Even with the mild fall (Thanksgiving in NYC was 67 degrees!), you've probably already fired up your heat this year. If you're not as warm and cozy as you'd like it might be time for a new heat pump. Here's how a heat pump works and if you are looking for product reviews check out FurnaceCompare.com which not only compares heat pumps but products from the entire HVAC spectrum. They've also got a handy guide for, How to Buy a Heat Pump in 30 Seconds, after the jump.
We love the barren look of this home office. Visible cables and cords are at a minimum. Looks impossible considering the ever expanding electronic footprint of most home offices that include printers, external drives, routers, modems, digital cameras, etc. Try this trick from Instructables and your desk will be clear wire clutter in no time.
A properly planned Thanksgiving seating chart can go a long ways towards a happy and entertained group during the holidays.
They've towed in the Rockefeller Christmas Tree which means its time we start thinking the same thing. Last year we pulled some tips for hanging Christmas lights and we want to remind you to stay safe on that ladder while decorating.
We just found out that LEDs will illuminate the Rockefeller Tree this year and we believe that LEDs truly emerge as the Christmas lights of choice and for good reason. Manufacturers claim a power saving of up to 90% and 100 x more longevity. But some consumers claim the lights aren't as bright and that bulbs may last but the casings rust easily and if one goes out you can't replace it like a normal incandescent bulb.
Read these articles and decide for yourself but we still have a soft spot for the glow and nostalgia of traditional Christmas lights especially the bubble lights that we grew up with.
Pros and Cons of LED Christmas lights [Gizmodo]
LED Christmas Lights [Inhabitat]
UPDATE: Beyond the LED's this year's Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center is now solar powered and every effort has been made to make this year's tree as "green" as possible. More after the jump.
Houseblogs.net has been packaging some great content from their community and they've recently pulled articles from 10 renovators who are going through the process of stripping paint, varnish, and wallpaper from floors, walls, and banisters. Read what techniques and products have been effective before approaching your next stripping project.
It's a novel concept that is practiced in 90% of the world, but air/line drying your clothes will save 5-10% on your energy bills and washing in cold will save another 4%.
But in America many of us live in areas that are regulated by HOA's (Home Owner's Associations) that have regulations against what we can and can't do to the appearance of our homes. These guidelines are enforced to keep a uniform look among the neighborhood but sometimes at the expense of an energy saver such as a simple cord to line-dry clothes. Unfortunately, in some circles there is a certain stigma against seeing a home with clothes air-drying even though clotheslines were once a portrait of Americana. There is a line-drying movement in New Hampshire that is gaining popularity and as the green movement grows it won't be long before you may see your neighbors skirt the HOA and venture into DIY drying.
If you're ready to ditch the dryer then check out these clotheslines from the Vermont Clothesline Co.
November 23, 2007 | Comments (1)
