Being energy efficient no longer has to be expensive. With each passing week there are new innovations to help you start saving money as well as the environment as fast as possible. Here are some quick tips you could do today to help the environment and be a little more “green”.

1. Upgrade your light bulbs

CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs) are one of the quickest and easiest ways you can be energy efficient today. The next time your bulbs go out, or if you feel like just investing in better bulbs, head to your local home improvement store and pick up some CFLs. These light bulbs can save over 40 dollars in electricity over their individual lifetime. They also are built to be more efficient and produce 75% less heat and energy while still lasting longer then a normal bulb. Save the environment and your money by investing in CFL’s.

1. Use Your Garbage Disposal.

To many people, the garbage disposal is simply that thing that makes noise under your sink. Most people do not understand that if they dump food waste down the disposal instead of the sink, they can more efficiently help the environment. Naturally disposing of waste like this also create less trash, therefore less to throw away in the local landfill. So next time you have a full plate, put it in the garbage disposal instead of the waste bin.

1. Install water efficient fixtures.

Whether it is the showerhead or the faucet, there is easy ways to save water today. Installing new fixtures with low flow options can greatly cut back on the amount of water that is wasted on daily basis. These products are designed to optimize the lower water flow, and most people cannot even tell the difference from the less water. This is especially important if you have a faucet with a slow leak. Slow leaks can waste gallons of water per day and thousands of water per year.

These are only a few simple ways you can save energy, water and waste, but hopefully you have seen that this is a simple process and the time impact you put into them will greatly affect the environment for the future.

Author Bio

Josh McNair is an avid believe in living a green lifestyle. He works for PlumberSurplus.com which sells everything from Bathtubs to Shower Doors.

As the real estate markets begin to heal franchise businesses are becoming more attractive.

FranFinders an Atlanta franchise consulting company has seen an increase in interest for real estate related franchises.

“From home staging franchises to home inspection franchises we are seeing a considerable amount of activity from interested franchisees” said Rob Bennett of FranFinders.com.  “We won’t go as far as saying we’re at a bottom real estate but it is surely a sign that things are improving for the category”.

There are plenty of real estate franchises to choose from for would be business owners.  Go take a look at FranFinders real estate franchise section.

Choosing a front door to some couldn’t be easier, have a quick search online or trundle down to the local home improvement shop and make a decision. Some people however not only find making home improvement decisions difficult but they also get zero enjoyment out of the activity.

It is common knowledge that a door says a lot about your property and that in some cases it can mean the difference between selling a house and it remaining on the market. Virtually every house needs a front or back door, but the requirements of that door frequently shift.

Below we have tried to outline what we consider to be the top 5 tips when trying to purchase a new door.

1. Pick a color, any color

Choosing a color is normally the first hurdle you are faced with when buying a door. It really is a matter of preference, and for this reason everyone seems to have an opinion as to what it should be. Colors are supposed to have characteristics unto themselves, yellow for instance is associated with joy. With all these choices the person you need to consider is yourself, will you enjoy approaching the door on a daily basis? If the answer is yes, your decision is made.

2. Maintenance

Choosing the wrong material for your door could set you back a lot of money in maintenance and repairs. Modern composite GRP coated doors may require just the occasional wipe down whilst wooden doors require regular treating and sanding. Depending on the climate of where you live may determine what material you choose, wooden doors in wet and humid conditions tend to warp if not looked after properly.

3. Think about security

Doors were invented for the sole purpose of preventing unwanted visitors, so the earliest records of doors (scenes painted on Egyptian tombs) suggest. The issue of security it seems is as important today as it was back then, perhaps even more so nowadays. Door manufacturers and the government realise this and have subsequently created a number of standards for which all new doors must try to comply with. There is a hierarchy of standards to comply with so look into which suits your needs, whichever you pick may also affect your home insurance (something to consider).

