Home Alternative Green Energy

“There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: ants…rock badgers…locusts… The spider skilfully grasps with its hands and it is in kings’ palaces.” So wrote Solomon in the Biblical book of Proverbs (chapter 30 v 24–28). However, Proverbs said nothing about the slave or other worker who had to deal with the spiderwebs in odd corners of the palaces and lesser homes (hang on – maybe this person is the superwoman character described in the next chapter).

Spiderwebs are almost a cliché of neglect and poor housekeeping that have a haunted-house, attic or Miss Haversham air to them. For this reason, most housekeepers wage war on them incessantly. And it’s certainly undeniable that old spiderwebs filled with bits of dead flies, dust, fluff and other rubbish look ghastly. 

Some people are nervous about spiders, even if they’re short of full-blown arachnophobes. In the UK, at least, this is something of an unfounded fear. Few spiders in Europe are poisonous; the black widow of France, Italy and Spain being the major exception (two others, the sac spider and the violin or recluse spider are known to be dangerous). Even the fearsome-looking tarantula isn’t particularly poisonous and most spiders, if they bite you at all, will do no worse than a wasp sting. (However, if you visit Australia, you will have to be more cautious, as they have a lot more poisonous spider species).

However, there are some good things to be said about spiders. A fresh and perfectly formed spiderweb is a masterpiece of design and delicacy – a spiderweb covered with dew or (rarer but even more exquisite) hoarfrost is a breathtaking sight, especially if sunlight catches it. Spiders are a completely environmentally friendly of killing flies, although you’d need a lot of spiders in order to control flies completely. And spiders are also a sign that your home does not contain too many toxins. If you can, get out of the mindset that spiders mean you are a poor housekeeper – be proud of the fact that your home has some biodiversity and can sustain a tiny ecosystem (especially if the spiders build webs on your houseplants). Children can often be fascinated by spiders, especially if they have read Charlotte’s Web. 

If you are spider-friendly, all you need to do is leave the spider alone until it reaches the end of its life – apparently, they eat their old webs when they need to make a new one. You may need to dust up the wings and other inedible bits that the spider will let fall after eating a larger insect. Once the spider has departed this world, then clean the web away.

The best way to clean a web away is with an old-fashioned feather duster, or else with a broom. Most of the people do that within the weekly house cleaning, but you may prefer doing it every month. If you have to clean a large number of old webs off a ceiling, then use a soft-bristled broom. Some people wrap a duster or soft cloth around the head of the broom to make removal of the webs from the broom easier, and this method also prevents smears of dust getting onto the ceiling. 

If you don’t want spiders in your house, don’t kill one if you come across one. It won’t hurt you (unless you are in a holiday home in France, Spain or Italy and suspect it’s a black widow or some other nasty – learn what they look like from an online guide before you go. As a rough guide, black widows have red spots on a big black abdomen, sac spiders are yellow and have huge fangs, and violin spiders have very long legs). Scoop it up on a sheet of paper, a dustpan or even your hand, if you’re brave enough, and take it outside.

If you do have the misfortune to encounter a more fearsome spider when holidaying overseas, don’t panic. You have the advantage of size, strength and intelligence. Tarantulas can be encouraged out the door with a broom (or find someone to take you up on a dare to remove it bare handed) or ignored – some people keep tarantulas as pets. Poisonous spiders should be killed before anyone is bitten, especially if you have small children, elderly people or invalids in your house. Don’t use flyspray – this can infuriate some species – but squash the spider with the underside of a shoe, a broom or any other handy object.

Was one of your New Year resolutions to cut down on waste and to live more sustainably? These quick tips should help.

1. Make your own household cleaners using natural ingredients. Not only does this mean that you will be less exposed to some of the most common sources of household pollutants and toxins, you will also cut down on the amount of waste your household produces (you won't have to buy and dispose of one product for cleaning windows, one for cleaning floors, one for cleaning the bathroom, one for cleaning kitchens, etc, etc. ad nauseam) and you will also be easier on the environment, as producing house cleaners like vinegar, baking soda and soap is less polluting and often uses by-products of other industries.

2. Dry your clothes naturally using the sun and the air. A good washing line or clothes horse gets clothes beautifully dry, whether you dry clothes outside or just stand the clothes horse near a home heating source. This not only means that you're using less electricity to power a dryer, but you will also cut down on the need for anti-static products and you may even be able to get away with doing less ironing.

3. Learn how to mend and make do. It's silly to throw away a shirt or pair of jeans just because it's got a falling hem or a split seam - or even a hole worn in the knees. These are easy mending jobs, and sewing by hand is a soothing task that's good to do while watching TV or sitting down to talk - and it can help keep your hands busy so you don't go reaching for a snack or a cigarette.

4. Consider switching to more environmentally friendly brands, such as Ecover, for home cleaning products that you can't or don't want to make yourself. For me, this would be laundry and dishwashing detergent.

5. Start a recycling system. It's good to have a portable container for putting recyclables because then you can go around your house as you clean up and put things straight where they're supposed to go.

6. Switch to reusable shopping bags as much as you can. This means that you won't have half a million cluttering your drawers up. However, you may still need a few, as you will need to make sure meat doesn't drip all over everything else - and old shopping bags are great for corralling rubbish and recyclable paper (and many shopping bags are themselves recyclable).

7. Find an alternative to retail therapy. Not only will you save money, you will also save on packaging and then filling your house with things that you have to clean and care for. Take up another soothing hobby instead.

8. Get some pot plants for your home. Not only will these help clean the air in your home (especially if you buy plants that absorb and eliminate toxins such as spider plants and peace lilies) but you will also help 'albeit a little bit - reduce the overall CO2 in the atmosphere. Every little bit counts!

9. Start a garden. It's good exercise for you, it makes you more aware of the environment, it encourages you to compost food and other organic waste (which includes the bits from your vacuum cleaner bag - beans love these!) and you can eat the results. Composting makes your house smell nicer, as you don't have food waste sitting around in the bin stinking.

10. Cut down on waste by finding new uses for old items. Old towels, shirts and sheets can be used as cleaning rags. Old toothbrushes can be used for all sorts of cleaning jobs. Old containers can be used to store home-made cleaning products. Thin little soap scraps can be melted down to make soap gel (used for all sorts of cleaning jobs).

When people think of fluorescent lighting they often think of unattractive strip lights that buzz constantly and produce a rather harsh light. These types of lights do still exist, but the technology today has moved forward from here and you can get attractive fluorescent lights that look good throughout offices and other commercial buildings. There are plenty of reasons to choose fluorescent lighting over other alternatives and this article explores what those reasons are. Read on to find out why everyone should use some form of fluorescent lighting in the work place,

The financial savings of fluorescent bulbs are large. Although the initial upfront cost of a light may be higher, the bulb will last up to 10 times longer than a traditional variety. That adds up to a whole lot of savings. Furthermore, they cost far less to run. Your electricity bills will be dramatically reduced if you adopt some fluorescent bulbs in your home or office. They also generate a lot less heat than other types of bulbs, so if your office or workplace has air conditioning or fans on during the summer months, there are plenty of savings to be made here too as less needs to be used to cool the room. There are all sorts of ways that fluorescent bulbs save money. Because replacements are so rare there is a labour saving aspect here too. In workplaces and offices, often maintenance crews have to come in to take care of tasks such as this.

That's right - fluorescent bulbs are much more eco-friendly than incandescent light bulbs. As mentioned briefly already, the ongoing electricity costs to run these bulbs are much less than alternatives. Not only does this save you money, but it also protects the planet as far less energy is being used. They require around 2/3 less energy to work than other types of bulbs which add up to large savings for both your wallet and the environment. This is especially true when used in large spaces and commercial buildings such as warehouses. If everyone in the world switched to these types of lights, this would make a tremendous difference and would dramatically cut emissions. 

If you run a business and you need to light large premises, then using fluorescent lighting is an excellent solution. They may be three times more expensive than other bulbs, but the long term savings really do add up. There are a whole host of designs and styles available on the market today too, so long gone are the days of slightly buzzing strip lights. It is even possible to get dimmer switches too. This type of lighting is particularly good in places such as board rooms or meeting rooms where sometimes the lights need to be dimmed during a presentation or something similar. There is no doubt that fluorescent lights are cost efficient and energy efficient and business owners should take advantage of this. 

