As a handyman and home repair specialist, most of my work is conducted in other peoples’ homes. Oftentimes, during the long Birmingham summer months, I find myself stepping into a client’s or neighbor’s home only to be assaulted by an arctic blast of air-conditioning. It is sometimes so cold that I have to return to my van to get a longsleeved work shirt just to work indoors, and this is on a 90% Birmingham day. Now don’t get me wrong, I love air conditioning as much as the next guy, but sometimes people can get a bit carried away.  Air conditioning is expensive and your electricity bill will start to add up fast. This isn’t just hard on your wallet; it’s bad for the environment as well. So, in an effort to help my customers save a few bucks while also remaining cool, I’ve outlined a few tips that will keep you comfortable without having to run to the thermostat.

• Open the Windows, Turn On the Fan – You’d be surprised how many people never crack a window. Simply creating a situation where there’s better airflow and circulation in your house makes for a much cooler living situation. Be strategic with a few ordinary fans and create a draft. Another simple trick is to place a tray of ice in front of the fan. As the ice melts and cold air is released, the fan will blow it in your direction.
• Combine Fans and AC – I often see people running several window air conditioning units simultaneously and in close proximity to one another. Instead, try running a single AC and spreading the cool air by using a fan.
• Run Your AC with Greater Efficiency – If you have an outdoor compressor, give it some shade. The compressor is working hard and heating up. So keeping it out of the sun helps keep it cooler. The cooler the compressor is, the easier its job is. You should also be extremely diligent about cleaning or changing your AC’s filters as often as possible. A cleaner AC filter can literally double your AC’s efficiency and save you a bundle.
• Use A Programmable Thermostat – I don’t know how many millions this device saves Americans every year. If your system has a programmable thermostat, use it. Nothing is more wasteful than running the AC around the clock when no one is around.
• Seal Up the Cracks – So many people don’t realize it, but their homes are full of holes. Caulk up the windows and seal in the cool air. This will also help seal in the heat when wintertime rolls around.
• White Shades – White reflects the sunlight, so your home doesn’t absorb all that heat. A couple of shades are a truly small investment that will help save you big money.
• Protect the South – Because of the sun’s angle, protecting the southern exposure of your home yields the most shade the western part of your home. Planting trees on the south side can be a great investment to brighten your property while also keeping it cool. Applying window treatments to southern facing windows also helps.
• Check Your AC Ducts – If you’re air conditioning ducts aren’t properly insulated, you could be losing cold air. Have a handyman or HVAC professional check it out.

A few small jobs and better practices later, you’ll be saving a fortune on the electricity bill this summer.  Plus, a few minor repairs and additions to your house always help with raising the overall property value. And of course, you’ll be giving Mother Nature a break too by reducing your energy costs.

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As owner of a general handyman and contracting company, I paint frequently. I always paint my own construction work and also take on straight paint jobs because I enjoy the painting itself. Painting relaxes me, but one aspect of a lot of paint jobs that just drives me nuts — wallpaper removal. Removing wallpaper is one of the frustrating experiences for the home painter. Since it’s such a tiresome chore, many painters will charge significantly more if wallpaper removal is included in a paint job. As such, a lot of homeowners opt to strip wallpaper themselves. However, stripping that old wallpaper can prove more challenging than it looks. So many people become frustrated with the chore and simply give up midway through the job. Even worse, many home wallpaper removal jobs end with damaged walls. I’ve had years of experience stripping wallpaper and have come across a few techniques to ease the process and keep your walls safe, which I will now share with you:

• Use a Solution –Though some wallpaper is easily stripped dry, most warrants a solution to dissolve glues and adhesives. You can buy a concentrated wallpaper stripping solution from the store and then dilute it with water. You can also use a solution of water and vinegar to soften the paper. It’s important that you use a drop cloth on your floors when using liquid wallpaper removers, as they can stain floors and damage carpets. To apply the liquid paper remover, first score the walls using a razor blade or utility knife. You can actually buy special knives made specifically for this purpose, but I find a regular razor blade works fine. Make slits 8 to 10 inches apart all along the wall. Next, apply the liquid paper remover to the slits using a sponge or spray bottle. If you’re spraying chemical solvents, wear a mask to avoid breathing in the fumes. Spray each slit and then wait, allowing the solution to soak in and permeate the walls. Repeat the process a few times, wetting the slits again form top to bottom. Use a wide scraper with a flexible blade and start scraping from the horizontal edge of the slits.  Hold the scraper from the bottom and push upward. If you’re doing it right, the paper above will crinkle and tear away easily from one slit to the next. Remember though, if your walls are made of drywall, you should not use this soaking method, as it will damage the walls. Just make the slits and peel away the paper.
• Strippable Paper – Some wallpaper is actually manufactured with later stripping in mind. This kind of wallpaper is generally smooth in texture with an almost vinyl-like appearance. The best way to figure out if your wallpaper is strippable is to try stripping it. Take a utility knife and peel a top corner away where it won’t be too noticeable. Then pull downward as close to the wall as you can. Always attempt to keep the paper as near to the wall as you can. Pulling away from the wall will result in tearing the paper.  You’ll know almost immediately if you’re dealing with strippable wallpaper, as it should come off fairly easily. If you think you have strippable wallpaper, it’s certainly worth the check before you go wasting time with solutions and steamers.
• Steamers – This is one way a lot of professional painters opt to strip wallpaper. You can rent a steamer from many hardware stores and rental centers, so there’s no need to commit to buying an expensive piece of equipment. A steamer is comprised of a water tank that is heated electronically, a hose and a wide plate that heats up. To use the steamer, press the heated plate against the wall and wait until the spot begins to soak up the moisture. Start from the top of a wall and work your way down. Typically, you will need to steam the same areas several times before they tear away easily. Once the steaming has been done, you should be able to strip the wallpaper with your hands or a scraper, no problem.

