Is It Really Courage That People Need?

Do you remember a time where you were going to do something you were really afraid of? You had that sinking feeling that you're in trouble, but you knew it is the right thing to do. Maybe it was a job interview, asking someone out on a date, or public speaking. Everyone faces such situations, sooner or later.Usually after the event is gone you have a good feeling of satisfaction and personal strength.The problem is the moment right before, where you are paralyzed with fear.

Whenever people face such situations, they think they need "courage", and "willpower". As it turns out, this is the lousiest way to do it. I'll do my best to explain why is that, and what's the alternative.

Willpower and courage don't work

Courage simply means that you are afraid, but you are doing it anyway. It may be possible to overcome your fears by facing them over and over again, but it is simply a waste of emotional and physical energy. If you are afraid of something, but you're still doing it, this means that you are fighting with yourself.

It is equivalent to building a wall and then trying to get through it. It might work, but it is only a waste of time.Of course I'm not saying that you shouldn't do the things you are afraid of. I'm only saying that you shouldn't be afraid of them. Understand that all the fear of public speaking/rejection/failure/etc. is completely irrational. The only rational fear is when you are physically in danger. Are you in danger when you are on a job interview, or doing public speaking? Of course not. Even if you totally screw up, you still don't have to experience any fear at all.All this fear is created by social conditioning. When you were first born, you had only 2 fears the fear of falling, and of loud noises. All the rest of them are learned. The problem is that with such quick learning machines, people learn a lot of bullshit. They learn to be afraid of talking to other people, to try new things,to take risks, etc. This is to the point where people would develop fears, greater that the fear of dying. According to a research, a good percentage of people would rather kill themselves than face an audience! Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it. It just sounds ridiculous. And yet the fear of death is in the 6th place!

To too many people, it has never occurred that they can do things without being afraid. They think that their fear happens automatically, without their participation, and is something they have no control over. Of course that is not true. If it was happening automatically and without your participation, how would you know what to be afraid of? Fear is not a "thing". It's just the end result of a process that runs outside of your awareness and which leads to certain subjective experience.

You must realize that your emotional reaction is not caused by any circumstances outside of yourself. How could it be the circumstances. All you need to do is to think of a situation, and there it is in a split second.Fills up your entire body, and your solar plexus tightens up. It can be so paralyzing, that it completely halts you from taking action, and therefore you are stuck at your current level of success/failure.

The progressive training method, where you face your fears over and over again will eventually work, but if done alone, you may never reach the point where you are completely free of fear. So how can you reach it, if not with courage? Getting rid of fear is not something you do with a "technique". It is done by changing your beliefs about certain things. However, knowing something intellectually, won't necessarily make your fear disappear. You have to adopt and understand it. Knowing something, and understanding it are two completely different things. It's like the difference between knowing what you should do , and doing it. If you haven't internalized a given idea/belief it's like it doesn't mean anything to you yet.

To get rid of fear, you must do 2 things:
You need to have the ability to believe, in fact to be totally and utterly determined that you are going to get from where you are, to where you want to be.
You need to have a sense of humor.

Have a sense of humor

Without a sense of humor you can't get yourself to do pretty much anything. If you become too serious about things, you start getting stupid.Have you seen those couples that can fight over the simplest stuff(like who moved the salt, or where's the remote) for hours? That's what you'll become like if you get too serious. So, how's that related to fear? Well, if you are afraid of a simple thing, like walking up to somebody, and saying hello, it can mean only one thing that you are getting too serious. One of the most important things in life is that if you're going to do something, you might as well enjoy it.

How to eliminate fear, is something you have to find out for yourself. I can't tell you how to do it. If you're doing something for the very first time, you probably will be afraid. Your brain will perceive anything new as potential danger. But if you don't change your beliefs about what the situation means, you'll have to overcome this fear over and over and over again. And after a few years you're going to look back and find out it really didn't matter, and there was no reason to be afraid, but it'll be too late.

Fear turns into curiosity

When you manage to eliminate fear, you'll notice that whenever there was fear, now there is curiosity. You'll feel compelled to take on the new challenge, without any hesitation and fear, and this is how life is supposed to be. It's supposed to be fun and exciting, not a struggle.

"If you experience fear, any fear at all, than your mental model of reality is wrong."

-Steve Pavlina

"Thinking Is Like Sex: If it Feels Bad, You're Doing it Wrong!"

-Phillip.J.Eby

http://www.altpd.com

http://www.altpd.com

Reflective Roofing Materials

energy Saving Light Bulbs - The Sensible Alternative

The lights in an average household use about 20% of the total electricity, so anything that will reduce that power consumption will help lower your energy bill while cutting down on pollution. Fortunately, its easy to save energy on lighting by simply installing energy saving light bulbs.

Regular incandescent light bulbs produce light by heating a small filament inside the bulb. This heat production accounts for 90% of the energy they consumer. energy saving light bulbs are florescent, much more efficient because they dont need heat to produce light.

How much energy do they save? On average, the energy savings are about 66%. But that is not the only way you save money using these bulbs. They also last much longer than regular bulbs, so although they cost more, you still save money when buying light bulbs.

energy saving light bulbs last about 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Even if the florescent bulb costs considerable more than the traditional bulb, the lifespan of the bulb combined with the energy savings adds up to substantial savings.

It has been conservatively estimated that you can save about $4 per year for each energy saving light bulb that you install in your house. If you replace 20 bulbs, thats a savings of $80 a year.

Just imagine if every household in America took advantage of the savings that compact florescent bulbs provide. Not only would have more buying power, we would also cut down on the pollution caused by electricity generating plants.

Greenhouse emissions are one of the biggest concerns with burning fossil fuels to produce electricity. The average household produces more greenhouse gases than a car because of the amount of electricity consumed. Installing energy saving light bulbs is one way to cut down on those emissions.

Do your pocket book and the environment a favour by using florescent compact bulbs wherever you can. Its the only sensible thing to do.

Hans is author of http://www.alternative-energy-guide.com/, practical ideas and articles for "non-techies"

Cost Effective Stair Constructio

Installing a Brick or Paver Walkway

The use of Bricks or Pavers to create a walkway or patio complements a home in a way that is unmatched. It adds a level of quality and elegance to a home entrance that can not be achieved with either concrete or asphalt. Brick and Pavers also come in many different colors and shapes allowing for unique color schemes and patterns to be achieved. In addition, installing a Brick or Paver walkway does not necessarily require a pro. With some basic knowledge and a relatively simple walkway plan, a homeowner is capable of undertaking such a project.

The key to installing a Brick or Paver Walkway is to first properly prepare the area where the bricks/pavers are to be installed. The area should be dug out at least a foot down, removing all topsoil and clay soil. In addition, string lines should be strung on each side of the walkway. The string lines indicate the finished height of the walkway.

Once the area has been dug down, 3/4" gravel stone should be laid in and tamped down tightly. Then 2 of sand, or stone dust should be spread over the gravel. Again the sand/stone dust should be tamped down. Stone dust is preferred. The height between the tamped down sand and the stringline should equal the thickness of the brick or paver.

Now that you have a stable base, place a 1" pipe or ledger board the length of the walkway on either side of the walkway. Then using a flatedge, e.g. a 2"x4" board, slide it over the two lengths of the pipe/ledger board. In doing this you will create a level surface area to lay the bricks/pavers.

Now place on the level sand/stone dust strips of plastic brick borders. Install a run on both sides of the prepared area. These strips will act as your walkway border and help to maintain the integrity and shape of the walkway. You can get these plastic strip borders at most home improvement stores. The strips should be anchored down with 12" galvinized nails. You should sink these nails into the ground and through the strips every foot.

Once this is done, you can then begin to lay the bricks/pavers. There are many patterns you can lay. I particularly like the Herring Bone pattern. The key to laying the bricks/pavers is to ensure that they interlock with each other. Always stagger adjacent rows of bricks by 1/2 of a brick to interlock them. This will again help maintain the integrity of the walkway.

Inevitably bricks/pavers will need to be cut or split when building the walkway. Unless you want to buy or rent an expensive wetsaw, I would suggest purchasing a simple brick/paver splitter. It is basically a chisel with a wide end that is the width of the bricks/pavers. To actually cut/split the brick/paver, lay it in a bed of sand and place the chisel at a 75 degree angle over the spot where you want to break the brick. Then using a hammer strike the butt end of the chisel firmly. You may need to do this a couple of times. You may also want to flip the brick/paver over and strike the other side of the brick using the hammer and chisle. Within one or two strikes the brick/paver should break cleanly. If your walkway has curves you will need to buy/rent a wetsaw.

After installing the bricks, build up the outside edges with additional sand, and then shovel in the topsoil and pack down firmly.

Finally, spread stone dust over the new walkway and sweep into the cracks. Repeat this process a couple of times to ensure the cracks are fully filled. This will complete the interlocking of the bricks and help to eliminate any weed growth. Just add grass seed to the outside edges and you should have a beautiful entrance to your home within a couple of weeks.

