Archive for the ‘Cool Products for Your Home’ Category
Edison’s Light Bulb is Phased Out.
Thomas Edison’s light bulb, invented in 1879, will not be sold in the U.S. after January 1, 2012.
As part of the Clean Energy Bill, signed in 2007, most wattages of incandescent light bulbs, will go the way of leaded gas and oil based paint. Australia started the light bulb ban in 2007. Europe followed in September, this year.
Even though Americans hate forced change, there are some reasons this change makes sense. According to Energy Star, “a qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.”
Futhermore, Noah Horowitz, with the Natural Resources Defense Council stated “it would eliminate the need to build 30 new coal power plants and save as much electricity as used by all the homes in Texas.”
Astounding Energy Savings, No More Coal Plants and Free Money, too, what’s not to love?? Well, a couple of things…
First of all, fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. Remember the dangers of mercury? If a bulb breaks, the mercury scatters around the room or hides in the carpet and toys. And, don’t throw the new bulbs into the trash. To dispose of these bulbs, if they don’t break first, they need to be handled like hazardous waste, ie: paint, chemicals, batteries, etc. Home Depot, True Value, IKEA and other retailers will recycle them, but you need to carefully pack them up and drive them to the store.
Secondly, fluorescents can’t be used with a dimmer switch. My personal favorite trick for creating ambiance. And, I’ve already tried CFL’s and found they don’t produce enough light, or maybe the right hue of light, for easy reading and other close up tasks. And, probably most concerning, they also aren’t a great light for those of us who look for bulbs that cast flattering, soft light ):
Change is coming. Adjust or stock up before January 2012. Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net your FREE homes for sale and lease website. Have a great weekend and happy home selling and buying.
Virtually Stage Your Home to Sell
Marketing a vacant home can be difficult challenge, because empty rooms are hard to size up and they don’t stand out in a buyer’s mind. This leaves every vacant home looking like the one next door, with the only difference in a buyer’s mind being, which home has the lowest price.
This problem may have been solved by Krisztina Bell, a smart Atlanta Realtor, who invented and patented a software program that will “virtually” stage any vacant property for around $250. Her company has been heralded by the Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronical and other publications as the answer to giving the effect of a professionally staged home at a fraction of the cost.
With 90 percent of home buyers doing their shopping online, and thousands of vacant homes on the market, Ms Bell’s idea is smart and timely. Her technique transforms listing photo’s of vacant homes into homes with professionally designed interiors, using a library of attractive furnishings, accessories and artwork. The resulting “after” photo’s are realistic, authentic and hard to distinguish from a home that has been actually staged with furnishings.
To view the Photo Gallery of some impressive Before and After Pictures, please visit her website VirtuallyStagingProperties.com, by clicking this link. You will be amazed. And, if you have a vacant home to sell, you should seriously consider this inexpensive option and make your home pop.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website. If you virtually stage your home, be sure to upload the slideshow to InfoTube.net. Thousands of buyer’s search our site daily for new information on properties.
Reface or Tile Over an Ugly Fireplace
A fireplace can be a huge selling point for any home or an eyesore that detracts from the room. If the fireplace in your home is out dated or just plain ugly, you can transform it into a sexy, focal point without spending a lot of money.
Take a look at this brick fireplace. It is a fireplace, but it is doubtful that buyers would conjure images of sipping wine by a roaring fire, in its present condition.
Now, take a look at the transformation, after engineered stone was applied over the old brick and a mantle was added. The fireplace morphs from an eyesore into a floor to ceiling, hearthwarming focal point
In another example, this unattractive, dated fireplace with painted brick got a great makeover. The homeowner correctly felt the fireplace was out of proportion, due to the narrow sides and tall top. The mantle was also too small.
The After. The budget minded homeowner added an “in stock” simple mantel and pilasters from a do-it-yourself center. The design updated the fireplace, hid most of the outdated, painted over brick and brought the fireplace into correct proportion for under $750.
If your fireplace detracts from your home, get your creative genius in gear and simply cover it up. Examples of “coverup” materials that are inexpensive and easy to work with are tile, manufactured stone, granite, marble or wood. Sometimes even painting over old, ugly brick will make a huge improvement.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net. We love before and after pictures that we can share with our readers. If you have completed a project and want a pat on the back, email photo’s to tommi@infotube.net
Pleco Fish Eat Algae in Abandoned Swimming Pools
The large number of foreclosed homes have become a blight on the residential landscape. But, swimming pools in abandoned, foreclosed homes, with no electricity, pose special problems. Swimming pools become stagnate and unsantitary due to a lack of chemicals, then quickly grow thick with algae that is unsightly, and expensive to get rid of.
