Eco Friendly Home Furniture Design Ideas

Having a child or children with asthma can present a challenge. It requires trying to avoid household triggers as well as making changes within the home to make it safe for those with asthma. Luckily, there are ways to make your home asthma safe. Simple changes can have a huge impact and make your home safer for your child.

When I was presented with this challenge, the first thing I did was determine all asthma triggers in my home and I did my best to eliminate them. These triggers included mold, dust, pollen and smoke. Other things that can irritate those with asthma are household cleaners and aerosol sprays, which are also not very good for the environment. In order to remove these from a home, changes have to be made. In order to remove mold I had to keep the home as dry as possible. A dehumidifier is a great way to do so as well as cleaning any visible signs of mold. Also, do not be afraid to turn on the air conditioning. It filters the air and makes it clean and fresh.

Next, I did a thorough cleaning of my home. Vacuuming regularly and removing any dust is a great way to keep the home clean and safe. Not only is it good for those with asthma but it benefits those who always have the occasional sniffles as well.

A more costly yet very effective way I made my home asthma safe is by removing all wall-to-wall carpeting. Carpet collects so much dust. Replace carpet with beautiful bamboo or cork floors. Not only will it reduce the amount of dust but it will also make every room look amazing.

Overall, making a home safe for children with asthma is easy. A few simple changes can make a huge difference. Get out the cleaning products and let the cleaning begin!

Radiant floor heating systems are commonly installed when a building is constructed. However, it is possible for them to be installed afterwards, and radiant floor heating systems can be installed outside in places such as a driveway, sidewalk or a patio.

There are two main types of radiant heating which are electric radiant and hydronic radiant. Either type can be installed in floors, walls or ceilings.

Whichever type is used, whether electric or hydronic is designed to heat the floor and as the heat rises the room becomes heated or the area where the radiant heating system has been installed.

The easiest radiant floor heating system to install is the electric system. Anyone who knows about working with electricity can do the required testing and analyzing in order to install the system.

Electrical radiant floor heating systems are designed in rolls that are laid down and adjusted to the size of the area to be heated. Then a layer of cement is spread over the electric roll. After the cement has been applied, the flooring can be installed. The floor can be tile, vinyl, carpet or whatever type of flooring is desired. After the floor has been installed, it is only a matter of connecting the heating roll to the electrical circuit of the room.

The installation of a hydronic radiant floor heating system can be installed in one of three ways. Slab-on-grade, a thin slab or a plate system. Some areas may require this type of radiant floor heating to be installed by someone who is licensed to do this type of work.

Advantages of having radiant floor heating are that there is no need for heating ducts to be installed, no noise or uneven heat. Also there is not the problem of dust or allergen being stirred up.

One of the main factors people take into consideration when selecting insulation is its ability to reduce energy costs. Essentially, in the summer it prevents hot air from entering a home and in winter it locks the warmer air inside the home. There are a plethora of choices for Eco-friendly people wanting to apply insulation that benefits the environment. Numerous types of insulation exist to aid the environment: insulation containing a high percentage of recycled materials; insulation that does not incorporate harmful substances that cause health issues; and insulation that is made from natural, ‘green’ materials.

A type of Eco-friendly home insulation that’s fairly new on the market is sheep’s wool. The fibers within the sheep’s wool form millions of miniscule air pockets when compressed; these air pockets trap air, which can effectively insulate homes throughout the year. Wool’s permeability enables it to absorb moisture from the air without affecting its ability to retain heat. Sheep’s wool, when insulating a home, permits homeowners to lessen the amount of times they adjust their heating and cooling systems which invariably saves them money, and the environment.

Another type of renewable material that poses no threat to the environment is cotton. In and of itself, cotton is a natural resource, which makes it one of the best green insulating resources available. Unlike many well-known insulating materials, cotton does not contain the dangerous chemical formaldehyde, which is a known cause to many respiratory problems. Furthermore, cotton is great at absorbing moisture and acting as a natural insect repellent.

The spray-on foam insulation, Icynene, is by far the best home insulation one could buy. When sprayed onto a wall or ceiling, Icynene expands into a puffy sponge-like substance that forms a dense blanket of insulation. Icynene is fantastic at stopping drafts and muffling noise and it usually reduces a home’s energy bill by 30 to 50 percent.

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system helps builders and building managers implement construction and maintenance solutions that are both green and practical. It was developed in 2000 by the United States Green Building Council and has been used in apartment buildings, hotels, office buildings, schools, retail outlets, health care institutions, new construction, renovations to older buildings and much more.