Mark J. Donovan

me_Donovan@comcast.net

http://www.homeadditionplus.com

http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com

Over the past 20+ years I have been involved with building homes and additions to homes. I have completed many projects that have included: building a vacation home, family room additions, and a garage. I have also finished the upstairs on unfinished homes. My formal education and profession has been as an Electrical Engineer and Marketing Manager.

Hanging Drywall For Beginners

Solar Air Conditioning Is For Everyone

One of the best ideas to come along in a very long time is the idea of solar air conditioning. Simplicity itself, the system has nonetheless been overlooked for far too long. As the technology of this system grows, the popularity of it will also spread. The system makes basic common sense when you consider that the main season we need air conditioning is also the season with the strongest direct sunlight.

The technology of solar air conditioning would benefit from this abundant supply of free sunlight power to run the air conditioning elements. With the power source being free, the solar air conditioning system would quickly replace the more common systems in use today.

Environmentally Friendly and Cost-Effective

The solar air conditioning system has many of the same internal elements as the more conventional units except that the power source comes from ultraviolet rays from the sun rather than electrical power. The solar air conditioning system uses the power of the sunlight to run the system all day long, and the residual power (stored up in batteries) would be able to keep the unit running through the night as well.

Solar Air Conditioning Benefits

The solar air conditioning system is very good for the environment, as it uses no electricity (created from the burning of diesel fuel in electrical plants). Conventional air conditioners use a vast amount of electricity to create cool air in systems that are not always as efficient as they should be. The fact that the energy source for these solar air conditioning units is free is simply a cost-saving bonus. The savings on your electrical bills alone will make this system worth having in your home. Remember though, that even though you use free sun power for these units does not mean that the cost to you is nothing. You still have to make sure that your unit is properly serviced and maintained for it to work right. Having regular service checks done by professional air conditioning technicians will prolong the life of your unit.

As the popularity of these units and their technology increases, more people are recognizing how efficient a system solar air conditioning really is. Do your research and find out if this system is the right one for you. You will be saving money and helping out the environment as well.

You can also find more info on Air Conditioning Repair and Central Air Conditioning. Knowairconditioner.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Air Conditioner.

Building A Room Addition

Education And Sociology

In education area sociology plays vital role as teachers and students counterparts lead to the level of success in education. So the contribution that sociology has to make to the practical activity of educating teachers will be considered in this discussion, as the steering point. What we have today are disjointed courses dealing with the burning issues of the day, and a concern with problems that teachers may be able to solve even without undergoing a comprehensive teacher education.

While designing teacher education programmes, it is necessary to develop a sociology of education which will be of value to the teachers both in and out of the classroom. This is because a teacher who is well taught in sociological aspects of education has a wider perspective, perception and consideration of the issues of culture that affect his or her work. Teachers are instrumental in this reproduction process. Since many teachers base their judgments of students on their students social class, they therefore perpetuate inequality. Teachers own social class origins affect their perceptions and treatment of students.

When a teacher tries to understand the relationship between social class and education achievements, he ought to combine psychological and sociological perspectives regarding his perception of issues, in order to be able to make a well-guided inference about his learners. Our teacher education programmes should enable teachers to reflectively have a background that sufficiently exploits cultural differences of learners, and their implications on the teaching learning process. With availed equal opportunities at the school level, the student should be made by reflective teachers in order for students to understand that he stands equal opportunities whit those from well to do families.

The article was produced by the writer of masterpapers.com. Sharon White is a senior writer and writers consultant at political science essays. Get some useful tips for thesis and essay samples.

The Right Kitchen Designs

Chemical Free Pool and Options For Today's Use

With the technology of today, there are many options available when it comes to a chemical free pool. The drying and bleaching of the hair, burning of the eyes, and drying of the skin are just a few of the reasons that you should consider making your pool a chemical free one.

When using chemicals in a pool you are not only exposing your family to toxic chemicals but you are also exposing them to the health problems that can be caused by these chemicals as well. It has been stated that the chlorine used in swimming pools can cause asthma and breathing related problems in children. As an adult the chlorine has been linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease and rectal and bladder cancers. By changing your pool over to a chemical free pool with a system like the one available from Ecosmarte Pool, you will not only be doing your family a favor but also the environment and your pool equipment as well.

You do have other options available over chlorine but they still will not produce a chemical free pool. There are Salt Systems but they are still chlorine. Salts chemical name is sodium chloride and is used to make chlorine. The mineral cartridge systems are expensive. Although they reduce the amount of chlorine needed it still has to be used and not able to provide a chemical free pool. Another non-chlorine treatment option is biaguanide. A common brand name of biaguanice is Baquacil. This is an alternative to a chlorine treatment but is very expensive and must be added by hand daily. Ozone generators are an option for a chemical free pool however they work best when used in smaller pools or spas. They generally must run continually to adequately clean the water.

The most cost efficient way to achieve a chemical free pool is with a system such as the Ecosmarte Pool system. By using and ionization plus oxygen system you eliminate the need for chemicals in your pool. This will effectively get rid of dry and damaged skin or hair, bleached clothes, and brittle and worn pool equipment. Not to mention the health benefits that comes with having a chemical free pool. Having a chemical free pool using the ionization plus oxygen system provides the clean and disinfected environment that you are use to getting with the chlorine but it is better since it is providing a chemical free pool. To create this chemical free pool is a two step process. The first process is an Ionization stage which is a catadyne process. This stage alone would provide an unstable water environment. The second stage is an oxidation stage which is an anodyne process.

The combination of these two processes can provide a cleaner and safer pool. These chemical free pool systems can have an added bonus of being more economical than costly chemicals. The choice is yours to make the switch to a chemical free pool to save your health, your skin, and your environment.

For more information on chemical free pool systems, please visit http://www.EcosmartePool.com

Alexander Lum works and writes for issues in the swimming pool industry.

House Framing

Osmolality - Its Not Just For Blood Work Anymore

Check Reagents to verify purity.
Check water to screen for contaminants.
Check sports drinks to document quality.
Check urine to monitor dehydration.

The osmometer is known in the clinical laboratory, but almost unknown outside those doors.

Osmometers very accurately measure the freezing point depression of a, usually aqueous, solution. Osmometers measure the total number of molecules dissolved in a solution. An osmometer measures molality.

When a reagent is prepared it contains a certain number of particles. Each time the same reagent is prepared, it should contain the same number of particles, but how do you know? Simple, by measuring its Osmolality.

Water samples are measured for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) routinely to estimate environmental pollution. TDS can be measured by conductivity, but conductivity only estimates TDS and does not measure uncharged dissolved solids. TDS is also measured gravimetrically, but volatile compounds, like alcohols, are lost on evaporation of the water so that the solids can be weighed. Osmometry measures all compounds dissolved in the water.

The drinking water industry is taking off. Nobody wants to drink tap water anymore. More and more bottled water is being sold. Newer bottled water companies are gaining some market share by adding minerals, nutrients, and vitamins to water drinks. Osmometry allows these companies to quickly and inexpensively monitor the quality of their products.

Athletes do a lot of exercise. How can they know when enough is enough? How can they know if they are dehydrating? How can they know if they drank enough water to rehydrate? Simple, their urine can be measured by osmometry. Changes in the Osmolality of urine indicate when to stop exercising, and when they can start again.

These are but a few examples of a little known, but powerful fast, and easy screening tool. An osmometer is a simple, fairly low cost instrument with a lot of applications providing one number that packs a lot of information.

William Lipps
http://www.oico.com
(979) 690-1375 ext. 230
wlipps@oico.com

One Extraction, One Dilution, One Injection, Automation solutions.
Segmented Flow, Flow Injection, Discrete Analyzers, TOC Analyzers, Sample Introduction, Gas Chromatography, Gel Permiation, Purge & Trap

Expert Methods Consulting
http://www.williamlipps.com

Classical Wet Chemistry, HPLC, IC, GC, GC/MS, SFA, FIA, Discrete, TOC, TOX, UV-VIS, IR, Osmometry, Petroleum, Proximate Analysis, Extractions, Digestions

Right Hand Swing Colonial Door

Solar Power for Post Lighting

Solar energy is all around us, but most people dont notice it. For instance, the power source for many emergency phones on freeways is powered by it. This brings us the subject of solar post lights.

Solar Power for Post Lighting

Solar energy started to come into popularity in the 1970s, when technology advances combined with massive oil price increases to make solar a popular alternative energy source. Back then, the world was just starting to become more aware about the risks of using so many non-renewable resources, and people wanted to decrease their dependence on fossil fuels. Now, solar power is being used by many different people all across the world, both in big and small ways. One of the small, but still important ways it is being used is in solar post lights.

Often, people want to light their driveways or backyards. Aside from running expensive extension cords to lamps, using battery after battery, or running lines in underground pipes, there really werent many choices to power their lamps. Now, solar post lights are regularly used by those who want the convenience of not having to change batteries, and those who want to save money on their electric bill.

