For most of us the purchase of a period or listed property is a dream or otherwise a pretty big investment of both finance and time. It can be considered that whatever the state of the property or era in which it was made there is always renovation work to be completed.

Period properties are notoriously inefficient. Whether it is the big gaps between doors and floorboards or the lack of any insulation whatsoever; large energy bills come with the project. But what if you don’t want to settle for large energy bills? What if you want to reduce your carbon footprint? Below we highlight a number of DIY projects which can instantly transform your leaky period home into a snugg efficient castle.

Green DIY for Period Homes

Replace/add roof insulation

By far and away the update which will have the biggest impact. Most period properties are totally lacking in the roof insulation department and as such it should be one of the first things you look at. Adding insulation shouldn’t fill you with DIY fear either; in most cases the procedure is straight forward (changing slightly if you have flooring upstairs or not). Either way adding roof insulation could trim your energy consumption by 25% and have little to no impact on the look of your property.

Eco Friendly Sash Windows

Windows are one of the biggest areas of heat/energy loss from a period home and as such updating/replacing them should be high up your list of priorities. However be wary of signing up with just any window company as you may end up with efficient but ugly PVC alternatives; which will totally change the appearance of your home. Instead look for companies which specialize in replicating your existing style or even repairing them. English Heritage suggests that by repairing your windows you can reduce heat leakage by as much as one third. Add draft proofing too and efficiency is improved by 86%.

Pick a new door with period design features

Unfortunately wood is amongst the least efficient material a front door can be made from. It is also unfortunate that all the original period doors tend to be made from it as well. There is however an alternative in the form of a composite door, which are manufactured using 21^st century technology but feature period design character. Be sure to show around though as different door manufacturers produce doors of differing efficiency. You are looking for the lowest U-value rating available (around 1.0W/(m2.K).

Invest in cavity insulation

Most homes built after the 1920s should have cavity walls, which means filling them with insulation will boost the overall efficiency of your home and not have any effect on the look of your property. The problem is with older homes built without cavity walls as previously energy efficiency would be gained by hiding features such as stone or woodwork. A recent study by SPAB however concluded that 79% of old walls (including timber, cob, limestone and slate) retained heat better than expected. If you do choose to insulate your walls, make sure you choose a suitable material. Older walls need to ‘breathe’ to function properly and a non-breathable material could cause damp problems down the line.

These ideas on how to reduce home energy consumption were brought to you be Nick Williams. Nick works for Yale Door who manufactures energy efficient, U-value compliant composite front doors.

Environmental Benefits of Your Lawn

Beautiful, healthy lawns improve air quality, particularly in urban areas with high instances of pollution. Dust and dirt released into the air by automobiles, factories and our homes is trapped in the grass bed and prevented from being re-released into the atmosphere. Once these particulates are trapped, they are used by the plant and soil as nutrients when they are broken down into their basic forms.

As we all learned in science class, grass, trees and plants in our yards take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air through photosynthesis. It has been estimated that a healthy lawn covering 25 square feet will produce enough oxygen during the day to support one human for one day!

Noise pollution can be considerably reduced by plants and other greenery. Believe it or not, our lawns and landscapes absorb and deflect many of the various sounds in our environment. And yet another environmental benefit? The light from the sun is partially absorbed by the greenery in our yards, reducing glare. This small fact leads us directly to our next benefit:

Temperature Modification

Any landscape artist will tell you that the more adult, shade producing trees in your yard, the cooler your home. Everyone knows how nice it is to sit under the shade on a hot, summer day; your home is kept cool by the shade in much the same way your body is. Temperatures in the shade can be up to 14 degrees cooler than the temperature elsewhere. It has been estimated that if every home was properly landscaped, the United States would cut its home air conditioning energy consumption by a quarter. Ripping up lawns and replacing them with rock-scapes has increased the interior temperatures of our homes, and increased our use of electricity to cool them down.

Water Quality

A study conducted at the University of Minnesota, undertaken over a 3-year period, showed that runoff increased when grass was of poor quality and sparsely planted. A healthy lawn prevents contaminating runoff from reaching streams and helps reinvigorate ground water supplies. The roots of a healthy lawn act as a sort of filtration , removing particulates and contaminates from storm water before it reaches ground water supplies. In fact, except during times of above average rainfall, the runoff from a healthy lawn is near zero.

