Chances are that when you see a picture related to global warming in the US, you see one of two images: a traffic jam in California or a large coal-fired power plant in the Midwest. These are big sources of carbon dioxide to be sure, but our work in putting our Environmental Impact Calculator together suggested that this wasn’t all fair. On average, Californians drive fewer miles per year than many other parts of the country (but at much slower speeds unfortunately), while there are dirty power plants and industries all over the place, not just in the Midwest. Without resorting to lots of charts and graphs, though, it’s tough to see all of this … until now.
A just-released study produced by the Vulcan Project at Purdue University shows US carbon emissions trends in a truly compelling (and scarily beautiful) way. The team has built some amazing graphical simulations that literally show the US “exhaling” carbon dioxide each hour of each day of the year. Huge clouds of CO2 are emitted each day, and much smaller amounts each night. The carbon cloud hovering over the US looks like a living, breathing organism that covers the map like a huge blob when energy use is the highest (make sure you watch the video beginning at the 2:30 mark to see this effect).
What’s it all say? Well, for one, certain areas stand out. California and the West have a few hotspots, but the map is dominated by the emissions coming from the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast. This makes sense, since the density of development (and thus population) in the eastern US is much higher, the use of dirty fuels such as heating oil and coal is greater, and the number of petrochemical and manufacturing plants is higher.
Two, it really brings home the point that we all have a role to play in cutting carbon emissions - regardless of where you live, we’re all contributing in a pretty significant way. So, have a few minutes of fun (and learning) watching the carbon blob eat the US, and then try our Environmental Impact Calculator to figure out what you can do. It happens to take many of these same factors into account, so you get a truly regional estimate of your carbon footprint.
Trim is an effective, if often overlooked, means of dressing up your home. It is like the bow on a finely wrapped gift which makes that gift stand out from others on the table and is an enticing invitation for whomever is lucky enough to unwrap it. In much the same way, your front door can be the focal point of your home and represent the feel or ambience of your home. Door trim, often referred to as door casing, is a great way to creatively enhance the style and grace of your front entry.
Recently, when tackling my own kitchen remodel, I learned a valuable lesson in the importance of spending a lot of time configuring the layout in advance. Given a fairly small space to work with, I did my best to plan the cabinet and appliance layout, working within the current structural restraints.
Although I had a fairly good plan, my neighbor happened to stop by one day and offered some valuable ideas. She had a computer program that took the kitchen dimensions and configured a variety of options. Having a visual really helped us rearrange the kitchen until we found a design that worked the best. We ended up building an enclosed back porch so that we could move the utilities out of the kitchen, allowing us more room for cabinetry. My own experience is an example of how it pays to “think outside of the box” and be willing to drastically change your layout.
Perhaps the biggest undertaking you can tackle when updating your home is the kitchen remodel. It can feel a bit like remodeling a spaceship in mid-flight. Yet it’s a project that many of us are eager to undertake. However, a kitchen in the midst of a remodel can be a fickle beast and can turn on you at any time. Many homeowners get caught up in those inevitable twist and turns. Here are the top 10 common mistakes made in kitchen remodeling and some hints for avoiding them.
Do you have a space problem? Have you been trying to find some way to increase your square footage? You can always build an addition, but not everyone has the space or the funds for that extensive of a project. Have you considered converting your attic into living space? The attic, that stuffy space you venture into as rarely as possible, can actually be turned into a cozy bedroom, a child’s playroom, a home office, or a bonus room.
Even though you are working within existing space, you will still need to obtain the proper permits. Begin by discussing with your contractor what possibilities are structurally feasible for your house. Your roof pitch will determine how large of a space you’ll have to work with. In order for the project to be possible, you need enough height in the room for an adult to stand up at least at the highest point. If you don’t have that much elevation to work with, your contractor can always raise the roof. If you’re going to invest in such a project, you want it to be done right. You will also need a way to access your new space, most likely by building a staircase.
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What’s it all say? Well, for one, certain areas stand out. California and the West have a few hotspots, but the map is dominated by the emissions coming from the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast. This makes sense, since the density of development (and thus population) in the eastern US is much higher, the use of dirty fuels such as heating oil and coal is greater, and the number of petrochemical and manufacturing plants is higher.