GInstitute Home Improvement and Remodelling

2014 brings a fresh start that more often than not inspires new home improvement ideas. Nothing spells “fresh start” better than to do some new home improvements. These projects don’t even have to be big ones. They can be quick, simple and should not cost you that much.

Do some painting

Whether it’s done in a high-traffic area or a barely used room in your house, painting adds a pop of colour and a fresh clean feel to your walls. If you’re new to painting, don’t hesitate to ask for tips from people with DIY experience that will make the job easier and faster for you.

Put up wallpapers

If painting is too much work, then putting up wallpapers might do the trick for you. Many of the wallpapers available in stores today are very chic, and they certainly would make amazing accent walls. You can get wallpapers with texture, wallpapers with retro patterns, metallic wallpapers, and many more.

Change your drapes

Changing the curtains is one great way to greet the year. Sure, everyone wants brand new drapes every single time we change them, but there are less expensive ways of changing them. One such way is to recycle your curtains and drapes to another room. Exchange the drapes in the living room with the ones in another room.

Give your cabinets a facelift

Dust the cabinets inside out, and then wipe them down with a soft, damp cloth. If your cabinets have nicks and scratches, get a soft cloth and dab those areas with just a tiny bit of wood stain. When the wood stain is dry, wipe lemon oil onto the whole cabinet using a soft, clean cloth. All these will enhance the natural colour of your cabinets and give them a newer feel.

Organise your home

It’s safe to assume that your home has to deal with a lot of clutter, especially when you have children at home or when you’ve had people come and go for the entire holiday season. The start of the year would be the best time to organise your home. You can start with just putting things back where they actually belong. If you’re up to it, do some segregation, like keeping the things you still use and deciding which ones you can actually throw, give away, or even sell. Organising your home may not be as simple or as quick as other home improvement projects, but it’s one of those home improvement ideas that can be done to greatly improve your home.

During the last presidential elections from which President Barrack Obama emerged victorious, oil and other energy sources was one of the hot topics for the American economy. Sadly, not much was debated on about solar energy. Actually, one of the reasons why many politicians still stay away from the subject of renewable energy, particularly on solar power, is that they are either misguided by misinformation or just completely ignorant. In fact, many people are not fully aware of the real facts behind solar energy.

Here are some facts about solar energy you might not be aware of:

Solar Energy Industry is Steadily Growing in the United States

For the past nine years up to early 2013, the solar industry has been steadily growing at an average annual rate of 40%. The US already has 5,700MW of installed solar energy capacity. Public and private solar company partnerships are contributing to domestic growth. One major customer is the Department of Defense. In fact, the Obama Administration had solar panels placed on the roof of the White House.

Solar Panel Installation Cost is Dropping

In 2012, the cost of solar panel installation dropped by as much as 50%. Installed soft cost of solar power is also slowly dropping. Soft costs covers things like grid connections, net metering installation, and permits. The US Department of Energy alone is encouraging bringing down costs by collaborating with private solar companies. The DOE is even sponsoring a $10 million competition called the “Most Affordable Rooftop Solar Panel.”

Solar Energy Creates Jobs

In 2010, more than 100,000 workers were employed in the solar industry, with more adding up each year leading to 2013. Given the economic crisis starting in 2008, the solar energy industry is “hitting the proverbial two birds with one stone.” The industry creates jobs while giving people savings on energy bills.

Incentives to Solar Energy Are Still a Fraction Compared to Coal, Oil, and Gas Incentives

It is not because Americans do not want solar energy or our government’s lack of trying. Too many politicians especially in Congress are just too mired in ignorance or disinformation.

Solar Energy is Just Part of the Total Energy Mix

Let us all face facts. We cannot fully and forever depend on fossil fuels. On the other hand, there is no renewable energy that can stand-alone. Solution? Mix up everything by using hybrid energy power. Solar energy can be installed into the grid, while hybrid solar power connected to wind energy is now feasible.

Let us not also lose sight of the fact that solar power is clean energy as compared to the burning of oil, gas, and coal energy.

Artificial grass or artificial turf is a surface treatment that helps the environment although it is synthetically made. Artificial grass looks and feels like the real thing but it needs no watering, mowing or cultivating for it to look green all-year round. Aside from that, artificial turf needs no pesticides or fertilizers. By using artificial turf or grass, you can:

Conserve water

Watering an average-sized garden with natural grass can use up approximately 40,000 gallons of water per year, a big amount of water that can contribute to freshwater depletion especially in areas with depleted water supplies. When using artificial turf, you can conserve considerable amounts of water that can be used in more important things.

Prevent water contamination

Fertilizers and pesticides that are used to maintain natural grass can penetrate deep into the ground and contaminate groundwater supply. Nitrate in fertilizers can get mixed up with water sources such as lakes, rivers, and underground water. The rise of nitrate content in water sources can be harmful to human health and to the environment as well. Water wastage and water contamination will never happen when you use artificial grass.

Eliminate greenhouse gas emissions

Lawn mowers consume fossil fuels that, when emitted, can destroy the ozone and thus, hasten the effects of global warming. A typical synthetic artificial turf comes with an 8 to 10 year guarantee, but if properly installed and maintained, it can last up to 20 years. For these 20 years, you can save a big amount of water and money and you help the environment as well. At the end of its lifespan, instead of just throwing away or dumping the used artificial grass, you can still re-use it for other purposes like laying it for your backyard path.

Artificial turf is known all over the world as being used by professional sports arenas for baseball, rugby, football, soccer, and other field sports. And aside from being used in residential areas and gardens, artificial turf is now popularly used in school grounds and children’s playgrounds. Large artificial lawns for children’s play areas are made of the highest quality with the safety of your child in mind. If you look at it, artificial grass helps the environment more than the natural grass can ever do. So if you are planning of a home improvement and landscaping project for your garden, artificial grass is your “green” choice.