Solar post lights work by using very small solar panels, which are attached to an energy collector. These solar panels stay out in the sun all day, attached to your post, and they soak up all of the suns solar energy. The energy collector in many of the solar post lights is a NiCad rechargeable battery, most of which can go up to 1000 charges! That is about three years. The light that is powered by the battery is an LED light, which takes very little power but emits a bright light. LEDs can last up to 25 years, making solar post lights a very economical investment. These lights will emit their soft glow for many hours during the night, depending on the amount of solar energy they received during the day.

Other advantages to solar lights are that there are no wires needed, so installation is very easy. Also, you can often buy the lights individually, so there is no need to buy a large package of the lights if you only need a few to illuminate your way. Each light runs independent of the others, so if one light malfunctions, the rest will still be there and glowing.

Whether you choose to buy a few or a lot of the solar post lights, they are still the most economical and ecology minded choice for your driveway and fence lighting needs. With a long lifespan and easy installation, these lamps are the perfect thing to shine through the dark of your front yard.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies.

Broken Concrete Used To Build

A Heating And Air Conditioning Career

A career path that includes the field of heating and air conditioning, will take you far. Whether you choose to work on the repair and installation end of the field or more directly by helping to design new products and systems, the career choice is a good one. Todays modern technology makes the learning of the heating and air conditioning trades an especially interesting and rewarding one.

An essential part of every industrial, commercial or residential building, heating and air conditioning systems help to control humidity, temperature and the quality of the air we breathe inside those buildings. Because of the publics dependence on these systems, a career in heating and air conditioning is a stable source of financial security. As long as there are people who need to be either warmed up or cooled down, there will be a need for technicians who can keep these heating and air conditioning systems operating smoothly. It is also important to remember that repair technicians may have to make several service calls within a single day. On hot, summer days, lugging repair equipment and tools may not be for everyone.

The technician field is very popular, offering training that allows you to install, maintain and repair these heating and air conditioning systems. Another choice of career in the field may be better for creative types. The design and invention of new products is an exciting and satisfying field in itself and whether this involves new inventions or re-designing of existing products and equipment, new technology is incorporated into all products and systems. With days spent within laboratories and research stations, these technicians enjoy the designing of products and new equipment. In addition, the courses you take will be interesting and rewarding. Designers and innovators have an essential role in the field of heating and air conditioning.

Because the field is a very competitive one, it is important that employees and trainees have the best possible education behind them. To stay ahead of other students in your courses, it is important to have the proper educational background. The field of mechanics and engineering usually requires the students to have a degree from college, certification of a respected program or an apprenticeship certificate from an accomplished and recognized professional.

College degrees in mathematics and the sciences can greatly assist any designers of heating and air conditioning systems or products. Engineering careers usually require the employees to have scientific and mechanical degrees as well.

You need to be dedicated to the field you choose and strict study habits are needed. As you learn the trade, you can also become an apprenticeship, which allows you to work the trade and earn while you learn. Not all people who choose this profession can complete the program; therefore, the apprenticeship helps you before wasting valuable time.

You can also find more info on Air Conditioning Filters and Air Conditioning Parts. Knowairconditioner.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Air Conditioner.

Concrete Mold Problems

Using Water in Feng Shui Landscaping

If you have studied the basic principles of feng shui, then you probably know that one of the most important things you can do to improve the energy of your home is to include water features at the front of your house. This allows good, positive, healing energy to flow from the outside of your home to the inside of your home. After all, your outdoor living space is simply an extension of your home, so it should invite and direct invigorating and inspiring energy into your indoor living space.

Creating this energy flow using water is not difficult to do. One of the easiest ways that you can create a water-based flow of energy into your home is to use fountains near the entrance. For those of you that are envisioning endless digging of trenches for electrical cords, water lines, etc., relax! You can now purchase fountains in a variety of shapes and sizes that are completely powered by solar cells located at the top of the fountain. These waterproof, submersible cells can power a fountain for 10-12 hours at a time, and can work anywhere that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. If the front of your house, particularly near the entrance, receives adequate sunlight, you can quickly and easily place fountains near your front door to help guide prosperity, abundance, and happiness into your living space.

Another way to use water to create vibrant energy for your home is to create ponds in the front area of your home. Ponds are fantastic sources of energy, because not only do they create an energy flow into your house by incorporating the element of water, they also help foster living energy for your living environment by allowing you to easily bring in fish, turtles, and water plants.

Fish are a popular feng shui symbol, and turtles have long been revered as catalysts for prosperity. Water plants also help to bring in life and abundance to your outdoor space, particularly if you choose plants that are compatible with creating positive energy. Most water plants are useful for the amplification of good, positive energy, as they are adapted to the comforting yet ever-changing flow of water.

Swimming pools can also help create a good flow of energy, if they are properly maintained and are adequately circulated. In addition to bringing in the element of water, swimming pools also foster good energy by providing a place to congregate after a long day of school or work. This is a great way to build positive, loving relationships among the members of your family, so that you can experience harmonious relationships within your household.

Let these suggestions serve as a springboard for your imagination. Find other ways of incorporating water that feel good to you, and watch as they transform your living space into a place of serenity, rejuvenation, and love. You'll find that the effort you spend creating a special water space will be well worth it.

Linda Binns shows you how to be more successful in all areas of your life by working with your environment. She is giving away FREE Feng Shui Success Secrets. To get access to these powerful and practical secrets that can help you transform your life go to http://www.fengshuiexplained.com now.

Plastering Corner

Easy Rain Gutter Maintenance Tips

It goes without saying that rain gutters are an important part of maintaining your home's condition. With that said, rain gutter maintenance is also something you should be mindful of in order to keep them in good condition. Here are some quick tips and things to keep an eye on.

Gutter Cleaning

Obviously, a clogged gutter will do you no good and can even do more damage over the long run. Rain water that gets backed up and overflows can rot out the fascia board as well as seep into your home's foundation. The end result can be water in your basement and further damage.

In most cases it is a good idea to clean out your guttering system at least once a year in the fall. I recommend twice a year, but you can get by in most cases with once unless you have a lot of trees losing leaves over your home.

You can either clean gutters yourself using a garden hose or you can call a company to have it done for you.

Gutter Guards

To help in keeping your rain gutters in great shape you may want to consider adding a gutter guard over them. Guards work we4ll in preventing leaves, sticks and other debris from clogging up your guttering system.

The cost for gutter guards can range from fairly inexpensive to more costly for systems such as the Gutter Helmet.

Other Gutter Maintenance Tips

-Be careful when placing a ladder up against the guttering to get up to the roof. It can easily collapse the sides of some gutters.

-Replace any missing nails that hold the gutter to the roof.

-Be sure to use downspouts and that the water flows out and well away from your home.

Gutter maintenance is not that difficult if you simply spend the time keeping them clean each year. That alone can give you years of trouble free use around your home.

By the way, you can learn more about Rain Gutter Maintenance Tips as well as much more information on all types of gutters and downspouts at http://www.GuttersA-Z.com

Wood Stair Landing Evenwithtread

energy Efficient Home Tax Credits

Under the energy Policy Act of 2005 you can get a tax credit if you installed energy efficient windows in the year 2006. Due to a new law created in 2006 the government is encouraging energy efficient homes. To qualify for energy efficient tax credits on your home it must be 1. Your primary home, and 2. Be located in the United States. The enery efficiennt items and procedures to your home can be used as a credit with limitations.

The new tax law provides for a tax credit to existing homes. You can get a 10 percent tax credit for buying qualified energy efficiency improvements. Read the 2000 International energy Conservation Code to qualify.

Use the following items for eligibility:

Insulation systems that reduce heat loss/gain

Exterior windows (including skylights)

Exterior doors Metal roofs (meeting applicable energy Star requirements).

In addition, the law provides a credit for costs relating to residential energy property expenses. To qualify as residential energy property, the property must meet certification requirements prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury and must be installed in the taxpayers main home in the United States.

The following items are eligible:

$50 for each advanced main air circulating fan

$150 for each qualified natural gas, propane, or oil furnace or hot water boiler

$300 for each item of qualified energy efficient property.

The maximum credit for all taxable years is $500 no more than $200 of the credit can be attributable to expenses for windows.

The new law also makes a credit available to those who add qualified solar panels, solar water heating equipment, or a fuel cell power plant to their homes in the United States.

Lois Center-Shabazz is the founder of the personal finance website, Msfinancialsavvy.com and the author of the award-winning book, Let's Get Financial Savvy! Use her "Savvy Money Kit" now. Msfinancialsavvy.com

Ginger Bread House Style Roof

Cold Winter Could Spell Natural Gas Price Bottom

If youre living in San Antonio, St. Louis or even Albany, New York, you are probably not thinking much about global warming. Abrupt climate change may very well be on your mind. Some thought January started off like early springtime. And, of course, the energy bears were cheering.

But less than ten days ago, AccuWeathers Chief Long-Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi wrote, This winter could parallel severe winters of the past. For the energy bears, Bastardi warned, Those who think that winter 2006-2007 is going to remain mild are in for a shock. That shock came this past week and this may not be the last of it. Bastardi believes the current weather pattern could mimic the cold and stormy winters of 1965-66 and 1957-58. A worst-case scenario would be if this winter plays out as did the winter of 1977-1978. In a telephone interview with AccuWeathers Chuck Caracozza, he told us hes seeing a cold pattern taking shape and that this could play catch up from the warmer December-January many enjoyed.

