Window treatments are often one of the best ways to accent or complete the design of a room, and trying to find the perfect ones is rarely an easy task. However, besides increasing aesthetic, the right window coverings and treatments can greatly increase the energy efficiency of your windows, and you don’t have to sacrifice a nice look either.

When shopping for great window coverings and treatments, simply keep the following about each in mind so that you can purchase those that will be well worth the money spent:

Awnings

In the summer, awnings can greatly reduce the amount of solar heat coming in to your home – nearly 65 percent on southern windows and 77 percent on westerns windows. While older styled awnings were often deemed unattractive because of their metal which quickly faded in color and had to be replaced regularly, they are now made of more attractive synthetic fabrics.

Regardless of which type of awning you decide to purchase for your windows, make sure that they have grommets, or eyelets, which will allow for proper ventilation, so heat doesn’t get trapped in the awning. Also try to choose a hood styled awning as these are the most effective at blocking direct sunlight.

Interior Blinds

During the winter, interior blinds aren’t always very effective. Because of their numerous openings, they are quick to let out heat and cold air in. However, in the winter, interior blinds are highly effective, as they can reduce incoming heat by up to 45 percent. So if you want effective interior blinds, make sure to get those with minimal openings with thicker and more highly reflective slats.

Draperies

Don’t be afraid to rotate your draperies to better accommodate your weather. During the winter, you will want to put up heavier draperies and keep them closed at night to reduce heat loss by 10 percent. You will again, want to open these windows on a bright and sunny winter day to draw in as much heat as possible.

During the summer however, you will want to keep your drapes closed during the day and keep them in the medium colored family preferably with white backings. This should help reduce heat gain by 33 percent. Regardless of the season, you will also want to place a cornice box over your drapes and seal the sides with a quick strip of velcro to further control heat gain and loss by 25 percent.

While hunting for that perfect window treatment or covering can seem like an endless hunt after numerous trips to the home design or renovation store, finding ones that are both aesthetically pleasing and energy efficient can benefit a room in more ways than one. Not only will they make a room pleasing to your eye and comfortable for your guests, but great window treatments can also help you save on those utility bills which seem to be getting higher with each passing year.

When it comes to the problems of architecture, there are a lot of professionals who turn to nature to find solutions. The result of ‘biomimicry’ doesn’t only consist of interesting looking buildings, but this way it is also easier to integrate the buildings into an eco-friendly system.

(photo credit: www.ecofriend.com)

1. Fake Hills

Fake Hills is a building in Beihei that is supposed to offer housing to people, and just as the name suggests, the building has the shape of hills. It comes with undulated roofs. The good thing about the shape is that it secures automated air cleaning.

2. ITC Corporate Towers

The main point of this project has been sustainability. The interesting thing about the building is that it also accommodates vegetation that is able to grow vertically. There is a double skin system used, that doesn’t allow the heat of the sun to get in, but it uses the natural sunlight to maximum.

3. Gaudi’s Masterpiece

It is known that Gaudi turned to nature when he was looking for inspiration. This way the building ended up having a roof in the shape of magnolia leaves. Other elements that have been inspired by nature include the spiral staircases, gargoyles and honeycomb gates.

4. Cultural Center

This building can be found in Meudon La Foret, France. The building is made of organic concrete shells that look quite fragile, but in reality are very strong. In order to offer light to the building, there are photovoltaic cells on the walls. It has the shape of a canopy with trapezoidal walls.

5. Pini Pigneto

The focus of the design is on trees with leaves. The leaves in reality are solar panels that have been placed to get maximum sunlight and not to shed a shadow on the other panels. The trees are connected at the top for them to have more support. The good thing about the design is that it offers shade and it makes sure that the cells get charged.

6. Leaf House

This is a residential complex located in Australia. The roof of the building looks like a pile of leaves. The design makes sure that there is as much sunlight as possible in the house, but it limits the penetrating heat to reduce the energy use. The house blends in with the rest of nature, and so you feel like you are in the garden while you are actually inside the house in maximum comfort.

Before we can even start thinking about growing organic fruits or vegetables, there is another factor that we have to consider: organic soil. This is the most important aspect of gardening that is sometimes overlooked by the beginner gardeners.

In case the soil has a high quality, you will be able to grow the vegetables faster and most probably you won’t have to handle pests and diseases that often. When preparing the soil you have to think about water retention and also about the balance of the nutrients.

Soil nutrients

There are three main nutrients that you have to think about: phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. In order to have an idea regarding what you have to do, you should start with testing the soil.

In some cases even if you buy the soil from a composting company it might have deficiencies of nitrogen, for example.