If you are a designer or architect then sourcing your lights from a lighting wholesaler is going to save you and your client a bundle. People are looking for cost cutting measures these days and this is an excellent one. The savings are particularly large when you are purchasing large quantities of lights or very expensive lights such as floodlights. Being able to offer lower prices on the lighting aspect of a project may be the key to winning the contract in the first place. 

Whether you are a designer or a business owner however, choosing fluorescent lighting will definitely ensure big savings are made on all future electricity bills for either yourself or your client, and these savings can truly add up.

Though synthetic grass may seem like a relatively newer grass product of the era, it has been around since the mid twentieth century. Its creation was motivated by the desire for the new generation to become physically fit and healthy. Synthetic grass would thus be used for fitness and athletic purposes in the beginning. It was the Ford Foundation in the 1950's that advocated this campaign for fitness, strongly among urban people who were not as fit as the younger rural society.

It was a subsidiary of Monsanto Industries that first created the fibers of synthetic grass to be used as a surface for school fields that would help to encourage athleticism and fitness among the young generation. In the 1960's, Monsanto Industries went on to make one of the first highly identified synthetic grass surfaces, setting it apart from simple grass-like carpets. This product would later be recognized as one of the pioneering artificial grass brands.

The company Chemstrand began to do both experiments and research on synthetic grass. Their aim was to uncover characteristics based on factors like heat, cushioning, effects of the environment and weather conditions, flammability, and durability. In 1964, the very first public artificial grass installation was done in Providence, Rhode Island. The Moses Brown School's installation employed the use of Chemgrass, another early synthetic grass prototype. This was one of the first large-scale installations ever performed at the time.

Shortly after, in 1966, Chemgrass was installed in the AstroDome stadium, home of the baseball team, the Houston Astros. This is where it was named "Astroturf" by John A. Wortmann. In the same year, the AFL football season commenced for the Houston Oilers. The game was played on 125,000 feet of AstroTurf. Indiana State University became the very first outdoor stadium to have AstroTurf installed the next year. After applying for the patent in 1965, they finally received it in 1967. Later, in the 1970's, artificial grass began to be engineered with polypropylene. This is also when the concept of infill began to take form. The artificial grass carpets then began to have a layer of sand to act as the infill. This provided a layer of cushioning, as well as a layer to keep the grass blades upright.

In the 1980's, artificial grass expanded its use to other athletic venues, such as football and recreational areas. In order to attempt to minimize the risk of injury, shock pads were used during this time. Even with shock pads, however, the artificial turf of this time seemed to be too fast for contact sports. It would later undergo several technological improvements that would only aid in creating a suitable performance surface for contact sports. The 1990's were a monumental time for artificial turf, as its uses expanded to contact sports, fields, recreational areas, landscaping for home and business, and more. A breakthrough drainage system even allows families and businesses with pets to use synthetic grass. The history of artificial grass has involved several notable strides in technology and uses, deeming it to be a cutting-edge and multipurpose surface that is suitable for all.

Warm season changes in weather can bring about sunshine and fun times by the pool, but it also increases the likelihood of pests invading your property. Ants, spiders, and other creepy crawlies aren’t aware of property boundaries, so it is up to us to ensure that our houses can keep them at bay. The enclosed tips should help in the good fight for a pest-free home.

1. Cleanliness is next to godliness! Keeping the interior of your home clean and free of crumbs should help tremendously in keeping out unwanted insect visitors. Making the home hospitable and welcoming to them with food and debris laying around will only make them think that they are acceptable house guests. You are feeding them, after all. So keep a clean and tidy home as a base step to pest prevention. Seal tightly any foods that you have so that the smells won’t permeate out nor will bugs be able to get into your consumables. 

2. Work on the exterior of the house as well, checking for cracks and entry points for insects. Clean out the gutters and pipes so that pests can’t set up nests in these areas, which will only lead to infestation . Repair any cracked, broken, shifted, or otherwise warped areas of the exterior and this should curtail the bugs chances for entry.

3. Certain plants and flowers, such as Marigolds, give off unpleasant odors to insects so these could be a good choice to plant around the property. 

4. If you have an infestation of a certain type of bug outside, introducing predator bugs to the environment could be a wise choice. Ladybugs eat certain pests, so with the right balance, they could rid an infestation, just don’t bring in too many or else you could have an infestation of THEM.

5. Get rid of unsightly clutter in the home, such as stacks of cardboard. These can provide comfortable dwelling for creatures such as mice and roaches, so no clutter!

6. Remove stagnant water from the premises. Sitting water attracts insects, so having stagnant ponds, puddles, etc can have the effect of becoming a pest watering hole. 

Following these steps will greatly reduce the numbers of insects that may try to set up home with you. There will always be pests around, but there’s no need to make them your roommates! 

Learn more about how to keep your home clean, healthy, and pest-free at our website: www.DenversCleaningService.com, just click on the 'blog' link.

1. Thou shalt clean up all spills as soon as possible after they occur. Thus thou shalt save thyself a world of bother, as the stains shall not dry in place, requiring considerable elbow grease and effort to remove. However, thou shalt also use thy noggin and not try to wipe spills off a red-hot element, burning thy fingers nastily in the process.

2. Thou shalt not use poisons for cleaning benches where food is prepared. Instead, thou shalt use the natural house cleaning products that thy God hath created, such as vinegar and baking soda. Thus thou shalt not consume minute traces of wicked chemicals. 3. Thou shalt clean thy refrigerator on a regular basis to avoid the growth of mould and the proliferation of vile stenches. The best way to clean a refrigerator is to switch the power off at the wall (for verily, thus thou shalt conserve energy and be a good steward not only of the earth but of the pennies in thy purse) and remove all the items therein, flinging such items are dubious, mouldy or past their use-by dates into the compost heap or organic recycling system so that they might be returned unto the soil from whence they came. Then thou shalt clean the interior of thy fridge with baking soda and a soft, damp cloth, remembering that the most efficient way of cleaning refrigerators is to work from top to bottom. The baking soda hath manifold benefits, absorbing stenches as well as cleaning grease and grime from the interior without harsh scratching. And forget not to clean the compartments in the door of thy refrigerator. Finally, thou shalt rinse any residue of baking soda from the walls, door and floor with a clean damp cloth.

4. Remember thy floor, to keep it regularly mopped and vacuumed. Verily, the kitchen is the heart of the home, so many feet walk on it, spreading the surface with mud, fluff and dust.

Furthermore, grains of rice, oatmeal and scraps of broccoli fall upon the floor when food is prepared. And for the slothful or those burdened greatly with many labours, if thy kitchen floor is clean, the whole house looks cleaner. Cleaning the floor of the kitchen can be done with the vacuum (daily or twice weekly, depending on how messy thy household is and whether or not ye eat in the kitchen) or with the mop. Extremely dirty floors should be cleaned with a scrubbing brush and warm soapy water, drying the floor as thou goest with a series of old towels.

5. Thou shalt have separate chopping boards for cutting meat and cutting other substances. The chopping board used for chopping meat should be sterilized with boiling water. For this reason, thou art advised to use a wooden chopping board for meat, as this shall not melt or have the surface damaged by hot water.

6. Thou shalt not use the tea towels to dry thine hands, nor shalt thou use the hand towel for drying the dishes.

7. Thou shalt change tea towels and dish cloths daily, sending the old ones to the laundry for cleaning. For verily, these are a breeding ground for bacteria.

8. Thou shalt cover frying food with a lid while cooking, else thou wilt cover all the top of the stove and thy splashguard with grease, which is difficult to clean. However, cleaning grease off the stove top can be accomplished with baking soda and a damp cloth, or with an Enjo cloth designed for the purpose.

9. Thou shalt keep thy rubbish covered, for thus thou shalt deter vermin (including greedy cats and dogs) from raiding therein. Furthermore, this prevents bad smells. To remove smells from inside the rubbish bin, sprinkle baking soda inside, as this absorbs smells.