We asked energy commentator Phil Flynn of Alaron Trading for his thoughts. If the forecasters are correct, then we may have seen the lows in natural gas, he told us. But, we need more than a two-week cold blast. We need something that lasts from February into March. Flynn believes a winter which some forecasters are predicting could challenge the high gas storage levels. He said, We have well above the five-year average of storage levels. And should the weather compare to some of those past winter nightmares? If we get a good old-fashioned winter, then we might find those storage levels are not as comfortable as we thought. Flynn also observed, Then, well find out how adequate those gas supplies really are.

How comfortable should traders become with those storage levels? According to the International energy Agency, the worlds focus on natural gas could overcome oils dominant position, sometime over the next fifty years. Crude inventories are being burned off nearly twice as rapidly as gas. For example, according to Andy Flower, who consults for the LNG industry, the worlds shortage of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) could continue through 2011 or longer. No major energy company planned activities to increase LNG production. Thats because costs to build LNG plants have tripled over the past six years, says Bechtel Group, the largest U.S. contractor.

Eventually, demand for gas and the subsequent soaring price will catch up on a global scale, in much the same way we now view crude oil with the recent higher lows. Imagine your reaction a decade ago if you read that traders were wondering if crude oil would again drop below $50/barrel? Natural gas might well emerge as a more widely followed commodity, as early as next month, should the weather forecasters have correctly predicted a vengeful winter.

Why Gas?

Natural gas has a lot going for it. As part of the push for cleaner air, lower CO2 emissions and to help reverse abrupt climate change, natural gas is often mentioned as a preferable alternative to coal-fired power plants. True, it lacks the excitement of nuclear energy and the subsequent momentum built into the uranium price. But, natural gas is no longer the cheap fuel it was five or ten years ago.

Demand for gas has gone up in the worlds most emerging economies. Countries such as China are championing gas as an integral part of their energy mix. And for good reason. Primarily, a coal-fueled economy China has severely suffered by not having depended upon gas to meet its growing economic needs. According to a September 2002 World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, air pollution from coal burning reportedly causes about 300,000 premature deaths every year. By the year in which this report was published, six of the worlds most polluted cities were in China.

In her highly acclaimed book, The River Runs Black (Cornell University Press, 2004), Elizabeth C. Economy wrote, One positive environmental trend is the steady expansion of coal gas and natural gas for district heating in urban areas: since 1985, their use has increased more than five times. The author praised Chinas stronger attempts to fuel this country through hydroelectricity and natural gas.

The energy fuel North Americans believe suffers from excess capacity and which according to Phil Flynn, those levels might be challenged with a wintry winter China can not seem to obtain sufficient quantities to help green its economy while maintaining double-digit economic growth. Previously, we wrote about Chinas burgeoning demand for natural gas, for which it has signed on to own about 1.1 trillion cubic feet of Australian gas. The country can not appear to obtain sufficient foreign-produced gas and the shortage of LNG construction is likely to impact the countrys desire to increase gas consumption in its energy mix. The shortage of natural gas supply could reach between 30 and 40 billion cubic meters by 2010, according to one Chinese government estimate.

Isnt it ironic that about $37 billion in natural gas is burned off every year because insufficient quantity can be transported through pipelines, or because excess gas is pumped underground to drive more crude oil to the surface, while a growing country such as China can not obtain sufficient gas to meet its energy needs? According to a January 15th Associated Press report, Beijing is trying to encourage its consumers to spend more and develop more brand names. Along the same lines, that is what state-owned China United Coalbed Methane (CUCBM) has been doing over the past decade offering what China has plenty of in return for piece of the eventual economic returns.

By attracting foreign capital and more advanced technology, CUCBM has struck deals with major energy companies, and a handful of promising (and connected, but) smaller companies. Generally, the companies pay for the exploratory, often confirmatory, costs to develop a coal gas resource in exchange for a 60-percent production-sharing contract. CUCBM has awarded land areas about the size of Delaware or larger for a 40-percent slice of the future production on those projects. More recently, the Chinese Yuans currency appreciation enabled Chinas financial system more flexibility and should later end barriers to money entering and leaving the country.

While weve eschewed coverage on the Canadian CBM companies, many of whom nearly vaporized over the latter half of 2006 and could remain stagnant, we believe one might find encouragement with the fledgling companies advancing their CBM projects in China. All gas is local, the energy experts have advised us. While the price of gas may differ from Iran and to Australia, or from Alberta to China, perception among investors tends to remain consistent: Sell when gas is falling; buy when it is rising. The underlying commodity may have unjustly impacted the shares of companies developing their projects in China. What happens to the flattened shares of those companies when natural gas prices turn?

One can look at the work achieved by Houston-based Far East energy Corporation over the past few years. Through its agreements with ConocoPhillips and CUCBM, the companys progress in Chinas leading coal region, Shanxi Province has finally begun to show strong promise. In January 11th news, Far East remarked upon the high permeability and gas content of its five horizontal wells, comparing the potential to prolific wells similar to those in Americas San Juan Basin or Australias Fairview Field.

The companys Chief Executive noted in his news, The Fairview Field is a very productive field that may be a good analog to what we have discovered in our Shouyang focus area. Of course, the CEO also warns that it is too early, prior to sustained production from the wells, to make such comparisons.

We dont believe Far East energy s claims to be anomalous, but may very well be confirmed with the expansion of their well field. Discovery of highly encouraging gas content also compares with reports weve studied from a similar Canadian company, Pacific Asia China energy . The gas content on the scf/t basis from this companys drilling in the Longtan coal formation of Baotian-Qingshan Basin in Chinas Guizhou province favorably compared with the Manville coal formation in the Alberta Plains Deep Basin, the Fruitland coal formation in New Mexicos San Juan Basin and the Pottsville coal formation in Alabamas Warrior Basin.

Both companies made great strides in 2006 while natural gas prices became increasingly depressed. At this writing, NYMEX February natural gas traded last at $6.697. Far East energy suffered through a proxy battle this past fourth quarter, but appears to have moved forward announcing two new vertical wells to be drilled. After favorable preliminary results from the initial drilling, Pacific Asia China energy has commenced plans for an initial pilot test production program.

There may be a potential reward for Pacific Asia China energy , which is in addition to any success the company may have in developing its CBM concessions. In an October 2006 interview with the Pacific Asia China energy VP/Exploration Dr. David Marchioni and in a December 2006 audio interview with executive vice president Steven Khan, it appears the company may generate revenues during 2007 because of the companys joint venture with Australias Mitchell Drilling to lease a drill rig.

The company has an exclusive for China coalbed methane drilling with Mitchell, through this joint venture, which could become a valuable cash cow to help finance further exploration on its CUCBM concessions. Mitchells proprietary Dymaxion drilling technology is an example of why the Chinese invited foreign-owned companies to help develop their CBM properties. With the funds the companies invest to develop these properties, they also bring advanced technology to ameliorate Chinas ongoing energy crisis.

If indeed the natural gas price bottoms because of the weather risk, putting a frown on the faces of energy bears, then one of the first places investors might smile could be with the developments in China.

COPYRIGHT 2007 by StockInterview, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

James Finch contributes to StockInterview.com and other publications. StockInterviews Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market has become the most popular book ever published for uranium mining stock investors. Visit http://www.stockinterview.com

Family Room Framing

Becoming a Good Green Citizen

It is becoming exceedingly easy to get on the "green bandwagon" lately. But some of us were on the wagon long before the band ever joined us...

Outside Magazine, in its recent 30th anniversary Green Edition, points out that only a couple years ago environmentalism seemed to be "dead"--or, at least, greatly diminished in stature from the Earth Day era.

Suddenly everything is (or should be) green this or green that, and a lot of what has made "sustainability" and "living in harmony with nature" nouveau cause celebres is the so-called climate crisis, kicked off by various studies that clearly show man is responsible for the planet's warming and many of the ill effects being visited on us now, and sure to come.

Well, ok, I admit that few of us long time "greenies" were as completely aware as Al Gore--who sponsored the first Congressional hearings on global warming 25 years ago--that this issue would be at the nexus of the latest environmental guilt trip. I do remember buying a book by Jeremy Rifkin called Entropy: Into the Greenhouse World in the late 80's. Another, Hothouse Earth, by John Gribbin, published in 1990, I found at a used book sale a decade or so ago--a LIBRARY used book sale, I might add.

So a lot of us have been in denial for some time (especially librarians?) But how much denial? It's been common knowledge for some time that the United States is just about the very worst environmental offender, with 5% of the world's population using up 25% of the world's resources. Our smokestacks have been causing irreparable harm to air quality for decades, our chemicals have caused the last big crisis--a hole in the ozone layer--and we act and live like we're never going to run out of anything on this planet. People are the only mammals who consume much more than they ever give back to the earth--think about that one. By the time we are dead we will have personally filled a large corner of most landfills, polluted the air with thousands of pounds of our toxic (including carbon dioxide) gases, and lain waste to hundreds of acres if we used wood to build our homes--as most do.