Not everyone opts to remove old wallpaper, and the truth is you can simply paper over your old wallpaper. But papering over older wallpaper comes with its share of risks. Sometimes the old wallpaper will begin to peel taking the new paper with it. For my money, I’d rather just get the stripping over with and ensure that doesn’t happen. With these techniques and a little elbow grease, your wallpaper should come off in no time. So get to scraping and good luck with your new wallpapering project.

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The handyman business has changed a lot in the last few decades. In the past, most Americans would call a handyman or contractor for nearly any kind of job. But all that has changed considerably since I first started out in the handyman business. Chains like Loew’s and the Home Depot tout phrases like “You can do it; we can help” and shows such as This Old House and pros like Bob Villa are constantly showing you ways you can do it yourself to make changes or repairs to your home. All this is great of course and I applaud these shows and stores for giving people the confidence to pick up a hammer or paint brush and get a little elbow grease going.

Unfortunately, there’s also a downside to all this newfound optimism: Sometimes you can’t do it yourself. False handyman bravado leads a lot of people to tackle jobs they’re just not qualified for. The results can be catastrophic to your home and often dangerous as well. So before you head out to the hardware store, consider that a few tasks are still best left to the pros. Here are a few examples of commonly botched home improvement techniques as well as some DIY tips on what not to do.

• Tree Work – While this isn’t a strictly home repair job, it’s also one that a lot of people attempt themselves. If you are not trained or accustomed to operating a chainsaw while suspended from a harness, I suggest you leave this one to the pros.
• Electric Mains – These wires technically belong to the electric company, though often are buried on your property. Do yourself a favor and don’t dig them up. If your power goes for reasons you can’t understand, then call the power company or a licensed electrician.
• Nail Guns – Nail guns of all sorts are dangerous and not a great tool for beginners or amateurs. I am constantly hearing stories of impaled fingers and flying nails nearly missing a kid’s eye. Even more common though is that the home repair whiz has gone nail crazy. I frequently come across deck and roofing jobs rife with hundreds of extra nails. This is no more than damage to your home. Excess nails will cause fractures in wood and beams and will do a lot more harm than good.
• Blowtorches and Welding– Blowtorches have a lot of uses in construction and repair. They are also pressurized, flame-throwing gas tanks that can be extremely dangerous when wielded improperly.
• Power Tools in General – Just because you can buy it doesn’t mean you know how to use it. Have someone teach you how to use that chop saw before you go toying around with it. I know it looks easy on TV, and the truth is, it is easy. But a few safety precautions need to be learned when operating any electric saw or power tool. Too many people simply buy power tools, plug them in and promptly lose fingers or worse. Emergency room techs will concur with me that these are some of the most common household injuries. Take a shop class or a few basic lessons from a friend who knows more. And of course, always follow instruction manuals fully on any new power tools you buy. People who have tested these tools repeatedly and know the best ways to use them write the manuals. Read the little books and do what they say as it could save you a lot of aggravation.
• General Electrical Work – Another common DIY foible is the belief that electric work is easy. The home electrician is often electrocuted, shocked or causes a major blowout to his home’s electrical system. If you don’t know where the breaker switch is, you have no business trying to install your own ceiling fan. The amount of electricity running through a socket is a small force and not to be trifled with unless you know what you’re doing.
• Gas Mains – Stay away from your home’s gas lines. This is an immensely dangerous component of your house if not respected. You can puncture a line and cause a slow leak or worse.

This only a small sampling of the common techniques and jobs botched by the home repairman. My intention is not to scare you off from doing it yourself, but rather to keep you aware that many common home repair practices can be quite dangerous. This shouldn’t deer you from learning the skills, but instead encourage you to learn them right. Keep it safe and you’ll be guaranteed many satisfying home projects for years to come.

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When most folks begin the process of a new home project, they always have a wealth of questions, and my contractor’s input is often the first advice they seek. But as a contractor my job is really part artist, part artisan and even a dash of psychologist.  As such, my advice can vary and I like to choose my words carefully. After all, it’s my client’s opinion that ultimately counts in the end. Let me explain.