10. Thou shalt rinse all dishes as soon as the meal is finished. This makes it easier to clean the dishes either in the dishwasher of when washing dishes by hand.

One of the jobs this writer has always hated doing is cleaning the inside of the oven. I'm not alone in this: one sales rep for Enjo house cleaning products, who always begins her talk by asking the assembled potential buyers what their least favourite household chore was, says that the two chores that crop up most frequently are cleaning the glass shower front and cleaning the inside of the oven (cleaning the toilet ranked third).

What really puts me (and probably others) off cleaning the oven is those nasty harsh chemicals that you're supposed to use with good ventilation, heavy duty rubber gloves and possibly a face mask. These really strong alkaline cleaners are ferociously strong and while they certainly shift the gunk inside the oven, they are pretty bad news environmentally.

So can you clean the inside of the oven without these nasty chemicals? The top of the oven is easy enough - a quick sprinkle of baking soda rubbed on vigorously with a soft damp cloth, followed by wiping off with a second damp cloth. Or else use an Enjo (or any other microfibre) cloth. But the inside of the oven? Is it possible?

Well, you can start making the clean-up job easier for yourself by developing some good habits. When you cook, make sure that anything fatty is covered so it doesn't spit and spatter all over the place.

Use oven trays to stop things dripping, and watch out for things boiling over and rising over the edge of the pan. This should stop some of the gunge forming in the first place. The second technique for lessening the chore of the domestic cleaningthe inside of the oven is to use a baking tray. Not for baking biscuits and scones, but as a disposable shield down the bottom of the oven.

Alternatively, use aluminium foil. In most electric ovens, you can lift up the bottom element and pop something into it, and this is what you should do. Any spills that do end up on this (and they always do) can just be hauled out when the time comes to change the aluminium lining. As an added bonus, this makes your oven more efficient, as the shiny aluminium reflects heat up so it heats your food rather than the bottom of the oven.

But you will still need to clean the inside of the oven properly. You need lots and lots of baking soda to do this, as you are going to have to coat the entire inside of the oven with a paste of baking soda and water. Don't worry about the oven racks - just whip these out and do them separately. Leave that baking soda on the inside of the oven for half an hour. Then you go in and scrub all the paste and any gunk off. It will require some elbow grease and maybe a bit of help from a wooden or plastic scraper (or your fingernails). Another handy tool at this stage is a pot scrub made from those bags made from reticulated plastic that look like fishnet stockings (often, garlic and oranges come in them). These make great non-scratching scrubbers that never seem to wear out. Don't use steel wool inside your oven or you will scratch it.

You can also use an Enjo mitt for cleaning the inside of the oven. If you haven't cleaned the oven for ages, you can loosen the grime up beforehand by putting an ovenproof bowl of water in the oven and turning on the oven so the water boils dry and goes to steam. This steam will loosen the grime. Leave the oven to cool down after this treatment before going in, but you only have to wait until it's cool enough not to burn you rather than being completely cool - a bit of heat will help the cleaning job.

It may seem like a drop in the ocean compared to costs like mortgage repayments, but depending on where you live water bills can add up to a pretty penny. To save money on water bills firstly consider installing a water meter.

In some homes water meters can save £100s off the bills however in others they may even add on a bit, so before making this choice you need to evaluate which category your house fits into. As a general guideline, a big house with a small amount of occupants should save money by having a water meter installed, whereas a small house with a big family are unlikely to save money.

Apart from saving money when you decide to find ways to conserve water you are also being kinder to the environment. Here are quite a few tips to help you save water use and therefore save money.

1. For those of us with the need to shave, fill up the sink with water and rinse the razor there.

2. We all need to wash our teeth, so get into the habit of wetting your tooth brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.

3. Hopefully we all take showers..but many of us like to hang there as it is a nice feeling, but if you half your shower time this can be a great saver.

4. For drinking water keep a bottle of water in the fridge as this will save the water that is wasted when we run a tap until it is refreshingly cold enough.

5. When cleaning vegetables don't leave the faucet running, instead rinse them in a sink full of water.

6. If you hand wash dishes then don't leave the water running for rinsing. If you have a double basin one side can contain the soapy water and the other the rinse water.

7. When using a dish washer make sure it is fully loaded before use.

8. The same applies to washing clothes, always put on a full load.

9. Water pipes can be inexpensively insulated which means you will get hot water faster leading to less waste.

10. Check if the toilets around the house have any leaks. You can do this by putting food colouring in the tank, and if within about half an hour the colour starts to appear in the toilet bowl then you have a leak that needs fixing.

11. Also check pipes and faucet for leaks.

12. This last one may seem funny but to cut down on water wastage you can get two plastic bottles, put an inch or two of pebbles or sand inside for weight, then place them in the toilet tank-this can save ten plus gallons of water every day. You need to place them away from the operating mechanisms.

Enjoy saving money and water!

One of the jobs this writer has always hated doing is cleaning the inside of the oven. I’m not alone in this: one sales rep for Enjo house cleaning products, who always begins her talk by asking the assembled potential buyers what their least favourite household chore was, says that the two chores that crop up most frequently are cleaning the glass shower front and cleaning the inside of the oven (cleaning the toilet ranked third).

What really puts me (and probably others) off cleaning the oven is those nasty harsh chemicals that you’re supposed to use with good ventilation, heavy duty rubber gloves and possibly a face mask. These really strong alkaline cleaners are ferociously strong and while they certainly shift the gunk inside the oven, they are pretty bad news environmentally. 

So can you clean the inside of the oven without these nasty chemicals? The top of the oven is easy enough – a quick sprinkle of baking soda rubbed on vigorously with a soft damp cloth, followed by wiping off with a second damp cloth. Or else use an Enjo (or any other microfibre) cloth. But the inside of the oven? Is it possible?

Well, you can start making the clean-up job easier for yourself by developing some good habits. When you cook, make sure that anything fatty is covered so it doesn’t spit and spatter all over the place.

Use oven trays to stop things dripping, and watch out for things boiling over and rising over the edge of the pan. This should stop some of the gunge forming in the first place.

The second technique for lessening the chore of the domestic cleaningthe inside of the oven is to use a baking tray. Not for baking biscuits and scones, but as a disposable shield down the bottom of the oven.

Alternatively, use aluminium foil. In most electric ovens, you can lift up the bottom element and pop something into it, and this is what you should do. Any spills that do end up on this (and they always do) can just be hauled out when the time comes to change the aluminium lining. As an added bonus, this makes your oven more efficient, as the shiny aluminium reflects heat up so it heats your food rather than the bottom of the oven.

But you will still need to clean the inside of the oven properly. You need lots and lots of baking soda to do this, as you are going to have to coat the entire inside of the oven with a paste of baking soda and water. Don’t worry about the oven racks – just whip these out and do them separately. Leave that baking soda on the inside of the oven for half an hour. Then you go in and scrub all the paste and any gunk off. It will require some elbow grease and maybe a bit of help from a wooden or plastic scraper (or your fingernails). Another handy tool at this stage is a pot scrub made from those bags made from reticulated plastic that look like fishnet stockings (often, garlic and oranges come in them). These make great non-scratching scrubbers that never seem to wear out. Don’t use steel wool inside your oven or you will scratch it.

You can also use an Enjo mitt for cleaning the inside of the oven. 

If you haven’t cleaned the oven for ages, you can loosen the grime up beforehand by putting an ovenproof bowl of water in the oven and turning on the oven so the water boils dry and goes to steam. This steam will loosen the grime. Leave the oven to cool down after this treatment before going in, but you only have to wait until it’s cool enough not to burn you rather than being completely cool – a bit of heat will help the cleaning job.

There is no doubt about it, when you need guttering for any property the best type to choose is made of uPVC. It is very effective, extremely strong and robust and coming in a variety of designs and colours is very attractive too. Guttering is important on all buildings as it allows rain water to run off the roof and drain away easily without pouring over the sides of the house. All buildings require it and on something so important it is wise to select the very best. If you want to find out why uPVC guttering is the best then this article is for you. Read on to discover all the benefits for uPVC guttering. 

