Will It Be Worth The Cost To Switch Over To Solar Energy?

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Just about everyone has heard about solar energy and realize it’s great for the environment, but many people do not know the reason. There’s a lot of advantages of solar energy, nevertheless there are also a few bad things which you have to know prior to spending money on it.

It’s a fact that installing solar panels can greatly decrease one’s energy spending, and this is one of the main incentives for people. A fantastic benefit of working with solar panels is you can say bye to those money draining monthly energy bills. The drawback, nevertheless, is the fact that the cost of converting to solar energy can be quite high. Initially, you’ll have to fork out a large sum of cash for the panels and installation, but in the long run you’ll save cash and you’ve essentially got a free power source once you have earned back your investment. Your pay back period of time will apparently take longer in case you are a light user of electrical energy, in comparison with an additional person who is a heavy user. You may be lucky and obtain help with the up front cost from an unexpected origin, since your government may provide motivation for you to set up solar energy panels.

The second most essential thing going for solar energy is that it’s environmentally friendly. It’s uncontaminated as there are no emissions or burning at all, unlike conventional fuels that contaminate the air with a multitude of gases that are both harmful to the environment and to our wellness. Global warming and acid rain are two leading environmental worries, and solar energy doesn’t contribute to these at all. The sun is the supreme source of solar energy, and as long as it keeps giving off energy, solar energy will remain freely available to us.

Likewise, solar energy is quite discreet as it can be installed on the top of buildings, meaning it’s not an eyesore – unlike wind turbines. Nevertheless, if you have solar panels on the ground, they can blight the landscape just like wind turbines, so it’s essential to think of their location and positioning. You must likewise ensure they’re installed in a spot that gets a lot of sun, or else they’re pretty pointless. They’re likewise discreet in terms of noise and smell, as they make no noise and no awful smells.

Solar energy systems don’t need maintenance, except for initial installation and they will last for a long time, which means you can set them up and leave them there for several decades. However, one common concern is that nighttime means “lights out” for solar energy. So that you have energy at night, you can install a battery, or other back-up system. The only cost here is for getting them installed, as they are going to be recharged free of charge with solar energy. Be sure to invest in a good deep cycle battery charger too!

You should most definitely investigate solar energy as an alternative energy source. It’s clean and saves you money in the long term, even though there are initial costs to set it up. If high energy costs are a concern for you, and you wish to lessen your carbon footprint, solar energy offers a fantastic solution.

Categories: Remodeling

Closet Organization Ideas For Smaller Closets

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We all want big luxurious closets like the celebrities display on TV shows like MTV cribs and the Kardashians reality series. The truth is it’s just not a reality for most of us. If you are living in a home built before 1990 then chances are your closet is too small for your needs.

It can be a challenge to try and get all your belongings sorted in a small closet but trust me, you can do it. It may mean you have to be a little more particular about what you keep and a little more creative with your small closet organization ideas.

Money is often an issue with most people and space is an even bigger concern so we have to play the hand we are dealt for the time being. This means revamping our existing reach in or small walk in closets. I suggest a once a month sweep through your closet to see if there are things you can eliminate. (there always is)

Let’s face it, we all hang onto items way too long because we think we will wear them again, but we won’t. This is where having a larger closet can be just as much of a hassle. Those who have large closets tend to hang onto “clutter” longer because they have the room for it. So smaller closet owners actually have an advantage. I bet you never thought of it that way.

Purge

Start by emptying your closet completely and Im sure you will be amazed at what you have that you really don’t need or wear. Separate items into 3 piles:

  • Donate or sell items
  • Storage bin items
  • Items you want to keep in the closet

This will allow you to see what you have and allow you to find the right closet organizing tools to get the process underway. It is always good to start fresh when doing a closet revamp. Clutter is depressing and can be overwhelming. Starting from zero let’s the mind relax and get creative.

Go Vertical

  • Install a double hanging rod
  • Install adjustable shelving
  • Install storage racks or cubby’s

Utilize wall space as much as possible. If you have shelving all the way to the ceiling then you can store out of season items up top. Perhaps use storage cubes or bins and label them. Invest in a step stool as well if you don’t already have one so you can access these items when the appropriate time arises.

Tip: If money is tight then use old shoe boxes to storage not only shoes but accessories like scarves, ties, belts etc.

Use Closet Door

The closet door often gets neglected but it can be your best friend in a smaller closet situation. Hanging over the door organizers are perfect for the back of the door. These are great for any closet especially children. Most over the door storage includes multiple storage pouches for shoes or for accessories. Literally anything you can fit in them is appropriate and most of them can be found for under $20.

Tip: Try Amazon.com for the best deals

Categories: Home Decor

What Should You Use To Paint Your Cement Floor

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Lots of people are under the mistaken belief that if they are going to paint a floor then they can just use any old paint at all and everything will be OK. This is just not true. Oh sure, you will get a nice looking result for a while but it will just peel off again within a few weeks or months. For floor painting you want to use the proper paint and you want to prepare the surface to take the paint.

There are two types of cement floor paint that work really well. The first is an enamel and then second is epoxy. Of these two, I would go with the epoxy as it will give you a longer life and it is really tough. Epoxy is the type of paint that is used in most auto repair garages and commercial fleet maintenance shops. You can imagine how much wear and tear these floors see in a years time and the epoxy stands up great.

If you decide on epoxy, which will give you the longest life, then you have another choice to make. You can choose from either a one-part water based epoxy floor paint, or the industrial grade two-part solvent based. Both of these have their benefits and downsides and you just need to weigh them to find out which is right for you.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Water Based Epoxy

Water based epoxy paints are a relatively new product on the market. They were developed for the homeowner who wants the benefits of an epoxy surface but don’t want the hassles. The water based paint is easy to apply and clean up is done with just soap and water. Another added benefits is the dramatic decrease in the amount of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) which are gassed off during the curing process. This fact makes it much safer to use indoors.
The main down side is the resulting thickness of the coating. After the water has evaporated the epoxy layer will be about 3 mils thick. This is three thousandths of an inch and is only about one third the thickness found with the industrial grade.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Two-Part Epoxy Paint

The number one advantage to using the two-part epoxy product is the thickness of the coating once it is cured. With the water based product over half the can is filled with water that just evaporates off. The solvent based product is almost 100% solids which means it goes on a lot thicker and it cures to a thick coating. Since this type of epoxy has been used since the 1960’s we can see many applications that have lasted for decades with very little wear showing.

If you have surface that takes a lot of abuse like a working garage or an industrial area then the two-part system is well worth your money.

The two main disadvantages of this type of epoxy paint are the VOCs and the cleanup. Since it is solvent based the curing process will release dangerous gases into the atmosphere. It is very important to have a lot of air flow through the area you are treating to try to mitigate the potential harm. Also, be sure to read the hazard label on the container to see if a respirator is recommended.
Clean up can be a real pain since the epoxy will start to set up about 10 minutes after you mix the resin and hardener together. Most professionals use throw away tools so they don’t have to hassle with cleaning.

Although the two-part epoxy paint products do have some downfalls they can’t be beat for a long lasting, hard and durable coating to be applied to a cement floor.

Categories: Garage

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