Well-Being

It has been shown that beautiful landscaping can lower a person’s blood pressure and have an overall positive effect on their mood. Hospitals concentrate on landscaping for just this reason. Sociologists believe that the absence of community parks or clean, healthy environments in inner cities can contribute to the social problems attributed to the areas. Don’t believe it? Take your shoes off and walk bare foot through the grass! Not only does it feel great between your toes, but it also provides a natural cushion for your children at play!

While xeriscaping can have a positive effect on the environment and has its place, using this type of landscaping may be doing may be no more helpful to our environment than good, old-fashioned green grass. Homeowners that wish to conserve water and still maintain a lush lawn can choose from a variety of eco-friendly grasses: bluegrass, tall fescue, sheep fescue and buffalo grass are all great options when trying to maintain a lawn without the use of heavy irrigation.

Image by Matt Lavin

Being eco-friendly doesn’t mean that you have to give up your green lawn. The environmental benefits to a properly landscaped yard are many—the drawbacks are few—and you can rest assured that you are doing more for the environment with your landscaping than you would had ever thought.

Jonathan McGraw is a natural landscape designer who writes for naturesfinestseed.com, a great source of environmentally friendly grass seed for your home or commercial projects.

Hot and Cold Composting Guide

Image by normanack

Cold Compost

This is the easiest of all compost heaps, as it takes very little maintenance and almost anything green or plant like can be thrown on as you go. This is the main difference between the two. Hot compost begins with a good stock of kitchen and garden waste, whereas cold compost begins with a little which is then added to. Vegetable peelings, hedge trimmings, grass, even cardboard and paper can make up this pile, and all it will need is a little watering in dry weather in order for it to keep moist. Citrus is not a good idea as it can add too much acidity, yet teabags, eggshells and banana skins all add to the “flavor” to the compost, whilst a layer of cardboard retains moisture, and twigs aerate the mixture. Although relatively simple, this compost does have its drawbacks. As it is cold compost it can take up to a year to rot, however compost accelerators can be used depending on how organic you’d like it to be. Also, weeds thrive, so it has to be carefully waded through making sure no dandelion heads or thistles have wormed their way in!
Some gardeners like to plonk worms onto their compost, and profess that it speeds up the process. However, this decision is entirely up to you.

Hot Compost

Trickier to begin with, hot compost has all the advantages cold compost doesn’t. The heat generated will kill off any weed seedlings, and the rotting rate will be increased significantly. However, it is up to the individual to decide if this is worth the extra effort you must put in in order to create fabulous soil for your seedlings a and not just a pile of mush. In as little as six weeks you could reap your rotting rewards, and benefit from a superior product.
To start you will need at least a bin full of waste material you would like to rot. At the bottom of your new compost heap place sweet corn stems, twigs, branches, anything that will lift it a little and allow air to circulate. In layers add the material and then an activator such as manure, ammonia of sulphate (read the box) or an accelerator from a garden center. Make sure the heap is damp but not dripping, a fine rose on a watering can or the end of a hose will give the perfect balance of moisture. Within a week the heap will warm up and be hot to the touch, this is the time to bring the outside contents into the middle, which will begin the warming process again. Once the heap is cold all of the times, despite mixing, leave it to finish off and voila… Compost made easy!

This post was written by Martina Mercer who often writes on such things as plug plants and other garden related topics.

The chart instantly shows us the last seven days of electricity usage in Kilo Watt Hours (kWh) and at what points during each day we experienced highs and lows of usage;

Reliant Energy - Our Electricity Usage Chart

Our electricity usage is always highest in the evening and that is probably due to air conditioning, perhaps cooking with the oven, running the washer and dryer, watching television etc.

Our average daily cost was $7.09 and the most expensive day was Thursday topping the charts at $9.10 in electricity usage.

This is the first week we have seen the summary come through and we love it!

