December 29, 2010
With California possibly facing a fourth year of drought, conservation efforts are being stepped up across the state. Some local water agencies have issued mandatory rationing. Find out how you can save water at home, in the yard, and at work. Conservation links for agricultural and urban water agencies are also available, as well as information about the state’s plan to reduce water use by 20%.
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December 27, 2010
My Pro Handyman Can is a handyman, home improvement, remodeling, and diy resource blog.
Sustainability is a threaded theme.
I offer content and invite dynamic dialogue for all areas related to “home” through the blogging and social networking community.
My primary focus is to offer ideas and resources for living any place one calls home.
I wish to offer opportunities that allow a small investment of your money to go a long way to transforming and enhancing your personal living environment.
Current themes are about:
How to Go Green – Save Money – Stay Healthy – Improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) –
Learn about Tax Credits and Rebates – Save Energy – Save Water…and more.
I hope to inspire, seek to be current, and focus on offering ideas, innovation, support, products and services that I believe our globally conscious and diverse community will find of continuing interest.
This blog is for anyone, living anywhere, who wants their apartment, condo, townhouse, private house, loft, room, farm or whatever to be a home that supports their lifestyle and our planet.
We especially want to honor and invite the elderly, the the senior, and the the boomer living on a retirement income to learn how in enhance the beauty, comfort, and safety of their home on a budget. This is a relatively new blog and therefore a work in progress with a clear vision and lofty goals.
Check back often for interesting informative and inspiring posts and videos:
Here’s a Green Your Home Tip Video – Part 1 from National Wildlife
December 27, 2010
Winterize Your Home
Download these “Winterize Your Home” tips. (pdf download).
Take the time now to get your home ready for the winter season by following these tips:
1. Have your heating system checked by a professional annually. This will ensure that your system is working safely and efficiently which, in turn, will save you money. If you heat by wood, clean your fireplace or stove. Have your chimney flue checked for any buildup of creosote and then cleaned to lessen the risk of fire.
2. Make sure your home is properly insulated. If necessary, insulate walls and attic. This will help you to conserve energy and reduce your home’s power demands for heat.
3. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out.
4. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside. This will provide an extra layer of insulation, keeping more cold air out.
5. Inspect and flush your water heater.
6. Clean gutters. Leaves and other debris will hamper drainage.
7. Replace batteries of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors. If you did not do it when you set the clocks back, do it now.
8. To keep pipes from freezing:
o Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers
o Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture
o Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing
o Know how to shut off water valves
Protecting Water Pipes
To prevent the mess and aggravation of frozen water pipes, protect your home, apartment or business by following the simple steps below.
Before Cold Weather
1. Locate and insulate pipes most susceptible to freezing, typically those near outer walls, in crawl spaces or in the attic.
2. Wrap pipes with heat tape (UL approved).
3. Seal any leaks that allow cold air inside where pipes are located.
4. Disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.
When It’s Cold
1. Let hot and cold water trickle at night from a faucet on an outside wall.
2. Open cabinet doors to allow more heat to get to un-insulated pipes under a sink or appliance near an outer wall.
3. Make sure heat is left on and set no lower than 55 degrees.
4. If you plan to be away: (1) Have someone check your house daily to make sure the heat is still on to prevent freezing, or (2) drain and shut off the water system (except indoor sprinkler systems).
If Pipes Freeze
1. Make sure you and your family knows how to shut off the water, in case pipes burst. Stopping the water flow minimize the damage to your home. Call a plumber and contact your insurance agent.
2. Never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch.
3. Always be careful of the potential for electric shock in and around standing water.
Additional Resources:
FEMA Winter Hazards
National Weather Service Cold Weather Tips
Excerpt from: http://cms.calema.ca.gov/prep_freeze.aspx
December 7, 2010
If you are furnishing a a room, an apartment or a house and need to do it on a budget, consider purchasing from your furniture from one of the many companies offering furniture in a box.
If you are handy and can Do-it Yourself (DIY), Ready-to-Assemble (RTA) furniture is a great way to save money when furnishing your home or office.
If you are not handy or do not have the time or patience, there are service professionals in every community you will do it for you at a reasonable price.
In the Greater Los Angeles County and Orange County California call My Pro Handyman Can at 562-804-8775 for fast affordable service.
There are many places to purchase RTA Furniture. Two of the original companies that produce the lions share of products is Sauder Furniture and IKEA.
Here’s a history on these two pioneering companies.
