More Than A Number

In a time when many families are looking to cut both their expenses and their impact on the environment, solar power installations can seem like a win-win solution. Using less electricity means a lower electric bill, while investing in a form of renewable energy means a cleaner, more sustainable world tomorrow. However, it’s the investment portion that can be a problem for some these days, even when it means putting the money towards something as important as living greener.

Luckily, there are Southern California home builders and contractors out there who are working to make solar panels a more affordable option for everybody. Many are tired of seeing a continued dependence on fossil fuels that pollute the environment. And in a pollution heavy area like Los Angeles County, finding ways to cut back on contributing to the existing smog problem is an ongoing battle.

While green construction in Los Angeles continues to grow, some contractors are actually looking to create new business models that will allow consumers to ease off of electricity without the risk of losing power completely. This new business model allows consumers to essentially rent the solar panels for a monthly fee while still remaining connected to the local power grid. While their electricity bill won’t be eliminated completely, the amount that they save should be enough to offset the fee for the solar power panels. Some customers generate more solar energy than they use, but there currently isn’t a way for them to sell this extra energy to others who could use it. It’s possible that this could change in the future.

Leasing solar panels is a great option for those who aren’t prepared to take the plunge of purchasing, but what if you are ready to take that step? The first thing to do is find a reputable contractor who has experience working with solar panels. After all, you don’t want to spend the money that you save on your electricity bill correcting the problems left behind by a contractor who didn’t really know what they were doing. Get it done right the first time.

The Boeing Company has announced a new series of solar power installations at a 100-kilowatt power facility being built on the campus of Cal State Northridge. The installation of 23 high-concentration photovoltaic solar panels is a demonstration of a new technology created by its Spectrolab subsidiary.

The new XR700 solar panels are an example of the type of solar technology which can be very useful to Southern California home builders in the near future. The technology concentrates more sunlight on fewer cells, allowing the solar panels to produce the same amount of electricity with less panels and a lower cost.

The panels will initially help the university and surrounding community meet its power needs. However, the benefits of the new solar panel technology could be extensive for construction in Los Angeles. One set of solar panel installations can produce 3.5 kilowatts of electricity, which is enough to power the average home in the area.

 “This milestone is the result of a strong partnership between Boeing, the university, suppliers and other stakeholders to meet a growing energy need,” said Jeff Frericks, director at Boeing Energy Solutions.

Washing down pillows can be tricky. First, check if the label on the pillow states that it can be washed in a machine. If it is, check that the sewing around the pillow is secure.

Next, use a mild detergent for your down pillows. Wash in warm water – use a ‘gentle’ setting. If using a top load washing machine, it is recommended that you wash two pillows per washing cycle. It is very important that you remember to wash the down pillows on a ‘delicate’ setting – otherwise, you might end up damaging the down pillows.

Once the cycle is finished, you will need to rinse the down pillows twice on an extremely slow setting. This is in order to ensure that all the detergent is washed out. Once that is done – then set it on a low spin an extra two times to shake off the excess water, while not damaging the feathers.

When drying the pillows, use a ‘low heat’ setting. Keep in mind that between 4-6 hours is necessary to dry these down pillows. Keep fluffing up the pillows between drying cycles. Even if the pillow seems dry on the outside, keep in mind that they might actually still be damp inside. Keep drying the pillows until it is lump-free. If you want an added fluff to your pillows and a deliciously fresh smell, add a fabric softener sheet and a few clean tennis balls.

If the pillows you washed are not for constant use, then store them away in ‘breathable’ bags. If you use plastic bags, they will probably trap whatever moisture there is, which will then cause the pillows to decompose.

If you are in the process of settling on an air purifier, take these factors into consideration first.

How much does it cost? – take a look at how much the air purifier costs. If the model you are looking at is not the most expensive on the market, double check if it has all the features available on the other top-end models. If it does not, then you will regret having picked the model you are currently considering. Get the air purifier tested. Ensure that it is effective and is able to pick out bacteria and other odors and viruses from around the house.