There are several different types of guttering available on the market. Half round guttering is the classic style and most suitable for houses and residential buildings. Less used but just as effective is square cut guttering. This has a more contemporary feel and fits in very well with modern residential properties. Finally there is universal guttering available that is most appropriate for larger buildings. It is extremely high capacity making it suitable to line extensive roofs atop warehouses and other large buildings. Despite the variances between the designs, there is a common theme between them all and that is the ideal material needed to make them with. 

Regardless of the type of guttering used, the most appropriate material by far is uPVC. Not only is it extremely hard wearing but it is very effective too. UPVC is short for Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride. The "unplasticised" aspect means there are no softening agents or "plasticisers" used to make the material which makes it strong and pliable and easy to mold into the shapes needed for guttering. It is extremely easy to install on the building itself as it clips together well and fastens securely onto brackets attached to the building.

UPVC gutters also have effective drainage because they encourage a vortex system which induces a greater water flow for less clogging and quicker drainage. UPVC quick drainage and high water flow also means that fewer downpipes are needed making the guttering less conspicuous around your house. UPVC is a material that comes in a variety of colours, so you can match the guttering in your home to the windows, doors or even conservatory. Guttering made from uPVC doesn't look unattractive, far from it in fact which will comes as a relief to the particularly house proud out there. 

UPVC is a durable and robust material. Once the guttering is installed there will be little or no maintenance work required and replacements won't be needed for decades. It is extremely hard wearing and stands up well even in the harshest of weather. UPVC is also a material with plenty of green credentials too. Far from being a plastic that cannot be recycled, the opposite is in fact true. It is made from non-toxic materials that can be recycled, and the durable nature of it means less needs to be produced making it a friend to the environment.

When it comes to guttering, there is no better type to use than that of uPVC. Not only is it cost effective, it is extremely long lasting and durable. UPVC is such a pliable material that it is in fact also suitable for all doors, windows and conservatories. Even u-PVC cladding is available that provides the visual effect of wood whilst bringing better durability and better value for money. u-PVC windows also stand the test of time better than wooden counterparts. For house design, uPVC as a material for windows and doors cannot be beaten in terms of its robust nature and low maintenance appeal.

Green buildings are an emerging concept in the construction sector. Fundamentally, the concept derives influence from the ‘Go Green’ bandwagon sponsored by major international organizations, such as the UN and the EU; and famous personalities, such as Barack Obama and Al Gore. It is not possible for an individual to tour the world spreading the message of environment conservation. However, one can contribute to this bigger goal by using recycled building materials in the construction process.

The concept of using recycled building materials is not new. It has been practiced since the early 19th century in the UK when cavity walls became popular across Europe. However, it gained greater significance and acceptability after international organizations mooted for a green future.

Different Types of Recycled Building Materials

Using recycled building material is cost efficient and helps to conserve natural resources that are available in a limited quantity. Also, the manufacturing process of most of the raw material used in the construction sector involves the use of chemicals and harmful gases that affect the environment adversely. Thus, using recycled materials offers a dual benefit to nature.

There are two types of recycled building materials depending on the source of waste generation:

• Post-consumer recycled products: These products are recycled from the waste originating from the common population. Products manufactured from post-consumer items may carry usage specifications to ensure optimum utilization.

• Post-industrial recycled products: They are produced from the industrial waste or by-products that originate at different stages of manufacturing.

According to experts, consumer generated waste should be preferred to produce recycled building material. Industrial waste usually has a higher quantity of chemicals and toxic elements which are used while product manufacturing.

There are no specified regulations to measure the quality standards of recycled products. Thus, it is essential to do extensive market research and compare different products before making a purchase decision. Against the backdrop of the rising popularity of the green building concept, one can expect standard quality guidelines in the near future. 

How to Use Recycled Building Materials

Some examples of how you can contribute to the environment by using recycled building materials are: 

• Using iron-ore slag originating as a by-product in blast furnaces to produce mineral insulation.

• Fly ash from coal burning plants is collected to produce concrete. It helps to strengthen the performance of the building structure. One can use fly ash concrete to form one-fourth to half of the total cement required.

• Pipe manufacturing produces a huge quantity of PVC scraps. These can be used to produce environment-friendly cavity fire barriers.

• Use recycled glass tiles on flooring. These tiles are made from broken glass originating from consumer and industrial waste. The waste glass is grounded, melted in a furnace and reformed to make new tiles.

• Use cavity closers made of recycled materials, such as PVC-U. One can also use fibreglass or cellulose insulations which are made from consumer waste.

• Dry wall is one of the most popular recycled building materials. It is recycled from fiberized newspaper.

• Brick and plumbing fixtures can also be made from recycled material.

Green building is not merely a concept. It is a necessity in the present era. Curbing the depletion rate of virgin natural minerals is an urgent need and this is possible through the use of sustainable building materials in construction.

For more information on recycled building materials, visit http://www.cavalok.com. Cavalok Building Products is a leading UK manufacturer of cavity closers, window board receptors and head vent systems made from recycled PVC-U. Processing of virgin PVC causes severe health hazards. However, it is one of the most durable materials for building construction. Thus, Cavalok ensure that all recycled products possess strength comparable to virgin PVC products; while causing no harm to the environment. Their easy-to-fit products are approved by the British Board of Agreement (BBA) and the National House Building Council (NHBC).

A conservatory is a great way of adding space to your home at minimal cost. It also allows you to continue to enjoy your garden long after the rains have come and the air has turned cold. A conservatory made of UPVC is a particularly cost effective way of ensuring your house benefits from additional space and a place to enjoy the outside whilst staying warm and toasty inside. UPVC is a material extremely durable by nature. Traditionally conservatories were made from wood, but the advent of uPVC which is longer lasting and much cheaper means that the majority are now made from this. UPVC stands for Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride. Being "unplasticised" means there are no softening agents or "plasticisers" within the material making it ideal for large structures such as conservatories. Being able to manufacture conservatories from the material uPVC means that a much greater number of people have access to what was previously a very costly and luxurious item. 

It is still possible to purchase wooden framed conservatories, but there are a number of disadvantages for doing so. For a start, uPVC structures are very low maintenance. There is no varnishing, painting, sanding or any other DIY to be carried out. Once the structure is up, you can simply sit back and enjoy. UPVC is also a very simple material to clean. The occasional wipe with a damp cloth and a drop of washing up liquid is all that is required to keep it looking in excellent shape and remove any grime. Wooden frames are liable to fade in the sun too. Weather badly effects wood which needs constant attention, varnishing and caring for and the dirt although perhaps more easily hidden is much harder to remove. UPVC frames are extremely durable and will last for decades. They will not rot like wood can which as well as looking unsightly, can even pose a security risk. 

UPVC conservatories are accompanied with excellent security measures. Many come equipped with advanced locking systems that provide total peace of mind. Additionally there are internal reinforcements included in the designs that provide extra strength and impact resistance for added rigidity and overall security. Although uPVC is a plastic material, it is non-toxic and fully recyclable. Conservatories made from this material are extremely energy efficient too as heat is retained easily during the winter and kept out during the summer through the incorporation of special insulation. This lowers heating bills in winter and prevents the room needing fans or air conditioning in summer. It also provides another reason, as a conservatory made from uPVC acts as a friend rather than foe to the environment. 

They are extremely easy to assemble too making the installation a simple process. More often than not they can be assembled on site. With a variety of wood effect finishes available, it is even possible to have all the benefits of uPVC whilst still retaining a traditional feel. The untrained eye would not be able to tell the windows, doors or conservatory were made from anything other than timber. 

With a host of different styles available, any type or size of home can benefit from a uPVC conservatory. It comes as no surprise that they are extremely popular all over the UK in particular where summers can be short. Often it is unnecessary to obtain planning permission before assembling a conservatory and the low cost makes them an affordable way to extend the house with the minimum of difficulty. UPVC is a very strong and hard wearing material that weathers extremely well. This makes it an ideal material for structures such as a lean to conservatory or sliding patio doors that are subjected to harsh weather every day. With wood effect finishes and different colours available, all styles and tastes can be accommodated.