SAUDER FURNITURE:
Sauder started crafting furniture in 1934, then began making RTA furniture in 1951. Shortly thereafter in 1953, our founder, Erie Sauder, was granted a patent for the first assemble-it-yourself piece – an end table that snapped together in minutes. Today, the entire world can buy, transport and install Sauder furniture pieces in a manner inconceivable at the turn of the Twentieth Century – assembled quickly and easily at home. But our innovations didn’t stop there—we continue to develop new lines of home and office furniture, TV stands,bookcases, and more with specialty features and details that keep us at the forefront of the furniture industry. http://www.sauder.com/.
Here are is a link to find furniture dealers in the Unites States that offer their products. http://www.sauder.com/dealers/dealerlocator_usa.asp
IKEA: 1956 – Designing furniture for flat packs and self-assembly
The decision for IKEA to design its own furniture stems, ironically from competitors pressure for suppliers to boycott IKEA. Exploration of flat packaging begins when one of the first IKEA co-workers removes the legs of the LÖVET table so that it will fit into a car and avoid damage during transit. After this discovery flat packs and self assembly become part of the concept. To read more, please visit Our business idea.
http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/about_ikea/the_ikea_way/history/1940_1950.html
Here’s a excerpt from Wikipedia:
Ready-to-assemble furniture (RTA), also known as knock-down furniture or flat pack furniture, is a form of furniture that is purchased in multiple pieces and requires assembly. This form of furniture generally arrives in a box and contains instructions for the buyer to follow in order to assemble it after purchase.
Ready-to-assemble furniture is popular among consumers that wish to save money on their furniture purchases by assembling the product on their own and no need for delivery cost. In addition to saving the consumer money, flat pack furniture is generally simple to assemble and requires only the use of simple tools.
Merchants benefit from selling ready-to-assemble furniture because furniture that is already assembled tends to be bulky and more expensive to store and to deliver. Since the furniture does not need to be assembled in the factory, ready-to-assemble furniture is also less expensive for the merchant to purchase. Due to these many factors, selling flat pack furniture is a more cost effective method of conducting business.
Ready-to-assemble furniture is typically packaged in a kit form with the pieces packaged in one or multiple boxes. The kit may contain a number of flat parts, fasteners, screws, fixings, and other parts that are needed to assemble the furniture.
A furniture assembly industry has grown from otherwise desirable furniture being sold only in ready-to-assemble form. Consumers engage a service provider to come to their home and assemble the furniture they have purchased.
December 6, 2010
Whether you live in your own home, condo, townhouse or in an apartment there are a myriad ways to save energy and keep more money in your pocket. A big bonus to this project is that you will also feel more comfortable in your home. These are simple do it yourself projects and if you do not have time, ability or inclination a handyman can help quite inexpensively.
Sealing Air Leaks
Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter can waste a lot of your energy dollars. One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weatherstrip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside. You can save on your heating and cooling bill by reducing the air leaks in your home.
Tips for Sealing Air Leaks
First, test your home for air tightness. On a windy day, carefully hold a lit incense stick or a smoke pen next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing, or weather stripping.
Excerpt from: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/air_leaks.html
How Does the Air Escape?
Air infiltrates into and out of your home through every hole and crack. About one-third of this air infiltrates through openings in your ceilings, walls, and floors.
If you Do it Yourself here an video you will enjoy. If you need some help call a contractor, handyman, or if you are in the Los Angeles California area call My Pro Handyman Can.
Enjoy this video…
December 3, 2010
Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy EfficiencyIf you purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy system for your home, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit. Below you will find an overview of the federal tax credits for energy efficiency.
Please note, not all ENERGY STAR qualified products qualify for a tax credit. ENERGY STAR distinguishes energy efficient products which, although they may cost more to purchase than standard models, will pay you back in lower energy bills within a reasonable amount of time, without a tax credit.
There are many products to choose from. Here’s a link to one highly regarded qualifying manufacturer – Owens Corning –
http://insulation.owenscorning.com/homeowners/taxcredit/index.aspx
Owens Corning is an industry leader, engages in sustainable practices, and is NAHB Green Approved.
“Owens Corning is committed to sustainable business practices, and we take pride in the fact that our energy-saving products make a significant net positive impact on the environment. In fact, in the first year of use, Owens Corning home insulation saves approximately nine times the amount of energy used by our company annually. And year after year, our insulation products continue to help conserve energy without consuming any additional resources.”
