Well we finally have winter with snow! This makes some of us happy, and some of us who like warm weather. . . not so much. But it is cozy inside, and nice when you don’t need to go out. Have a cup of hot chocolate! I (Phyllis) have posted before about importance of not putting salt on your concrete. Why is this so important? It will ‘eat’ away at the surface, and over time this causes the surface to develop little chips that gradually become potholes in your driveway or sidewalk. The same precaution goes for fertilizer. There are a number of alternatives; here in Virginia you can wait a day or two and snow will melt! 😉 If you really must go out, used coffee grounds, sand or kitty litter (do NOT use clay based) are good options to put out after shoveling, and to keep from slipping on ice.
One thing you may not think about is that after driving your car on roads that are treated for winter weather, you drive your car into the driveway and the residue melts off of your car, causing damage to your concrete driveway. Try to find a day to wash the car, and also the driveway so that you can clear this residue away.
If you’re still concerned about getting rid of your ice here’s a homemade de-icer that’s also environmentally friendly! There are 3 ingredients for making this ice melt solution:
One quart of lukewarm water
Three drops of dish washing detergent – we recommend Dawn!
One ounce of rubbing alcohol
Just mix and pour into a spray container for easy application! And of course this is easily doubled.
There are also protective sealers that can be applied early in the fall to keep decorative concrete looking great AND protect from the winter elements. Salt is still not recommended but the right sealer applied correctly will help.
Be safe and enjoy the beauty of the season ~ it will be gone before we know it!
As a Junior at James Madison University studying Architectural Design, I’ve heard my share (and more!) about sustainable design and how our environment is worsening each year. But as a college-level architect, I know my sustainable designs and ideas won’t be front-page stories anytime soon because I am still learning and working for my degree. For now, I know that I want to make a difference in the world, even if I’m not an architect designing a sustainable future (yet).
I am not the only one aware of climate change, however. Almost everyone is aware that our environment is struggling, but are unsure of how to make a difference. Will our little ripple in the big pond make a wave?
Here are some things we can do to start a wave in 2019.
At home:
Turn off and unplug devices when not in use. Today’s technology often continues to use power even when turned off to turn on faster, keep clocks running, or save memory. This is called a “vampire load,” and though it sounds like an insignificant amount of energy, your televisions, phone chargers, bedside alarm clocks, and even coffee makers will “suck up” electricity and raise your energy usage. Use a power strip to connect your smaller electronic devices (TVs, chargers, gaming devices, etc.) and simply flip a switch to cut power, or unplug your device after each use.
Improve your lighting and replace your bulb type. Replacing your lightbulbs with CFL or LEDs can cut your energy usage by at least 5%. This may not seem like a lot, but for a large family or a large home, 5% OR MORE will definitely add up over time. Another way to reduce energy usage of lighting is to turn off lights when not in the room, or use a lamp rather than an overhead light. We’ve heard “Turn off the lights!” since we were children, but when we’re paying the bills, it sounds a lot more tempting!
Your attic’s insulation determines your home’s overall comfort. Insulation comes in a lot of different types, and it can be hard to tell if your home has the right kind of insulation, plus if it even has enough. Read our post here to find out how to prevent air leaks and keep your home cozy without using energy.
Get an energy audit to find out where your home is hurting. We perform energy audits on your home to identify things that you can change to reduce energy usage, increase safety, and enhance comfort to you and your family. Plus, if you live in Harrisonburg, the audit is completely free and provided by Charles Hendricks. Read this post to see what exactly we look for and what you can do.
Daily choices:
Reduce plastic consumption. Use reusable bags, eat out less, bring your travel mugs to the coffee shop, buy products with recyclable or less packaging, shop local… These are only a few choices you can make to leave less of a plastic trail behind you as you live.
Reconsider your car. This can mean many things… The least expensive option is to walk or carpool rather than take your car. But what if you were to change your car completely? How many MPG does your car get? Could it be better? Technology is advancing, and hybrid/electric cars are becoming much more affordable. The next time you’re in need of another car, consider going green.
Shop local. Support your community and your health by buying fresh produce from the Farmers’ Market. Local produce also has a smaller ecological footprint, meaning it required far less resources to grow and transport.
UPCYCLE! Recycling consists of reprocessing used materials into a new product. Upcycling, depending on the definition, is the “creative reuse” of an unwanted or waste product into something that is of better quality and better for the environment. The difference between the two is that upcycling does not require the destruction of the unwanted product to make a new item. Turn your old bike into a table, knit plastic bags into a sturdier reusable bag, turn forks into clothing hooks, the possibilities are endless! Upcycling is a creative outlet to bettering the environment and you’ll save money on giving Christmas gifts!