I know, guilt, guilt, guilt. But let's be honest here. Although I've spent most of my adult life trying to live more simply--and writing about it--as a middle class boomer (who just turned 60), I've done plenty to make things harder for succeeding generations.

Ok, I didn't MEAN to, but that's not entirely a good excuse. Living in any developed country like the United States means being a consumptive consumer, even if you hardly ever spend a dime at the store. For many years I went to thrift shops for clothes, furniture, and other household goods--but even there the stuff is better than what possibly 75% of the rest of the world has--if they have it at all.

The New York Times recently did a story on a couple residing in downtown Manhattan (a place I once worked and lived) who have decided to forego every luxury for a year and see if they can have NO deleterious effect on the environment. The experiment is called No Impact Man. No, not Low Impact Man, or Little Impact Man (or Woman). From what I've read of the experiment--which will be turned into a book, a sort of modern day Walden, the couple has made a great start. My God, they are even foregoing toilet paper, or food trucked in beyond 100 miles. For lighting they are using just one CFL (compact fluorescent) bulb, along with candles, I believe. Most reading this would be aghast. The "deep ecologists" would give them plaudits--though they might, as I would (I'm the former director of the Greener Pastures Institute, a back to the land organization), wonder why they aren't trying this in the countryside. After all, for every positive of living in the big city, there are a long litany of negatives. (Take my word for it--I was (?) an expert).

In any case, No Impact Man and Woman would be pretty common folk in places like Ghana, Iraq (especially Iraq!), Kuala Lumpur and 100 other countries I could name. ( If you're born in the United States, have a job, a computer, and even an old beater of a car, you're rich by much of the world's standards.) And those people are a lot less carbon dioxide spewing, even when they're burning stuff in the open air.

So, ok, I sound a little cynical, but this one-time Whole Earth Catalog listee hasn't REALLY seen much forward movement in defense of the earth and its threatened species. It is depressing to realize, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that it doesn't matter what we do personally in the next 50 years or so, global warming (and natural/manmade disasters) are still going to ensue. We made our bed and are sleeping on it--a warm, synthetic mattress manufactured, no doubt, in China for a few dozen dollars, and shipped 6000 miles--with a $1000 (or more) price tag attached. (I remember how comfortable I used to be sleeping on the floor or a wood platform on a 3 inch basic foam mattress with a couple sheets and a blanket.) If there is truly a trend toward downscaling in America, I fail to see it in ways that will matter anytime soon.

Take "carbon credits," for example. I'd buy them if I REALLY thought it would make a difference. An inlaw recently purchased them to "offset" a trip by plane. Wouldn't it just be better not to take the plane in the first place? I'm seriously thinking of giving up plane travel because there IS no alternative to polluting jet fuel. I read that the new giant Airbus, that can seat over 500 passengers, creates a carbon "economy of scale"

whereby a couple flying are responsible for no more greenhouse gas emissions than if they drove the distance in a 2007 Mini Cooper. Sounds impressive, but I don't buy it. How many gases were emitted to build the monstrosity? How many minerals were sucked out of the earth, with the attendant scars? Also, the thing about air travel is that it is increasingly a luxury as the world depletes its petroleum stores, since no one will never be able to run planes on batteries or biodiesel.

So what, you say. Those of us who fly are realists and the rest (including me) are impractical purists. But as I have said, I'm just about as responsible as the next person for having a negative impact on the planet. (My hybrid car still consumes plenty of gas). Even eschewing plane rides makes me complicit. Just about no one in America gets to be truly "green"--just take the test at myfootprint.org

I don't want to be difficult, but let's face facts. I have read about several ten year plans to help our civilization reverse course now that we know what "the problem" is. Well, clearly we don't. The problem isn't just global warming, it's the global proliferation of people like us who can't stop using and abusing things. We see consumption as our birthright, and our recent efforts to "green" everything may turn out to be puny at best.

One example is in the area of "green" building. I built a house entirely out of straw bales in Mexico--straw being a waste product--with recycled timber for the roof. Most "green" buildings use plenty of new lumber, concrete, stone and plastics--albeit in smaller quantities than the average 2400 sq. ft. American house--and incorporate energy saving features like solar or super insulation. But if you think about it, the buildings still use a heck of a lot of resources, and by this measure may only be 10% or so "green."

Saving energy just happens to be my latest focus. I don't want to demean what could be done if several million of us stopped using coal-fired electricity. My little book on "basic" solar power has sold at least 10,000 copies, and not just to Americans. I would love to see a few solar panels on even 50 million rooftops. It would be a terrific start, but who is going to get us there? In this regard, my work is just out of the starting gate, but this info has been available from me since 2000. Utilities, not consumers, are going to have to dump polluting energy in a very big way very soon--maybe it will happen, but certainly no time soon.

In the meantime, I'd like to SUGGEST that we all stop doing the really dumb things, like driving our cars two blocks to the market, leaving light bulbs on when not in use (especially the tungsten variety), or throwing out most garbage--probably 75% of which is recyclable. At least doing these kind of things will create a little shift in thinking that might lead to even more sensible living habits. (First, though, this article has to get published, and it's not easy to get the cold hard truth in print--so if you see it somewhere, thank the medium involved.)

Someone said you have to crawl first before you can walk. For far too many of us, going green will be doing what we can, in rather small measures at first. I guess it WILL have to be governments which embark on the major changes, through legislation and regulation. For years I thought individuals could lead the way, but there are too many day to day obstacles to expect much progress--unless you become No Impact Man. And that isn't going to be embraced by very many, even (especially?) in Manhattan.

by William L. Seavey

William L. Seavey ran the Greener Pastures Institute for many years. He is at work on a memoir, Confessions from Generation Woodstock. He runs an alternative energy site at http://www.PowerFromSun.com and recently published The Climate Crisis Action Plan Checklist.

Corner Of Hot Moped Shower

Do It Yourself Wiring - What You Need To Know Before You Purchase New Light Fixtures

Lighting is one of those home improvement projects that everyone loves to do. Change that old chandelier to a fancy new one, or that small lighting fixture to a larger one that adds more light in the room. And one of the most popular ones, change that small light to a nice new ceiling fan. These are all great improvements to your home and relativity easy to do yourself, but whether you decide to do it yourself or hire an electrical contractor to do the work there are some things you need to consider before you go out and buy those new lighting fixtures.

The first thing you need to consider is the power requirements of the new fixture. If you are changing an old fixture with only one light bulb to one with two light bulbs, this will most likely not be a problem. But if it is a larger fixture or a chandelier you will need to take this into account.

You can go about this by finding out what is on the existing circuit that you intend to change the fixture on. Go to your main electrical panel and turn off the breakers until you find out which circuit the fixture is on. Next you will need to find out what is on that circuit, so with only that breaker off check and see what other fixtures or devices do not work. Next you will need to add up the current draw on the existing circuit, as per code you are only allowed to draw 80% of the current provided for by the circuit breaker protecting the circuit. For example if it is a 15 amp circuit breaker you are only permitted to draw 1200 watts, which is a total of twenty 60 watt light bulbs. At first glace this may seem like a lot but I have seen people have 20 60 watt light bulbs on a single chandelier. Checking to make sure that you dont overload the circuit is very important; you will also need to make sure that the switch or dimmer is rated for the proper current draw of the fixture.

The next thing you need to look at is the weight of the new fixture, the box you are attaching it to has to be rated for the weight of the new fixture. Different electrical boxes have different ratings as far as the weight that can hang from them. This will only come into play with larger fixtures or ceiling fans. A ceiling fan must be hung from a box that is rated for a ceiling fan. If you are installing a heavy fixture or a ceiling fan you will most likely need to change the box also.

The National Electrical Code allows you to hang up to 50 lbs. from any electrical box that is threaded to accept No. 8-32 machine screws. Make sure your electrical box is securely fastened before you hang a new light fixture from it. If your light fixture weighs more than 50 lbs or is a ceiling fan, you will need to install a fan brace box. Check the label to make sure the box is designed to support the weight of your fixture.

Considering these aspects in advance will help you be better prepared for the project before you purchase the fixture. It will also keep you safe and compliant with the National Electrical Code.

John has been in the electrical industry for over 20 years and is currently running wireityourself.com an online do it yourself home wiring site.

2 X 4 Wall Built On Top

Is Molybdenum Another Way to Ride the energy Bull?

Earlier this month, a reporter from Business Edge (Ontario edition) was pondering investment advice he might receive over a fantasy lunch with different financial gurus, such as Warren Buffet, Jim Dines and Eric Sprott. He said of Eric Sprott, You'd be hard pressed to find a savvier market player than Canadian money manager Eric Sprott - anywhere. Because the reporter was appraising the dollar value of an auctioned charity lunch with an investment guru, he embellished upon his witticism, This lunch could be worth a mint if Sprott were to let you in on the next big thing. In recent years, the CEO of Toronto-based Sprott Asset Management has been consistently ahead of the street.