Check out more details about the Reliant Energy e-sense program here;

http://www.reliant.com/PublicResourceDispatcher?pageAlias=Shop_eSense_Residential

The Table is Set by Rex Roof

• Choose Real Dishes
Like with napkins and paper towels, we have a large stack of real plates. Additionally, we’ve also broken the habit of pre-rinsing before putting our dishes in the dishwasher. With proper dishwasher maintenance, we discovered the dishes get just as clean as they did before without the extra step. There are certain things I’ve learned need to be washed out by hand, but on the whole, rewashing a couple bowls is less water than pre washing the whole load.

• Cook From Scratch
When my family “went healthy,” I was amazed at how much of the things I didn’t want in my diet were in pre-packaged foods. Not just in frozen dinners and snack cake, but also packaged pasta dishes, cake mixes, and canned sauces. When I started researching healthier alternatives, I discovered I could make most of my favorite products myself. The added bonus to knowing exactly what was going into my food was that I was spending less money on the convenience factor and producing less waste from my kitchen.

• Turn Off Lights and Water
If you get into the habit of turning off your lights when you’re not in a room, and sometimes even when you are, you’ll be surprised at the savings you’ll see in your energy bills. I don’t decorate with heavy drapes and I keep my blinds open all day to utilize as much natural light as possible. Conserving water is also easy if you can get yourself into the habit of shutting off the water when you’re lathering up in the shower or brushing your teeth at the sink.

• Buy Second Hand
Swap meets, thrift stores and quaint retro shops make their living on gently used clothing and household items. If you’re thinking of buying a small appliance or trying to find the perfect blouse, look there first. You’ll save a lot of money from buying it new and save some of those products from ending up in our landfills.

Nowadays, we pay way more for convenience and packaging than any generation before. So before you buy a product, think about what will be left over when you’re done with it and look for ways to reduce, reuse, or even do without.

Photo credit: The Table is Set by Rex Roof/flickr

London resident Samantha Hathaway is a financial consultant and a content contributor for Payday Loans, a company providing payday loans for money advances when you need them.

One of the latest and most exciting innovations in clean drinking water is the rise of portable active filter devices such as the CamelBak Groove, these reusable bottles allow you to simply fill up with tap water and then the built in filter purifies the water as you drink it! Check out this video from CamelBak on how the system works;

Here are some more excellent tips for drinking water with a more eco conscious aspect;

• Install some sort of water dispenser into your kitchen or fit a water filter into your kitchen tap. That way you don’t have to keep on buying so much bottled water and so reduce your household’s plastic consumption but still benefit from having a constant supply of filtered water.

• Did you know that it is not advisable to reuse plastic water bottles more than a few times due to the risk of chemicals leaching into the water? So, buy a stainless steel flask container (the sort you use when camping) to take your water with you and reuse that rather than buying a bottle when you’re out. Not only is it a healthier choice but also an environmental one.

• If you have bought plastic bottles of water, why not do something with them? There are numerous ways that you can reuse the bottles such as cutting them in half and using them as a plant pot or seed starter! If in doubt, make sure that you at least take them to a recycling bin!

Reused Water Bottles Made Into Seed Planters

• If your office has a traditional bottled water cooler, why not convert them into a greener water provider? You can now get coolers that plumb directly into the mains water or perhaps a filter should be installed into the kitchen taps as an alternative. That way not only are less bottles being used but think of all the mileage saved in water deliveries too!

Victoria Ward works for Water Coolers Direct providing a wide range of water coolers for the home, office, schools, gyms etc. The company provides a ‘plumbed in’ alternative to bottled coolers, protecting the environment and saving customers money!

However there are a number of tricks to living happily within your means that can dissolve this feeling and make raises feel more like financial bonuses instead of feeling like a step towards eventual financial happiness.

Trick Number One: Make Budget

The simple act of making a budget is one of the best ways to "find money" that you didn’t know you had before. Instead of paying through the nose for dry cleaning, for example, you might decide to start caring for your wardrobe at home. While ironing might be a bit of a burden, you can enjoy the process all the more by doing it while watching movies on that great flat screen television you were able to purchase with the savings.

Trick Number Two: Set Goals

Setting short term, mid term, and long term goals is a great way to maximize the amount of money that you are making today. Want to take a dream vacation next year? Start saving now. You can boost your savings by swearing off certain conveniences such as lattes and takeout for a month or two. Use this same sort of method to plan for financial goals that are only a few weeks away as well as those that are many years away.