4. Think green

There has never been a time in our history when the idea of reducing carbon emissions and recycling has been so high on the public’s agenda. In the UK strict new legislations have been put on the amount of heat allowed to be lost through all new doors; the overall goal being to reduce the nations CO2 emissions. From a consumer point of view buying a well insulated door will save you money in the long run, through reduced heating/cooling costs. You will also have reduced your carbon footprint and no doubt feel good about yourself.

5. Choose the right hardware

Door hardware relates to knockers, handles, and lock types; basically anything which is added to the door at the point of manufacture or post purchase. Most people assume that hardware is purely an aesthetic choice, making your door look the way you want it. You are partly correct, but choosing the right locks and security additions could prove very useful too. Make sure you look at your hardware choices from a couple of different perspectives.

These ideas are brought to you in association with composite door manufacturers Door-Stop. Door-Stop are the first composite door manufacturer in the UK to offer double sided color matching. Meaning your new door will be the same color inside and out (most other manufacturer’s only offer a white internal finish).

High-fashion boiler rooms.

Are you a boiler room geek VIDEO?

Net-zero energy homes are gaining in popularity, but before buying a green home or an add-on product designed to generate energy, make sure you do your homework.

Modular homes are rising in popularity due to advances in the prefab home manufacturing industry. They can build modular homes based on your needs while being cost efficient as well as time efficient, a great value with all the performance of a stick-built house.

Here are a few features of contemporary modular homes:

• High Quality

  – These houses are built at factories with high quality-control standards. These houses can be mass produced while maintaining a high level of quality. These factories have access to machines not generally available on a job-site. Walls that are built are generally built stronger than stick-built houses’ walls.

• Low Cost

  – Contemporary modular homes are cost efficient because of the automated process of house prefabrication. With the use of machines there is less labor, less travel to and from a job site, and mistakes are handled inside the factory before the house is completed instead of later on. There is an overall lower cost of materials, lack of job-site risks, and theft.

• Fast

  – A prefab house is built much faster than a stick-built home. A small prefab home consisting of two “modules” can take three to four weeks long to complete. Again, machines make this possible by automating a lot of the home building process.

• Green Building

  – Newer modular homes are being built to federal “green building” and EPA standards. These houses are Energy Star compliant and very energy efficient. You will save money over the life of the house due to lower electricity, water, and heating bills.

• Higher Value

  – While modular homes generally cost less than a stick-built home, they are typically worth at least the same or more. Due to the modular home’s high quality construction they retain their value very well.

Contemporary modular homes are not the same as mobile homes. A modular home is built to the same standards as a normal site-built home. Mobile homes are built to different federal safety standards. This is one reason for modular homes increasing in popularity.

Modular homes are a great value, performance based, high quality alternative to a stick-built home.  These companies make some very nice modular homes:

The 2010 International Builders' Show (R) | January 19-22, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV

The weak credit availablity and low demand will make 2010 another rocky road for many home builders.  This article details the issues centering on the Home Builder Expo in Las Vegas this month: Home Builders 2010.

Saying that building a home starts with finding the right location and ends with moving in is quite simplistic. The truth is that in between finding the location and finishing the home, a lot of underlying processes take up much time, money, and energy. Educating yourself on the things that you need to know – planning the budget, choosing the location, and picking a builder with great track record will make the whole process easier.

These days, interest rates are at an all-time low. Now is a great time to build your home if you have the means for it. There are many types of lenders that you can work with, but finding one that has knowledge specifically in construction lending will be better. It is a must that you find a construction lender that understands the ins and outs of financing programs so that they can find one best suited for your needs as you construct your home. This is an important phase in planning to build your house because the loan amount that you will qualify for will determine much about the kind of home that you will be able to build. It is also good if you can find a lender that has an online method of checking your loan status and other particulars. This is for your convenience, so that you can check on the details of your loan at any time.

As a homeowner, you can cut on your costs by opting for a loan that covers the construction phase and converts to a permanent loan once the construction is finished. A one-time close CTP (Construction-to-Permanent) Loan can do this for you.

