One of the hottest trends in home improvement is remodeling with green or sustainability in mind. Going “green” means using building methods and environmentally friendly building materials that reduce your home’s impact on the earth, while enhancing the health of your home for you and your family.
Planning a large celebration can be challenging. From setting a date that works for everyone to creating a fun party atmosphere, there is a lot of work that goes into planning the perfect event. Regardless of who the party is for, there are some ways to ensure your big party comes off without a hitch.
Most of us know what rabies is, but it’s not something we think about often. Thanks to public health education, mandatory pet vaccinations and the wildlife oral rabies vaccination program, rabies cases in the U.S. have dropped dramatically in the past 15 years. But unfortunately this severe disease is still reported across the country, making rabies a continued public health threat. What do you need to know to keep your family, pets and community safe?
– The changing seasons mean lots of things: beautiful fall colors, football and, for families across the country, back-to-school and holiday gatherings. After a summer of carefree living, long days and relaxation, changing gears from fun and sun to homework and sports can be a challenge for even the most organized family. It doesn’t have to be, with these simple tips, getting back into the swing of things can be as refreshing as the crisp fall air.
Protecting your skin from the sun is a 365 day-a-year job. Summer is officially over, but all the sun exposure from sunny days at a beach, playing outdoor sports or soaking up the rays may have damaged your skin, forming dark brown spots that make your skin look dull and lackluster. Even sun exposure during the winter months can harm your skin. UVA rays, called the rays of aging, are everywhere and can penetrate even on cloudy days and through glass windows in your home or car. These rays are responsible for damage like wrinkles, brown spots and skin cancer. Sun damage is cumulative and begins in childhood, so protecting from the early ages – babies too – with sun protection or clothing is an important step.
– Our lives are busier today than ever before. Trying to balance the demands of work and home life is no easy feat. At home, day-to-day chores like cooking and cleaning easily chip away at precious time that could be better spent on a little rest and relaxation. If you’re looking to take back some of your time at home, the kitchen is a great place to start. With a few simple tools, you can dramatically reduce your workload, making more time for the things that really matter.
It’s most likely one of the top reasons you’ve been putting off that bathroom makeover or remodel – you’re not sure where to begin. What should the decor be like? Do you want a pedestal sink or a furniture-style vanity? Will you incorporate any water-saving faucets or fixtures? And, with all the decisions to make, will it all look good together and still perform well?
– Does maintaining a lush, healthy and green lawn to enjoy with friends and family seem daunting? It’s often a task that is easier said than done for homeowners. But take heart, a simple watering routine can help grass thrive.
– Many Americans put a great deal of trust in our country’s health care system and the health care professionals who tend to their medical needs. But from time to time, a medical procedure doesn’t go according to plan.
– This summer gardens and outdoor green spaces often look limp and lifeless due to lots of hot, sunny days and limited precipitation. No need to despair, just a few simple tips can help to rejuvenate any outdoor space well into fall – and be water-wise as well.
Winter and colder temperatures are notorious for creating difficult driving conditions that can place strain on drivers and their vehicles. And as the temperature drops this winter, so will your gas mileage.
An estimated 3.2 million Americans have chronic hepatitis C, a potentially serious disease that, if left untreated, can damage the liver over time and lead to cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, end-stage liver disease and liver cancer. Liver failure from chronic hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.
We’ve all been bombarded with the buzzwords: eco-friendly, renewable, green, sustainable – the list goes on. We turn off the lights, recycle and even swing by the local farmers market, but what else can we do? Are there any other practical solutions to help our environment? Maybe some that don’t require solar panels or spending a bundle on a new hybrid car? Tiny pellets may be the answer.