Unlike some rating systems, LEED doesn’t focus on one aspect of building. It encompasses the whole process by looking at items such as:

1. Construction on sustainable sites, such as previously developed land or land that will not interrupt important ecosystems

2. Smarter water use through appliances, fixtures and landscaping that prevent water pollution

3. Use of renewable and clean energy sources

4. Preventing wasteful uses of resources and using sustainable materials

5. Strategies that improve indoor environmental quality

6. Building in locations that are near infrastructure and community resources

7. Educating homeowners and business owners on what tools they can implement to make their structures green

Buildings can become LEED certified through the Green Building Certification Institute. Anyone who is interested must register their projects, and they will be judged on a scale of 100 points: 21 for sustainable sites, 11 for water efficiency, 37 for energy and atmosphere, 14 for materials and resources and 17 for indoor environmental quality.

Buildings that achieve 40 points after being evaluated can become a certified LEED building. Ten bonus points are also awarded for innovation in design and regional priority. Those who choose to participate are said to lower their operating costs, reduce waste in landfills, conserve water and energy and qualify for tax rebates.

All garages need to have a spring cleaning done every year and take these helpful tips to get the garage sparkling clean and organized. Most important thing to know is that maintaining a clean garage is essential to have the garage a safe place for you and your vehicles.

Spring cleaning the garage helps rid it of old products that are outdated, or half used, or just sitting around; x their removal will prevent possible fires. Fuel containers that sit idle will have condensation and water built up that makes the fuel unusable.

When the door is opened and closed, dirt and debris may blow in and build up. If a vehicle has an oil, water or fuel leaks; it collects under the vehicle on the floor. This can also create a fire hazard, so cleaning the floor is important all year around. Try keeping a solvable floor spread which can be purchased at most automotive parts stores.

Instead of having only shelving for storage, install wall covering that allows for tool storage and shelves. By having the wall of the garage used, it gives more floor place for larger lawn tools such as mowers for instance. Having an organized garage allows an individual to locate needed tools or products quickly. Eliminating most of the shelves will prevent fall over accidents from happening.

Allow having enough room in the garage to walk completely around a parked vehicle. The garage was built to protect your vehicle investment and should be an owners main priority, the other storage items are secondary but for their protection may require a separate storage shed for them.

All these tips for spring cleaning the garage are useful and if followed, will provide you a clean, well organized and safe protection for your vehicles.

Taking a nice, relaxing shower is a favorite pastime amongst many people. Although a very pleasant experience, long showers are actually detrimental to the world water supply and should be avoided at all costs. Here are a few simple tips on how to ensure your showers do not run over the recommended time.

Be Quick, Don’t Linger
One of the most basic tips for making sure your showers are not too long is to not linger around in the shower. This includes playing in the water, standing under the falling water, or even going over your day while in the shower. By not lingering in the shower, you are sure to cut back on shower time.

Cold Showers
An extreme way of contributing to the conservation of water and energy is by taking cold showers. Hot water uses a lot of energy and hot showers cause people to stay longer in the shower, thus using more water. By showing with cold water less energy is used and it will prevent you from staying too long.

Don’t Do Everything In the Shower
Many people like to do everything at once while in the shower. Although a time-saving practice, doing too many things in the shower drags out the time you spend under the water. By simply sticking to shower activities while having the water running, you are sure to use less water.

Use a Timer
Many of us have all the intentions to take quick showers. Without knowing exactly how long you are in the shower, it is hard to tell if it has been too long or just enough time. Set a timer for yourself that will go off and warn you when your showers are taking longer than normal. If you don’t have a timer, you can also use a radio and shower the length of one or two songs.

Save money and help the environment with water saving showerheads – which are the perfect bathroom fixtures for water efficiency. A new water saving showerhead will save money on your gas and water bill. The best benefit is you will be saving water, a precious resource.

• Alsons Fluidics Water Shaving Showerhead – This chrome shower head gives a full body spray, but uses less water. The thermal technology keeps water warm longer. Their patented spray gives you the feel of a full, luxurious shower.

• American Standard Flowise 3-Spray Water-Saving Showerhead – This low flow head features three settings. It also has an automatic setting that will return the flow rate back to 1.5 GPM’s to conserve water. The adjustable arm is convenient for family members of all sizes.

• Delta 3-Spray Water-Efficient Showerhead – This water sense certified fixture is water sense certified. It comes with three different settings to pick the type of spray you want. Extremely well priced, you will love the generous spray. It easily rinses shampoo out of thick hair without wasting water.