And what might this secret tip be? Perhaps molybdenum could become the next big thing. We talked with Maria Smirnova, a Sprott Asset Management Research Associate, who spoke positively of the metal, I think the key to the molybdenum story is its wide-reaching applicability, especially in the energy sector. She added, This specialty metal is used in oil and natural gas pipelines, hydrocarbon desulphurization, oil drill rigs, pollution control equipment and nuclear energy applications. energy bulls, perhaps even the Sprott team which has bet heavily on the energy sector and invested in two molybdenum juniors, believe the world will need more moly during this commodities boom.

Its not sexy or glamorous, Raymond James (Canada) uranium analyst Bart Jaworski told us during a telephone chat a few months ago, and besides its dominated by the Chinese. Well yes, that is true, but isnt the uranium price also being driven higher by Chinese stockpiling? Another drawback for the metal, as Maria Smirnova, pointed out during a recent phone conversation, is that many cant even pronounce molybdenum. So, they call it moly for short, as if this specialty metal belonged in the lyrics of Little Richard (Good Golly, Miss Molly).

According to the International Molybdenum Associations (IMOA), nearly 80 percent of the moly demand comes about for the manufacturing of tools, high speed steel, stainless steel and low alloy steel. Since World War I, moly has become a lower cost replacement for tungsten in hard and impact-resistant steels. It was first used as an alloying element in the production of armor plate.

Molybdenum commodity specialist Michael J. Magyar describes molybdenums properties and uses in the United States Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, Molybdenum is a refractory metallic element used principally as an alloying agent in cast iron, steel, and super alloys to enhance hardenability, strength, toughness, and wear- and corrosion-resistance. To achieve desired metallurgical properties, molybdenum is frequently used in combination with or added to chromium, columbium, manganese, nickel, tungsten or other alloy metals.

Exploration for new sources of oil has led to the development of deep drilling The very deep reservoirs are often contaminated with corrosive sulphides, brines and carbon dioxide. Moly is the most sulphide stress cracking resistance low alloy steel available for use in sour wells. As service conditions deteriorate, oil companies are turning to higher molybdenum stainless steels (with 13 - 16 percent moly content) to manage the unfavorable elements at those depths.

Sixty percent of molybdenum consumption is used for stainless steels, super alloys or lower alloy steel. An example is a popular form of stainless steel called S31600 (Type 316), containing three to four percent Moly). This type of stainless steel was used to clad the exterior of tallest building in the world the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Londons Canary Wharf and in many other architectural applications in marine coastal environments.

According to the IMOA, The most corrosion resistant stainless steels contain 6 to 7.3 percent molybdenum. These grades are used for power plant condensers, offshore piping, and critical components in nuclear power plants such as service water piping. In 1996, 6 percent moly stainless steels were selected for the absorber towers of more than twenty flue gas desulphurization scrubbers being installed in coal-burning power plants in South Korea.

Molybdenum-based catalysts are growing. The oil industry has been using moly to remove sulphur from the compounds usually found in crude oil. As petroleum production turns to higher sulphur crude oil, they will require more molybdenum-based catalysts. Others plan to use moly in liquefying coal. True, this consumption remains early days. But, in early February, China Oil News reported China plans to spend $15 billion to build coal liquefaction plants in that country. China hopes to draw from its enormous coal deposits for conversion into oil products, using molybdenum-based catalysts.

COPYRIGHT 2007 by StockInterview, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

James Finch contributes to StockInterview.com and other publications. StockInterviews Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market has become the most popular book ever published for uranium mining stock investors. Visit http://www.stockinterview.com

Plumbing Waste Pipes In Wall

Underground House Floor Plan - The Hippie Experiment

If you happened across a home built from an underground house floor plan you could be forgiven for thinking the owners might be Hobbits because the only things visible might be a door or window set into a foliage covered hill. This type of home is actually a series of small, interconnecting domes made from cement and partially or completely submerged into the earth.

Such unconventional house floor plans are actually a step in the right direction for those persons thinking outside the box in terms of energy conservation and environmental benefits. Living underground in such earth-sheltered housing has its merits and takes a very conservative view in energy usage.

When considering an underground house floor plan, look for the following applications:

1. The house floor plan should blur the distinction between indoors and outdoors. The purpose is to exist in close harmony with nature.

2. The windows should be honeycomb style to harness solar energy.

3. Since the windows for this type of floor plan don't open, an intake vent system with filters should be installed to draw fresh air from outside. The filters help keep out unwanted pests.

4. Air should be fanned from a solar collector through the home duct work into a rock store beneath the main living space. The store system maintains an efficient heat-exchange which works with the insulating soil to maintain a comfortable temperature year round. A good system would require no additional heating or cooling.

The dome shaped rooms give rise to maximum floor space and minimum wall area. Floor areas do not to conform to traditional housing expectations and and the living spaces are defined with curved walls with no sharp corners. Natural sunlight can be channeled into the house via the use of a skylight lined with natural reflective materials

Underground house floor plans got their start in the 1970s from an Austrian architect named Eisenhofer. Sadly, most dismissed his energy efficient and unconventional house plans as nothing more than a hippie experiment. It has only been within the past few years that interest in earth-sheltered housing is attracting some interest. As people become more environmentally conscious, the popularity of underground house floor plans as an energy efficient alternative can only increase.

Get fantastic ideas for your new house! House floor plans come in all shapes and sizes. Find the right house floor plan for your family today!

Home Remodeling

Making A Homemade Air-Conditioner

Here's a cheap and simple way to build an air-conditioning unit using simple household items. To build the unit, the items and materials you will need are:

Fan
Wood (pieces of 2x4)
Metal container (such as a garbage can, approximately 15 inch tall by 13 inch diameter)
Circular saw
Nails and a hammer
Aluminum metal repair roll, thin sheet (18 inch x 5 ft, available as a standard size at a hardware store)

The fan I used is roughly 8 inches in diameter. This diameter will roughly dictate the size of the opening for the duct (but fan size is not critical). This opening will be made out of pieces of 2x4.

If you would like to see pictures of the homemade air conditioner with explanation included, then feel free to visit my website. The link is at the bottom.

Using the circular saw (making sure to wear eye and ear protection and following safe operating procedure) cut pieces of 2x4 and nail them together to make an 18 inch x 8 inch frame (the external height is 18 inches, and the opening is 8 inches wide). The aluminum roll will attach to this frame, to form a spiral duct.

To form the spiral duct align the outermost end of the aluminum roll with one of the 18 inch sides of the 18x8 inch frame, such that the inside surface of the roll touches the side of the frame. Adjust the alignment so that the edges of the roll and frame are flush, and then nail them together. Now, align the other end of the roll to the other side of the frame, such that the outside surface of the roll touches the side of the frame. Once again, make sure the edges are flush and nail them together. You should now have a spiral shaped duct.

Next, put the metal container inside the spiral duct, adjusting its position and that of the opening so that the air blows roughly tangentially past the container on its way in, and with ample room to exit. Now, fill the container with cold water and put a lot of ice in it. The temperature of the water should drop to a few degrees above freezing. The outside of the container will quickly become cool, since metal is an excellent conductor of heat.

Lastly, place the fan in front of the opening, and put a sheet or whatever you have (which serves as a lid) on top of the duct, leaving a small opening for the air to blow out of, after making its way around the duct. You may also want to seal part of the opening above the fan with an old newspaper so that theres no unnecessary gap above the fan where air can escape before being cooled. This is a crude design for sure, but it allows for easy fine-tuning, before making something more permanent.

Now, turn the fan on and the air coming out should be cooler. For my own unit I measured the exiting air as 2-3 degrees Celsius cooler than the air going in (I used a digital kitchen thermometer to measure). The ice in the container should last a few hours, and when youre done you can dump the water down the drain.

The advantage of this design is that you are utilizing the entire surface area of the metal container to cool the air.

The dimensions and sizes I used work together nicely. But of course, many variations are possible.

Some tips:

You can put salt (NaCl) into the container along with the ice. Due to the endothermic reaction between salt and water, you will get a further lowering of temperature. It may be a useful experiment, to see how much salt to add to get a target drop in temperature.
Setting fan speed on low rather than high may result in cooler air coming out since the air stays in contact with the cold container longer.
Well-placed fins inside the duct may help to improve the flow and mixing time, thus improving the amount of cooling. This would be a good project for future work.
In winter you can make blocks of ice outside, and store them in your freezer for when you need them in the summer. I figure that to hold you over on those really hot days you need around 30 ice blocks, each 4x4x8 inches, and one block for each sitting. Remember, this is free ice and you wont be loading your freezer.

Vittorio Norman explains how to make a homemade air conditioner, on his website at http://assortedtips.blogspot.com/2007/08/making-homemade-air-conditioner.html

2007 Vittorio Norman

House Remodeling Ideas

Drain Jetting Equipment

Drain jetting equipment is a plumbing equipment that is used in the Drain jetting. Also termed as Jet Vacuumation, drain jetting is a process of using high pressure water jetting to bring a sewer or drain line back to like-new condition without having to actually replace the line.