Before CTPs became a popular option, homeowners had to take out two loans; one for the construction phase and a permanent loan after the home is built. With CTP loans, you won’t have to reapply and pay for two different kinds of closing fees. It streamlines the solution for your financing needs into one neat package. After your loan converts from a construction to a permanent loan, you won’t have to pay any other fees anymore. CTPs also typically have interest protection so you’ll have a fixed interest rate even if the rates begin to rise.

CTPs are reimbursement loans which mean that funds are disbursed as the construction of your home enters different key events. This gives the builders more flexibility in terms of pursuing building projects around your home.

Planning For Your Loan

When taking out a loan, it is important to also take into consideration your lifestyle as well as your family’s lifestyle. Some people fall into the trap of borrowing too much or too little and ending up having to pay for some parts of the house out of their pocket. It’s also good to keep unpleasant surprises at bay by asking your lender how much the closing cost would be. Typically, you will need to ask about the title costs, loan fees, appraisal fees, inspection cost, and the likes.

Working with a lender that has a website where you can check disbursement schedules and schedule of fees would also be helpful.

Understanding How It Works

When you apply for a CTP loan, it means that you are asking the lender to determine the value of your new home, which has not yet been built. In order to do this, you will need to give the lender details about such things as the building plan, the type of materials you will use and their descriptions, and also the total cost of building the house.

The lender would also sometimes ask for you to submit a copy of your builder’s license together with a statement that the builder is capable of carrying out the construction of your home until it is complete. Of course, you and your builder are exposed to certain risks during the building stage of your home. Lenders will usually require additional insurance coverage such as:

• Course of construction casualty insurance – An insurance policy that covers “all risks” including fire, vandalism, replacement cost, builders’ risk, and others. The owner would be the policy holder, and the insurable amount is equal to either the replacement cost or the total loan amount, whichever is lower. Once the construction loan gets converted to a permanent loan, the insurance policy also gets converted to an “all risk” homeowners’ insurance coverage.
• Workers’ Compensation Policy – This should be taken out by the builder to cover for work-related accidents that subcontractors may encounter while building your house.
• Flood Insurance – This is a requirement if your house will be built on a government-declared flood zone.
• General Liability Insurance – This can be provided by you or your contractor. If your contractor provides this, the coverage should be a minimum of $1,000,000 or certain types of policies that have a broad coverage of liability endorsement. If you opt to pay for this insurance, the requirement is a minimum of $300,000 per occurrence which covers both property damage and personal injury.

Building a home means a lot to most people. The journey is filled with many challenges from start to end. Even if you haven’t started building your home yet, knowing about these things will be beneficial so that you can start preparing as early as now.

When in the closing stages of building your home, there are a few things you should remember. These are the things that new homeowners typically forget but are also the things that are very important in making sure that things will run smoothly after you’ve moved in.