Nitrogen

This is an important nutrient during the growing phase of the plants. The truth is that the plants don’t actually use nitrogen, but nitrates that are created by specific bacteria from nitrogen. The only downside of nitrogen is that it washes quickly from the soil and this is why it has to be replenished before or during the growing season.

Nonetheless it is important to remember that too much nitrogen can do harm. You could have huge and strong plants that don’t produce fruits. Some of the gardeners add coffee beans to the soil because they are rich in nitrogen, but, on the other hand, the procedure increases the acidity of the soil.

Phosphorus

In case the soil is rich in phosphorus, the plants will have strong roots and it is also important during the flower production. Add the phosphorus during the fall. One aspect to consider is that during the growing period the plants need more nitrogen, while during flower production it is better to have more phosphorus.

Potassium

This is a nutrient that improves the overall well-being of the plants through improving their immune system. This is done by supporting the production of proteins and carbohydrates that are important for the growth of the plant. Just as nitrogen, potassium also washes away easily, and so it needs to be replenished.

One of the best sources to replenish potassium is to add wood ash to the soil. Still you should remember that it increases the acidity of the soil, so it is suitable only for alkaline soil.

pH

This is another aspect to consider, because this shows the level of acidity of the soil. The higher the acidity, the lower the pH value is. The values vary between 1 and 14, and 7 represents the neutral value.

In case you managed to create the perfect soil, you could use it in case of a greenhouse, to make use of it all year long. Visit this website to find what you have been looking for. There are numerous designs and all of them are durable and sturdy, as they are supposed to be.

Most probably you have heard about propagators before, but you may not know which one to choose for different purposes. You should know that there are different kinds of them, and in the end you just have to choose the one that works best for your purposes.

Vitopod heated propagators

This is a propagator that has won different kinds of awards, so you can be sure that it will create the perfect environment for the seeds, over-wintered plants and cuttings. It took the specialists 5 years to create the product, but the end result was worth it.

The product offers you precise control. You can set the temperature between 1°C and 30°C. You will be able to see the current temperature and the set temperature. In case of the over-winter plants, you should be using the low temperatures.

The high temperatures are just great for the exotic plants and seeds. The middle temperatures can be used for everything else.

In order to offer a precise control of humidity as well, the lids and sides come with larger vents. One of the biggest advantages of the product is that it provides even heat, so that some of the plants won’t be too hot or too cold. You can be sure that in case you opt for this product you won’t have to be looking for another one anytime soon.

It is made of acrylic and it is protected against UV deterioration. The product looks good when you buy it and for sure it will look good years later as well. It comes with 12 months warranty.

Hydropod cuttings propagator

If you would like to make sure that the cuttings will survive, this is the product that you should be looking for. It can offer the right level of moisture through spraying a mist over the cuttings. Also it protects the cuttings against fungal infections and root rot.

The good thing about the technology that is used in this case is that it makes the plants grow faster so that their roots will reach the water. Because of this in only 10-14 days the cuttings will develop roots and they will be ready to be transferred to pots.

You have total control of humidity with the help of the vents, and the roots of the plants have unlimited access to water and oxygen. In case you opt for the heated version of the product, you can be using it anywhere, not only in a heated greenhouse.

Another great thing about the product is that it comes with a reservoir that has water enough for 7 days. This means that you don’t have to check the water levels every day, and you can even go on a vacation without having to worry about your cuttings.

Unheated propagators

These products are just great to protect the plants against the frost. They are multipurpose products, serving as a greenhouse, propagator and cold frame. You have a good control of the humidity level through the vents.

Have you been doing the same thing in your garden, year after year? Would you like to change the routine? Maybe it is time to make a change and try getting a glasshouse. Getting one could mean a great new project for you, and they could ensure you that you have access to organically grown fresh vegetables. They are also great even in case you would only like to have a sanctuary to keep your favorite plants safe from pests and cold.

Having a glasshouse has numerous benefits, such as the fact that you can protect your plants against the heat of the summer and you can control the cold of winter as well. You will have the possibility to grow a wide range of plants over a longer period of time. You also protect the soil against the damaging effects of the rodents and insects, thus protecting the plants.

Before you actually get a glasshouse or you build one, you should take a look at the kind of glasshouses that are available. Also consider the amount of money that you are willing to invest in the glasshouse itself, the supplies and the continuous maintenance.

There are 2 main types of available glasshouses: freestanding and attached.

The freestanding glasshouses are perfect for the serious gardeners that would like to create a glasshouse from ground up. It takes more time to build such a glasshouse and it needs plumbing, electricity and heating. In order to get it done, you might need to hire a building contractor and a heating expert to suggest you the suitable building materials for the glasshouse.