The artistic and artisanal aspects of home contracting are probably little more obvious to reader then the aforementioned psychological ones. Anyone who has ever undertaken a repair or remodeling job has doubtlessly noted that beginning a project is like starting with an entirely blank canvas. Of course in this case it’s your home that is the canvas and it takes a bit of imagination, vision and inspiration to conceive how your house will look at project’s end.  I like to think of this conceptual stage of the process as the “artistic” phase. This is where, just like the painter, your new project is only in your mind’s eye. Your artistic vision, together with that of your contractor’s, is all that exists as of yet.

The medium in contracting is not paints, brushes and canvas though. Rather, the soon-to-be manipulated materials are your home, construction tools and woods, cement, tile or stone. The actual work done to your home isn’t truly artistic: It’s artisanal. Using the methods and training of a skilled craftsman your contractor takes your house and makes it anew.  Whereas with art beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the craftsman strives to create something that is objectively attractive. In other words, the contractor who gives your kitchen a makeover wants everyone who steps into it to feel how great it is. Your home isn’t a piece of art; it’s a functional place that serves a purpose.

Now that we understand the artistic and artisanal aspects of contracting we can get to the most unusual facet of my job — playing psychologist.

As an artisan and craftsmen, the contractor has a unique understanding of your home project. As we’ve already discussed, any serious construction project undertaken on your home requires first and foremost imagination.  Imagination is an asset, and you’re paying for it anytime you hire a contractor for your home. Unfortunately, many clients often prefer to conceive of every phase of design themselves and let their contractors deal with simply banging the nails.  They want their dream house to be just that — a dream house. That’s where my job gets tricky, and oftentimes, managing people’s expectations is the true first phase of construction. I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve been called in to repair or renovate someone’s home and found that the project was simply revamping some recently completed work that simply wasn’t done the way the client wanted it.

This sort of scenario isn’t necessarily exclusively the contractor’s fault because the client may not have illustrated the vision clearly enough. But more often than not the contractor shoulders the blame for not having produced what’s been promised. This contractor has thus done a poor job being psychologist. The contractor hasn’t anticipated what the client really desires and thus the work hasn’t met the client’s specifications. Being a contractor psychologist involves understanding what your client truly wants. But more than that, the contractor needs to gauge how realistic the client’s wishes are.

Now, I really don’t expect every contractor to buy into my philosophy. Heck, I know contractors who would be angered by my assertions. That’s why it’s up to you, the customer, to know how to properly articulate your vision to your contractor. Here are a few tips for doing so:

• Be Clear: Your contractor isn’t a mind reader. Don’t spare any of the details. Ask as many questions as you can. Don’t worry about being a nuisance as it’s better to be thorough than end up with a less than perfect home.
• Illustrate Your Concepts: If you have the abilities or access to computer programs, draw a plan. Ideas and words can be easily misunderstood, but a detailed drawing really helps hammer the point home.
• Develop a Rapport: Your contractor is a person too. Just like anyone else in your life, cultivating a relationship will bring you better understanding of each other. The better you know your contractor, the more likely your ideas will be properly understood. Plus, if you and your contractor foster a good working relationship, he’ll be a lot more open to changes when he makes a mistake.
• Ask for Advice: If you’ve chosen the right person, your contractor should be a skilled craftsman. His input is informed by skills and years of experience, so don’t hesitate to find out what he thinks. You’ll avoid confusion too and end up with a better finished product.

Like I said earlier, most contractors don’t realize how important being a psychologist is. Still, many contractors are great at pushing their clients in the right direction. This goes far beyond simple input. A great contractor always anticipates the client’s needs and manages expectations. This always leads to the best work possible. Work together with your contractor and there will be no need to call me in to fix up their work. Remember, the customer is always right, but the contractor knows how to bring you true satisfaction on your home project.

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Ok, so going green is a term we hear thrown around a lot these days. So many products tout the phrase “green friendly,” and nearly every industry in the United States is seemingly trying to capitalize on the trend. With claims of earth- friendly practices assaulting us on nearly every label, it can sometimes seem like a daunting task to distinguish the posers from the genuine article.

However, your home and the practices therein are one of the places where going green is a lot more than hype.  This is equally true for renovations. Many of my customers have expressed interest in keeping their repairs and renovations as eco-friendly as possible. As such, I’ve decided to jot down a few easy places where you can cut a few corners and save Mother Nature a bit when making changes to your house. These small practices won’t cost you anything. In fact, they’ll actually save you money. So consider implementing a few of them when you begin your next home improvement project:

• Reuse Where You Can – Just because you’re renovating your kitchen, dining or bathroom doesn’t mean everything old must go. Instead of tossing every old fixture or cabinet, consider revamping some of those old pieces. Think about simply replacing your cabinet doors instead of chucking the whole thing. If you’re dead set on getting new cabinets shelving or storage, reuse the old pieces on the laundry room or garage. Hardwood flooring is another area where you’re better of recycling. Don’t replace it; simply rebuff it, stain it or add new gloss. An older hardwood floor that has been vamped up a bit generally looks even better than a new one.
• Be Selective – If you choose products carefully, you can make a big environmental impact. You’ll have to do a lot more research to balance out all the claims and counter claims, but in the long run you’ll benefit enormously. Your floor is a great place to start. Instead of putting down a traditional hardwood floor, consider laying down cork or bamboo flooring instead. These woods grow and replenish themselves at a much faster rate than hardwoods and often cost less too. Wool, although slightly more expensive, is an organic way to carpet your house that feels and looks much better than non-biodegradable synthetics.
• Don’t Replace Your Water Heating System- Instead, opt for tankless water heating systems. Tankless heaters only boil as much water you use and are a great way to reduce home energy costs. This is one of the most effective measures you take to green your home, as traditional water tanks boil water constantly and waste immense amounts of energy.
• Choose Green Friendly Paints – In recent years, most major paint manufacturers have seized on the trend and begun to develop terrific, affordable lines of eco-friendly paint. These paints are as good or better than their more chemically counterparts and can be purchased anywhere paints are sold.
• Assess Your Energy Use – Though you may need the help of a professional to do this, their services are worth their weight in savings. A professional energy assessor can advise you as to the most energy efficient means to run your home. They will recommend fixes and improvements and show you how to implement them. These can include heat-retaining windows, low-flush toilets to save water and furnaces that burn cleaner and more efficiently. I highly recommend a professional energy audit to anyone doing major renovations or repairs to their home. This service more than pays for itself in immense home energy savings.

As interest in green living continues to grow, more and more people are considering green products and techniques when embarking on a home improvement project. As a result, the prices of many environmentally friendly products and services has dropped significantly and become more affordable than ever before. You average home goods store has a plethora of options to help you in your quest to green your living space.

Though not everyone has the resources to go solar or get completely off the grid, these small green improvements to your home make a significant change to the world. Green and earth friendly home improvement projects add up and ultimately make a big difference.

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If you’re looking for a soothing, relaxing way to heal your mind, body or both, color therapy might be exactly what you’re looking for. Its goal is simple: to harness the therapeutic use of color to enhance and balance the energy in your body, encouraging it to begin a unique healing process that can make you feel better both emotionally and physically.

Color therapy works on the premise that light moves in various wavelengths, and that every color of the rainbow has a different one. As individual members of the human race the colors all correlate to our bodies' inner vibrations, and when those are not quite right we experience a type of disharmony.

Proponents of color therapy claim that this alternative treatment, which has been around for hundreds of years, is a completely non-invasive way to treat specific ailments, lift moods and make us feel in better balance with our bodies. Skeptics, however, say it’s a complete waste of time and money – and that you’d be better off spending your time gazing at a rainbow or a sunset – for free.

What Exactly is Color Therapy?
Color therapy works on the premise that light moves in various wavelengths, and that every color of the rainbow has a different one. As individual members of the human race the colors all correlate to our bodies’ inner vibrations, and when those are not quite right we experience a type of disharmony.

Color therapists, then, can help to make us feel harmonious with our inner and outer self once again, by treating us with specific colors that relate to the chakras in our body. In other words, if you are suffering from migraines, you might be treated with pastel and dark colors to reduce the severity of the symptoms.

This is accomplished by a variety of means. Some people who are particularly in tune with their own chakras simply change clothes or look at beautiful palettes to switch their moods. Color therapists in med spas, however, may shine colored lights on you, dress you up in colored silks or point special colored flashlights at your acupressure, or colorpressure areas.

Other practitioners resort to using bottles of colored liquid to make us feel better and more in tune with our bodies, or immersing us in colored baths while using verbal suggestions to make us even more aware of the healing properties of color. Other tools include lasers, candles, gems, crystal wands and even colored contact lenses.

What Do the Colors Mean?
Many ancient cultures have integrated the use of color in healing, including the Chinese, Indians and Egyptians, who assigned specific attributes to colors. They include, in alphabetical order:

Blue. Water element. Can soothe illness and treat many types of pain, especially the throat. Blue is associated with a sense of calm and relaxation, and physically is thought to help with laryngitis, throat problems, high blood pressure and other problems.

Green. Air element. Helps with problems of the heart, including sorrow and intense grief. Also has a lot to do with compassion and, not surprisingly, jealousy. Ever heard of the green-eyed monster?

Indigo. Light element. Situated in the lower part of the forehead, this color has a lot to do with intuition, and a sense of mental alertness. Can be used for its tranquil, calming properties. Also helps heal problems of the skin.

Orange. Water element. Creativity and sexuality are all part of this playful color. Increases levels of energy in the body, heals the lungs and is even thought to play a role in helping with eating disorders.

Red. Earth element. Thought to be perhaps the most important color of all, it is located at the base of the spine and is important for survival both physically and emotionally. Increases circulation, stimulates the mind.

Violet. Thought element. Associated with power and feelings of self-worth, but interestingly is also important to laughter, without which none of us can lead happy lives. Emotions and all forms of self-knowledge are tied in with this color. Works with the crown, or head.

Yellow. Fire element. Has a lot to do with intelligence, spiritual growth and faith. Is linked to the chakra that corresponds to the navel or solar plexus. Purifies the body, stimulate nerves.

