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Green at Home
Easy and Eco-Friendly Ways to Keep Your House Cool in the Summer
When the weather gets warmer, do you automatically change your thermostat from heat to air conditioning? Before you make the switch, consider some easy ways you can keep your house cool this summer. You'll save money and energy and still be comfortable. 1. Fans Yes, electric fans do use electricity, but they use far less than central or wall unit air conditioning. There are several different types of fans you can employ to keep your house cool: * Ceiling fans are effective at circulating air throughout a room. They can switch directions to draw hot air up or push it back down, depending on your needs. They also have variable speeds, and do not take up floor or window space. They do have to be installed, but an electrician (or handy homeowner) can hook one up to an existing overhead light fixture in minutes. * Window fans, or exhaust fans, fit into an open window and can expand to fit whatever size window you have (generally speaking). They can be placed vertically or horizontally, and come in double or single fan varieties. These are remarkable at cooling a room in a short period of time. They can be faced outward to draw hot air ...- Bookmark :
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PVC Floors and Health
You may not think much about your floors and what they are made of. Your goal may simply be to keep your floor clean - a clean floor is a healthy one, right? Actually, it depends...your floor may be very clean but still have a negative effect on your family's health. Here are some reasons why. Flooring Material If you have flooring that is not hardwood, tile or carpet, you probably refer to it as "linoleum." However, unless your house pre-dates the 1950s and has the original flooring, it's more than likely that you have vinyl flooring. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Vinyl flooring is the general term used to describe floors made from PVC. The manufacture, normal use, and disposal of PVC flooring is a process that is rife with chemicals. Here are some of the chemicals used in PVC, and their known or possible health effects. * Dioxin is given off when PVC burns. Dioxin is extremely toxic and is known to cause cancer and reproductive disorders. It is particularly implicated in breast cancer. * Pthalates are used as fragrance carriers in cleaners and as softeners in PVC manufacturing. Pthalates come in various forms, such as diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP). DEHP and ...- Bookmark :
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Double Glazing: Why It’s Economical and Great For Your Home
Ideally, our houses should be able to keep us warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather without the high heating and cooling financial costs associated with said comforts. The reality, however, is far from ideal since approximately 60 percent of heat loss, hence, money loss, comes from inadequate insulation especially from the walls and windows. Fortunately, double glazing comes to the rescue of both pockets and environment. What Is Double Glazing? But first, relevant information on double glazing is necessary. As you might have surmised, double glazing involves the use of two panes of glass with space in between them and which are then fitted into a frame. Before sealing the unit, a drying agent is applied to squeeze out excess moisture. You then have a highly effective insulation material that combines the benefits of physical aesthetics and environmental uses. There are two types of glasses used in double glazing. First, toughened/tempered glass is recommended for home use since it is designed to shatter into a thousand pieces. As such, it is safe even when children are around. Second, float glass is used for smaller double glazed frames suitable for places where there are lesser chances of breakage. What Are the Benefits ...- Bookmark :
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Decrease Your Carbon Footprint by Living Simple with a Small House
Today small houses are beginning to get more and more popular. In fact, there are many companies out there that specifically make and promote small homes. There is a reason that these houses are beginning to be quite popular. One reason is that they can help you to decrease the carbon footprint that you have. With a small house you won't need much energy to build it and you won't need to use a lot of energy in the house either. It provides a simple way of living that you can enjoy and a variety of excellent benefits. Save Big Money One of the big benefits of going with a small house is the ability to save big money. When you live in a small house it gives you the ability to save energy, which translates into saving money as well. Some of these houses that are being made can be 50 square feet to 500 square feet and the price is reasonable. You'll pay from $15,000 - $40,000 for one of these homes. Their design is such that every single inch of the house is used in an effective manner. They are very clean and they are also very energy efficient. Enjoy ...- Bookmark :
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Clothes Lines and Line Drying Benefits
If you are concerned about the environment and how you can make a difference, there are many things that you can do today to reduce your carbon footprint and to help save the environment. One thing that is easy to do is to start using clothes lines to line dry your clothes instead of using a dryer. This is one thing that many people never even think of these days. Unfortunately most households in the United States don't line dry clothing for a variety of reasons. This can include no room for a clothesline, inability to have one because of a neighborhood association, and more. If you really want to work on saving energy and improving the environment, this is something that you should definitely give a try. The Benefits There are definitely a variety of great benefits that you can enjoy when you decide to use a clothes line to line dry your clothing. One of the main benefits is that it is cheaper than purchasing a clothes dryer. Clothes lines are not that expensive to purchase, especially when you consider what you'll pay for a dryer. Not only will save you on the dryer, but you'll save on energy. You ...- Bookmark :
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