Trick Number Three: Treat Your Car Like a Member of the Family

You can buy a really great car without breaking the bank, especially if you plan on keeping it for a long time. Purchase a car that you really love and take exceptional care of it so that it will last in the long run. Taking good care of your car may mean that it will last a very long time, hopefully for many years after you’ve made your last payment. Search for great new car deals to get a good price, but be sure to buy something that you love, and love it for a long time.

Trick Number Four: Small but Special

Don’t buy a house that is bigger than what you really need. Instead of thinking big, think "ample". How many bedrooms do you really need? Not only will this practice keep your mortgage payments reasonable, but it will also cut down on heating and cooling costs. And with those savings you can remodel!

Trick Number Five: Remember to Have Fun

Saving for your kid’s college tuition, developing an emergency fund, and planning for a comfortable retirement are important, but so is enjoying your life now. But once you have a budget established and have found ways to cut your costs, set aside a little mad money. And make a rule that this money is only to be used for fun.

Everyone, no matter their income level, can find ways to live within their means. In the long run, cutting out some take out, or keeping the house a little cooler to save some money is not too difficult, or too much of a burden.

Annie is a frugal and eco-conscious blogger for Sell My Timeshare blog, the best free resource for frugal travelers.

When you attempt to become more earth conscious, you will be amazed at how much money you can save. Plus, you can get free things!

Here are some ways that you can get things for free or save money while you are saving the planet:

Books

One of the most obvious ways to save money and be more earth friendly is with books. If you are a reader you likely have shelves and shelves filled with books that you read once and then never opened again. Many thousands upon thousands of trees are cut down every year just for printing books and magazines.

Try reading your favorites electronically, like as an e-book. This saves the environment and keeps books from collecting dust on your shelves. You could also use online resources, like online references and encyclopedias to do research for school or work.

Magazines

If you love magazines consider starting a local magazine club where each member is responsible to buy one magazine per month. Once you’ve read the magazine you meet up and swap. Magazines often end up in the garbage after they have been read and many people do not even think to recycle them.

Music

Music lovers can do the same thing with eMusic.com or Amazon.com. They can cut down on the plastic use for CD covers and the paper that is used in the covers by buying music online. Often, online music will cost only a fraction of what a brand new CD will cost. Look for places that offer a free trial period and you may find yourself saving even more money.

Local Lending Programs

Lending programs offer a way for people to get all sorts of things that they need while cutting down on the consumption costs of the world we live in. People run out and buy things when they need them and they rarely think about how much they are actually going to use them. That’s how our garages get filled with stuff that we hardly use.

A community lending program allows people to offer up items that they don’t use often in exchange for the ability to borrow things from other people. This can be anything from tools to large equipment (like lawn mowers) to furniture (like rolling cots).

By thinking creatively you can think of many things that you have that you bought to be used only once or only use a couple times a year. Things like these are ideal for lending programs or online swaps. The Internet offers many opportunities for people to save money and make the earth more ecologically friendly by cutting down on our rates of consumption. How do you save money and save the planet at the same time?

Annie is a eco-conscious blogger for Dallas real estate company. Please check out our guide on greening up your home’s value.

The first and easiest place to start is with the smallest pests.  Although chemical insect sprays are certainly sufficient for keeping out the bugs that bother you, it may come as a surprise that there are totally natural ways to get the same results.  You can begin by making sure that screens are free of damage and properly seated.  From there, all you need to do is plant specific vegetation around the perimeter of your home that will deter whichever pests you frequently find in the home.  Garlic, onions /chives, mints, and marigolds will keep away a fairly large slate of common insects (including many varieties of fly and beetle, as well as mosquitoes and ants).  You may have to seek out specific plants if you still have insect problems, but they could even end up repelling some animals.  And they’ll add curb appeal, to boot.

As for larger animals that can get into your home and wreak havoc (like mice, rats, and other rodents), spreading disease and destruction, there’s no reason to put out poisonous traps.  All you really have to do is mark your territory.  Many people do this by purchasing cat urine (from predatory felines like mountain lions – you can find it at many pet, hardware, or garden stores).  But all you really have to do is pee in a cup for a week and pour it around your yard.  It may sound gross, but keep in mind that humans are at the top of the food chain and there are very few animals that will attempt to pass into our territory once it has been marked.  Another option is to spread hair clippings, but these can easily be stolen by birds to make their nests.