Color Therapy Meets Hydrotherapy
You can see modern color therapy at work today if you visit any bathroom showroom. Chromotherapy showers, for example, have become increasingly popular over the last few years. They contain central lights which illuminate the water to provide a relaxing and invigorating waterfall for both water and mind. Chromotherapy baths have lights which change color under the water, so that the color of the water appears to change as well.

Some chromotherapy showers have special attachments which allow aromatherapy to be part of the experience, so you can enjoy a colorful as well as olfactory sensation as you bathe. You can also have special speakers built in to pipe soothing, calming sounds. What’s not to like?

Commercial Color Therapy
People are trying to make money out of anything these days, and color therapy is no exception. Some companies are now offering special services to bring color into any type of commerce, promising they can not only maximize results, but make employees both happier and more productive.

How do they do it? By introducing the right color to the right company. Easy, huh? But finding some sucker to go for it – and pay big bucks while they’re at it – may be less easy than you might think…

Color therapy of any kind is not intended to take the place of conventional medicine. But if you think it can shine a light on problems you have been unable to sort out for yourself, you could give it a try. Many people come out of a color therapy session feeling relaxed with a more cheerful outlook on life, even if they get no long-term benefits from it. That’s saying something…

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Green homes incorporate features that conserve water such as low-flow showerheads, faucets and toilets, ENERGY STAR dishwashers and washing machines and water-efficient systems as may be required for irrigation, rainwater collection, waste water treatment and the recirculation of hot water.

Ecoconsciousness and Sustainability
Ecoconsciousness is the awareness of the impact that our actions have on the earth’s natural resources and the term “going green” is frequently used to describe an action that is aimed at conserving those natural resources.  The most commonly referenced green actions are those that relate directly to conserving resources that are required for the continuing survival of mankind, resources such as water, air, forests and energy sources to name a few.

Sustainability (another much used word in the ecoconscious community) when applied in an environmental context refers to meeting the needs of the present in such a way as to leave natural resources as unchanged as possible for future generations to use in meeting their own needs.  Today’s green movement theorizes that the eventual depletion of our resources will occur if we fail to take steps to sustain them.

National Association of Home Builders’ Green Building Program
One of the groups leading the charge for environmental sustainability in the housing arena is the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).  Widely considered the voice of the housing industry, this organization has established a Green Building Program™ to assist its member builders in moving the practice of green construction from the sidelines of the eccentric few to the players in the center of the action.

Green building is defined by NAHB as the incorporation of “energy efficiency, water and resource conservation, sustainable or recycled products, and measures to protect indoor air quality” into the building process.  To promote green building, NAHB provides builders with the tools they need to learn about and implement green building, everything from education, certification and a building standard construct to follow to green resource directories for green approved products.  The second prong of NAHB’s Green Building Program is consumer-related.  Specifically NAHB provides materials to assist homeowners in (1) understanding the advantages of green building (2) locating a certified green builder and (3) learning about financial incentives.

Consumers interested in going green should look for appropriately credentialed builders.  These so-called green builders have achieved the Certified Green Professional designation (CGP) after completing a training program sponsored by NAHB and meeting ongoing continuing education requirements every two years.  Green builders are trained to recognize and communicate to their buyers the benefits of lower energy costs relative to higher value and they are adept at applying practical strategies that adhere to green-building principals without driving up the cost of construction.  The CGP designation applies to individual builders as opposed to companies.  Consumers can locate a CGP credentialed builder or remodeler on the NAHB.org website at Find a Certified Green Professional (GP)™ , but be aware that the designation is not a warranty or guarantee of the builder’s work product.

Specifics of Green-building
NAHB describes a green home as one that “incorporates environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the building and development process to minimize environmental impact. The design, construction, and operation of a home must focus on energy and water efficiency, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, and must take the home’s overall impact on the environment into account.”

Water Efficiency – Translated into consumer terms, green homes incorporate features that conserve water such as low-flow showerheads, faucets and toilets, ENERGY STAR dishwashers and washing machines and water-efficient systems as may be required for irrigation, rainwater collection, waste water treatment and the recirculation of hot water.

Resource Efficiency – Conservation design takes into consideration such things as the size of the home, the manner in which the home is oriented on its lot and the desired floor plan.  For example, a green home is positioned to take advantage of natural daylight which in turn reduces the amount of energy required to meet lighting needs.  Heat consumption is reduced by utilizing natural heating and cooling resources like wind and sun and appropriate landscaping to encourage maximum heat retention in the winter and cooling in summer.  Another way to conserve resources within the home is to build with materials that can be rapidly renewed such as bamboo or by using materials composed of recycled content like certain concrete mixes, tiles and carpeting.

Indoor Air Quality Efficiency – Green homes use (1) whole house ventilation strategies and (2) spot ventilation strategies to promote the efficient maintenance of high quality indoor air.  A heating, air conditioning and ventilation system (HVAC) that regulates the heating, cooling and the quality of the inside air in a green home is an example of the former.  HVAC systems must be accurately sized to meet the particular needs of each home because units that are too big or too small are inefficient and waste resources. Kitchen and bathroom fans that bring fresh air in and expel stale or contaminated air to the outside are examples of spot ventilation.  The quality of indoor air in green homes is further enhanced by eliminating the use of gas-releasing materials like medium density fiberboard and paints containing high volatile organic compounds during construction.  By avoiding the use of such products in the first place, no energy is required to remove toxic gases from the inside air.