Teenagers and even adults appreciate the use of custom stickers as décor. You can find custom stickers on a teen’s room, adorning walls, doors, and closets. You can glean pop culture references, catchy slogans, statements, movie quotes, and other interesting messages on custom stickers. Even kids make use of custom stickers as a collection or a hobby. You can also find these on hip establishments that attract the younger crowd. Inside bars, restaurants, or pubs, you can find custom stickers that would make a great conservation starter. You can also find custom stickers on vehicles, getting people’s attention on the road. There are a lot of uses for custom stickers that even businesses, organizations and advertisers make use of these for business marketing and product promotion. Custom stickers have the ability to grab any person’s attention. They are also hip and novel, attracting everyone from all age and social brackets. You can see these custom stickers being used on various places and occasions, making it one of the most versatile print materials around. Moreover, they have a quite charm that works for people of all walks of life. Custom stickers cross barriers. 

If you want to have custom stickers for use as a décor, you can find these in a lot of stores or shops around. Inside shopping malls, you can spot stores that are geared towards custom stickers. These stores have a wide selection of pre-designed stickers that you can choose from. You can just pick one among them for your personal use. Also, you can ask for customized stickers. If you already have a desired output in mind, you can ask their resident graphic designer to come up with a design template. Once you approve of the design template, this can already be sent to the printer. Printing custom stickers does not take one whole day to finish. In an hour or less, you can get your custom stickers fresh from the printer. If you want to make your own design template though, you can just present them with your final file copy. If you are proficient in graphic design, too, you can just get printing services. In that way, you can have the liberty to make your own design templates according to what you have in mind. The creative process can be pretty easy as you just have to translate your design idea into a printed form. You do not have to negotiate with another person. 

At home, using your own desktop printer, you can run custom stickers, too. You just need to have the necessary materials: sticker paper and cutter. These can be bought at your neighbourhood book store. You may even have these materials at your home or in your workplace. Before you print custom stickers en masse though, you need to run a test print first. In that way, you will know if there are any flaws on your design when it is on print. Once you have spotted flaws or bleeds, especially, make the necessary changes. Train your eyes to spot misspellings as well as small elements that may not have been removed from your file. Print custom stickers and decorate these on your room walls or on your transport vehicle. You can also send these to your friends or as gifts to your family members who may want to have one on their rooms, too.

We need to give much importance towards cleanliness and hygiene in our homes. If there is no proper cleaning of carpets in our homes we increase the chances of our family members suffering from with respiratory diseases and allergies. We need to keep our carpets clean at all times to avoid spread of bacteria, fungus and dirt in our homes which may cause any number of serious health problems.

Even we can clean our carpets ourselves with a vacuum cleaner but this will not give complete cleanliness. So we require a professional like Schmukler's Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, having experience of 3 Generations of Cleaning Specialists.

The Advantages using professionals in carpet cleaning service

Forget about diseases

Vacuum cleaner can help to get rid of the surface residue but it is impossible to get rid of all the dirt from your carpet with a vacuum cleaner alone. We can solve this problem using professionals, they were much experienced in deep and thorough carpet cleaning. Generally the professionals will have the latest equipment to remove dust and bacteria, which cause lot many diseases and allergies to our families. 

No need to buy new carpet every time

One common mistake that takes place in many houses is that we 

plan to buy new carpets whenever we need to clean our carpets which would be more cost effective and environmentally friendly. Instead of buying a new carpet, use a professional cleaning service to make your carpet look brand new. Schmucklers carpet cleaning with three generations of experience will make your old carpet look as good as new and free from all harmful bacteria and fungus.

The health of occupants is very important both in the home and in the work place. One of the usual culprits in creating unhealthy environments is the carpet. Rugs are just as common sources of contaminants. Furthermore, in case of indoor flooding due to plumbing issues, rain leaks or accidental spills, the presence of stagnant water or wet places in the building can cause health issues. This is why professional commercial and residential green carpet cleaning, rug cleaning and flood restoration services are very important in Wilmette, IL.

In commercial and residential green carpet cleaning and rug cleaning, the service provider uses only environmentally friendly and non-toxic products and equipment. These should have been certified to be so by the most reputable independent Environmental agencies. One of these is the Green Seal Environmental Standard for Cleaning Services (GS-42). Such environmentally friendly and non-toxic products and equipment keep the quality of indoor air at optimum levels all the time by having no volatile organic compounds, surfactants, wetting agents, dyes and perfumes.

For companies, commercial green carpet cleaning and rug cleaning services result in significant cost cutting and savings. Environmentally friendly equipment are energy efficient and their use therefore mean less energy costs. Keeping the indoor environment healthy also has a positive impact on the health of company employees. This improves their productivity, efficiency and quality of output. It also decreases absenteeism and the number of sick leaves among employees while reducing the costs of company health care. In terms of image, abiding by the requirements for maintaining a green building creates a positive reputation for the company in the area of corporate social responsibility.

For homes, residential green carpet cleaning and rug cleaning services will also cut energy costs and health costs. Younger children in the home are even more vulnerable to health issues and are therefore given more protection.

Good professional commercial and residential green carpet cleaning, rug cleaning include pre-conditioning treatment, spot removal treatment, deodorizing treatment and stain protection treatment.

It is best to find a service provider that offers more than just carpet cleaning and rug cleaning to include complete water removal and flood restoration because it does not need a huge disaster to have flooding in the home or office. Plumbing problems can cause flooded toilets. Even basements can be flooded by leaks. It would be good to find a service provider with 24-hour emergency flood restoration services, free estimates and evaluation, rental and delivery of drying equipment, water extraction services, complete structure drying services, mold removal services, mold prevention enzyme treatment and air duct cleaning.

Make sure the service provider chosen for commercial and residential green carpet cleaning, rug cleaning and flood restoration services is fully licensed and insured. It should also provide free touch up services within 30 days from the first cleaning in case the client is not satisfied with the results.

Avoid the unhealthy building syndrome by getting reputable professional commercial and residential green carpet cleaning, rug cleaning and flood restoration services in Wilmette, IL.

A skylight tunnel is a form of skylight that allows you to light a room that does, or does not, have direct roof access. These lights are becoming popular because they offer some advantages over conventional skylights that are larger, but more cumbersome. Their small size offers a way to light your home with solar energy without the heat loss/gain that traditional skylights cause. Here are three major ways that a skylight tunnel directly affects you.

few people are a little hesitant to install conventional skylights because of the extra entry port for criminals. Since an average sized person can fit through one of these traditional fixtures, you can see their point. A skylight tunnel solves that problem with their small size. Even the largest of these tubular skylights only require a hole in your roof that is 15 inches in diameter. That makes them burglar proof to even the smallest of thieves. These smaller lights are also better suited to withstand being damaged by a falling tree branch or a hail storm. Overall, these lights offer safety and security that just isn't available from a larger skylight.

The very nature of a skylight tunnel makes it provide an indirect and diffused light. This means that you, your furniture, and your carpet are exposed to fewer UV rays from the Sun. By lowering your exposure to UV rays, you protect yourself from their harmful effects while benefiting from energy savings. With your furniture and carpets protected from those same UV rays, you will not see fading and discoloration as soon or at all. That means everything in the room could last longer and save you money by not having to be replaced as often. In addition to saving money and protecting your possessions and yourself from UV rays, you gain health benefits from being exposed to sunlight throughout the day. Your body processes vitamin D and calcium better when it is exposed to sunlight. Serotonin levels are higher from sunlight exposure and that leads to a lessening of feelings of depression during the winter months.

The third way that a skylight tunnel affects you is right in the wallet. These tunnels cost anywhere from $215 to $265 each. That is a huge savings over traditional skylights. Your energy bill will drop after you install them and up to 30% of their cost is tax deductible(up to $1500). As an additional savings, these products are easy enough to install that a a first time do-it-yourselfer can confidently tackle this home improvement project. So, what you have are four different ways that skylight tunnels leave money in your pocket throughout the year.

Two great things are happening to us and they both involve cloth napkins; how is this possible? 

1) In a world that has become dominated by cheap fast food chains, we’ve begun a revolution to reclaim dinner, the dining room table, real plates, real silverware, real napkins and other real dining room accessories. Say so long to the coffee table at dinnertime and hello to stylish and functional dining room decor! 2) Everyone is looking for new ways to go green and find eco-friendly living solutions; paper towels and paper napkins are out, linen napkins are in. 