Finally, there is the biggest security threat to address: other people.  And you may want more than just a deadbolt on your door, depending on where you live.  But you don’t need to install a surveillance system or an electrical alarm to keep your domicile safe from intruders.  You could simply hang a sign that says you have an alarm system.  Or you could install flood lights.  While they use electricity, they only come on when movement is sensed, meaning a lot less energy waste.  Of course, you could just install a security system made by a company that embraces eco-friendly practices.  ADT, for example, used recycled materials while others have gone wireless or offer models that run on solar energy.  But whatever steps you take to secure your home from intrusion, keep in mind that there are ways to do so that will not only keep your family safe but also work in tandem with your desire to keep the planet clean and green.

1. Bird Feeder

Turn big plastic bottles and glass jars into bird feeders. Simply turn your glass jar upside down and fasten a drop tray underneath that will allow your feathered friends to comfortably sit and eat. Using string or wire run from the drop tray on both sides of the jar and held in place with rubber bands or string you will have a loop to tie your feeder to the tree. Plastic bottles are easy. Just melt small holes inward for feeding and make sure to run a bird seat (wooden, plastic or steel pole) horizontally through the bottle near the feeding holes. Tie string around the top and hang.

2. Pen Holder

Take old tea tins or bottles and using clear packing tape, create a collage to your liking for yourself or for gifts. I like drawing my own pictures and taping them around the tins. You can also use photos. Also, try classing up a clear pen jar by filling it with coffee beans, pebbles or marbles.

3. Grain Storage Containers

Using glass jars, remove all labels using Pledge. Let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing it off. Fill with rice varieties, cereals or dried soups. It makes a colorful and artsy way to store your dry goods in an airtight container. I like to hang tags from the top describing the contents.

4. Tree Decoration

Take old wine or olive oil bottles or any other fancy, shapely or colorful bottle and using sturdy jute twine or anything similar, hang low from your bottom tree branches. It will give your yard a surreal and magical look.

5. Cat Toys

Using an avocado seed, create a fun and fast moving cat toy. Once you clean the seed thoroughly and allow to dry for a day, attach a string or other fun item and your cat will be entertained for hours.

6. Painting the News

Use old newspaper as background for your paintings. This works especially great if you are reusing canvas, paper or wood. Using a light shear color over the top so the newspaper is still seen underneath the painting itself, Original and eye-catching.

7. Change Collector

Use old bottles and jars to keep your spare change. Label them with fun sayings by cutting out magazine words, letters or drawing your own and taping them around the jar using clear packing tape. Some ideas would be: college fund, runaway money, concert money, vacation, etc.

8. Bottle Cap Lampshade

Using bottle caps spice up your old lampshade. Simple glue the bottle caps around the existing lampshade in patterns or however you see fit. Use strong permanent glue.

9. Picture Frames

Using bottle caps, old magazines, material or newspapers, glue around a basic picture frame. This makes great personalized gifts.

10. Head Bands

Take old material, ribbon pieces, bows from gifts and anything else your heart desires and use it to refurbish your plain head band. Using a little super glue or strong water proof glue, wrap the material around the head band and glue at the ends and middle. If you have left over flowers from wrappings or anything else, throw those on there too for a dash of your own flare.

11. Reusable Bags

Give your tee shirts, shower curtains and table cloths a second life by sewing them into a simple reusable bag. Try using an old belt as the strap. With tee shirts, it its best to cut out the design and sew on to sturdy material or double the material up by sewing two tee shirts together to create one bag. Original and a thousand times better than using plastic bags!

12. Tire Garden

If recycling your old tire isn’t available, try using it as a flower pot. Plant flowers or herbs in the old tire and give it a second life.

Patrick Hopkins holds a B.A in Journalism and currently writes for Phoenix Kiosk, a kiosk manufacturer. He covers everything from outdoor kiosks to technology and education.  Phoenix Kiosk: Innovative Technologies from Vision to Reality.