Today there are a wide range of recycled building materials available. These materials reduce landfills, are affordable, can be found locally, and will spark artistic creativity in building projects.

Items as simple as empty glass bottles, metal cans, wooden pallets, cardboard, and dirt filled tires have been used to create livable buildings. Reclaimed hardwood can be turned into tabletops, desks, or headboards. A simple outdoor deck can be built from reused wooden pallets and plywood. Old license plates can serve as roofing (more…)

Attics contain cold air in the winter and hot air in the summer. Insulation in the attic is what keeps the hot or cold air contained. Insulation is rated by its R-value or thermal resistance. The thickness of the insulation does not affect its R-value. The value is determined on how well it contains thermal air. Proper R-value insulation will prevent hot air from entering the home in the summer and escaping in the winter. Thermal resistant (more…)

Water has been in the news a lot lately, and not always in a good way. Water restrictions are common and drought in Texas has led to disastrous wildfires. On top of that, sometimes municipal water systems have extremely high or uneven pressure. This can result in unpleasant noises in your pipes and even damage your plumbing.

The solution is a whole house water restrictor that controls the flow of water. Although these restrictors can lower water pressure, they will make sure any whole house water filter you are (more…)

Dramatic improvements in recycling technology and collection systems over the years have made recycling easier than ever, and community-based recycling programs are sprouting up everywhere. Establishing one near you can be a fun, rewarding process.

First, check the availability of recycling services in your area. Cities with populations greater than 20,000 usually either have their own recycling centers or share such resources with nearby towns, meaning a processing center should never be too far. Pickup services vary from city to city, but most are free of charge and happen at regularly scheduled intervals, usually once a week. Pickups have (more…)