All Home & Living Stories
Part 5 of Mold: Enemy of a Healthy Home. The following table provides selected links with additional information on mold and mold contamination issues in homes. Sponsoring Organization/Topic Internet
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Part 4 of Mold: Enemy of a Healthy Home. Guidelines for Mitigation and Personal Protection Common intervention methods reported in the literature for residential mitigation of mold hazards include:
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Part 3 of Mold: Enemy of a Healthy Home. In general, visual observation of active or past microbial growth, or measurement of mold in dust or samples of source
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Part 2 of Mold: Enemy of a Healthy Home. Environmental and Housing Factors Affecting Mold Growth In indoor environments, mold originates from two sources: mold infiltrating from outdoors (e.g.,
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Part 1 of Mold: Enemy of a Healthy Home. There are over 200 species of fungi to which people are routinely exposed indoors and outdoors. These include mold-like fungi,
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Part 2 of Financial assistance for home repair and retrofitting. Help from Other Federal Agencies Several Federal agencies offer disaster assistance to communities and citizens. For a complete list
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Part 1 of Financial assistance for home repair and retrofitting. FEMA and other Federal agencies have an array of financial assistance programs that assist States, communities, and individual property
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Part 2 of Advantages of LED Lighting. Directional Light Emission Traditional light sources emit radiant energy in all directions. As such, an optical system—a lamp housing or a luminaire,
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Part 1 of Advantages of LED Lighting. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are often touted for their energy efficiency and long life. Although these are important considerations, selecting a light source
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High Efficiency Water Heaters Provide Hot Water for Less Heating water accounts for approximately 15% of a home’s energy use. High efficiency water heaters use 10 to 50% less
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Being an energy-smart consumer means getting the most from the energy you use: Lower your thermostat in winter and bump it up in summer before you go to sleep
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Part 3 of Floodplain Construction Regulations. To provide communities with the information they need to enact and enforce floodplain management ordinances or laws, FEMA conducts floodplain studies for communities
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Part 2 of Floodplain Construction Regulations. The NFIP Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum
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Part 1 of Floodplain Construction Regulations. In most communities throughout the United States, construction in floodplains is governed by combinations of Federal, State, and local regulations. At the Federal
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Part 6 of How Can A Flood Damage Your Home. Floodwaters can pick up and carry objects of all types – from small to large, from light to heavy
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Part 5 of How Can A Flood Damage Your Home. Rates of Rise and Fall You may not have heard these terms before, but they describe important characteristics of
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Part 4 of How Can A Flood Damage Your Home. You may have been told that your home is in “the 100-year” floodplain, or you may have heard that
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Part 3 of How Can A Flood Damage Your Home. Flow velocity is the speed at which floodwaters move. It is usually measured in feet per second (fps). Flow
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Part 2 of How Can A Flood Damage Your Home. The depth and elevation of flooding are so closely related that, for the purposes of this discussion, they can
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Part 1 of How Can A Flood Damage Your Home. To understand how flooding can damage your home, you need to know about six important flood characteristics: depth/elevation, flow
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Use these Easy and inexpensive solutions for business or home to stay cool and comfortable without stressing your pocket book.