According to the March 2009 Sensis Consumer report, Australia has been spending more time at the dinner table than eating out. Almost 80 percent of meals are now being cooked at home, and eaten at home at least six days out of the week. This compares vastly to US consumers who only eat around 36 percent of meals at home. Meals cooked at home are much less expensive than comparable meals eaten out, and cheap fast food meals are being abandoned for high quality, healthy food. 

Additionally, by moving dinner away from the TV and to the dining room table, our families are getting in quality conversations, which helps parents get to know the lives of their children a little better while also reducing the risk of wanting to stay glued to the TV for long hours after dinner. Dining room décor is important in making this room a welcoming and fun environment for the whole family and friends. Because we are spending more time here, we are now seeing more use of colourful and stylish tablecloths topped by table runners, placemats, and yes, linen napkins! 

Linen napkins are so highly absorbent that you would go through more non-attractive paper towels than you would one beautiful linen napkin for a messy child.

Linen napkins are statement to fine dining, and not only do they convey importance in dinner, they are really more practical for spills and softer to the skin for meat sauce covered mouths. 

Linen napkins are super eco-friendly. The process of making linen from flax is generally an organic, soil safe practice. The best part is that you would never throw away a linen napkin, and they last for many years, if not decades, if not centuries. With the stain fighting, environmentally friendly detergents we have now, all we have to do is pop the cloth napkins into the washer and they are as good as new even if they were coloured with sauce.

Since you won’t need to buy as many linen napkins as you will inevitably go through paper towels, one family set of linen napkins will pay for itself in just a few sets of paper towels or decorative paper napkins, and will continue to reward you this way during their lifetime.

How many times have you read articles or books on cleaning and housekeeping that seem to assume that the reader has enough time to spend two or three hours a day cleaning but does not have pets or children? Some books seem to set the standards impossibly high - even the books on natural cleaning, which often then go on to say that stress is a major source of illness that depletes your immune system, so we should avoid stress. Today's reality is that being a full-time housewife is something of a luxury (as opposed to being a full-time stay-at-home mother of preschoolers - that's a different story and should be more of a necessity.

This should never be a luxury) and most women have jobs outside the home. So do the men. Even work-from-home folk don't have the luxury of hours and hours to spend cleaning.

For most of us, most of the heavy-duty cleaning is kept for a big weekly bash that gets fitted around kids' sport and socialising. Alternatively, you could hire a cleaner to come in and do it all for you, but not every professional house cleaner use natural cleaning methods, so if this is important to you (and it is for many, many people), finding a suitable cleaner can be tricky. So you'll have to do the cleaning yourself.

The golden rule for a weekly home cleaner (a weekly DIY cleaner, not the sort who comes in once a week as a job) is not to try to do everything every week. Some cleaning jobs will have to be done weekly, but others can be done less frequently. Also, having good daily habits helps. If you have the habit of wiping down the bench top and oven top every day when you're cooking, or if you insist that the kids tidy their rooms before using the computer, the big weekend cleaning session will be less of a nightmare. Cleaning the house on the weekend is also made much easier if everyone pitches in and does their bit - it shouldn't just be Mum's job any more. Also - use your eyes. If it isn't visibly dirty, don't bother cleaning it this week.

So what do you do? Here's how the plan looks in my house. This takes a couple of hours with everyone helping out:

* General pick-up of all rooms (this is a daily task, really, but the debris seems to accumulate). Books into shelves, clothes into drawers or the wash, toys into boxes, papers into files.

* Empty rubbish and recycling bins ready to be put out on collection day.

* Vacuum every room in the house.

* Clean the toilet. Also clean the sink and the bath, if they need it.

* One "bigger" cleaning job (two if you have time). Last week in my house, this was the dusting. Another week, it could be a deep clean of one of the bedrooms or a dejunking session in the garage. Or it could be cleaning out the fridge. It depends on which job needs it most. If you're not sure where to start, make a list of big household cleaning jobs and put them in order of priority. Cross them off as you go and put the job you've just done down the bottom of the list again.

Many articles about natural cleaning products tell you all about the consumable product that actually does the cleaning – the vinegar, the baking soda, the borax, the soap, etc. However, when you get onto cleaning –whether you use and make your own natural products, whether you use commercial cleaners, or whether you use a mixture of both – you’ll need more than just the cleaning product itself. 

For a start, for home-made cleaners, you will need containers. If you are using salt or vinegar or baking soda “straight” then the packet you bought it in is probably good enough. But if you have to mix stuff up, you’ll need something to keep the mixed product in. This is especially true of natural home cleaners containing essential oils, as these need time to mellow and blend, and essential oils should not be anywhere near the vinegar that goes on your fish and chips or your salad. You do not always have to run out and buy special containers. People who like cleaning using natural methods tend to be an environmentally conscious lot, so it’s good to know that most, if not all, the containers you need are probably already in your home holding jam or something. Good items to save as containers include:

* Screw-top jars, either glass or plastic.

* Ice cream containers and large yoghurt pottles with airtight lids

* Spray bottles (if you’re switching from commercial to home-made cleaners, save those pump-spray bottles, but rinse them very well first).

You can also use an ordinary plate or bowl if you’re mixing up a small amount to use on the spot just once, e.g. a salt and vinegar paste for cleaning copper and brass.

Next, you’ll need lots of cloths for wiping things on and rinsing things off. You can use paper towels – you won’t be saving the rainforest by not using them; most paper products come from sustainably managed forests – but you’ll need an awful lot of them and this can get expensive. Better to use cleaning rags, as they’re re-usable. You do not have to buy cleaning rags, either. Any old, soft fabric item that’s falling to bits can be turned into a cleaning rag. Old sheets, towels and tea towels are fantastic. So are cotton nappies once the baby is no longer a baby, old T-shirts, odd socks and ancient underpants. Avoid using anything with a scratchy zip, anything with buttons (cut them off and save them for when someone loses a button), anything denim (too harsh) and anything made of a fancy super-duper synthetic sports fabric that doesn’t hold moisture. 

You can also buy cloths for cleaning. Enjo (microfibre) cloths spring to mind first up, but others worth considering are natural sponges (for cleaning stains off carpets) and natural chamois leather (for cars and a few other things).

You will also need scrubbing brushes. Get several:

* A tough bristled brush for really hard jobs

* A softer bristled brush for something that needs a good scrub but might get scratched

* An old toothbrush or three for getting into tricky places.

* A bottle brush.

* A toilet brush. Some people hate using toilet brushes on the grounds that they are unhygienic. Personally, the idea of reaching down inside a toilet bowl with a cleaning rag is repulsive (my rubber gloves don’t reach up past the elbow and the idea that toilet=germs=hands off is very deeply ingrained), and the toilet brush won’t be all that bad if you keep it bristle-down in some sort of disinfectant when not in use.

You will also need the usual cleaning tools: buckets (lots of these), brooms, mops, vacuum cleaners and feather dusters. However, rubber gloves will be not used as often, as natural cleaning products are gentler on the skin. Don’t ditch the gloves, though. You will still need them for when you clean up something revolting or have to use strong soap.

There are a number of companies that offer several products that are eco-friendly. earth friendly products offer an exceptional variety of plant based products that are required for any type of cleaning. They are clean and do not contain harmful chemicals. These products are not hazardous to health and are safe to use.

The products vary from fruit wash to drain cleaner products. The earth friendly natural fruit and vegetable wash helps to remove pesticides, various chemicals heavy metals, dirt wax and all kinds of bacteria. The earth enzyme drain opener and natural enzyme drain cleaner is a high tech method for maintaining free flowing drains and cleaning of clogged septic tanks and cesspools. They are pretty cheap and range from a price of $4-7 dollars.

The 21st century now introduces one to a clean house and a clean planet. All these organic cleaning products are non-toxic and keep your home sparkling. It is no longer necessary to use commercial cleaners since there are effective and a safer alternative. Now instead of laundry detergent, aqua balls can be used. Even household cleaners and stain removers like Citra Solv range can serve the purpose. These products have the advantage of saving money and time. They are gentle on the clothes, furniture and the house as well as help to save the environment. 