– Do you know what’s behind the drywall in your home? Unless you’ve ever had a home custom-built or have personally worked in construction, you might be unaware of the vital systems hidden within the walls of your home. But knowing how those systems work can help you make smart, money-saving decisions when building or renovating. Typically, when builders construct a house, they conceal electrical wiring, air ducts, insulation, home networking wires and plumbing within the walls. It’s important for all those systems to be well-made and high-functioning, but in the case of plumbing it’s especially vital. When you’re thinking about plumbing as part of a renovation or a new build, what you don’t want it to do is almost as important as what you do want it to do. Ruptured or leaking pipes can cause massive damage to other parts of your home, so it’s important to choose a type of pipe that can withstand decades of rigorous use – even in harsh water and soil environments. In the past, builders of American homes used metals that ranged from lead (obsolete now) to copper (the most common metal pipe found in homes today). These days, plastic is the go-to material for home plumbing. Crosslinked polyethylene products (commonly called PEX) offer many advantages. Flexible Uponor PEX can last longer (rated for 100 years of use), are quieter than metal pipes, and resist corrosion, freezing, scale buildup and harsh chemicals. When used with properly installed expansion fittings using a PEX-a ring, Uponor systems also resist leaking at joints and connections. If you decide to use PEX, it is best to hire a plumbing professional trained to install this material. That’s because PEX requires slightly different installation techniques compared with copper or even rigid plastic systems such as CPVC. Also, be sure to check the warranty: Some PEX manufacturers offer up to a 25-year warranty if their systems are installed by a trained professional. Why PEX? PEX plastic tubing has been proven to be more effective in plumbing systems over copper, CPVC and other materials due to several factors: * Improved energy efficiency – PEX tubing provides better insulation than copper, so less heat is lost from the hot water moving through the plastic tubing. Less heat loss means less energy is needed to keep water hot. * Less wait = less waste: The superior flexibility of PEX results in pipe runs that deliver hot water more quickly to every outlet, as compared with traditional copper trunk-and-branch layouts. Less waiting time at the tap and shower is not only a great convenience, but also means much less water is wasted down the drain. That savings in water can add up to major savings in dollars over time. * Longer life span – Because of its flexibility, PEX tubing can expand up to three times its original diameter. This makes it much more resistant to freeze damage than copper systems, meaning weather extremes are less likely to cause problems with leaks. Plus, PEX won’t rust or corrode the way metal pipes do, giving it the potential to last 100 years. * Improved creature comfort – If you’ve ever been kept awake by a “singing” water pipe or blushed at the loud whoosh that announces your flush to the entire household, you’re aware that metal pipes can be noisy. PEX plastic tubing is quiet, eliminating common noise problems like “water hammer” and singing pipes; it even muffles the sound of rushing water. * Safety-enhancing options – PEX plastic tubing works well with a home fire sprinkler system that incorporates sprinkler heads into the water-supply lines – a safety enhancement that the National Fire Protection Association says can decrease the risk of someone dying in a home fire by 80 percent. When it comes to assessing what’s behind your home’s drywall, opting for a plumbing system made of quality products of proven reliability can help save you money on water and energy, while keeping your home comfortable and safe for as long as you live there. For more information on PEX, visit: “Plumbing Systems for Homeowners” at www.uponor-usa.com.
The holiday season can be the happiest time of year – but it also can be the most wasteful. Americans generate about 25 percent more waste than usual – an extra million tons – between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That’s a lot of garbage.
The holiday season always brings a crush of expenses that can quickly add up. Between finding gifts for loved ones and friends, hosting gatherings, purchasing holiday foods and decorating the house, sometimes funds can be depleted quickly.
Entertaining during the busy holiday season can vary from one extreme – like Halloween with grab-and-go snacks – to another – like Thanksgiving with a sit down formal dinner. And there’s a good chance your family will be very busy hosting parties and gatherings well into 2013 with New Year’s and the big football games.
Buying holiday gifts can be a fun and easy experience when you go to the right place. No matter the age of the person you’re buying for, there is one kind of product that is perfect for everyone: technology. Whether it’s the latest tablet or e-reader, new headphones, or a cool tech accessory for a stocking stuffer, there is something for everyone.
If you aren’t a gamer yourself, buying for one can sometimes be a bit overwhelming considering the rapidly evolving technology and the choices in video games. With a few bits of good advice, you can easily find a gift that will delight anyone who enjoys gaming.
– When your holiday-dinner guest list keeps growing year after year, it may be time to share the cooking. A potluck is a great way to share the load, and with just a little advance planning you can avoid ending up with 12 green bean casseroles on the dinner table.
Most people go through life wanting to do the right thing. That desire is why many of us choose to buy products and food that have been produced sustainably with minimal negative impact on the environment. When considering questions about what constitutes sustainable seafood, however, it’s not uncommon to feel adrift.
– As the summer comes to an end and students begin preparing for the new school year, tech gadgets are one of the must-have items on any shopping list.
With the long holiday season right around the corner, you might be asked about bringing treats in for your child to share with the classroom. You’ll probably want to roll up your sleeves and dig through the recipe file for the yummiest treat you can find. Before you get started, be certain to find out if there are any children with food allergies in the classroom and the school.
– The start of the school year is a time of great anticipation for parents and kids alike. New teachers. New classes. New and old friends. It’s a time for fun and learning.
Ten years ago, April Holmes was boarding a train when her leg slipped and got caught between the platform and the moving train. As Holmes lay in her hospital bed recovering from a left leg amputation, her doctor told her about the Paralympics. Holmes, already a track and field college athlete, competed in the 2004 Athens Paralympics Games only three years later.
When you’re looking for a job, the holidays may seem like a time to take a break. But if you do, you may miss the employment opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Why is the off season of job searching actually a hidden opportunity to become employed?
Do you sport a retro moustache that complements your style? Or maybe a chevron moustache that says you don’t mess around? Well you’re not alone; in fact, according to Wahl, maker of the most powerful facial hair trimmers on the market, more than 17 million men are wearing moustaches today. With Movember around the corner, Wahl is partnering with the global men’s health charity to let everyone know that your moustache has power – the power to change the face of men’s health.
When veterans return home from serving overseas, the support found in family, friends and the community can make a huge difference for a smooth transition.
– Green driving is easier and more important than many people think. It’s important because, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, highway vehicles account for 28 percent (1.5 billion tons) of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions each year.
– When Barbara George’s friend and colleague in the media business was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer 11 years ago, George volunteered to help her figure out her next steps. But what they did not find surprised them.
