Rather than representing a niche market, sustainable and eco-friendly materials and features now account for a significant share of business, according to more than one third of builders surveyed by the National Association of Home Builders in the United States. And by 2022, the number is expected to reach 50...
Buying a house is a major milestone. Once you’ve unpacked and settled in, take some time to relax in your new space. New homeowners often find that after this initial, well-deserved rest, they’re excited to make some changes and take on some home improvement projects. From money-saving upgrades to landscaping...
Designing your dream home? It’s an exciting time. You get to customize everything from your interior color palette to your landscaping. It’s easy to focus on the visual elements, but don’t forget that building a home can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve your energy footprint for good. For many...
(BPT) - Americans love luxury and technology, so it's no surprise that the two are meeting and thriving in one of our favorite places - the bathroom. Just as technology is transforming every other area of the house, inside and out, it's recreating our concept of what constitutes a luxurious...
Environmentally-conscious families are now looking to turn away from fossil fuels and other polluting forms of power generation. Driven to cleaner energy resources, numerous private sector companies and nonprofit organizations have begun to seriously invest in the growth and development of solar technology, such as low-cost solar photovoltaic cells. Capable...
Increasingly, households concerned with energy efficiency are turning to natural gas as an environmentally friendly energy alternative to fuel their homes. Natural gas is considered the cleanest of all fossil fuels, as well as an inexpensive source of energy. It’s a nonrenewable fuel, which is created when layers of plants...
(BPT) - It's now easier than ever for homeowners to transform their homes into models of green living thanks to the growing availability of affordable, energy-smart building products and materials. From replacing incandescent light bulbs to reviewing the energy rating on new appliances, more homeowners are making informed decisions on...
(ARA) - Today's modern fireplaces with stylized flames surrounded by colored glass and shiny metal are worlds away from the traditional brick fireplaces of yesteryear. Modern fireplace design is pushing boundaries with radical ideas that incorporate both function and beauty. As the focal point of a room, fireplaces are where people...
(ARA) -- Heating and cooling systems account for 56 percent of energy used in a typical home, making it the largest energy expense for most households, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Making smarter decisions about your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system can help you save money...
(ARA) - As the weather begins to cool, we start preparing our homes for the winter season. Closing up the house and using your heater can really have an impact on indoor air quality. The best way to keep the air in your home clean throughout the cooler months is...