1. Make sure you know all the details about the warranty your builder provides – You should know what company carries the warranty that your builder provides. It’s a good idea to walk around the interior of the house and inspect everything from fireplace to air conditioning system, to the water heating system. You should do the same thing to your exteriors; inspect the paint, shingles, garage doors, etc. A good builder will usually have a checklist of things that have warranty and need to be checked. Get a copy of the checklist and keep it in file for your maintenance checks. Remember that as the owner of the house, you have the responsibility to check the parts of your home that is under warranty before the first year has ended.
2. Keep yourself on top of the situation when it comes to your builders and his suppliers – Some homeowners prefer to shop for their own appliances, while some opt to have the builders buy the appliances for them so that they’re ready when they move in. Make sure that the appliances are ready when the builders say they would be. If they’re not ready, make sure they have an alternative solution until the appliances are ready. Check with the builders once in a while to make sure that they make good with the promises that they’ve made.
3. Make sure that the utilities are already transferred to your name by the time you move in – Builders will usually have utilities under their company name until you move in. Avoid disruptions in your service by making sure that the utilities are transferred to your name before or by the time you move in.
4. Check whether or not your furniture will fit into your new home’s door – There’s nothing more frustrating than to realize on the day that you are supposed to move in that your beloved antique living room set won’t fit through your home’s doors. Check your furniture to make sure that they fit so that the builders could make the necessary adjustments on the doorway.
5. Mark existing nicks and marks on the walls – If there are nicks and marks on the walls prior to moving; just mark them with something that won’t damage the surface to make sure that the damage was done before you moved in. Marking with painter’s tape is a good idea so that you won’t damage the surface further.
6. Check everything before you move in to make sure the builders don’t void the warranty – Do a quick rundown on the day before you move just to make sure that all warranties are intact and have not been voided by the builder. Before you change anything in the house because you didn’t like the way the builder did it, you should also check whether or not what you will do will void the warranty. Before you change anything, check if it can be done by the builders instead of you.
7. Make sure you know if you need to finish something before closing – Check whether or not you need to finish an addition to the house or anything else before closing. Some contracts require you to finish everything you need to do (like an additional deck or a gazebo) before you can close.
8. File all your warranties in one place – Moving in may become a flurry of paperwork and things that need to be in order. Don’t lose your warranties in the process. Just keep all warranties in one file and in a safe place. Also, you may want to record all the factors that may contribute to the deterioration of the parts that have warranty. Take down notes about extreme weather changes like storms, or other eventualities like earthquakes.
9. Have your landscaping done before you move in – It’s best to have your landscaper (if you’ve hired one) do the landscaping a few days before you move in so that you’ll feel like you’re moving in to a complete house already.
10. Take future add-ons into consideration – Some people think that choosing the cheaper option is good, but there are times when it’s better to spend what you can now to have the features you want built in on your house. It may be more costly to upgrade or add those features on in the future. For example, it may be more costly to have a fireplace added on to your bedroom later than if you just had the builders add it now.

The kitchen is undoubtedly a focal point for a lot of homes today. This is the place where families are most likely to gather and make memories over dinner conversations. Builders need to get up to date with consumer preferences when it comes to kitchen structure and design.

Biggest Selling Point

How a kitchen looks can be a major selling point or a deal breaker for people looking for a home to buy. One of the things that your buyers would probably look at is how your kitchen cabinets are structured. Trends show that most people these days prefer bigger kitchens even if they don’t often cook at home. Studies of these trends also show that buyers prefer functional cabinet systems instead of just pretty-looking ones. As far as appearances are concerned, more people prefer an informal design in their kitchen rather than formal designs. More people are also concerned about the appearance and functionality over the price and flashiness of kitchen systems.

As far as new homeowners are concerned, most prefer to have their kitchens opening to an adjacent room so as to feel that it’s a vital and accessible part of the house. In terms of decorating the kitchen, more people are opting for a cross cultural experience as the popularity of Asian and Hispanic influences in designs are becoming more popular. Rustic colors, distinct geometric designs, a streamlined look, and dark wood are all the rage in designing kitchens these days.

Since kitchen cabinets are usually purchased along with the home, it’s important that builders have an understanding of what systems go along with the design of the kitchen itself. Current designs for kitchen cabinet systems offer an interesting line of choice of cabinets in varied shapes, sizes, and functionalities. New homeowners these days are more conscious not just of the attractiveness of the design but also with the durability of the systems and their functionality. A lot of the newer designs incorporate dark with light wood finish or an antique style finish accomplished through glazing.

Supplying attractive and efficient cabinet systems are not just limited to bathrooms and kitchens anymore. The demand for a better cabinet system is becoming more popular especially in dual-purpose living spaces.

The Growing Need for Organization

As home owners live in a house longer, they naturally accumulate more gadgets, books, and other belongings. The need for ways to integrate organizers into living spaces is continually growing. Examples of such organizers may include more spice racks, roll-out cabinets and trays, pull-down racks, shelves, and more. Added designs and details are also popular for kitchen systems these days, but avoid over decorating or putting too much embellishments on cabinet systems. Consumers these days prefer a casual atmosphere with maximum functionality included.