Organic products include vinegar, salt, baking soda and borax. It does have its own disadvantage; that is it cannot be bought in bulk. However there are numerous stores that sell these organic products. For instance organic soap is said to very good. Not only is it chemical free, but it also improves the texture of your skin. It might seem that these products are incapable of cleaning properly but the fact is that they may even give better results than that of regular cleaning products. While using organic products a healthy environment is created. As a result of this the demand for chemicals would decrease thus causing less pollution. 

There are companies where all the products are 100% organic. These produce all natural cleaning products as well as body care products. All the products contain essential oils and other plant materials. These companies aim at providing health benefits as well as fresh wonderful fragrances which are natural and safe to use.

They keep continuously researching and expanding their products. They intend to be as environmentally friendly as possible not only with the products that they offer but also with the ingredients that are used and even the packing. Most of them are packed with recycled materials without compromising with health and hygiene. Although most of the oils are obtained from different parts of the world but the medicinal herbs and plants used are grown locally. These products are known for their medicinal purposes and are pocket friendly too.

The uses of these organic household cleaning products are far better as they posses lesser amount of toxic chemicals and thus help in maintaining a clean and healthy environment.

Installing a proper attic ventilation system is essential for your home for various reasons. It plays a key role in eliminating the effects of external temperature on the internal areas of a building, thereby helping to cut down on energy expenses. During the winter, a vent system reduces the development of moisture in the attic, which causes frost and condensation in the lower parts of your roof. If water condensation occurs in large quantities, it can lead to ghosting, ugly patches, wood rot and failure of the roofing material. Similarly, in the summer season, poor attic ventilation can elevate temperatures within the building, causing damage to shingles and roof boards. Thus, good attic ventilation is a must for proper insulation and it starts with perfectly installed soffit vents.

About the Soffit Vent

A soffit is the lower side or underside of any structure in a building. The word 'soffit' is a derivative of the French word 'suffigere', which means 'to fix underneath'. However, in popular usage, soffit is mostly used for the area underneath the ceiling, stairs and cornice. Soffit vent refers to the ventilation system installed underneath the eaves sections of the building. It helps to regulate air flow into the room by allowing fresh air from the outside to enter the attic. Every home has some sort of roof ventilation system installed at the top edge of the roofline. Some of the popular roofline ventilation systems are hip roof, gable vents and individual roof. These conventional ventilation systems are effective but they do not draw fresh air into the attic. However, when coupled with a soffit vent, the overall performance of these conventional ventilation systems increases manifold. The soffit vent works to draw fresh air to the base of the roofline; while the normal vent systems release hot and humid air into the external environment.

Different Types of Soffit Vents

Soffits vents are available in two variants – continuous and individual. Continuous soffit vents run through the entire length of the soffit. These are narrow vent systems, ideal for buildings with narrow eves. They are highly efficient and blend well with the normal architecture of the home. Individual soffit vents are customized to fit into the soffit joints. This feature makes these soffit vents highly popular in the market. They are easier to install and help significantly in maintaining the internal temperature of the building.

With advancement in science and the art of manufacturing building components, integrated soffit vents are available in the market. These vents are pre-installed in the soffits. Thus, you are not required to install a vent separately into the soffit underneath the eaves section. 

How to Assess Your Soffit Ventilation Need?

Proper soffit vent installation is a pre-requisite for good ventilation inside the building. Most builders understand soffit vent requirements of a building and install this vent system in new homes. However, in older homes, soffit vent systems are usually missing. In such a scenario, you can buy vented soffit boards. These boards are available in different colours and styles to suit individual requirements. They are easy to install and fit into the fascias. While buying a soffit vent board, ensure that they follow standard regulations set up by the building and construction governing authorities, such as the BBA (British Board of Agrément) and the CSTB (French Scientific and Technical Centre for Building). The BSI (The British Standards Institution) also inspects the quality standards of fascias and soffits in the UK. Look for BSI kitemarked products for best value for money. 

You can opt for vented soffit boards manufactured from the lead-free calcium organic compound, PVC-U. This compound helps in conserving nature by eliminating the environmental impact of lead elements. Unlike normal plastic products, the uPVC compound is extracted from highly synthetic plastic so that it can retain its shape, colour and texture for a longer period of time.

There are DIY guides for most projects that you can get a hold of in order to make any dream a reality. First of all, you need to have the determination to follow through on a particular project. Plenty of people purchase guides and they sit around gathering dust as a "could have been" item. A DIY solar panel guide can be a step towards a greener future, reducing your dependency on traditional sources of energy.

A good DIY solar panel guide will have the following:

1. A comprehensive list of supplies that you will need to build your panels. This will include where you should look for those supplies, an estimate of what they should cost you, and how to find difficult items that may be required for your project.

2. Instructions that are easy to follow and explained in extensive detail. Pictures are also helpful, and even more useful are videos or DVDs.

3. Installation instructions - how to get a permit for the electrical end of the project, and how to get a good electrician - if you need one.

4. How to pass the electrical inspection.

5. A refund guarantee of at least 60 days in case you examine the product and decide not to follow through with it.

Once you locate a good DIY solar panel guide, read it from beginning to end. Read every detail about what you are getting involved in and what is required to make your project a reality. Start looking around at local building supply centers and hardware stores to find the best price on the supplies needed to build a DIY solar panel.

Building and installing solar panels may become a source of enjoyment and satisfaction for you, especially once you see the lowered cost of your electrical bill. It may even come to the point where you can continue to build these panels and help your friends and family to install them in their homes. Your cost to build a single panel will likely be around $200.00. If you decide to build and install panels as a side business, you can charge $2,500.00 per panel and installation and still be cheaper than commercial installers.

There are plenty of really good guides available, just read some good reviews to find out about what is in the guide you plan on purchasing. Of course, if you select a guide that has a money back guarantee, you will be taking the guess work out of purchasing a guide.

Visit YourGreenEnergy.org and contact me to receive your free guide http://yourgreenenergy.org on alternative energy sources now!

Instances of home invasions, including violent crimes and burglaries, are on a rise in the UK and can cause anyone sleepless nights. Hence, safety and security have become paramount concerns. The need for security is heightened at night when regular visibility is impaired due to the lack of proper illumination. This is where standard security cameras fail and infrared cameras become the need of the hour.

Infrared cameras were first devised to be used in the jungles of Korea by the US Army. Since then, their application has diversified and they are now the preferred product for security surveillance at homes and offices.

Infrared Cameras

Infrared light is invisible to the naked eye. This is because it has a lower frequency and a longer wavelength than the regular white light. The name itself means 'below red,' as it comes below the red wavelength in the white light spectrum. It is emitted by everything in the world and the intensity varies according to the temperature of the body. Infrared cameras use infrared LED sensors positioned all around the exterior of the camera lens to capture the thermal rays and create an image without the need of any other form of illumination.

Infrared cameras guarantee to work in even the most extreme environmental conditions. This means taking images even in the middle of a moonless night or through dense fog when nothing is visible. The images taken in such conditions are black and white. However, when proper illumination is present, they work like ordinary cameras and give coloured images. 

Choosing a Good Infrared Camera

The first measure of an infrared camera's prowess is its Lux rating. This refers to the amount of light it requires to take an image. The best products have a 0.0 rating; which means that they can take pictures in total darkness. For use at home, a slightly high Lux rating is acceptable, as there will always be some artificial illumination around.

The second factor to consider is how far the camera can see in total darkness. This depends on the number of infrared LEDs that is attached to the camera lens. Some infrared cameras have a capturing range of up to 150 feet. However, if you need to protect a smaller property, then you can opt for short range products which are significantly cheaper.

The pixel resolution of the camera is also a very important factor to consider. These resolutions are not as high as that of the standard digital cameras, which generally start from 10 megapixels. For infrared cameras, the standard resolution starts from 160x120 or 19,000 pixels and can go to a maximum of 640x480 or 307,200 pixels.