Enviroscaping – New homes usually include the cost of exterior landscaping and the construction of driveways.  Green home builders know how to:  preserve trees and vegetation that are native to the locality; select plants that are eco-friendly and climate-appropriate; and landscape with an eye toward conserving water, reducing or eliminating the need for pesticides and conserving energy.  Paved, impermeable surfaces are omitted in favor of systems like gravel or block pavers that facilitate drainage.

National Green Building Standard™
One of the most exciting things that has come out of the green building movement is the National Green Building Standard, an objective and measurable model that defines for both the building industry and the consumer the principals of green building for single and multifamily homes, residential remodeling projects and site development initiatives.  Developed by NAHB in collaboration with the International Code Council (ICC), a nationally recognized organization that develops construction codes for residential, commercial and government buildings, the Standard offers guidelines for the mainstream home builder who wishes to minimize the impact of his trade on the environment by utilizing green building practices.  The Standard was approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in January 2009, an important validation of the Standard’s comprehensiveness.

The Standard is comprised of 7 principles:  (1) lot design, preparation, and development (2) resource efficiency (3) energy efficiency (4) indoor environmental quality (5) water efficiency (6) operation, maintenance and homeowner education and (7) global impact.  Under each principle, there are guidelines for builders to follow.  A rating system ascribes various points to each line by line item to obtain an overall point score for each principle.  A certain number of minimum points is required for each principle to ensure a balanced, whole-system approach.  For example, a builder may not submit extra points under principle 3, energy efficiency, to compensate for no points under principle 6, operation, maintenance and homeowner education.  After all minimum points are attained under each principle, the green builder must achieve an additional 100 points by implementing any line item in any category. The total point score reflects the level of green achieved by a particular home: bronze, silver or gold.  The table below outlines the various green building thresholds.

When trying to understand the National Green Building Standard and how it works to benefit green building, it is easy to loose sight of the fact that points are more than just paper numbers.  Each point represents a single green building practice that has been incorporated into the construction, like energy-saving windows, for example.

The use of points makes the model measurable and verifiable for both builders and consumers.   In fact, once a green project is completed, an NHBA trained verifier personally inspects the construction and reviews the required documentation amassed by the builder before assigning a level of “greenness” to the construction.  The level of greenness is therefore a quantifiable assurance to buyers that the home they are purchasing is possessed of particular green attributes.

There are those who consider any construction antithetical to protecting the environment and our natural resources.  After all, no matter the degree of greenness, each new home makes an impact on the environment by changing the face of the earth to some degree and by demanding the use of resources.  As our population continues to expand, change is inevitable and housing will be required.  At the very least, The National Green Building Standard is a positive step in the right direction.  It raises the level of ecoconsciousness among builders and buyers by providing quantifiable measures of greenness and it is a well-intentioned, workable model for leaving as little a footprint on the environment as possible.

As consumers become more aware of sustainability issues and industry develops more efficient products, intelligent, green construction will expand in the future, slowly but surely replacing the old way of building things. Until the future arrives, some green is better than none so join the movement to conserve our natural resources, get to work on your own home and watch your neighbors turn green with envy.

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PNC's Firstside Center, winner of many environmental design awards.

The burgeoning of green building and remodeling is generally attributed to a growing national eco-consciousness which in turn is thought to have spurred consumer demand for more efficient products, renewable materials and conservation technologies.  All that may be true, but in hindsight we may discover that it was a combination of factors that created the increase in demand by consumers for green building efficiencies, not the least of which was a downturn in our national economy.  This factor may have done more to speed up the acceptance of green building than any other factor, including the often extolled virtue of a new national ecological awareness.

In fact, today’s struggling economy has created a perfect storm of sorts that has changed the climate of opinion on green building from one of slow acceptance to a new atmosphere that is pushing consumers, in spite of themselves, to be more aware of issues like efficiency and wastefulness.  At a time when consumers are worried about the rising cost of energy, the dwindling of their bank accounts, the uncertainties over job losses, the higher cost of living and the struggling economy in general, it seems logical that cost-cutting efficiencies and energy conservation would be more appealing than ever. Nothing grabs the public’s attention like someone’s hand in their pocketbook.

Whether the impetus for green building can be likened to the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes of today’s struggling economy or is indeed a consumer-driven eco-consciousness, the fact remains that its time has come.

The second piece of information that has been established with respect to green building and remodeling is its long-term cost effectiveness.  Studies both here in the U.S. and abroad have proven that there are financial advantages to going green such as lower utility and operating costs.  An often cited example is the Genzyme Center building located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  The Harvard Business Review reported that in its very first year of operation, this well-designed building used 42% less energy and 34% less water than standard buildings of comparable size. That’s a considerable savings of money and resources.