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The easiest way to size your solar electric system is to have a vendor come to your home and perform a site analysis and load assessment. Solar electric vendors
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Part 3 of Weatherize Your Home. Selection Weatherstripping can seal leaks around movable joints, such as windows or doors. You need to choose a type of weatherstrip-ping that will
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Part 2 of Weatherize Your Home. Selection You can use a caulking compound to seal leaks in a variety of places throughout your home, including around windows and door
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Part 1 of Weatherize Your Home. Warmed or air-conditioned air mixes with outside air through gaps in your home’s thermal envelope—exterior walls, windows, doors, the roof, and floors. Such
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Most of us are aware that windows provide us with natural light, ventilation, and a view. But windows still remain the least understood building design component, even though many
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A passive solar home is an exceptional home, differing from standard construction in the thermal integrity of its shell and its well-considered design. The design options, employing the principles
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Here are the five elements that constitute a complete passive solar design, using a direct gain design as an example. Each performs a separate function, but all five must
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Passive solar homes range from those heated almost entirely by the sun to those with south facing windows that provide some fraction of the heating load. The difference between
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Geothermal heat pumps are one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool a home and provide hot water. More and more homeowners are discovering the benefits of
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An architect can examine the energy performance of your house in terms of how each of the components—the insulation, windows, heating and cooling system, ventilation, and lighting— all work
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In an existing home, any renovation or window replacement project is an opportunity to improve your home’s energy performance. Most existing homes have poorly insulated, leaky windows that would
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Part 12 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. Heating and cooling uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically,
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Part 7 of Loose-Fill Insulation. Safety Guidelines Insulation blown into your ceiling cavities should cover the top plate of the wall, but be sure the eave vents are not
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Part 6 of Loose-Fill Insulation. Voids and Gaps To ensure a quality installation, there are several things to watch out for when installing loose-fill insulation—whether you do the job
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Part 5 of Loose-Fill Insulation. At the time this publication was written, the average loose-fill insulation cost per R-value per square foot was about 0.8 cents for cellulose and
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Part 4 of Loose-Fill Insulation. Upgrading or Repairing Other Building Components There are other home weatherizing and sealing measures to complete before you undertake any insulation project. Atight, well-sealed
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Part 3 of Loose-Fill Insulation. Insulation materials are compared on the basis of their R-values per unit of thickness, density per unit of volume, and weight per unit of
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Part 2 of Loose-Fill Insulation. Loose-fill insulations are well suited for places where it is difficult to install other types of insulation, such as irregularly shaped areas, around obstructions
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Part 1 of Loose-Fill Insulation. Whether you are increasing the insulation levels in your current home or selecting insulation for a new home, choosing the right insulation material can
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Part 4 of Sunspaces. Glazing Glazing is clear or translucent materials that allow sunlight to penetrate and warm the room. Glass is the most common glazing material, and many
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Part 3 of Sunspaces. Passive solar systems structures are conceptually simple. However sunspace designers and builders must pay close attention to details to ensure maximum performance and reliability of
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Part 2 of Sunspaces. Sunspaces serve three main functions: they are a source of auxiliary heat, they provide space to grow plants and have fun living areas. The design
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Part 1 of Sunspaces. Everyone living in a home with a sunroom or sunspace will tell you that it is the most comfortable room in the house. Many times
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Part 7 of Landscaping for Energy Efficiency. Many suburban and urban land need loosening before you plant. If the soil is compressed until it an area of at least
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Part 6 of Landscaping for Energy Efficiency. Trees and shrubs come in all shapes and sizes. How you select your trees and shrubs and how to plant them will
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Part 5 of Landscaping for Energy Efficiency. Before you start landscaping, you must first develop a plan. The components of your plan could include deciduous trees and plants, coniferous
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Part 4 of Landscaping for Energy Efficiency. A well-informed and well-designed home admits low-angle winter sun, rejects overhead summer sun, and minimizes the cooling effect of winter winds. If
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Part 3 of Landscaping for Energy Efficiency. The United States can be divided into four approximate climatic regions: temperate, hot-arid, hot-wet and cool. The average energy to keep the
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Part 2 of Landscaping for Energy Efficiency. Widespread tree planting and climate-appropriate landscaping offer substantial environmental benefits. Trees and vegetation control erosion, protect water supplies, provide food, create habitat
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Part 1 of Landscaping for Energy Efficiency. Are you looking for cost-effective yet eye-pleasing ways to lower your energy bills? Planting trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and hedges could be
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Part 2 of Ceilings and Attics. Knee walls are vertical walls with attic space directly behind them. They are often found in houses with finished attics and dormer windows,
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Part 1 of Ceilings and Attics. Cathedral ceilings must provide space between the roof deck and ceiling for adequate insulation and ventilation. For most areas of the U.S., the
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Loose-fill or batt insulation is typically installed in an attic. Although installation costs may vary, blowing loose-fill attic insulation—fiberglass, rock wool, or cellulose—is usually less expensive than installing batts
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One problem area in many roof designs occurs at the eave, where there is often insufficient space for full insulation without blocking air flow from the soffit vents. Often
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Most building codes require roof vents to expel moisture that could cause insulation or other building materials to deteriorate during winter. In summer, ventilation may reduce roof temperatures, thus
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Insulating ceilings is one of the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures. In addition to reducing heat loss in the winter and heat gains in the summer, ceiling insulation improves
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Air from hot attics can leak into the home around registers of the duct system. Air in the ducts can leak out through holes and seams. An enormous waste
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An air conditioner’s filters, coils, and fins require regular maintenance for the unit to function effectively and efficiently throughout its years of service. Neglecting necessary maintenance ensures a steady
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An evaporative cooler (also called a “swamp cooler”) is a completely different type of air conditioner that works well in hot, dry climates. These units cool outdoor air by
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Older air conditioners may still be able to offer years of relatively efficient use. However, making your older air conditioner last requires you to perform proper operation and maintenance.