DVR Cameras

Do you not feel safe while leaving your child alone in the care of your babysitter? Do you believe that your spouse is cheating on you, but you cannot do anything about it because you have no proof to confront him/her? These are circumstances in which people opt for DVR cameras. The best thing about these cameras is that, due to their small size, they can be placed away from normal vision and record activities without alerting the actors. The video records captured by these cameras can be used as evidence for identifying burglars involved in a house robbery or as concrete proof for divorcing an unfaithful spouse.

Using Infrared Cameras as a Wildlife Camera

A majority of the activities in a jungle occur during nighttime. Standard cameras will not be of much help in such situations because of the lack of illumination. The technological advantages of infrared cameras make them perfect for use even at night.

Besides having infrared vision, a wildlife camera is also supposed to be equipped with motion detectors. This means that they take pictures only if they sense any motion occurring in their vision range. Thus, manual control of the camera is not needed and they can be left hidden in the jungle for days at a stretch.

A growing trend in the new millennium is to go green. This covers all aspects of our daily lives, from what we eat to how we get around and what type of energy we use. Speaking of energy, what are the pros and cons of homemade solar power?

Pros of homemade solar power include:

• The total reduction of your dependence on traditional energy sources, including electricity and fossil fuels - including oil and natural gas.

• Cost savings in electrical bills, the total of which annually should easily cover any outlay for the building and installation of solar panels.

• The reduction of your overall carbon footprint by moving towards a renewable source of energy.

• Possible eligibility for government grants, tax credits or rebates (depending on where you live).

Cons of homemade solar power include:

• Cost of supplies (which will be recovered in electrical savings, very easily);

• Technical skills (not really a requirement if you can find a good guide that is easy to follow).

• It is difficult to generate massive amounts of energy with a smaller homemade system.

• The availability of your energy supply depends on the weather conditions.

If you have considered or looked into homemade solar power, you may have already deduced that the installation of this type of system is an investment. The investment is not only in your future, but as a contribution towards the future of the entire planet. Imagine if every person decided to move away from their dependence upon the electrical companies and fossil fuels. The results would be simply astounding.

What you will need to begin your move towards a greener future is a good and comprehensive guide. This guide should show you step-by-step exactly what tools and equipment you will need to build and install each solar panel and to have it fully operational so that you can use it to power certain appliances, lights or whatever it is that you choose to operate with your new energy source.

Don't let anyone discourage you from attempting a project such as this. Many people believe that solar power is for "alternative people", just not them. Of course, being "alternative" is what is going to save our planet for future generations. Don't give in to the thoughts of other people. Step outside the box and take on this worthwhile project. Your friends and family will have proof positive when you show them your electrical bill after installation of your solar panels.

Visit http://yourgreenenergy.org and contact me to receive your free guide on alternative energy sources now!

Fascia board is an important roofing component, commonly used in houses. It is installed on the exterior ends of rafters and on top of the outside walls to provide a drainage system from the edge of the building’s roof. It adds to the aesthetic beauty of the house, while protecting the interior areas of the house and the roof from damage due to weather conditions such as rain or frost. Thus, fascia boards and soffits save the house from major repairs. They have low installation costs and are available in different materials. uPVC fascia boards are the most popular form of fascias in the UK and the US.

Why Should We Buy uPVC Fascia?

uPVC fascia boards are premium quality boards that protect the building from the severe effects of extreme weather. Fascias and soffit boards are generally considered to be long term investments. Thus, it is essential to buy the best possible product to ensure the least expenses on maintenance and maximum protection. uPVC fascias are made of chemically synthesised plastic. They are highly resistant to damage due weather conditions, fire and collision. They are not prone to corrosion and can last for several years without any major maintenance requirements. Thus, uPVC fascia boards are the best possible shield for your house.

Being made of dense plastic, these boards help to improve thermal insulation by filling cavities that exist at the junction points of the roof and walls. This helps to save on energy expenses by reducing the effect of the external environment on the temperature inside the building. High quality fascia boards do not require paint or varnish to keep them clean and shining. All you need to do is to clean them with water or a diluted cleansing agent periodically.

Many people avoid using uPVC fascia due to a belief that it causes environmental degradation. However, accredited manufacturers ensure that they use a lead-free calcium organic compound to manufacture plastic boards to eliminate possible damage to the environment. When using a lead-free calcium compound to produce PVC, there is no possibility of environmental degradation. One must check for the BSI kitemark to ensure that a fascia board is made of environment-friendly material. Owing to the popularity of uPVC fascia boards, the BBA (British Board of Agrément) and CSTB (French Scientific and Technical Centre for Building) have recommended industry standards for their manufacture and maintenance.

Use uPVC Fascia to Enhance the Looks of your Home

uPVC fascia boards not only protect your house from the ravages of weather, they are a crucial element in the exterior beauty of the building. One can opt for traditionally white fascia boards, which look stunning and clean. They add the element of elegance to the beauty of the house. uPVC fascias are also available in a range of colours and textures to suit the individual tastes of every customer. One can match fascias and soffit boards with the guttering and pipes for a smart exterior look.

Standard uPVC fascia boards are available in the following colours and textures:

• Bright white

• Standard white

• Black

• Rosewood

• Mahogany

• Golden Oak

• Black (woodgrain)

You can also experiment with different styles to suit your taste. Usually, fascias are available in three different styles – square edge, ogee and bull nose. The square edge style has sharp edges, which gives a neat contemporary look to the roofline. As the name suggests, the ogee fascia board is styled in an ‘S’ shape, creating a more traditional look. Bull nose boards have rounded edges and a smooth finish. If you are ready to invest more, opt for matching uPVC soffits, doors and double-glazed windows. This will make your home stand out in the entire neighbourhood.

How do electrical contractor companies and their electricians work? It seems like very few people know. Most people are not really aware of the scope of work done by electrical contractor companies and their electricians. Perhaps only those who are working in the construction and building industries are in the know. This is quite a sad state of affairs because the truth is that the work done by electrical contractor companies and their electricians are so widely encompassing that all of modern society depends on them. Every person of any age benefits from the work done by electrical contractor companies and their electricians practically 24 hours a day.

The general work of electrical contractor companies and their electricians has to do with the design, installation, maintenance and repair of various types of residential, commercial and industrial electrical systems and electrical projects. All electrical parts & supplies needed in all those projects are to be provided by the electrical contractor companies, too. This proves how the work accomplished by electrical contractor companies and their electricians benefit all social sectors, both private and public.

The maintenance and repair work done by electrical contractor companies and their electricians include the upgrading and electrical repairs of electrical boxes, control panels, electric motors, electrical panels, concealed wiring, underground wiring and cable fault locating, as well as the installation, maintenance and repair of street lights, parking lot lighting, landscape lighting, commercial lights and security lighting. When electrical emergencies arise, electrical contractor companies respond at any time of the day or night with fully equipped bucket trucks.

Electrical contractor companies and their electricians can also offer electrical code consulting so that clients can avoid government electrical code violation. This can help clients comply with the 40-Year Building Inspection Program of Miami-Dade County in Florida, for example, where electric inspection is required every ten years for buildings that are aged 40 years and older.

Special services are likewise provided by electrical contractor companies and their electricians in areas vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes. They can do generator installation and surge protection from surge protectors.

Electrical contractors whose work covers electric generation and power transmission from power plants to power substations, power facilities and power users are called line or outside electrical contractors. Hydroelectric energy and power plant equipment are included in the scope of their work.

Electrical contractors whose work covers all electrical needs within the residential, commercial or industrial property lines of clients are called inside electrical contractors. They handle home energy audits, heat tracing, electric meters, circuit breakers, junction boxes, fuse boxes and fuses, switches, electric wires, indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, recessed lighting, outdoor fans, patio fans, ceiling fans, ceiling fan repair and water heaters, among others.

Electrical contractors whose work covers low power are called voice/data/video (VDV) or integrated building systems (IBS) electrical contractors. They handle auxiliary power generators; power monitoring; emergency electrical & lighting systems; solar energy; wind energy; security systems; telecommunications systems including closed circuit television; climate control systems including fire detectors, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and exhaust fans; and fiber optics

The work done by electrical contractor companies and their electricians make up the backbone of today’s society. They therefore deserve the recognition that is often not given to them.