Archive for the ‘Electrical’ Category

I spent the weekend in Bend, OR and it was a stunning and urgent reminder that winter is on the way.  My favorite part of the trip? Camping out on the floor in front of the fireplace to warm up.  Maybe its those genes of ours that spent time as cavemen, or maybe its just that the warmth of a fire feels so relaxing after being out in the cold, but fireplaces are quick to top my list of winter survival essentials.

While I realize the convenience and ease of gas fireplaces, I’m not entirely sold on the idea.  I don’t think there’s a substitute for the crackling kindling and smoky aroma that makes a fireplace a fireplace.  Lets be clear, have you ever tried roasting a marshmallow over a gas fireplace? Besides feeling a little awkward, I’m betting there’s a good chance you could ruin your gas stove. 

Photo Credit: Elkins Resort

Nothing instantly cozies up your house in the winter like a smoldering fire in the hearth, and fireplace remodels are a great way to add charm and value to your home.  Not to mention all the benefits you’ll reap, cocoa in hand, watching the flicker and flash of your real fire.

There is this yard I absolutely adore.  It belongs to a smaller restored Cape Cod on a corner lot, and the charm is tangible.  I run past it in the mornings and can’t help but admire the artful vegetative appointments.  It’s well maintained and just the slightest bit wild, all with those careful touches that tell you how deeply the artist cares for the landscape. 

Photo Credit: Bainbridge Design Build 

And while this is all well and good, you might be wondering why this house is worth mentioning, and the answer to that came a few nights ago.  A few nights ago when, for the first time, I saw my favorite little lot under the graying dusk.  And while I’m generally conditioned to notice great landscaping, this little set up quite literally stopped me in my tracks. 

I suppose I had noticed the solar lanterns along the walk, even the lampposts, but in the dark, under the full glory of night, were lights strategically placed in ways I could never have dreamed up.  Hydrangeas lit from behind glistened with glittery blue brilliance, the accent lighting on the steps bathed the place in a soft ochre glow begging me to wander up to the front door, which I was very nearly almost compelled to do simply to meet the mastermind behind this nighttime garden wonderland. 

Photo Credit: Image Electric

It quite literally was the difference between night and day, all accomplished through some impressive, and probably very easy, landscape lighting.  It’s all in the lighting, and what a way to take this little yard from amazing to downright stunning with the flip of switch.

(Stats show that in 2003, the average American’s electricity bill added up to $81.42. http://www.grist.org/news/counter/2006/03/03/costs/

What would you do if you had that back? I might save up for a nice camera, a new bike… I’d wager you could come up with more than a few things you could throw that money towards. 

Who hasn’t imagined not having utility bills to pay every month? Even if the answer is no (unlikely) you could at least imagine if those bills were lower.  What if those bills went away entirely? What if, instead of owing money to the electric company, they owed YOU money? What a concept, huh?  That’s exactly what people who’ve invested in solar panels can expect to experience. 

Over the years, we’ve seen our electricity costs rise and the pinch is becoming more and more apparent as our resources strain to meet current demands.  Even if your concerns are less environmental and more economic, solar panels make more than enough sense to take a look at.

In some cases you can still receive tax credits for the panels: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=153397,00.html

Then you can sit back and relax knowing your electricity bill will be dwindling away into nothingness, while you save up for a new set of golf clubs or some scuba lessons. 

So, what would you do with it?

Photo Credit: ScubaMarcos.com