In case you opt for the freestanding glasshouse, you will have the possibility to choose the location of the building and also the angle, so that it will face the sun. The professionals say that if you have this possibility build the glasshouse towards the north-south direction, the long side facing south. This way the glasshouse will get the most sunlight possible.

The majority of the freestanding glasshouses have peaked or curved roofs and since they have a rectangular or square shape, you will have a lot of space to grow your plants. When planning the location of the building you will have to take into consideration the size of it, drainage, sunlight and ventilation because all these factors influence the kind of plants that you will be able to grow.

The best types of plants to be growing in these glasshouses are the warm climate vegetables because they require a lot of sunlight, moderate night temperatures and also solar heat collectors. The majority of these plants are planted during the early spring and they include lima beans, corn, cantaloupe, tomatoes, squash and pumpkins.

In case you would like to have fewer problems when building the glasshouse, you should contact a professional company that has a lot of experience in building top notch glasshouses. In case you would like to see what such a company has to offer, you may find the most suitable glasshouse for your and your family’s needs.

Usually when it comes to building energy economic houses the most important counter argument is that the initial investment is so large that only a few people could even think about getting such houses. Nonetheless the winning project of the 2011 Solar Decathlon has proven people wrong from this point of view.

It has been the first time in case of prefabricated home building contests that the jury has evaluated the projects based on their affordability. Those teams that managed to create the home with less than $250,000 got whole points.

Nonetheless it has been quite surprising that only two teams managed to get those points. In this case the final costs have been of $229,000 and the projects have been created by Stevens Institute of Technology and Parsons the New School for Design.

This project got the name of Empowerhouse, and it is more important than the rest of the projects, because the project is going to be a part of Habitat for Humanity, becoming the home of a family from Washington D. C. once the competition ends.

In the moment when the team members entered the contest, they knew what they wanted and this is why they got a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. They managed to create a project that raises the bar from every point of view, becoming the first house of this kind in the region and making the competition go to another level.

The house has been built to be replicated, and, as it has been mentioned before, the team has been able to use as little money as possible. In the moment when other houses are going to be built as well, the costs will drop a little because the team has been using labor, while the Habitat for Humanity program is working with volunteers.

The house has been built for a given site and because of this the team has been forced to make some adjustments that might cost them when it comes to the points. Every little part of the house has been designed and created by the members of the team. The project will be tested and hopefully it will pass the standards of Passive House.

Since the house is using solar heat, the largest side of the house should be facing into the direction that has the most sunlight. Also the insulation is important, and this is why the project has cellulose insulation.

Saving energy is top of the agenda for more people than ever before – perhaps not enough people to save the planet from global warming, but at least the ball is rolling. The issue of energy usage is of paramount importance in this day and age, as we have seen in numerous media campaigns over the last few years.

Saving the planet starts at home. There are hundreds of dollars to be saved in every room in the house – and it is far easier than you might think. If you can so much as do one energy-saving activity per person,per room, per day, then you will not only be well on the way to saving yourself a bit of cash, but also to preserving the one and only planet we have to live on.

Here is a list of things you can do in each main room to save your money and our planet:

The Living Room

Unplug your TV set when you’re not using it. It might seem obvious, but it makes a big difference. TVs on standby consume approximately 80% of the power they do when they’re on, so you might as well be burning your money on an open fire. If you get everybody in your family to make sure they unplug it when they’re done using it, you’ll start to see the difference on your bills.

The Kitchen

Replace your old appliances. New appliances will have a much lower level of energy output than the ones you’ve had for 10 years. It might not seem that long since you got a new one, but technology is improving all the time. When you buy new appliances, make sure that you update your home contents insurance appropriately.

Realistically, renewing your appliances is only necessary once every few years so, to adhere to the one-thing-per-person-per-day rule, perhaps you could preheat your oven for half of the time when you cook dinner. Those 10,energy-less minutes could save you a fortune in the long run.

The Bedroom

Read by candlelight. Exchanging lamplight for candlelight is a wonderfully eco-friendly and green thing to do.If you currently read for an hour a night, you could save over 15 days’ worth of electric lighting over the course of the year. Depending on what kind of novel you are reading, it might even make you enjoy the whole experience even more!

The Bathroom

Turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth. The amount of water that is wasted during this (hopefully) frequent activity is ludicrous. Just imagine how many gallons you could save in your household over a year of teeth-brushing without the tap running. It’s literally like filling a glass up with water and leaving the tap on while you drink it, just so that you can wash it when you’re finished.

