide a killer workout.
Not so long ago, specifically the first time I mowed my lawn this spring, I had lawnmower woes. The chassis had rotted out from rust. I repaired it with steel mending plates and went on about my business.
The problem is that the next time I tried to use it, a week later, it fell apart at another spot. The motor is pristine but the body is shot. Oh well, time for a new lawn mower. This time I decided to go a different route. I ordered a reel lawn mower.
I'm not sure where I stumbled onto this (perhaps when my editor mentioned it a while back), but after some research, I decided to give it a shot. The model I ordered, the German Brill Razorcut 38, ain't cheap, but it dosn't use any gas either. And they claim the blades stay sharp for up to eight years. Heck, my Leatherman can't even do that!
All the hype leads me to believe that this modern version of grandpa's contraption is the bee's knees and the cat's pajamas, as grandpa would have said. Sealed bearings, ninja-grade steel blades, and ergonomic grips! (Can I get that in florescent?)
I read a lot of customer reviews online but I don't put too much credence in them. Nobody was on the fence. On the one hand they seemed to be environmental activists (love it no matter what), and on the other hand, complainers about too much work (most likely the typical obese American that wants an air-conditioned bubble around the mower).
So I guess I'll just have to make up my own mind. Rotary mowers VS reel mowers. I'll be in touch.
The problem is that the next time I tried to use it, a week later, it fell apart at another spot. The motor is pristine but the body is shot. Oh well, time for a new lawn mower. This time I decided to go a different route. I ordered a reel lawn mower.
I'm not sure where I stumbled onto this (perhaps when my editor mentioned it a while back), but after some research, I decided to give it a shot. The model I ordered, the German Brill Razorcut 38, ain't cheap, but it dosn't use any gas either. And they claim the blades stay sharp for up to eight years. Heck, my Leatherman can't even do that!
All the hype leads me to believe that this modern version of grandpa's contraption is the bee's knees and the cat's pajamas, as grandpa would have said. Sealed bearings, ninja-grade steel blades, and ergonomic grips! (Can I get that in florescent?)
I read a lot of customer reviews online but I don't put too much credence in them. Nobody was on the fence. On the one hand they seemed to be environmental activists (love it no matter what), and on the other hand, complainers about too much work (most likely the typical obese American that wants an air-conditioned bubble around the mower).
So I guess I'll just have to make up my own mind. Rotary mowers VS reel mowers. I'll be in touch.
Posted by
Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
How your property is graded can have a major impact on water runoff. Standing water can lead to mosquito breeding and costly foundation repair.
Lots of folks are getting rain lately - buckets of the stuff. It brings spring flowers and who doesn't love that; but it also drags along its own sad luggage. I'm talking about things like standing water in your backyard.
Often, properties aren't graded so that they get proper drainage. The result can be a mosquito breeding ground (ouch!) and a situation where foundation problems set in. Believe me, you want to avoid foundation repair.
Your slab can crack or your basement can spring leaks. But don't despair, you can make your property drain and you can do it yourself. How, you ask? By installing french drain systems and taking advantage of the force of gravity.
The concept is simple - you dig a trench to lead the water off your property. After digging the trench you have two options, line it with gravel and landscaping fabric or use plastic piping. Once you cover the whole thing with sod, no one will be the wiser.
You can dig the trench by hand, or you can rent a mechanical trenching contraption. The scope of the project and the extent of your sturdy manliness or womanliness will determine the choice you make here.
The beauty of this project is that it solves a very critical and irritating problem at a very economical price. This is the time of year to tackle this job before the heat cranks up too bad. Dig it!
Often, properties aren't graded so that they get proper drainage. The result can be a mosquito breeding ground (ouch!) and a situation where foundation problems set in. Believe me, you want to avoid foundation repair.
Your slab can crack or your basement can spring leaks. But don't despair, you can make your property drain and you can do it yourself. How, you ask? By installing french drain systems and taking advantage of the force of gravity.
The concept is simple - you dig a trench to lead the water off your property. After digging the trench you have two options, line it with gravel and landscaping fabric or use plastic piping. Once you cover the whole thing with sod, no one will be the wiser.
You can dig the trench by hand, or you can rent a mechanical trenching contraption. The scope of the project and the extent of your sturdy manliness or womanliness will determine the choice you make here.
The beauty of this project is that it solves a very critical and irritating problem at a very economical price. This is the time of year to tackle this job before the heat cranks up too bad. Dig it!
Choose Your Kitchen Countertop
Posted by
Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
A kitchen remodel project takes planning and resources. The kitchen countertop is often the center of attention and can really add to home equity; choose wisely!
With the real estate market slumping as it is, this is not the time to list it with a real estate agent. However, it is a great time for a kitchen makeover. This one act of kindness to your home will really boost your property's equity.