Enter the pleco algae eating fish, which are commonly found and abundant in fresh water lakes. Only 15 pleco fish, placed in an abandoned pool, quickly eat away the algae and keep it away.
The environmentally smart solution leaves pools more sanitary, makes the homes more attractive to prospective home buyer’s and saves thousands of dollars in upkeep. After the new owner moves in, they can return the fish to the lake or leave them in the pool for backyard fishing fun.
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Cash for Refrigerators Program
Cash for Refrigerators. $300 million dollars of stimulus money has been set aside for consumer’s who purchase new, energy saving appliances. Rebates of $50.00-$200.00 will be available in October on purchases of refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and air conditioners.
Program Eligibility:
- To qualify, the consumer must purchase appliances with an Energy Star designation.
- You don’t have to “trash” your old appliance to qualify.
- States must apply to the program before October 15, 2009
Pro’s:
- Upgrading to an Energy Star rated appliance saves a family $50-$150 per year in utility costs.
- Rebates will ease the transition into new efficient appliances and help some consumers avoid going into debt in order to upgrade.
- Could provide a boost to the beleaguered appliance and home improvement industries who are suffering in the bad economy.
- Helps the environment.
Con’s:
- No plan for the Trashed Appliances. Currently there is no plan for proper disposal for the trashed appliances. Old appliances can be donated or resold, which will not help the environment.
- If we can’t find a way to recycle old appliances, the program will add more trash to the planet.
Tips for Consumers:
- Most retailers will haul away your old appliances, when you purchase a new one. Ask the retailer what happens to the old one, after they pick it up. Buy only from retailers who can prove that they recycle or destroy the old appliances.
- Use a Good Recycler to Take the Appliance Away. Good recyclers will capture all coolants in the units which cause serious harm to the environment. In addition, they will recycle all the metal and foam contained in the old unit.
- GE and KitchenAid are offering additional manufacturer rebates on Energy Star Rated appliances now. Click on the company name for details.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net. We hope that Cash for Refrigerators is as successful as Cash for Clunkers. If you have been waiting to update your appliances, October will be an excellent time.
Home Insulating Paint Additive
Green News Alert: A new paint additive, Insuladd, developed by the government, cuts energy costs and reduces mold and mildew.
Insuladd insulating paint additive increases the “Mean Radiant Temperature” of any home or office and provides energy savings by reflecting and dissipating heat. Reports show an average decrease in utility bills of 20 percent (and, as high as 40 percent for in some homes) after a home or building has been painted with the additive.
Product Features:
- Increase the R value by making paint insulating.
- It is safe and non-toxic
- It can be applied to roofs, walls and ceilings. Interior or exterior.
- It works in hot or cold climates.
- Reduced heating and cooling costs, while increasing comfort.
- It prevents mold and mildew by blocking moisture and condensation.
- It can be added to any house paint.
- Can be used for all residential or commercial paint applications
Tips for Using the Product:
- Add the mixture to your paint, then stir throughly before applying.
- If you want a satin or gloss finish, add Insuladd to the primer coat and first coat. Apply a finish coat without the additive.
- If you want a high gloss coat on trim, don’t use the additive.
- Insuladd will leave a very slight texture to the walls that can be felt, but usually isn’t visable. It may hide cosmetic defects such as gouges, dents and surface imperfections if 2 coats are applied.
- Insuladd is ideal for light colored paints and you will notice no change in the color of your paint.
- If you are using a dark paint, Insuladd may lighten the color by up to one shade. If this is a problem, tint the paint one shade darker at purchase.
- Don’t pour the mixture into a one gallon paint can to avoid overflow. The additive will overfill a full gallon of paint. Pour the paint into a 5 gallon can, add additive and mix. Left over paint with additive can be stored in the original container for touch ups.
Paint, insulate, save money on energy bills, increase the comfort of your living space, prevent mold and mildew. What’s not to love.
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Rent A Goat and Forget the Mower.
Being raised in rural Missouri, the concept of using goats (goating out a property) to clear and maintain land is not a new one. But, for many people, the idea of using goats, instead of noisy mowers, to help with the chores is an option they never considered.