Number of filters included and how much do they cost? – The more filters the air purifier has, the better. If the product you are currently considering has lots of filters, this will only mean that the air purifier will last longer. Before you decide on the mode, inquire regarding the cost of replacing such filters. Certain models will involve very expensive replacements and maintenance costs which you probably do not want to be hassled with.

The warranty – the better the air purifier, the longer it will last. These products also definitely have good warranty period. If the product comes with a long warranty period, this can only mean that the company has the fullest confidence in its best performance, which is essentially what you are looking to get out of it. An optimum warranty period is three years.

Reputation – before making the final decision to purchase the air purifier, inquire amongst friends and family regarding other users of air purifiers. This way, you can obtain their feedback regarding the models they chose and thus make an educated comparison.

Most insect or animal bites require a physician’s attention. Some even require you to get a tetanus shot. If there is no risk of infection, or no other wounds, then you could simply care for it at home.

Bleeding

It is important to let the blood flow freely, so that the bite cleans itself out. You should do this only if it is a small bite. If the bleeding becomes excessive, then apply pressure directly on the wound to stop it. If the bite starts to bleed severely, then it is recommended that you seek a physician’s help immediately.

Cleaning the Wound

Ensure that the wound is attended to right away. This will reduce the chances of it getting infected. Use cold water and soap to wash the wound. It is important that you use a mild soap. Ensure that the following products are not utilized: hydrogen peroxide, alcohol solvent, mercurochrome or iodine. Any of these items could immediately harm the tissues and affect the healing of the wound.

If the sting or bite is a mild one, then chances are that your skin has only been bruised. This is good as this means that the area affected does not have the potential to get infected.

In most cases, animal bites or stings are not closed up with sutures, staples or skin adhesives – as this increases the chances of it getting infected. However, consult your physician. If you are worried about scarring, then you might have to resort to one of the methods mentioned above, but you will have to be meticulous about it.

Choosing the right wine glasses for any occasion whether a party or a quiet, romantic sit down for two can work to the advantage of the connoisseur and speaks volumes of his/ her taste in the finer things of life.

Wines are broadly classified into the sparkling, white, blush, fruit/country, non-alcoholic and red varieties. Furthermore, as food and wine go hand in hand, particular wines go very well with particular types of meals, and therefore the glassware that is used differs from meal to meal, and should also differ for various reasons from wine to wine.

Here are some of the types of wine glasses that one can use for red, white and sparkling forms of wine:

1. For sparkling wines, the champagne flute is the most appropriate pick of the lot. Normally, used to serve carbonated wine such as champagne or cava, its slender top prevents the bubbles formed due to carbonation to escape easily, which would cause the wine to lose its flavor.
2. For red wines, larger wine glasses should be used which allows the drinker to swirl the glass. The reason why this is the best choice for red wine is because these large glasses help the wine to aerate while releasing the aroma and its flavor.
3. For white wines, they are normally served chilled and by picking a thinner glass, its narrow bowl will allow the wine to stay cooler. One should make sure that the glass is held by the stem in order to prevent heat loss.

If you are interested in new décor for your daughter’s room – the themes and resources available are endless. Keep things simple and try not to go overboard with the project. Most importantly, go with a theme that your daughter will like. Here are ten great ideas for decorating a ‘girly’ room:

Paint – Let her pick her favorite color. After all, it is her room. If you want to add more depth to the room, paint the opposite wall in a lighter shade. Let your creative juices flow, and decorate the ceiling? A couple of ideas would be glow-in-the-dark stars or perhaps even, a kaleidoscope of butterflies…

Bedding – If you are keeping the walls simple, then pick out interesting fun prints and colors to accentuate the room.

Use accents – Another way to brighten up the room is by adding in little things like pillows, rugs and bookshelves. Your daughter would love them if you can get these items in matching and bright colors that will stand out and give the room a unique look and feel.