• Ultra Oxygenics Lo-Flow Showerhead – If you have a problem with low water pressure choose this bathroom fixture. It is self-pressurizing, no mater if you water flow fluctuates it gives you a steady stream of water. It is silver, makes a cool sound and looks futuristic. Save water in style.

• Niagra Earth Massage Low-Flow Showerhead – Last on the list of the 5 best low flow showerheads is one of the most well-known. Rated #1 by leading conservation groups, this head can save up to 40% more water than a standard one. The nine jet turbo massage is heavenly. Have a relaxing spray, or invigorating shower from just one water saving nozzle.

The decision to use a gas barbecue versus a charcoal barbeque goes a bit deeper than the issue of taste and convenience. If you are making an effort to live sustainably and reduce your impact on the earth it is important to consider which is the most eco-friendly option.

While both use natural resources to generate heat, in their environmental impact they are not created equal. Charcoal can come from a renewable resource, but most charcoal found in stores contains byproducts such as sawdust, cornstarch and lighter fluid. When burned these emit more carbon monoxide than their gas burning counterpart.

Real charcoal, also known as “lump charcoal,” does not contain additives and is carbon neutral when burnt. Although considering the fact that lump charcoal comes from wood, there is the issue of deforestation to consider. This can be avoided by purchasing lump charcoal that comes from certified sustainably harvested wood. The problem is it is not easily found in stores.

So let’s consider gas. Gas burning grills come from fossil fuels so it is not derived from a natural resource. However, when burned gas grills emit significantly less emissions than typical store bought charcoal. Gas grilling is not entirely clean burning but when compared to charcoal it is clearly the best choice to avoid carbon monoxide emissions, which contribute to air pollution.

In the issue of disposal gas grills come out on top. A propane tank can be traded in and used again and again. While the disposal of lump charcoal has little impact on the environment, the alternative charcoal contains chemicals which are harmful to environment. So if you are aiming to reduce your carbon footprint gas grilling is the better of the two options. Unless, of course, you are careful about the charcoal you choose.

Feng shui is making its way into western design culture and is becoming a very popular way to design a person’s house. People use feng shui from the living room to the bedroom. There are many different rules to bring peace and harmony into a person’s house.

The first step to having great energy is to remove all the unnecessary items such as the television, computer and exercise equipment. Having these items will destroy the energy. Another step to take is to open the windows and let the fresh air into the room. Be mindful of the air levels in the room; good feng shui is compromised with stale air or pollutants. Different lighting settings help great a good mood.

Candles are the best for feng shui in the bedroom, but be sure the candles are made with no toxins.
The paint in the room will also help with the color scheme. Colors that bring in the best energy are human skin colors. These colors vary from pale white to a rich dark chocolate; bringing this color into the room will help the energy flow. Make sure to pick a color that goes along with your décor as well. Art décor is also important for the room, pick pictures or images that you want to see happen in your life, positive influences.

The bed also plays an important role for bedroom feng shui. The rules for the bed are as follows a bed needs to be accessible from each side; there should be two side tables so that makes the room symmetrical. The bed should not be in line with the door. A comfortable mattress with a headboard that is sturdy is also needed. The last rule that will help with the energy is to shut all the bedroom doors. Clean and organized will create a sense of calm and peace in the bedroom.

Many types of wooden patio furniture can be left outside all year long. Wooden furniture if properly maintained can provide years of comfort no matter the season. Several varieties of wood are naturally resistance to rot, cracking or splintering caused by exposure to moisture. However, there are things that homeowners can do to enhance any woods natural resistance.

Redwood and cedar are two of the more popular woods used to make wooden patio furniture. Both redwood and cedar are considered renewable because of cedars fast growth and the replanting of redwoods, as the old growth is harvested. Both woods are naturally resistance, but both will provide even more years of service if treated with a water repellent sealer. Woods that are not native to the United States are also used for manufacturing wooden patio furniture. Two of the more common varieties are cambara and ipe or more commonly known as ironwood. Both can be treated with a water repellent.

To maintain the woods natural beauty a clear waterproofing sealant is recommended. The clear sealant protects while still allowing the natural grains and color to show. Read the manufacturer’s instructions on how often the water repellent must be applied. The furniture must be clean and dry before applying the sealer. The sealer can be applied with a power sprayer, brush or roller.

Wooden patio furniture can also be painted to make it weather resistant and prolong its life. Furniture painted with a quality exterior paint can be left outside all year around, as well. How often the furniture must be painted depends on the quality of paint and weather conditions. Once the paint begins to peel or fade it is time for a new coat. For best results, the old coat of paint must be removed and a quality primer coat applied before painting the top coat.