Changing the world is easy – and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home to do it.

It is a widely accepted fact that cooking at home is healthier than eating out, and also it is eco-friendlier than the other methods. Nonetheless there are some aspects of home cooking that are less than beneficial for this planet that we are living in.

Quite some time ago women have been collecting the grease that they used during cooking, and they reused it. In our days the majority of people simply throw it down the sink. Plumbers say that it is okay while you are also running soapy water down while doing so.

The truth behind this is that the grease coming from households represents one of the biggest problems because even the smallest amount builds up and causes sewer backups and blockages.

The oven door could also be considered an enemy of the environment. Every time you open it to have a sneak peak at the food you are preparing, the temperature gets 20-25 degrees lower.

This means that the cooking will take more time and it will need more energy to make up for the wasted heat. Also remember that pre-heating is also a waste except for the case of baked goodies.

The plastic bags also represent a threat. It might have happened to you that you found yourself buying plastic bags while you have eco-friendly bags at home or in the car. It could be a good idea to give it as a task to the children to remember about the bags. Also the majority of the plastic bags that you put the fruits and vegetables in are also useless. For example in the case of avocado you could as well place the fruit in the cart.

When cleaning the kitchen, there are numerous chemicals used. Although they keep the kitchen clean, they could be dangerous for both humans and the wildlife. We also have the possibility to opt for eco-friendly products, or to produce our own cleaning products.

Another big waste could occur in case you keep the fridge running, but you don’t really keep any food in it, or you keep inside only little food. This doesn’t mean that you should be running out and buy the food that otherwise you wouldn’t need. Get a fridge according to your needs.

There are several out of the box methods to minimize the work that the fridge has to do, including using bottles of water or crumpled up newspaper. Or simply, if outside is cold enough for the food not to go bad storing the food there and unplugging the fridge will save energy the natural way.

Turning your kitchen into a green paradise isn’t only a matter of design; selecting the right kitchen gadgets and sets is as important.

The topic for cooking green isn’t a new one, but yet cooking green is all about saving energy, cooking with the right foods and not on the last place, cooking with the right kitchenware. The new generation kitchen gadgets are manufactured in a green way and they can cut down your electricity bills, not to mention they are made to serve you the smart way.

One of the examples is the Hydrolon nonstick coating by Ecolution. The system is similar to Teflon, which produces the same coating, but the difference is in the water-based application system of Hydrolon.

The cookware works with a simple principle. When the nonstick is applied to the metal, the solvent evaporates the water, which is thousand times greener than any other kitchenware.

The application solvent creates fewer emissions, which make their way to the air we breathe. Another advantage of Hydrolon is its material.

The company producer is using only heavy aluminum, for it transfers the heat better. The silicone handles are another smart decision for they are more comfortable and they are heat resistant.

The Hydrolon comes with five dishwasher-safe cookware product lines; so you can check them out, in case you are interested in green cooking.

Another way to get rid of the waste is to decide, which kitchen gadgets to use. The choice between the microwaves and toaster ovens will be the cardinal one, for you probably are using them both.

If you take a look at their energy use, you will not be surprised that they both are not exactly green. The microwave uses 1100 watts, while the toaster is using 1700 watts. It’s easy to see that the microwave uses less energy, but this isn’t exactly a deciding factor, for the microwave oven can’t cook your food the way it is cooked in the toaster oven.

The good news is you can still use them both, thanks to their versatile options. In case your ovens are too old, they probably don’t have any mode for smart cooking. Therefore, here are few tricks how to use them in a green way. If you want less energy consumption, use the microwave oven only for reheating the food. The toaster should be used for food that cooks slowly.

The water purification technology is developing day after day. Nowadays almost anyone has a home filtration system. There are many ways to purify your water today, so here are few of the most successful ways to consume pure and healthier water. One of the oldest methods is distillation. Actually it is a method that is often recommendable, especially if you are having babies at home.

Distillation kills all the bad microbes in the water and makes it pure. The water filters are also a good way to kill the bad bacteria in the water, but you should choose the right filter.

Nowadays the most common water filters are equipped with artificial purifiers, but some of them can leave the minerals behind.

This causes an acid pH, so consult well with a specialist before choosing the right water purification system.

The so called eco water purifications are very good, but they are expensive. The good news is that there is already an affordable eco water purification system that is powered by solar energy.

A group of students in the University of Washington invented a low-cost water disinfection system that runs only with solar energy.

The setup is very useful for disinfecting the water, especially in poor areas or in places, where the water isn’t very clean. The device is going to be sold for 20$, which is a fair price for such an invention.