Using Drain jetting equipment , the process of Jet Vacuumation becomes very cost-effective. What is more, with these sorts of equipments the task becomes very easy. The Jet Vacuumation becomes a nearly effortless task- especially for cleaning drains that are heavily used, even for grease.

Most people do not give a thought to their drainage, until they start to suffer problems that is. At some point all drains need to be cleaned. If you have ever had to deal with a drain or even residential septic tank, you must have all the knowledge regarding the blockages and back-ups. There are many things that can cause a sewer or drain to back up, such as soap scum residue, grease, hair, food, mineral deposits and more. These are the things that eventually will at some time pass through eventually causing blockages.

Sometimes a simple unblocking could do but after masses of build-up and too frequent blockages, perhaps a good sewer jetting with Drain jetting equipment would be a more effective method. What is more, the effect will also last plenty longer. You can find a wide variety of such equipments in the market. However, before you purchase the one, you must make sure that the same will cater all your plumbing or say jetting needs.

William Samson has written many more articles about kitchen and bathroom plumbing.

Home Repair Help

Repairs, Improvements, Upgrades and Resale

Many people make improvements or modifications to their homes. Some are made to increase the livability of the house, other are made to increase its value. Still others are made to put the house back into working order.

First, I think that improvement needs to be defined. There are a lot of things one can do that "improve" one's home, however many of these items are not really improvements. A good example is replacing the HVAC system. Even when it is replaced with a newer, better, more efficient system, that isn't really considered an improvement. The same would be said of a new roof, windows, or even appliances. I know that appliances are throwing a lot of folks. Those would be considered repairs, or possibly upgrades. However, they are required systems, and their functionality isn't changing. The line between repair and upgrade may be a fine (and fuzzy) line, but generally upgrading would be putting something in that is a little "better" than the neighborhood average. An example would be putting on a "50 Year" roof shingle when most of the other homes in the area are using a 30 year material. The same would be true of a higher quality window or HVAC system. Generally, this type of work maintains the value of the property. It won't really increase it, but if the systems aren't up to at least area norms, the value will be negatively affected. The upgrades may give a little value bump, but their main value will be that they often speed the sale of the property.

The next fuzzy line would be updating. Taking an old kitchen or bath, and putting in new fixtures would be a great example of updating. Keep in mind that updating usually wouldn't involve tearing out the cabinetry or dropping walls and reconfiguring the house. Updating is usually considered improvement, and will increase the value, and possibly decrease the time on the market.

Finally, the real meat of improvement is renovation. This should be reserved to properties that are getting extensive work. I see "renovated" properties all of the time that are minimally updated, but retain outmoded cabinets and other items. These really aren't renovated, and the money that was spent to do something halfway may have been largely wasted. A great example would be throwing some entry level stainless steel appliances in to the kitchen, and then painting the 30 year old cabinets with wall paint, and maybe dropping a new laminate countertop in as well. That might be OK in a lower priced neighborhood where that is the norm, but doing that in an area where the other homes sport granite counters and high end cabinets around expensive appliances is a bad recipe. In this example, the seller might have spent $8,000 on the "mini-renovation," but to bring it up to the neighborhood norms would cost a buyer $20,000. The buyer will be looking to buy the house at a price low enough to allow them to spend that $20k... that means that the seller may not even be able to recoup the $8k they spent.

The flip side of this would be spending $20,000 to redo the master bath in a $200,000 home. Unless the room was trashed, and it needed major infrastructure, the seller is not going to see that money again. Even if it was, the seller can kiss most of that money good-bye.

If one is doing a kitchen gutting remodel, they should expect to spend around 10% of the value of the house on the kitchen, or a little more. This would be the cabinetry, appliances and countertop, including labor. Bathrooms are tougher to gauge, but I would say that one should expect to spend a similar amount to a bit more for all of the bathrooms combined. However, seeing the master suites and the more extravagant bathrooms that many newer and higher end homes may have, that could be off.

Other rooms in the house are just up in the air. They are easier for the buyer to change to suit their needs, and usually only need to be painted or have the floor refinished or re carpeted at most, if the basic size is there. Small rooms are difficult to fix.

Don't forget the landscaping. From the curb, the house needs to be inviting and neat. It also shouldn't look like it needs a full-time gardener to keep up. Most buyers want the look of a finely designed yard... and to only have to spend 30 minutes a week keeping it up.

The bottom line is that to properly improve a home for resale, one needs to have an overall plan. Appropriate levels of trim need to be used, as pinching the wrong pennies can be very damaging to resale. Finally, I always tell people that they should not wait until sale time to repair/renovate/upgrade/update their home. That way, they will have the opportunity to enjoy the newer, more pleasant environment.

Lane Bailey is an Atlanta area REALTOR, auto enthusiast, 4x4 builder and former sports car racer. He specializes in properties for other enthusiasts. Lane is also a husband and father. Lastly, he is a guy that enjoys tools, technology and working with his hands.

Lane is a member of the DeKalb Association of REALTORS, Georgia Association of REALTORS and National Association of REALTORS. He is also a member of the Century 21 Network Realty group in Tucker, GA. He is also the Chairman of the REALTOR Political Action Committee, and President of his 4 wheel drive club. He recently ran a committee that staged a blood drive with the off-road community.

If you are interested in Real Estate investment, Lane is a great resource. As an entrepreneur, and investor, he understands the language and priorities of investing in property. Whether you are looking for properties to flip or hold as rental assets, he can find the properties that meet your criteria.

Lane can be contacted through http://www.LaneBailey.com

34 Inch Plywood

Why Metal Roofing Is The New King Of Roofing Materials

AESTHETICS
Metal roofing has the most aesthetic variety of any roofing material and can come in almost any color and be stamped in a variety of shapes and designs such as cedar shakes, tile shingles and other traditional styles.

50 YEAR WARRANTY
Many metal roofing manufacturers provide a 50 year or lifetime warranty on their products. Metal roofs have lifespans of 2 - 3 times longer than traditional asphalt roofs and are virtually indestructible. A longer lifetime can actually save you money over having to replace an asphalt roof 2 or 3 times in the same period of time.

WINDSTORM PROTECTION
Many metal roofs are guaranteed to withstand winds of 120 miles per hour, and are a perfect roofing solution for coastal areas and other areas susceptible to windstorms and hurricanes. Almost 80% of all metal roofing installations are homeowners having to replace a damaged roof and are upgrading to a stronger roofing systems.

HAILSTORM PROTECTION
Metal roofing is also very durable against hailstorms and other severe forms of weather. Many metal roofing manufacturers have earned Class-4 hail-resistive ratings which is the highest hailstorm rating a roofing product can receive.

ENERGY EFFICIENT
Metal roofs are energy efficient because most are coated with special reflective paints that reduce the temperature of the roof.

COOLS YOUR HOUSE IN SUMMER
In addition, most metal roofing installations have an air channel below them which allows natural ventilation to further dissipate heat and to prevent direct radiation of the heat into the housing structure.

FREE TAX CREDIT
Many metal roofing products will qualify for a $500 energy tax credit which you can claim with the IRS.

EARTH FRIENDLY
Aluminum metal roofing is often made from recycled aluminum cans and is considered a recycled product and can help reduce our impact on the earths natural resources.

LIGHTWEIGHT
Metal roofing is one of the lightest roofing materials available in the marketplace and usually do not require roof brace and rafter reinforcing like tile and concrete roofs. In earthquake zones sleeping under a lighter roofing system can give you greater peace of mind.

MAINTENANCE FREE
Metal roofing is virtually maintenance free. There is really nothing you have to do to maintain this roof.

FIRE RESISTIVE
Metal roofing is considered to be a fire retardant material and can help lessen the chance of fires spreading when burning embers land on the roofing surface. Several home insurance companies will give a premium discount to homeowners that have a class-4 rated metal roof as it reduces your risk of fire, wind and hail damage.

[ -- ARTICLE USE POLICY -- You are permitted to freely copy and use this article on your website, RSS, or e-zine ONLY IF the article text is not changed or altered in any way and the hyperlinks inside the article are active and working. Sites found violating this reprint condition will be subject to legal action for copyright infringement. When using this article you may remove this legal notice -- ]

S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, contributor, and editor of the Steel Metal Roofing information portal which reports on the latest metal roofing construction news and developments in the steel and metal roofing industry.

Fire Escape

Chocolate The Answer To Hydrogen Fuel Supplies?

Many people look to hydrogen fuel cells as the answer to our energy issues. The only problem, of course, is creating usable hydrogen. Chocolate production may be the answer.

Mention hydrogen as a fuel source and politicians, scientists and techies get that glassed over look in their eyes. Simply put, hydrogen is a perfect fuel. It can be combined with oxygen to produce electricity. Hydrogen is the most comment element on our planet. When used as an energy source, it produces no greenhouse gases or other pollutants. Sounds great, right?

There is just one problem with the idea of using hydrogen as the solution to all of our energy problems. While hydrogen is the most common element on our planet, it is rarely found in a usable form. Instead, hydrogen tends to cling to other elements such as oxygen, which gives us H2O water. The power required to separate hydrogen from these other elements is shockingly large.

