All I Need is the Air that I Breathe

Air, we take it for granted, but the fact is that the air indoors can become contaminated by toxins. Recently a cat and CO detector saved a Lincoln family. Of particular danger is Carbon Monoxide which can build up as a result of poor combustion in a furnace or back drafting from a fireplace. During the winter time the furnace may run a lot while houses are closed up tight. The danger is real but avoidable with the help of a Carbon Monoxide detector.

When the problem goes undetected, the symptoms can cause hallucinations of sounds and images and it is sometimes found that houses that are thought to be haunted have high levels of CO.

Antelope Valley Project Update: Fall 2008

Everyday I walk my dog near a park and a construction site that slowly transforming the neighborhood where I live. It's exciting to watch the changes of the Antelope Valley Project on a day to day basis. Over the past few weeks some of the most dramatic changes have been taking place as trucks line up to haul away the dirt excavated for new stream bed for Antelope Creek and for a premium new park for Lincoln, to be called Union Plaza. Watch the video below to get the details!

Drop Off the HH Haz Waste

I know its tempting just to pour it down the drain or hide it in a bag at the bottom of the trash, but if the label says danger, poison, toxic, flammable, corrosive, warning or caution, you have another option that you should seriously consider. For Lincoln and Lancaster county, the Health Department has collection days at different sites in Lincoln and around the county. Upcoming collection dates and locations are:

• October 17th, Waverly County Shop 11251 N. 141st
• October 18th, 600 West "E" (Lincoln Industries)
• November 15th, State Fair Park 4-H Youth complex

Return of the Clothesline?

Clotheslines have become increasingly rare. Is it time for that to change? Air drying is a fairly simple and practical way to save energy. A clothes dryer is likely the second biggest energy user in your home (the refrigerator is #1). Drying clothes on a line is not always possible in a place where anything can happen with the weather, but on a beautiful spring day it can make clothes hung outdoors smell wonderful.

In some neighborhoods, hanging clothes out to dry is not an option. In an effort to make neighborhoods more attractive some Homeowners Associations have banned clotheslines. Traditionally homeowners appreciate and choose to live with agreed upon neighborhood standards to keep values up and neighborhoods looking good. However the desire to go green is causing a backlash against those who say no to clotheslines. Project Laundry List provides netizens with a plan of action and there is even an online petition for those who want to exert their right to hang them out dry! Neighborhood Associations are typically governed by people in the neighborhood, perhaps now is the time for them to reconsider whether their residents should have the right to dry outdoors.

Bathroom Art

Its tempting to use the new tile job in the bathroom to make one's foray into art, however the results are going to be there for a long time. Even an accomplished artist like Christoph Niemann has to approach the project cautiously. In his blog at the NY Times Mr. Niemann talks about his process, but more importantly, shows some possible outcomes and the ultimate decision. He's happy with it and the comments are mostly positive. Its great to personalize a home but it is a project to live with and enjoy rather than one to do if your plan is to put the house on the market! But you don't have to be an artist or a professional tiler to do your own bathroom art project.

Good Mouse Hunting

As Dick Cheney might say "get them there so you don't have to get them here," or as Tom the Cartoon Cat Mr. Jinks is known to intone "I HATE MEECES TO PIECES!!!!!"

Over the years I've learned that if I go on the attack early and often I can keep mice out of my house. I have a little old fashioned garage (built for the Model T) that I use as a storage shed. Late in the summer its not unusual to see signs of the little creatures. Some dirt dug up, little mouse turds on an old rag and its time to set the traps. I prefer the victor traps with the plastic "cheese pad" and a dollop of peanut butter. Some mice are crafty and can eat the peanut butter with out setting off the trap, so I'll switch traps until I get them. Of all the traps I've tried, these have proven the most reliable. Once caught I throw the whole thing away. Disposable gloves are a good idea as mice can carry disease.

I don't like to do poison because the mice can die in a hidden spot ... hidden from sight but not from smell. A good guide for dealing with mice is available from Lancaster County Cooperative Extension they also have lots of other valuable info for dealing with pests.

Listen to your pet!

Just the other day, late in the evening, my dog Buddy woofed and pointed to the back ... something was up. I looked out the kitchen window and saw flames in the alley. A fire! A quick investigation showed that the neighbors dumpster was on fire. Immediately I called 911 and in a few minutes the firetruck arrived. Fortunately the fire was contained by the dumpster. The nearby garage had some paint melt, but it did not catch on fire. Nevertheless, Buddy was a hero at my house. He sensed the fire first. He let me know something was not right. I was proud, grateful and comforted by the fact that my dog could sense things that I didn't and he would let me know when something was wrong.

Buddy is not alone in this special talent. A friend whose home was seriously damaged by a devastating fire got her first warning from her pet bird. The house was damaged, precious things were lost, but the humans and the animals were all alright, and that's what matters.