Goats, What’s Not to Love? In addition to being very cute and smart, goats are great at clearing brush and weeds without using gasoline, polluting the air or disturbing the peace. Mowing by goat means less work for busy people, it is chemical free and the little darlings automatically fertilize as they work.
Even Silicon Valley and other metro area’s are looking to the environmentally, friendly goat as a non-tech means of maintaining their grounds and property. Google “hired” 200 goats to maintain the grounds at its Mt. View, CA headquarters. Yahoo, located just a stones throw away, must have loved the idea because they also rented goats to cut their grass. Even cities are joining in the goat movement. Mesa, AZ has used goats to maintain the land around their water reclaimation plant for quite some time.
All “Kidding” Aside…. If Rent-A-Goat appeals to your lazy and green side, renting one is as easy as locating your nearest goat farm. Or, you can visit GoatFinder.com, which has a directory for goat rentals for 10 states. But beware before you rent, using goats has risks, like a deep attachment. Goats are so cute and friendly, it can be very hard to say Goodbye when the work is done.
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Urban Chickens Take Roost
Cluck, Cluck…Do the funky chicken. A new movement is occurring across urban area’s and cities in the country, namely raising chickens for “pure” food, fun and profit.
Not just a hobby for hippies. Today, urban Chicken farming has caught fire in some of the most sophisticated cities from coast to coast. Madison, WI was among the first cities to allow limited numbers of chickens. New York city has allowed chickens for years. Other major metro area’s which give a thumbs up to fresh eggs from suburban back yards include: Chicago, IL; Albuquerque, NM; Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; and many other major area’s.
- Don’t Run Afowl of the Law: If raising cute little chicks appeals to you, make sure you know the laws in your area before you buy a cool coop. Many cities, or nosy neighbors, may take issue. For example, in Kansas City, MO, the birds can’t roam or be raised within 100 feet of a home or business. No Crowing Roosters in Madison, only layers are allowed. Some cities limit the number of chickens on residential property to 5 or 6. So, please check the law before you get too excited about raising your own omelet.
Birds Eye View: After looking into the new trend, we give a thumbs up for the chickens coming home to roost. With Americans ripping up sod to grow victory gardens, aren’t chicken’s a natural next step? And, who doesn’t think fresh eggs are better for your family and better tasting? What do we have to lose? Chickens are cool and advocates for urban chickens say that they are quieter and cleaner than dogs. And, children of all ages love feeding them and gathering their own breakfast eggs. 
Chickens are a Good Thing. For more information about raising chickens in your backyard, visit BackYardChickens.com, which boasts 30,000 members or urbanchickens.org.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net, your homes for sale or lease FREE website. Please search through our listings for some great deals, and find a roost of your own!! For an MLS and Realtor.com listing for owners, builders and investors, click here.
Warren Buffet says “Buy American”
Made in the USA
We love Warren Buffet and we couldn’t agree more. American’s need to support American business, while we still have businesses to support.
I would like to take this opportunity to let our customer’s know that our InfoTube and InfoBox, outdoor document container’s, are made 100 percent in the USA. We employee the disabled and handicapped to bring the InfoTube, the original and #1 selling product of its kind, to the marketplace. And, The InfoBox is made by US workers in Erie, PA. In addition, we buy from only US supplier’s when we purchase the materials that go into making our products.
So, take it from Warren. Buy InfoTube or InfoBox for your marketing needs and you buy American. You can purchase our products from a lot of American businesses such as, your local sign company, real estate board or major retailers such as Lowes and Home Depot.
We appreciate your business and thank you for supporting us over these past 20 years!!!!
Bug Off — Plants that Naturally Repel Pesky Insects Away
Another unforeseen problem buzzing around foreclosures and the bad economy is the dramatic increase in the mosquito and garden pest population.
Many entire neighborhoods now feel the sting, as millions of vacant properties, along with those owned by cash strapped homeowners, have turned overgrown lawns, swimming pools, hot tubs, water gardens and koi ponds into insect breeding grounds.
Before you light the citronella candles or coat yourself in insect repellent, consider heading to your local garden center for relief. Some plants are natural insect repellents and keep summer bugs away, while improving the curb appeal of your home.