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The basic types of air conditioners are room air conditioners, central air conditioners split-system, central air conditioners and packaged. Room air conditioners are installed directly in the windows or walls,
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The fluid that collects heat at the evaporator and releases it at the condenser is called refrigerant. Apump, called the compressor, forces the refrigerant through the circuit of tubing
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Are you considering buying a new air conditioner? Or, are you dissatisfied with the operation of your current air condi- tioner? Are you unsure whether to fix or replace
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Part 5 of Energy-Efficient Water Heating. Note: Installation is more difficult on gas- and oil-fired heaters. Ask your local furnace installer for instructions. 1. Cut the tank top insulation
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Part 4 of Energy-Efficient Water Heating. Most consumers use more hot water in the evenings and mornings than at other times of the day. For those who have an
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Part 3 of Energy-Efficient Water Heating. Reducing hot-water usage is primarily a matter of common sense and exerting a little extra effort to not be wasteful. Once you have
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Part 2 of Energy-Efficient Water Heating. Generally, four destination points in the home are recognized as end uses for hot water: faucets, showers, dishwashers, and washing machines. Now, you
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Part 1 of Energy-Efficient Water Heating. The next time you pay your utility bill, try one simple calculation. Divide the total amount by seven. The result is the amount
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Part 4 of Energy-Efficient Windows. Movable insulation, such as insulating shades, shutters, and drapes, can be applied on the inside of windows to reduce heat loss in the winter
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Part 3 of Energy-Efficient Windows. Manufacturers usually represent the energy efficiency of windows in terms of their U-values (conductance of heat) or their R-values (resistance to heat flow). If a
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Part 2 of Energy-Efficient Windows. When air leaks around windows, energy is wasted. Energy is also transferred through the centers, edges, and frames of windows. Eliminating or reducing these
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Part 1 of Energy-Efficient Windows. Windows bring light, warmth, and beauty into buildings and give a feeling of openness and space to living areas. They can also be major
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Part 3 of Advances in Glazing Materials for Windows. “Superwindows” now coming on the market can attain high thermal resistance by combining multiple low-e coatings; low-conductance gas fills; barriers
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Part 2 of Advances in Glazing Materials for Windows. Manufacturers usually represent the energy efficiency of windows in terms of their U-values (conductance of heat) or their R-values (resistance
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Part 1 of Advances in Glazing Materials for Windows. Until recently, clear glass was the primary glazing material used in windows. Although glass is durable and allows a high
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Part 7 of Cooling Your Home Naturally with Fans and Ventilation. Remember the following if you plan to cool your home with ventilation: Learn how air flows naturally through
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Part 5 of Cooling Your Home Naturally with Fans and Ventilation. A whole-house fan can substitute for an air conditioner most of the year in most climates. Whole-house fans
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Part 4 of Cooling Your Home Naturally with Fans and Ventilation. Window fans are best used in windows facing the prevailing wind or away from it to provide cross-ventilation.
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Part 7 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Using any or all of these strategies will help keep you cool. Even if you use air conditioning, many of these strategies,
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Part 6 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Often-overlooked sources of interior heat gain are lights and household appliances, such as ovens, dishwashers, and dryers. Because most of the energy
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Part 5 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Nothing feels better on a hot day than a cool breeze. Encouraging cool air to enter your house forces warm air out,
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Part 4 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Placement of vegetation is important when landscaping your home. The following are suggestions to help you gain the most from vegetation. Plant
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Part 3 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Two excellent methods to block heat are insulation and shading. Insulation helps keep your home comfortable and saves money on mechanical cooling
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Part 2 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Dull, dark-colored home exteriors absorb 70% to 90% of the radiant energy from the sun that strikes the home’s surfaces. Some of
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Part 1 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Keeping cool indoors when it is hot outdoors is a problem. The sun beating down on our homes causes indoor temperatures to
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