What to do when the Mall is worn out

On a recent trip to Denver we went to meet a friend as he got off of work. We parked near his office and went in through a back entrance from the parking garage. After touring the office we went out the front and on to an intriguing street of shops, restaurants, offices and places to live. We browsed through books and played catch with the dog in a design oriented store store and left with a fun book of obscure postcards. We then went around the corner to gaze in the window of the shop that our Christmas presents came from. Across the street, were attractive rowhouses we then went to eat sushi in a lovely restaurant next to an open courtyard. On our way back to the care we grabbed a flyer from the info box of an innovative museum/theater called The Lab.

Apparently that part of Lakewood Colorado had been the home of a Mall. I really know nothing about it other than the mall is no longer there. Replaced by this New Urbanism style development called Belmar.
It was a walkable and attractive place to work, live, shop, eat or just to visit.

Looking for a dream home?

Owning a dream home, whether it looks like a castle or feels like a tiny hideaway, is often the best opportunity a person will ever have for achieving romantic notions of the good life. The only limit is one’s imagination. – Dennis Wedlick, Good House Hunting

While cruising around the Slow Home Website I stumbled upon a review of Good House Hunting by Dennis Wedlick, an architect and writer who has developed a practical guide for creating one’s dream home. Good House Hunting offers a step by step guide for defining a vision of the home that’s right for you and your family and then finding a property that can fulfill that vision. He makes practical suggestions, like planning a budget that leaves enough money for you to realize your personal vision. Paying attention to the small details of day to day activities and storage needs and prioritizing your indulgences. After all, having a home is not about where you live as much as it is about how you live.

EcoStore

Are the remnants of old projects tying up your valuable storage space? Or do you have project that could use any old lumber or paint? Looking to match that old woodwork or simply need to replace the toilet in the basement? Then the EcoStore is for you.

In fact the EcoStore is for just about anybody. The artist, the landlord, the homeowner, there renter, the spendthrift or the person with the big idea ...

Watch the Video to find out more!

The future of green

Where would we get the most bang for our buck in the reduction of carbon emmissions? A new report from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation suggests that "the design,
location, construction, operation and disposal of buildings" all represent occasions where decisions are made that affect the environmental impact of a building.

Upfront construction costs vs. ongoing utility costs are all a balancing act, but the balance may be tipping to increase upfront investment to decrease the ongoing costs of energy.

In the United States, according to the EPA, buildings account for:
40 percent of total energy use;
12 percent of the total water consumption;
68 percent of total electricity consumption;
38 percent of total carbon dioxide emissions; and
60 percent of total non-industrial waste generation

Look for changes to start soon. Today less than 3% of new construction is considered "green", by 2030 (less than 25 years from now) the American Institute of Architects issued a position statement that calls for the "immediate energy reduction of all new and renovated buildings to half the national average for that building type, with increased reductions of 10 percent every five years so that all buildings designed by the year 2030 will be carbon-neutral." A big challenge, but the U.S. Conference of Mayors is on board ... are you?

Green, its not just a color anymore.

Walking through the Barnes and Noble I saw a table full of "green" books. Yes, at least a portion of the cover art was green, but I'm not talking about the color. Green is about an attitude of conservation. This isn't your Fathers conservative (unless your Father was a hippie). If you really want to know what is meant by green I suggest a quick review of the NYT Sunday Magazine from 4/20/08. Like much of the current writing it focuses on the notion of reducing one's carbon footprint. Meanwhile, in the opinion page of that same paper Nicolas Kristof suggests that the current efforts of government and corporations fall far short of what is required to make a real difference. In the meantime, we as individuals, with our low flow shower head, our hybrid car and our recycling project don't see the large scale willingness to change and sacrifice required to make a real difference. The high cost of fuel and food is getting our attention. I think change will be driven by both an increased awareness of problems and solutions, and by an increased willingness to change our behavior as individuals, as corporations and as a country.

Buying a HUD Home

Suddenly, down the street, there is a house with one of those signs in the window. A HUD Home, hmmm, could be a bargain? Well that may be, call your Realtor (or me if you don't have one) and take a look inside.

Don't have a HUD home down the street but want to see whats on the market? HUD Homes in Nebraska can be seen at a site called Best Assets. The HUD house is being sold as is and you can't negotiate directly with the seller, but you can submit a bid that is less than the listing price and you can ask for a big portion of your closing costs to be paid. You can find out more at the HUD website, there are even special incentives for those who qualify. Hmmm, could be a bargain, but it depends on the house and you.

Spring rain gets me thinking about ...

... gardens and wet basements. Here in Lincoln it is not uncommon to see basement walls pushed in by the pressure of saturated ground. The walls crack and a damp basement may result. Yet when its dry out, keeping the lawn or garden green means running water from the city water supply and higher utility bills. Its seems to me that one could address both of these problems with rain barrels.

Keeping a basement dry is really a matter of discipline and landscaping. Paying attention to your home and landscapes ability to shed water is key to avoiding problems. A rain barrel or rain garden is a great way to get your attention and keep you thinking about rain water and run off.

Using the rainwater in the landscape can keep plants greener longer in a xeriscaped yard or supplement the regular watering of flowers and vegtables.

The City of Lincoln is offering support for raingardens through grants

What a great way to get started!

Let's Build a Home

Been thinking about building a home?
Perhaps you should consider a little advice from the White Stripes ... Rock On!