In the United States, Honda has a number of hydrogen vehicles it is testing on the road via some families. The cars work well. Powering them, however, is the problem. The families must take the cars to a specific station at a Honda facility. There, they will find a few hundred feet of solar panels and a hydrogen tank. It takes the system roughly two to three weeks to create enough usable hydrogen for one full tank for the car. Given the fact there are millions of cars on the road, you can see the problem. Yes, there are more efficient methods for conversion than solar power, but nothing remotely efficient enough to create enough usable hydrogen.

In a humorous turn, scientists in the UK have discovered that hydrogen can be produced from the wastes of creating confectionaries such as chocolate. The waste is treated with e coli bacteria. Yes, that e coli. The bacteria then process the food material and produces gas. Guess what kind of gas is produced? Yes, hydrogen.

Could it be that chocolate will play a fundamental role in a hydrogen fuel future? Could we really be that lucky?

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com - visit us for more information on renewable energy.

Stair Drywall Spacer

Successful Implementation of the Biodiesel Process in Localities Nationwide

The biodiesel movement is taking the country by the reigns, from east to west and north to south. Its bigger than just individuals taking advantage of the myriad rewards of the biodiesel process. Companies, townships, cities, counties, even states are joining the bandwagon. Below youll find just a smattering of some of the localities discovering the joys of biodiesel equipment.

Arizona: Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems has made the switch to the biodiesel process, acquiring over 7,000 gallons of a B20 mixture to be used in 150 vehicles, such as generators and forklifts.

Iowa: The Cedar Rapids transit authority, Five Seasons Transportation and Parking (FST&P) fuels a fleet of over 60 buses with the biodiesel process, with B10 fueling 45 buses and 10 para-transit vehicles as well as the minibus driven by the operation supervisor. Thanks to the biodiesel process, the buses can run 300,000 to 400,000 miles inbetween each engine overhaul.

Kentucky: Golf course equipment in Lake Barkley State Resort Park runs on biodiesel, as do the Cadiz parks mowers, tractors, and backhoes.

Maine: World famous retailer L.L. Bean was Maines first major business to try out test-marketing the biodiesel process. The Freeport-based seller of fine furnishings, sporting gear. and apparel tried out the biodiesel process in 3 tractor rigs used to shuttle trailers from one warehouse to another. Making biodiesel equipment a permanent part of their infrastructure, the company boasts, installed at one of their warehouses, an 800-gallon, skid-mounted tank and biodiesel fuel dispenser.

Maryland: The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, demonstrate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of the biodiesel process in large-scale use with three biodiesel fuel dispensers serving 150 vehicles, including buses, trucks, mowers, tractors, and other farm equipment with a B20 mixture. The project also serves to help clean the air in neighboring Washington, D.C.

Michigan: Michigans St. Johns Public Schools school district has learned the benefits of the biodiesel process firsthand, having switched all 31 of their school buses and 9 support vehicles (ie. food service truck, 3-wing mower, tractor, pickup trucks) to B20 in doing so saving over $1800 in their first year alone.

Nevada: 1,100 school buses in a Las Vegas school district run on biodiesel process from waste vegetable oil donated by local casinos and hotels. The Clark County project consumed over 1.5 million gallons of B20 biodiesel in the first year, closer to 3 million in its second.

New Hampshire: The first winter resort on the East Coast to convert to the biodiesel process, New Hampshires Cranmore Mountain Resort has vowed to fuel all of its snow groomers with the same B20 mixture. Thats a 5,000 gallon-per-month commitment to the biodiesel process.

New Jersey: Thanks to a $115,000 grant from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, energy Division, half of the school buses in the Medford Township are now powered by the biodiesel process. The district fills the tanks of 16 buses and a dump truck with a B20 mixture.

South Carolina: The campus shuttles at the University of South Carolina carry their students around with the aid of a B20 biodiesel mixture, proving that theres more than one way for the biodiesel process to infiltrate higher education.

Tennessee: The Eastman Chemical Company is now running on a B20 mixture in around 200 diesel vehicles (including bulldozers, backhoes, dump trucks, cranes, and tractor trailers) and around 150 pieces of stationary equipment (like air compressors, water pumps, welders, and generators).

Utah: All diesel equipment at the Salt Lake City International Airport, a major western hub with no less than 12 airlines running 335 scheduled flights daily out of it, and serving 20 million passengers per year, is now biodiesel equipment, and has been since 2001. This means if youve traveled through the Salt Lake Airport, you may have already unwittingly experienced some of the many benefits of the biodiesel process.

The future of every human being is made better thanks to the groundswell in biodiesel equipment and biodiesel vehicles. With only 1/4 the carbon emissions and the promise of freedom from the seemingly never-ending rise in gas and crude oil prices, the biodiesel process is no doubt here to stay and only destined to keep catching on.

Biodisel is clean, renewable, cheap and becoming popular. The best part is that it's very easy to make it at home. Visit our biodiesel making section for how to information.

Wood Baluster Spacing Problem

Avoid Accident On Your Steps- Lighten Them With Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor step lighting is one of the appropriate measures for protection in climbing up and down the stairs and it illuminates the stairs by which you may avoid falling during night. However, this may limit the possible injuries from falling of stairs and most often when guests or visitors come across if they get injured they might sue you for not providing any safety measures on stairs.

A whole lot of different colored, sized, shaped and decorative lights are available and its up to you to decide where you want to install outdoor step lighting, whether into the risers of stairway or on adjacent walls. At night outdoor step lighting will allow added protection for climbing of stairs to avoid falling. The bulbs used for the stairway lighting should not be that bright which may glare and seem unpleasant to the eyes, but low volt bulbs are adequate for appropriate visibility on stairs.

Outdoor step lighting is useful for courtyard, verandas, and also essential for front pavements where the stairs stretches towards the covered entrance or flush mounted steps. By installing other types of lighting, you might get complaints from neighbors but low volt outdoor step lighting will be beneficial for you and pose no problems to your neighbors.

Stepping Safely on Illuminated Path

House constructed by using steel and stairs being made up of ply or block, this might create trouble in visibility of steps even during day time while short steel is finished accordingly which can be somewhat visible during night. This problem can be solved by turning the on and off button incase of use and not in use situation. Here you can also install in-built automated switch where you do not need to regularly turn on and off the switch. This also saves electricity as well as reduces the electricity bills.

If the stairway is awkward and you find difficult to integrate electrical panels in supplying power to step lighting, then it is advisable to use solar equipped lighting. You do not require to built or stretch electrical wires but there is an in-built rechargeable battery which gets charged from the solar power. It charges for whole day and what ever energy stored in the cells will provide light in dark. It can be easily installed by yourself with the available guiding kits in the market, while you always need professional carpenters for electric fittings; this might further increases the cost of installations.

Installation of sideways lighting is also useful as it has height between 10 to 20 inches which is suitable for clear visibility of the outdoor step lighting.

You can also find more info on Outdoor Low Voltage Lighting and Outdoor Solar Landscape Lighting. Outdoorlightinghelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Outdoor Lighting.

Stairgaugeriserlayout

The Benefits of Electric Snow Blowers

Electric snow blowers are just the thing to buy if you live in a region that never gets more than 6 to 10 inches per snowfall.

Electric snow blowers dont rely on gasoline for power. Rather, they utilize a 6- to 12-amp cord, which you can plug into a regular wall outlet up to 150 feet away. Theyre highly maneuverable in tight spaces, but you must always be aware of the cord because accidentally slicing through it can be a safety hazard. As with all snow blowers, it is recommended that only adults use them.

All electric snow blowers are single-stage units. This means there is only one auger for both scooping and throwing snow. The auger is a spindle with two or more curved blades or paddles spanning the width of the snow blower, rolling above and parallel to the ground. The high-speed auger of a single-stage machine eats snow and sends it flying up and out of the chute or vane.

Larger electric snow blowers have a chute that you can rotate in any direction up to a 190a sweep. Smaller units tend to have a stationary vane that guides the snow out of one side of the machine.

Electric snow blowers usually throw snow 20 to 30 feet away. They can clear paths 12 to 20 inches wide, and move 200 to 900 pounds of snow per minute. All of these models feature an electric start rather than a recoil start, so there are never any cords to pull. All this power comes in a package that is easy to store, sometimes weighing as little as 10 pounds and rarely more than 25 pounds V light enough so you can pick it up and chip away at some of the deeper snow banks. And because electric can be just as durable as gas power, many electric units come with 2-year warranties.

If you need to move more than 6 to 10 inches of snow, or you have more than an acre of surface to uncover, or your driveway is made of gravel, then an electric snow blower wont get you very far. If this is the case, its better to invest in a gas-powered unit. A single-stage gas-powered unit is the next step up -- great for flat surfaces and mild to medium snowfalls at any distance from the building. For larger jobs and uneven terrain, go with the big guns: A dual-stage machine.

Snow Blowers Info provides detailed information about electric and truck-mounted snow blowers, snow blower parts, and reviews of best snow blowers. Snow Blowers Info is affiliated with Original Content Web.

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