2018 has been a year of politics and debate regarding the state of our environment. Many of us may think that sustainability is “the government’s problem” but IT IS NOT. We can take immediate action EVERY DAY to reduce plastic usage and save energy. We can work with our community and make our home cleaner. We can make the future a little bit brighter for future generations, but it requires teamwork and dedication. TALK TO PEOPLE about what changes you’ve made to your daily life, and INSPIRE them to do the same! Roadside clean-ups and community gardens always help, but what we need to do is CUT plastic, CONSERVE energy, and SHOP local. 2019 is upon us, and I can’t wait to see what we’ve achieved by 2020 with these changes.
This time of year it is sometimes hard to get warm. Does your house have that one room that is always a few degrees colder than the rest of the house? Are there places in your home you don’t use this time of year? Look for the air leak if your house is cold or uncomfortable and seal them. This simple act will improve the comfort of the rooms in your home and cut your energy bills.
One of the most common places I find HUGE air leak are electrical outlets and light switches. Here is a thermal image of a light switch next to a window. You can see the dark area which shows cold air is 44 degrees inside the house. The way it is shaped shows that air leak is coming through the wall and around this outlet running up and down the wall.
If you remove the decorative cover plate there is a plastic box that holds the light switch in place. Use a silicone caulk to seal the box tight to the drywall or plaster surrounding the box. This will reduce the amount of air leak around the switch. There are also small insulation sleeves that you can put over the switch behind the cover plate. This will help as well, but caulk first.
I am a self-proclaimed homebody, but nothing will peel me off the couch faster than getting to travel and experience new places and old/new buildings. The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. has been on my list of places to visit for quite awhile and I finally got to cross it off earlier this month, just in time to see it decked out for Christmas. Learning about the history of who lived in the house and how it functioned in the early 20th century was fun and all, but who are we kidding, I was there to see how this castle of a home and the surrounding grounds were designed and brought to life.
The Biltmore Estate house and surrounding estate began construction in 1889, was completed in December 1895, and was the brainchild of owner,George Washington Vanderbilt, architect, Richard Morris Hunt, and landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead. The construction of the house boosted the local economy even before becoming a tourist attraction by hiring local laborers, craftsmen, and businesses. The shear amount of detail and craftsmanship that went into the house and landscape is incredible and hopefully the included photos help to show that…along with showcasing some spectacular Christmas decorations.
Some more fun facts about the Biltmore Estate house construction:
-The project had its own railroad spur to deliver the enormous amount of building materials required to build this behemoth project.
-The Biltmore Estate house was designed to be fireproof, so it was built using masonry (both brick and stone) and steel.
-Frederick Law Olmstead (the same landscape architect that designed Central Park in NYC) actually set the first floor height of the house so the views of the surrounding mountains would be exactly as he had envisioned them. He constructed viewing towers out of sawhorses to continually check the views of the house.
We love working with non-profits in our community that are doing good work. The Harrisonburg Rockingham Child Day Care Center is one such client and have just kicked off their capital campaign. This organization provides full-day child care and learning opportunities in a secure and nurturing environment. This sliding fee scale organization serves our entire community regardless of families’ financial resources, race, or religious affiliation. The Harrisonburg Rockingham Child Day Care Center professionally trained staff continuously fosters opportunities for the children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth, with the goal of supporting children to become life-long learners.
Our task is to design a building, in the heart of downtown Harrisonburg, that exemplifies this mission and vision of Harrisonburg Rockingham Child Day Care Center. The clients found the right location and we have been working diligently to layout the space for optimal learning and playing, while creating an aesthetic that is fun and contextual. We are also, of course, very focused on delivering a project that is as healthy, energy-efficient, and durable as possible with budget and location in mind. Due to space limitations the main playground for this facility will be located on the roof of the structure. That is right, a playground on top of a three-story building in the heart of downtown Harrisonburg! We have selected a fun pallet of colors for the building and have some cool features throughout.
A special thanks to JE Planning and Design for their work creating this video of our building! Jon volunteered his time to support this organization and us. His video brings to life our vision of the building! What an incredible gift and his work is top-notch.
If you want to support the Harrisonburg Rockingham Child Day Care Center and their capital campaign, follow this link.
Are you looking for a locally made well-crafted gift for someone special this year? Check out Unlimited Creations & Design, LLC. They have made several items for me and it is always beyond expectation. Bryan Shirkey is a true craftsman. He created this coat rack for my office using a wood scrap from the building and railroad spikes. It fits into our train station perfectly and has a great story that ties it to our building.
During my Real Men Wear Pink campaign, Bryan created a piece of artwork that featured our hometown of Harrisonburg to help raise money for my campaign.
Bryan also made our desk tops in our office with wood provided by our building owner from the building. We had them finished at Hidden Treasures in Harrisonburg.
I have asked him to narrow down what he can create and there does not seem to be any limit. He does custom woodwork from artwork to furniture to lamps. He is also creating custom jewelry. Check out his Facebook page for an idea of all the options from seasonal decorations to planters to furniture.