Curtains and Blinds – A solid color is best for curtains and blinds. You do not want to overdo it, especially, since you already have prints for your bedding and other accents.

Mirrors – Girls love mirrors. Include one with a funky frame above her dresser – she will love it.

Chairs – Add in a little stool, floor cushions or even beanbags. Create a little reading corner.

Lighting – You must ensure that the room is well lit. Reading lights next to her bed and at her reading corner must be put in.

Soundproofing your room, be it the ceiling, walls or floors can be easily done. Most of the material is available online or at stores. Commonly used material for soundproofing includes vinyl mats, cotton batting, quilt, thick foam and acoustic panels.

Acoustic panels are easy to install and are only fitted on the outside of the wall. With acoustic panels, you also do not have to worry about hiding them, as they are made of material that looks good on your walls. They come in a range of designs and styles and vary from fabric-based panels to printed fabric as well as the micro-suede type.

The acoustic panels are made out of fiberglass and then framed in a fabric of your choice. If you want them to be made moveable, that too is possible. All you need to do is use a stand and put them up wherever you need it. The panels come in varying thicknesses to suit your sound proofing needs. Remember, the thicker acoustic panels can absorb bass a lot better than a thinner panel.

Installing acoustic panels in any room will ensure that sound is absorbed, while noise is controlled. Used in recording studios, the panels ensure that the sound in the room is clear and crisp sounding while home theatres with acoustic panels create the atmosphere of a cinema, ensuring good sound quality.

Sizes of acoustic panels vary from the minimum standard size of 2″x 4″ and the maximum size is 48″ x 120″. The thickness of panels range between ¾ inches to 3 inches.

Carpet stains can be quite a bother. There are quite a number of methods around on how to get rid of stains on the carpet. Below is a list of the most effective ones.

Lemon juice – This is one of the best stain removal assistants around. You can use store-bought lemon juice, put it in a spray container bottle, and spray quite liberally on the stained area. Try not to wet the padding as this could cause more problems later on. Allow the lemon juice to sit for a few minutes and then slowly blot the stain out.

Rent a carpet cleaner – Most carpets should be cleaned with proper equipment. Do not even try to do so with things that are not suitable. Your best option would be to rent a little machine to professionally clean your carpet. While this is reasonably priced, it should also be able to tackle any stains that are heavily set into the carpet.

Hire a company – If you do not have the time to professionally clean your carpets on your own, why not hire a company to do it for you? This is something you should consider doing at least once a year, as it not only ensures that your carpets get thoroughly cleaned, but also saves on time and energy.

So the next time someone spills a drink or some sauce on your carpet, do not fret. You have quite a few methods under your sleeve to get out of trouble, and not worry over a little stain in your carpet.

Love thy neighbour! You must. Otherwise things could get very frustrating. Take the time to be friends with your neighbour, or at least try to establish good terms with them. This has numerous benefits, making your neighbourhood more pleasant, safer and more comfortable to live in.

- Welcome new neighbours with a basket of goodies, a note or even a friendly chat
- Make sure your house and garden is kept neat and pretty
- Try not to be too noisy and disturb your neighbours. Loud music, talk, barking dogs must all be taken into consideration.
- If having a party at home, try to end them at a reasonable hour. Otherwise, invite your neighbours to it.
- If you borrow anything from your neighbours, make sure you return it as soon as possible. Do not forget to say thank you and maybe a little of token of appreciation.
- If your children or pets break or soil something that belongs to your neighbour, make sure you replace it, soon.
- Respect your neighbour’s privacy – in turn they will respect yours.
- If you neighbour is going away on a trip, why not offer to collect their mail, water plants and watch their pets.
- If neighbours are from a different cultural background, it might be interesting for you to take time to learn a few things from them as well.
- Invite neighbours over for a cup of coffee to discuss problems or for just a friendly chat.
- Throw an annual party/dinner to socialize with neighbours.