Excerpt from: http://insulation.owenscorning.com/homeowners/why-pink-is-green
Also See How to Video from Owens Corning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lin8WtWmUAI
July 10, 2009
MEGA TIP #1: Think Green Home and Indoor Air Quality. As you plan your Home Improvement and Handyman Projects make sure that you are choosing products that are safe and will not introduce toxins into the air of your home and our environment.
You will be amazed at what a little love and and care can do for your home… and your spirits. In the area of My Pro Handyman Can you will find Do-it Yourself ( DIY ) and inexpensive Handyman Projects that will make your home more: beautiful, comfortable, functional, livable, and safe. These ideas will also contribute to maintaining and even enhancing your homes value if you are planning to sell now or in the future.
July 10, 2009
HOW TO TIP #1 – ReFurbish – The American Heritage of Dictionary of English defines refurbish as ” To make clean bright, fresh again; renovate.” So with a little time, money and effort what could you do to your home? It’s best to plan manageable projects based on time, money and resources that can be accomplished quickly, easily and economically. You can Do-it-Yourself and/or get some pro help. Here are project to consider:
New-Old Furniture: Refurbish and Refinish scratched, warm, faded, broken furniture that you already own, or purchase from yard sales, Craigs list, or acquire from friends or family. There are many great how to books, videos, and websites, to help you accomplish you goals.
This is a great place to “Think Green”. There are great eco friendly furniture refinishing products to choose from when working on your projects. Look for LOW or NO VOC (volatile organic compounds) when choosing furniture strippers, stains, and varnishes and cleaning products.
Ask a representative at your local store about products they offer and you can also search online for more information on the specific types of eco friendly products you will need for your project at the best prices. Here are a few links to explore…
Rockler: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17402; http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm? page=21622&tagem=rv;
Environmental Home Center: http://www.environmentalhomecenter.com/home.shtml; Eco Business Links: http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/links/sustainable_building_supplies.htm
June 25, 2009
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) effects our lives in a myriad of ways. The beauty of our home enriches our daily life in a myriad of ways. Simply painting a room or two with a color that pleases you is so uplifting. Choosing a Low VOC, No VOC, or Zero VOC Paint* reduces or eliminates one of the many sources to toxicity in our home that can effect our health.
Excerpt from: Greenversations – The Official Blog of the Environmental Protection Agency
It’s time for the dreaded task again: time to paint our house. As I discussed with my husband the possibility of hiring a contractor to paint the house exterior and for us to paint inside, our son’s asthma became a sudden concern. Paints, stains and varnishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application . These toxic emissions stem from a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are a by-product of petrochemical-based solvents used in paints. Exposure to VOC’s in paint can trigger asthma attacks, eye, throat and nose irritation, respiratory problems, nausea, allergic skin reactions and dizziness among other symptoms…http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2009/05/21/paint-and-kids-don’t-always-mix/
MY PRO HANDYMAN CAN TIP OF THE DAY: Today we will feature one of our favorite products for Green Home Improvements – Benjamin Moore Paints. Note: There are many other fine products to choose from that we will feature here often.
Green Promise®
The Green Promise® Designation is Benjamin Moore’s assurance that its environmentally friendly coatings meet and exceed the strictest industry standards, while also delivering the premium levels of performance you expect from Benjamin Moore.
*…VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers…for more info see the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html
June 24, 2009
I am dedicated to building a dynamic cyber portal where you will always find what you are seeking – perhaps even what you did not know you were seeking. My plans include an expansive local, national and global market place with the newest, latest, greatest, products, services and ideas to help you GREEN YOUR HOME simply and at the most competitive prices we can find.
To live a rewarding 21st century lifestyle with a sustainable future we must innovate, and inspire positive change in one another. Together we can establish a network that supports and encourages each other to live our unique lives in a most joyful and conscious manner.
From the traditional to the avant guard, from the ordinary to the extraordinary, come find the latest, greatest products to help you enliven, enhance and transform your home into an environment that supports yours and your families lifestyle.
Together, with the vast network of other beings of like mind and spirit, we can green our homes, our world and contribute to reversing global warming. We can become more energy efficient individually and collectively, thereby saving money while offering hope for our future and our planet.
Please sign in often to explore the dymamic feeds (yet to come) with the latest on: green homes; green living; sustainability; local, state and federal incentives and tax rebate programs; home improvements; handyman services; DIY; and more.
To post your comments or questions here just click on “comment” or “no comments yet” at the bottom of any of the posts.
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