Another proven advantage of green building is an increase in employee productivity as measured across a number of variables:  alternative building materials versus toxin-emitting materials (like many standard building products that release formaldehyde into the air), improved air quality, natural daylight and outdoor views, employee satisfaction, employee morale and sick time.  In the same Genzyme building just mentioned, overall productivity was reported to have increased by approximately 15%.  Ask the employees who work there and they will tell you that the majority, or 58%, feel they are more productive in their new building than they were in the old and that green building standards like abundant natural light, individual climate control and outdoor views have improved their levels of morale and satisfaction.  Sick time was 5% lower.  Across the board every variable that was measured showed positive results.  When productivity increases, so too does the bottom line.

While most people would agree that lower energy costs and higher productivity are solid financial incentives for green building, many would question how those savings stack up against the cost of building a green structure in the first place when compared to the cost of standard construction. The goods news is that the cost to construct a green building today is considerably less than it was just a few years ago and now nearly equivalent to standard construction due to the wider availability of green materials and lower prices.

According to four industry studies that included more than 150 green buildings across the U.S., the cost of attaining green certification was only 0.8% more than standard building construction.  In fact, when PNC Financial Services Group built its Firstside Center in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania they were pleasantly surprised to learn that they had saved a pile of money by going green.  Firstside was the first building to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) green rating system, but the project was originally budgeted as standard construction.  Instead, the owners decided to take it green and when the building was completed, a savings of $4 million had been knocked off the original standard construction budget.  That’s not chicken feed.

Impressed by the success of its Firstside Center, PNC has since constructed several green, branch-bank buildings.  PNC was pleased to note that it’s newly constructed green buildings cost $100,000 less than a competitor’s similarly sized, non-green buildings and when PNC compared the average construction time between its own traditionally built buildings and its new green buildings, it discovered that the green buildings required 45 days less to construct.  Saving time saves money!

The chart below is from a report, “Green Building Costs and Financial Benefits,” written by Gregory Kats for the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the state’s development agency for renewable energy.  The compiled figures demonstrate that the resulting financial benefits of green construction are more than ten times the initial average investment of designing and constructing a green building.  In other words, the initial investment of going green is repaid ten-fold in 20 years.

It must be noted that much of the initial expense in going green lies in the time it takes to design a green building and that research has proven that projects that start with green design early in the process are more cost-effective than those that do not.

The conclusion that can be drawn here is that the cost of green construction is 1-2% more than the cost of standard construction (design time, certification, etc.), but this slightly higher initial investment is recouped over time along with an additional savings of dollars.

Going green has become more than just environmental experimentation for the future; it is here now and it has achieved mainstream status.  The hoped-for benefits of green building–conserving our natural resources by eliminating waste, creating efficient systems and using sustainable materials and sources of renewable energy–are no longer merely lofty aspirations.  Theory has been put into practice and the results measured and tested.  In addition to attaining the theorized environmentally-friendly goals, research has confirmed that green buildings come with corporate perks, physical and mental human benefits:  enhanced worker productivity, higher morale, less absenteeism and fewer health insurance claims. As impressive as these benefits were, however, a last hurdle needed to be jumped before green building would finally replace standard building and that was the cost disparity between the two types of construction. With the elimination of that final hurdle, the old way of doing things, standard building, is no longer justified.

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The number one cause of fence problems is premature failure of one or more of the posts.

Wood Fencing vs Vinyl Fencing

Many homeowners love the idea of vinyl fencing and it is not difficult to see why. Vinyl fencing offers up certain qualities that wood fencing just can’t match. Once installed, vinyl fencing tends to last. There’s no need to worry about any sanding or painting, and expensive stains or sealants are not necessary. Vinyl fencing also won’t mildew and it is resistant to UV rays.

So why aren’t all neighborhoods filled with homes surrounded by vinyl fencing? Well, like most things in life, for every positive, there are a few negatives. When it comes to vinyl fences, the most obvious one is cost. Vinyl fencing can be expensive, often running thousands of dollars more than normal wood fences. Also, there is that dreaded “plastic look.” Many people feel that vinyl fences have an artificial and sometimes cheap look – an ironic twist considering their actual cost. It’s almost impossible to recreate the warm aesthetically-pleasing look of real wood. And, for many people, the advantages that vinyl fencing has over wood fencing either aren’t worth the extra costs or don’t make up for the perceived unnatural appearance.

Wood Fencing vs Chain Link Fencing

The positives of a chain link fence are obvious. Unfortunately, so are the negatives. While chain link fencing is more durable and lasts much longer than an average wood fence, it also has a tendency to rust over time, sometimes resulting in an unnatractive eye-sore. Chain link fences also fail to provide the privacy that wood fences offer. So, you need to ask yourself whether you want to sun bath and barbecue in front of an audience or behind the privacy of a fully enclosed wooden fence.

Wood Fencing vs Wrought Iron Fencing

Wrought iron fencing can add beauty and elegant style to a home. Above all, it is durable, capable of lasting up to hundreds of years. However, it is very costly and possesses many of the same drawbacks as chain link fencing. Obviously, you can easily see through it. So, again, if privacy is your chief concern than wrought iron fencing is not the way to go. This type of fencing will also eventually rust if not properly maintained.

