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Home improvements can actually save homeowners a lot of money if the projects are done correctly. Some projects to your house can actually save you cash over time because they can dramatically reduce your electricity costs. When most people think of home upgrades they often think about how much money the project will cost. Here are 3 of the easiest “green” ways to improve your house and save yourself some cash over the long run:

Replace any of your air filters: Dirty air filters can cause your AC systems to run harder and can increase your overall energy costs. Most air filters are inexpensive and not difficult to replace or clean. You can usually find air filters in central air conditioner systems and forced hot air heating systems.

Add more insulation: Insulation serves as a thermal barrier that helps block the outside weather from dramatically affecting the comfort level inside your home. The more insulation you use, the more energy efficient you home will be. Insulation is not cheap but you will often see big savings in your utility costs throughout the year. Many people remember to put insulation in their attics, but they don’t know how to put insulation in a basement.

Replace out dated windows: New windows can greatly cut down on exterior air flow and lower your energy costs. Windows can leak over time, letting in drafty air which may make all your home’s insulation a waste of money. Think about it: your home has lots of large holes in the walls, and those holes are hidden by thin sheets of glass that let in lots of warm air when they should not.

Making your house more green in its energy utilization can also save you some green money over time. Of course, all of these improvements will be costly at first, but they will gradually pay for themselves. By making your house more green you are not only helping the environment but also cutting your energy costs and saving lots of money in the long run.

Environmentally friendly home improvements are good ways to help the planet while helping you save some cash. Many home projects could even earn you a home improvement tax break when you file your income taxes!

categories: green home improvements,energy efficiency,saving energy,saving money,environment,green,lower bills

It is well known these days that wood burning stoves are a great deal cheaper to run than regular oil and gas boilers and are also better for the environment. Whereas conventional fossil fuels cannot be renewed, wood comes from trees which can be grown and replaced more or less forever. So what’s involved in installing one?

First understand that installing a wood burner is akin to putting in an above ground furnace, so always check with your insurance company before you commence anything. Most of insurers will require the burner to be professionally installed since there is a certain amount of precision required and a single mistake can easily cause a fire to break out in your house or apartment.

Next you should work out exactly what size of wood burning stove you will need. The best approach is to consult someone who works in a hearth shop. Have this person visit your property and he or she will help you decide on the best wood burner for the size and space you have laid out.

As well as the stove itself, the flue is a critical part of the overall installation. Wood burners require a flue lined with material specifically designed for burning wood. If you have an existing chimney then one option is to fit this with a liner suitable for wood burning, otherwise you will have to have a purpose made flue pipe installed.

After your wood burner has been professionally installed, your next step is to clear any and all combustible materials away from the vicinity of the stove. The owner’s manual will specify the recommended clearance for keeping flammable materials from the stove. If you have children, make sure they understand that what is being installed is potentially very dangerous and not a toy.

During normal operation wood stoves need to be regularly cleaned and maintained in good working order. If you are familiar with cleaning a normal fireplace chimney this will be quite familiar. It is important to remove the build up of creosote especially since it can reduce the efficiency of the system and eventually damage the flue (it also smells somewhat if left un-cleaned).

To ensure long and trouble free use of you wood burner you should arrange a full sweep and clean at the least every year. By all means also make use of proprietary cleaning products called chimney cleaning logs that don’t do everything the makers claim for them but which can help control deposits to some extent.

To sum up then, bringing in professional help from the beginning will give you wood burning stove installation the best chance of success. This is a long term investment that should pay for itself many times over in the years ahead as well making a small contribution towards reducing the impact on the environment.

Check out these additional articles to find out much more about types of wood burner and how to fit a wood burning stove.

Chemical pollution is causing all kinds of damage to our environment and you don’t have to be an activist to realize this. Some people would say that heavy industry is responsible for most of the pollution to our waterways, but we do need to look closer to home to see how we are contributing. Homeowners should make a significant change as we are certainly a major contributor — use natural cleaning solutions whenever you can.

A true multipurpose cleaner and one of the greatest natural cleaning solutions is vinegar. This product poses absolutely no harm to your family or pets and is completely non-toxic. It can be easily purchased at your local store and should be kept on hand for all eventualities.

Vinegar is one of our top flavor enhancers but it also high on the list of natural cleaning solutions. All you need to do is mix an equal amount of water and apply it to the surface. Use it in your kitchen to clean draws, sinks, cabinets, countertops or appliances.

When considering natural cleaning solutions for your home, remember that prevention is often better than cure. Natural cleaning products can be used to clean up virtually any mess around the house, but if you place an absorbent mat in the areas where spills and leaks are most likely than you would not have to clean up at all. These handy products are made from polypropylene, can soak up to a gallon of any liquid and have a non-leak base. Simply wash them and replace.

Baking soda is an inexpensive natural cleaning solution. This can be used in virtually every situation when you are looking to clean and deodorize, by mixing a paste with a bitter water. Just scrub away those stubborn stains.

Always consider natural cleaning solutions when you are trying to get rid of those stubborn stains caused by oil leaks, fuels or other chemicals. Of course your best bet would be to place an absorbent mat where these spills occur to save on any damage to your flooring surfaces.

A simple lemon from the produce store can be cut in half and used with baking soda to remove the stubborn stains and soap scum in your bathroom. You can also combine it with olive oil when looking for natural cleaning solutions for your furniture.

Natural cleaning solutions should always be considered first and foremost. The harsh chemicals included in products available at your superstore can cause significant damage to our environment when washed down into our lakes, rivers and waterways. Combine the use of these natural products with preventative measures such as absorbent mats to save time, effort and the environment.