Smart Planning - Building Materials and Your Budget
The key to remodeling is carefull planning and selection of materials. What kind of a decorating theme do you want? How much is in your remodeling budget? And do you really need that new dishwasher?
Choose Your Kitchen Countertop
You've got a lot to choose from today. But keep in mind what's hot today might be flop tomorrow. You might consider:
Whether you go with a wall-touching counter with a splashboard or an Island is a personal call. Part of the choice depends on the kitchen geometry. Island counters are preferable for socializing. A wall-touching counter is more functional for small spaces.
You've got a lot of choices. As Indiana Jones would say, "Choose wisely!"
Smart Planning - Building Materials and Your Budget
The key to remodeling is carefull planning and selection of materials. What kind of a decorating theme do you want? How much is in your remodeling budget? And do you really need that new dishwasher?
Choose Your Kitchen Countertop
You've got a lot to choose from today. But keep in mind what's hot today might be flop tomorrow. You might consider:
- Corian - An excellent synthetic by DuPont, it resembles granite and comes Kosher certified from the factory!
- Granite - A very trendy natural stone countertop. A bit pricey though.
- Marble - Another great choice in natural stone; it's been classy since Caesar's day!
- Concrete - Gaining in popularity, concrete counertops are extremly durable and come in many colors and styles.
- Butcher Block - Usually just a section of the countertop, it's made of hard wood such as maple. It's used as a chopping block.
- Plastic laminate - Usually referred to by the brand name Formica, it's the market standard.
- Ceramic tile counters - A very sturdy surface; it gives your kitchen that cool retro look!
Whether you go with a wall-touching counter with a splashboard or an Island is a personal call. Part of the choice depends on the kitchen geometry. Island counters are preferable for socializing. A wall-touching counter is more functional for small spaces.
You've got a lot of choices. As Indiana Jones would say, "Choose wisely!"
Green Building Products Save Money
Posted by
Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
Green home remodeling is looking good as utility bills climb. Need new appliances? How about a green kitchen remodel. Look for the Energy Star label on everything.
Lately I've been researching the world of evolving green products, materials, and methods. It's kind of like when you buy a red car, you suddenly notice how many red cars there are? Green home building (and remodeling) is like that. When you dig for the information, it's everywhere.
Going Green with New Construction
The goal of reaching the Energy Star certification is doable, especially with new construction. You might choose to use Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) for your exterior and demising walls. Or, you might choose to go with Sturctural Insulated Panels (SIPs). Either way, the home will be nearly air-tight.
Green Home Remodeling
If your home is already existing, you have to work with what you've got. There are a number of things you can do here. One of the first is a green kitchen remodel. Install more efficient appliances. They'll have the Energy Star label on them. Funny how the first place they seemed to show up was on computer monitors.
How about a green bathroom remodel? The hot thing (so to speak) on the market today is the tankless water heater. It only heats the water when you need it.
How About Attic Insulation?
This is where you get a lot of bang for your buck, and you don't need an insulation contractor to do it! Just buy fiberglass insulation and install it. Don't forget to wear a long sleeve shirt and dust mask. One thing to be careful of is not to cover up the soffit vents.
These are just a few of the things you can do to shave your utility bills. As you begin, be sure to investigate which things you can get a tax credit for.
Going Green with New Construction
The goal of reaching the Energy Star certification is doable, especially with new construction. You might choose to use Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) for your exterior and demising walls. Or, you might choose to go with Sturctural Insulated Panels (SIPs). Either way, the home will be nearly air-tight.
Green Home Remodeling
If your home is already existing, you have to work with what you've got. There are a number of things you can do here. One of the first is a green kitchen remodel. Install more efficient appliances. They'll have the Energy Star label on them. Funny how the first place they seemed to show up was on computer monitors.
How about a green bathroom remodel? The hot thing (so to speak) on the market today is the tankless water heater. It only heats the water when you need it.
How About Attic Insulation?
This is where you get a lot of bang for your buck, and you don't need an insulation contractor to do it! Just buy fiberglass insulation and install it. Don't forget to wear a long sleeve shirt and dust mask. One thing to be careful of is not to cover up the soffit vents.
These are just a few of the things you can do to shave your utility bills. As you begin, be sure to investigate which things you can get a tax credit for.
Posted by
Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
Installing two small battery-powered LED undercabinet lights were all I needed at my workstation. My flat screen monitor looks great and I lower my utility bills.
Ok, I admit it. My name is Kelly Smith and I'm a frugalaholic. There, now that the cat's out of the bag, I feel better. But I've got to tell you, I like to save money. So I have become very fond of the LED lights at my desk/work station.
See, in my home office, my desk/work station is one of those curved ones that fits into the corner of the room. Above and slightly behind me is the ceiling fan which runs continuously as I work. (Don't have to set the air conditioner so low!)
Even though I've fitted it with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it still seemed like overkill unless I'm reading for research. So I said to myself, "Self, how can I improve the situation?"
