Green Home Gnome

Everything about green homes, nothing about gnomes!

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Paint Roller or Sprayer: Which One to Use on the Exterior of Your Home

Painting the outdoor walls of your house can be a daunting task, due to the size and range of a typical home. Those of you who choose to do this on your own should carefully consider the strategy you’ll use before going ahead with the project. For instance, should you go the simple route and use a paint roller, or should you invest in a paint sprayer? The answer to this question will depend on your unique needs. Read the full article

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5 Tips for an Environmentally Friendly Kitchen Remodel

If you’re remodeling your kitchen, this is also the perfect time to make an additional transformation: You can make your kitchen more environmentally friendly as you remodel it. It’s important to be intentional about this, if you decide you want to keep things eco-friendly. When you’re choosing the new cabinets, countertops, light fixtures, paint and more that you want in your kitchen, you might focus on style or function (or both). You can still complete an environmentally friendly remodeling job without compromising these priorities, as you’ll have plenty of green options to choose from. Read the full article

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3 Effective Ways to Deal With Home Repair and Maintenance Specialists

Homeownership is an amazing thing—it’s the American Dream. You have a piece of real estate to call your own, a place where you have total control over all aspects of the property—from the paint color and the landscaping to structural options that will make a positive impact on the environment. Of course, that also means you’re responsible for any necessary repairs and replacements around your property, which can be very difficult. It’s often enough to make any homeowner want to throw up their hands in frustration! Read the full article

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Going Green With A Greenhouse: 3 Things To Think About Before You Build

In today's society, we're more aware of the impact we're having on the environment than ever before. From industrial companies relying on both silenced generators and hydraulic pumps to save on fuel consumption (which reduces environmental pollution by 50 percent), to homeowners installing ENERGY STAR appliances, everyone is beginning to do their part to safeguard the health of our fragile ecosystem. Greenhouses offer a unique opportunity to live sustainably; if you want to reduce waste and shrink your carbon footprint, you can grow food in your own backyard! Let's take a look at some of the things you should consider before you head over to your nearest garden store and get building. Read the full article

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6 Eco-Friendly, Cost-Effective Ways to Make Your Smart Home Secure

Living an environmentally conscious lifestyle can make everything in your home—from your security system to your smart appliances—more cost-effective. Making smart, sustainable choices for your home will allow you to conserve energy and save money while maintaining a well-protected and automated place for yourself to live in. Sounds good, right? Here are six ways to create this kind of place for yourself! Read the full article

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4 Tips for Designing a Comfortable and Safe Home

When you plan to build a home for yourself and your family, there are various things that you’ll naturally begin to think about. These may include the surface area that the home will cover, the architecture, the color of the walls, the design of the tiles and the decorations you want to have. However, although they may not immediately come to mind, there are a few other things that you’ll need to be aware of as well. You'll need to think about the home’s landscape and greenery, its security system and the insulation that must be installed in accordance with the temperature of the area you’re living in. This article will focus on these four aspects of the home, so stay with us and learn about them in greater detail. Read the full article

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The Benefits Of Roofers Near Me When Searching For A Contractor

When it comes to costly roofing services, like roof replacement, you want to know that you’re getting the best people to do the job. However, finding a trusted and reputable local roofing contractor can be a daunting task. In this article, you’ll learn more about the benefits of hiring an experienced local roofer or roofing contractor, and we’ll also provide you with some tips that can make your search for a good one a lot easier. Read the full article

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Get Rid of 4 Different Household Pests—the Natural Way!