NATURAL “BUG OFF” PLANTS
Marigolds–Marigolds don’t have the greatest smell, but mosquito’s and other pests literally hate it. The bright, inexpensive and easy to grow annual is a proven workhorse in deterring pests around patio’s porches and vegetable gardens.
Catnip– In addition to being a favorite of your beloved feline, catnip is 10 times more effective than DEET when it comes to repelling the universally hated and dangerous mosquito. The annual plant grows easily in a sunny, dry location like the one found around most patio area’s.
Lemon Thyme– Smells and Tastes Great to Humans. Its lemon scent is a wonderful to smell as you walk or brush by and its lemon flavored leaves can be used in salads or recipes calling for lemon or lemon zest. This perennial grows great in most climate zones, requires little to no watering and thrives with a little sunshine.
Lemon Basil– Is another plant that smells great to people and is delicious to eat with summer tomato’s. Lemon Basil is a tender annual that needs watering. It is does self sow, but buy starter plants versus sowing seed packets for the best results with this yummy option to a pest problem.
To learn more about natural insect deterrents and repellents click here.
Cash Back Rebates and Incentives for New and Existing Homes
Learn about rebates, loans and subsidies for energy saving upgrades to your home at the non-profit website http://www.dsireusa.org/ .
The Database of State and Federal Incentives for energy efficiency is comprehensive, well organized and a great resource for the “ever changing” programs available to taxpayers. It features easy links for federal, state, local rebates and loan programs for a variety of home improvements from adding insulation to replacing an old water heater.
Readers would be wise to check with the DSIREUSA website before making decisions about home improvements or home building. Also, if you have made home improvements during 2007, verify with your accountant that all deductions and credits for qualified improvements have been included on your tax return before April 15th.
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Zero VOC Paint Improves your Home
I often refer to “painting” as the ideal home improvement. Considering the nominal cost and ease of application, nothing compares with a simple coat of fresh paint and its ability to update and freshen our homes. The downside of painting was the overwhelming smell that remained afterwards.
Now, thanks to new, innovative products, paint is stink-free and a better value than ever before. You can increase the value of your home, improve the environment and your health, by repainting with Zero VOC paints.
VOC is the acronym for Volatile Organic Compounds. Simplified, VOC is noxious odor we smell after applying fresh paint. VOC ratings for paint measure the amount of materials that come out of our paint as it dries. The EPA has determined that architectural coatings account for 9% of all the offgassing that damages our ozone layer and environment, which is reason enough to choose Zero VOC paints.
Thankfully, we have a number of new choices in innovative paint products. My personal favorite is www.greenplanetpaints.com , which I believe to be an ideal role model for this country and the paint industry.
Their beautiful paints are made from sustainable, natural materials such as clay, mineral pigments, soy extracts, etc., which bring VOC’s emissions to Zero. In addition to lessening environmental impact, Green Planet Paints is pro-America, purchases all materials locally and hires the disabled to make their paints.
Tip: When selecting a Low or No VOC paint, keep in mind that the government only rates the paint base for VOC. The colorant that is added to the base is not yet calculated into the VOC total. This means until the rating system changes, you should look deeper than the overall, advertised rating to ensure your paint is not emitting VOC into your home.
If you are selling your home, tell home shoppers that your home is painted with Zero or Low VOC paint. Today’s buyers are placing a higher value on healthy and environmentally friendly homes. If smart sellers pay attention to their needs, the market will reward the effort.
“Televator” Makes Attic Access Easy
Luggage, Holiday Decorations, High School Year Books, Baby Beds packed long ago…for most of us, the list of boxes and items we save for future use quickly stack up and block access to items we need today. What to do? Simply look up. Not to heavens, but to all that space above our heads…the attic.
If you have determined that the attic is safe for storage, but you haven’t determined how to get there safely and conveniently, the telescoping attic ladder named Televator may be the answer.
Unlike traditional folding access stairs, the Televator requires little effort to use and less room to open and set up. It’s unique design makes it an excellent choice for the small closets and hallways where attic access is usually located. If you have a hole in your ceiling, the unit is easy to install, even for do-it-yourselfers. Televator is completely assembled and the only tools required for installation are a drill and a wrench for putting in the lag bolts.
The Televator can handle up to 250 lbs and the 8 foot model retails for around $199. The Televator may be just the answer for storing seldom used items right over your head. For more information or to locate a dealer visit http://www.wernerladder.com/