I had seen these little LED undercabinet light fixtures at Home Depot and I thought, well, why not?
These aren't the larger, fancy ones. They're round, about two inches across, and have adhesive on the back. My keyboard and monitor sit underneath the curved desk top so I stuck a couple of these on the underside of the desk top and viola!
They not only provide just the right amount of light, but they'll probably last at least a year on battery power. That, and there's no glare on the monitor screen.
See, in my home office, my desk/work station is one of those curved ones that fits into the corner of the room. Above and slightly behind me is the ceiling fan which runs continuously as I work. (Don't have to set the air conditioner so low!)
Even though I've fitted it with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it still seemed like overkill unless I'm reading for research. So I said to myself, "Self, how can I improve the situation?"
I had seen these little LED undercabinet light fixtures at Home Depot and I thought, well, why not?
These aren't the larger, fancy ones. They're round, about two inches across, and have adhesive on the back. My keyboard and monitor sit underneath the curved desk top so I stuck a couple of these on the underside of the desk top and viola!
They not only provide just the right amount of light, but they'll probably last at least a year on battery power. That, and there's no glare on the monitor screen.
Building Green and Eating Organic
Posted by
Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
Economic circumstances are forcing us to change our home building habits and our food choices as much as our desire to be good stewards of the earth.
Just lately there seems to be more emphasis on all things green and organic. I guess it's due to the fact that Earth Day happened recently and the main thing in the news cycle is Hillary and Obama slapping each other.
Yesterday I was at the gym on the treadmill watching CNN. They were discussing the fact that food prices are rising due to fuel costs and the corn crop getting hijacked by the bogus fuel, ethanol. This is leading consumers in some areas to buy their produce directly from the farmers. Good idea.
But then, listening to a home improvement show on the radio later, I found out more about green home building than I ever imagined. For example, did you know that one criteria is that the building materials should come from a close location? I believe he said less than 500 miles away.
Well, that makes sense. Especially in light of transportation costs.
Whether you support the global warning issue or not, there's no denying the fact that keeping utility bills low is a good idea. Of course, I've been on that mission around my home for a couple of years now. I've done the radiant barrier paint, gone to compact fluorescent lights, and added to my attic insulation.
We bought a new refrigerator in the middle of last year and it's certainly saving some juice. Gotta love the ENERGY STAR!
Yesterday I was at the gym on the treadmill watching CNN. They were discussing the fact that food prices are rising due to fuel costs and the corn crop getting hijacked by the bogus fuel, ethanol. This is leading consumers in some areas to buy their produce directly from the farmers. Good idea.
But then, listening to a home improvement show on the radio later, I found out more about green home building than I ever imagined. For example, did you know that one criteria is that the building materials should come from a close location? I believe he said less than 500 miles away.
Well, that makes sense. Especially in light of transportation costs.
Whether you support the global warning issue or not, there's no denying the fact that keeping utility bills low is a good idea. Of course, I've been on that mission around my home for a couple of years now. I've done the radiant barrier paint, gone to compact fluorescent lights, and added to my attic insulation.
We bought a new refrigerator in the middle of last year and it's certainly saving some juice. Gotta love the ENERGY STAR!
Posted by
Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
Putting in a mushroom kit allows for harvesting gourmet "wild" Morel mushrooms while avoiding the high supermarket prices.
Spring is here and this year I'm trying something new - a Morel mushroom garden. I love mushrooms; portobello, shiitake, and others. But I hate paying the high price in the grocery store. So growing my own from a kit seemed the obvious choice.
The kit itself is a clump of what seems to be a cross between light, fluffy dirt and sawdust. The spores are in there somewhere, I'm told.
They like shade so I picked a place in my garden under the arching crepe myrtle branches. I wanted a raised bed since the literature asks for well-drained soil.
I built a "box" using cedar fence pickets. The price is right, chemicals are absent, cedar weathers well, and it has been said that it shuns insects. Then I filled it with dirt and turned it over a few times with some organic matter. Finally, I turned in the kit.
I like these "mini gardens". I put in asperagus a few years ago and still harvest it throughout the spring and early summer. I also grew my own hops back when I used to brew my own beer. But that's another story...
The kit itself is a clump of what seems to be a cross between light, fluffy dirt and sawdust. The spores are in there somewhere, I'm told.
They like shade so I picked a place in my garden under the arching crepe myrtle branches. I wanted a raised bed since the literature asks for well-drained soil.
I built a "box" using cedar fence pickets. The price is right, chemicals are absent, cedar weathers well, and it has been said that it shuns insects. Then I filled it with dirt and turned it over a few times with some organic matter. Finally, I turned in the kit.
I like these "mini gardens". I put in asperagus a few years ago and still harvest it throughout the spring and early summer. I also grew my own hops back when I used to brew my own beer. But that's another story...