If you have a pest problem, you’ve joined the 84 percent of Americans who’ve reported the presence of these undesirable houseguests within a year of living in their home. Whether you have a bug or a rodent problem, experiencing a home invasion can be terrifying and overwhelming. Luckily, there are some quick fixes, as outlined below, that won’t necessitate the use of harmful chemicals or expensive pest control companies. Of course, if your issues persist even after trying these strategies, it’ll be time to call in an expert. Read the full article

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Coal Industry Takes Backseat to Green Energy in April 2019

This April, green energy sources took the lead in regard to nationwide energy production in the United States. Renewable energy has hit a sort of national speed bump, with renewed investments in the coal industry and declining federal investments in green energy, but despite this move away from renewable sources, green energy managed to produce more electricity than any other source in April. This trend is expected to continue and pick up over the next several years, a sign that bodes poorly for the coal industry. Read the full article

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4 Projects You Should Rent a Dumpster to Complete

Did you realize that the average home consumes over 50 percent more energy than a car? If you’re like most homeowners, finding a way to make your residence both eco-friendly and appealing is a top priority. Adding things like smart thermostats, solar panels and recycling bins can help you reduce your home’s carbon footprint substantially. Once you have these environmentally friendly additions in place, you may start to get the itch to remodel certain parts of your residence, and the key to success with home improvement projects is planning them in detail. Finding a way to think three steps ahead can help you avoid getting stuck on a job due to poor planning. Before you start a project, sitting down and making a list of the materials that are needed is important. Read the full article

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The Sustainable Period: Getting Started with Green Menstrual Products

Before I begin, it’s important that I mention that not all women menstruate, and not everyone who menstruates identifies as a woman, so I’ll omit the term “feminine hygiene products” in order to be more inclusive. It’s also important to note that people who have periods in developing countries are often still persecuted, and usually lack access to adequate menstrual hygiene products and period-related education. Even people in our own communities aren’t always able to afford the necessary products for their period. While we’ve come a long way in that regard, some of us are still suffering from a lack of menstrual hygiene and education, and this problem needs attention so we can continue moving forward. Read the full article

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5 Steps to Creating the Perfect Garden Shed

Many homeowners aren’t particularly proud of their garden sheds. This is because, more often than not, their shed is full of empty pots and unused garden tools. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. House Beautiful points out that garden sheds are constantly evolving, with some homeowners now turning their sheds into “Zen-dens” or even outdoor offices. It’s because of these trends that sheds have become stronger and bigger, and now have much-improved designs.  Read the full article

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All About LEED: A Guide to Obtaining Certification and Accreditation

Construction uses up a ton of resources and is typically quite harmful to the environment. Beginning in 1993, the Natural Resources Defense Council began to develop criteria that would make construction more environmentally friendly. Thus, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was born. There have since been a few iterations of the LEED framework, with the current version being v4.1, which was released in October 2018. Read the full article

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6 Mistakes That Can Shorten Your Air Conditioner's Life

In places where residents are plagued by the scorching heat, air conditioning is an essential appliance that every homeowner just can’t live without. On a hot day, a cooling system will keep your home at a comfortable temperature. If you consider air conditioning to be important, you’ll need to make sure that your system is working efficiently, so it can continue to serve you well. Read the full article

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3 Reasons to Hire an Architect for Your Self-Building Project

When you’re embarking on a self-build, there’s often the desire to do it all yourself. After all, you can get a top-quality self-build home kit that'll make it all easy to plan out.  So do you really need an architect to be involved in the process?  Here are just three of the reasons that it’s worth having some expert help on hand! Read the full article

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Pest Control at Home: 7 Simple DIY Solutions

Pests, especially in the warm weather, can ruin your holidays and stop you from hanging out at home or in your garden in peace. No one wants to feel those pesky little legs on their delicate skin—or, much to your chagrin, have them drop into your glass of juice or plate of food! There are reliable power wasp removal services and other exterminators you can call on for assistance, but before going to the professionals, how about you try some of these incredible DIY solutions for pest control? All you’ll need to do is pool your household products, perhaps do a bit of mixing, and wait. Read the full article

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Not Just for City Streets: Incorporating Graffiti Into Home Decor

Graffiti is a great way to express yourself. Although graffiti designs aren’t always appreciated in the streets and on buildings, they sure have a way of standing out. When used for decoration, they can completely change the look of a room! A graffiti mural is an excellent solution for the teenager who wants to create a landmark and add a personal touch to their room. Read the full article