Wood Fencing Installation – Leave it to the Pros

A properly maintained wood fence can last for years, but it must be built correctly and sealed properly. Many people who think they can build a wooden fence themselves, often end up with rickety, unstable results. Sometimes the end result is so disappointing, a contractor must be hired to repair or even completely redo the entire project.

The number one cause of fence problems is premature failure of one or more of the posts. Posts are the backbone of the fence and without the proper equipment and know-how, your posts are likely to either be crooked or too shallow, resulting in an unattractive fence that likely won’t last very long.

When it comes to wood fence installation, the best choice is to leave it to the pros. Building a fence is about a lot more than elbow grease. A professional contractor will consider many things you won’t, including, soil consistency and climate patterns. A professional wood fence installer can also ensure that the fence is level and can easily negotiate the hills and contours of your lawn – things that are likely to give your average do it yourselfer fits.

Average Cost of Wood Fence Installation

Costs tend to vary based on the city you live in, the type of wood you choose, and the size of your yard. However, generally, the average wood fence is going to cost you around $3000 whereas aluminum, vinyl and wrought iron fencing generally costs one or two thousand dollars more.

Wood fencing tends to be the most popular choice of homeowners because it offers the most privacy and the warmest look for a reasonable price. And, for a little extra you can ensure your fence looks great and lasts for years with the help of a qualified professional contractor.

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So in order to sample just a few of the ridiculous and bewildering mistakes of the IQ-challenged general contractors of the world, we’ve compiled this list of horrible general contracting disasters.

Bridge to Nowhere

Though some mistakes can be relatively harmless, albeit hilarious, in their nature – what do you do when you’ve spent millions of dollars and countless man hours on building a bridge that, through some tiny miscalculation, won’t connect? This is a mistake that anybody who has ever played with a model train set has experienced – you lay out loops and curves and bends only to realize that the last piece won’t fit together and you have to take the whole thing apart. But that’s understandable when you’re a 9 year old trying to have fun – not so much when you’re a professional contractor who has presumably attained some sort of degree and planned the construction out for months.

As to how these nitwits plan on solving this contracting disaster is anybody’s guess, but I’m guessing it will take as big a genius to fix it as it took as big an idiot to screw this plan up.

Light-Post Problems

What happens when you’re building an apartment complex only to realize that the beautiful walk-on balconies you’ve promised the tenants interfere with a city light pole? Simple – you market the balcony as having its own strip pole, call it a swingers’ paradise and then call it a day!

Besides, I’m sure the thing makes for a pretty decent night-light, totally free of charge.

Surreally Dumb

Either the general contractor who made this was a complete moron or an avid fan of MC Escher who wanted to create a real-world tribute to the legendary artist. But for some reason I get the itching feeling that the former explanation is the right one.

Balcony Baloney

Now, I’m not even sure how you go about making a mistake as obvious as this one. You’d think that at some point one of the construction workers would have stopped and said “Hey, how’s someone gonna even get onto the thing?” before having finished sanding the tile and attaching the railing.

But I guess sometimes it’s just easier, and more fun, to just demolish a wall now instead of asking a question earlier.

Big Money

Though it’s possible this ATM exists in a land of 10 foot tall giants, judging from the picture of the man performing acrobatics in the picture above, and the fact that no such land exists on Earth, I’m just going to place my bet on this being a giant blunder by a tiny-brained contractor.

However, there always exists the possibility that the owner of this ATM doesn’t want you to take out money, in which case I retract my earlier statement. Still… something tells me I’m right.

Foundation = FAIL

Okay, while I know that repairing the foundations on a home can be expensive, the picture above seems like a really bad solution to saving costs. The only problem with including this picture on a list of general contracting mistakes is that this solution may have actually been implemented to avoid hiring a general contractor. In that case, more power to the owner. But I’d be willing to bet that cement-filled oil barrels aren’t generally used in home-building for a reason.

Driveway Dismay

Okay, while I admit that it would be fun to have a driveway like that to sled on during the winter months, something tells me that any pleasure derived from that will be offset by having to repair the front of your car from it slamming into your practically vertical driveway every day.

This case also perplexes me as it seems that they could have simply extended the decline of the driveway and solved this dilemma relatively easily, but I suppose that the contractor didn’t want to infringe on the valuable sidewalk space for the kids to play hopscotch on. I guess they didn’t take into account that there soon wouldn’t be any kids left alive in the neighborhood after every car uncontrollably plummets into the sidewalk every morning on its way to work.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters

In an ideal world, safety always would come first. But, unfortunately, we all know that this is rarely the case, as in this example of a home-grown solution to a rather large support problem. However, one has to wonder what sort of home-grown stuff the genius behind this quick-fix was smoking because the effort it must have taken to create that little monument to stupidity must have taken about as much work as just laying down a few sheets of metal.

However, the possibility remains that this is just someone’s idea of a more exciting version of Jenga, which I would love to see played with a crowd of spectators cheering over the side of the bridge.

But that’s it for now with regards to general contracting blunders, though with the world approaching 7 billion inhabitants and there being no sign of people getting smarter, I’m sure I’ll be back to write about more.

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