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By now you know about compact fluorescent light bulbs, how they use less energy and last a lot longer than traditional incandescent bulbs in most applications. But did you know IMTEK's SaniBulb™ harnesses the power of their CFL bulb to also continuously sanitize, purify and deodorize the air? According to the manufacturer, you can destroy odors, [...]
Radon is the cause of about 20,000 lung-cancer deaths in the country each year, and the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Pennsylvania. According to Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), a home in the Center Valley area of Lehigh County recently tested at a radon level of 3,715 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), the highest [...]
When building a new home there are several permits that will be needed before building can begin. Below is a list of permits in the order they are normally issued: Sewer Permit or Septic Permit - If Septic permit a perk test with design will be needed first.  Zoning permit – Most townships now require [...]
Canadian residential designer Nita Hull of Homes That Flow instructs her clients to factor in all door swings. The full door swings (not just 45-degrees as shown on some home plans). And not just the primary doors accessing rooms, but all doors, including cabinet doors and appliance doors, too. This can be extremely revealing. Do [...]
A staircase is often seen as a means to an end. Unless you can budget for an elevator, you need stairs to reach the second floor. But a staircase can be so much more than a predictable design element, it can be a signature element of design. The 4 home designs shown demonstrate variations to [...]
A hallmark of "high design" are the views through your home. Not just the views from the front entry, but everywhere. Literally, we mean everywhere! In creating a new home plan, we actually imagine the views from virtually every spot in the home. What do you see as you look down that hallway...stand in front [...]
Lower the temperature of your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit This is the optimum temperature for your hot water heater. Most people do not utilize water that's hotter than that, and thus energy used to keep the water that hot isn't effective. Lower the temperature, save some on your energy bill, and you'll [...]
The laundry room may not be at the top of the priority list but it sure serves an important function. Walking into your home from the garage and viewing the washer and dryer with clothing piled up that needs washed can be depressing and has fallen out of favor with most buyers today. They much [...]
Reprinted from NAHB.org with permission of the National Association of Home Builders®. Follow these tips to stay comfortable and keep your home heating costs down during the winter weather. Adjusting the Thermostat You can keep your house comfortable and save energy by strategically adjusting your thermostat. Consider installing a programmable thermostat, which allows you to easily to set a [...]
