The Natural History Museum explains that a person is carbon neutral “if they balance the carbon dioxide they release into the atmosphere with the amount they absorb or remove from the atmosphere.”

Residential properties alone contribute between 17-21% of the world’s energy-related carbon emissions, according to a BBC article. Fortunately, though, there are various cost-effective ways a home can be improved in order to facilitate a carbon neutral lifestyle.

Replace products and appliances with more energy-efficient alternatives

Your home probably has a wealth of electrical items – from kettles to washing machines – on which you have come to heavily rely.

However, if you have any such items that were originally bought quite a while ago, it could be worthwhile for you to upgrade. That’s because many modern products and appliances for the home have been made with energy efficiency very much in mind.

Insulate your roof and loft

How much insulation is already up there? The answer could be: surprisingly little! Many lofts, including some that have been converted, tend to leak a lot of heat due to a lack of insulation.

In many homes, as much as 25% of the property’s heat is lost through the roof, according to HSBC. It’s reassuring, then, that roof insulation grants are available for helping homeowners to keep more heat in their attic rooms.

Plug other sources of heat leakage in your home

HSBC has also indicated that, often, 35% of a home’s heat escapes through the walls, while windows, doors and the floor are collectively responsible for 40% of a property’s heat loss.

Encouragingly, you can tackle an array of unwanted gaps by insulating your home’s ground floor and walls and double or triple glazing the windows.

Generate more energy from renewable sources

Through arranging for renewable energy systems to be installed at your home, you can help it to lessen its reliance on fossil fuels.

For example, you could have a solar PV system put in place, enabling you to produce electricity from sunlight. Another option would be an air source heat pump, which works by fetching heat that naturally occurs in the air.

Use sustainable building materials for home improvement projects

Shocking though it may be, about 10% of global energy-related emissions are caused by materials used in construction and maintenance of buildings.

It would therefore be in your carbon footprint’s interest for you to abandon emissions-heavy concrete and bricks in favour of more eco-friendly alternatives. These include timber, hemp, cork, bamboo and straw bales, with any organically grown materials capable of locking in carbon.

Where possible, use building materials you already have

This would obviously be a win for your bank balance – and also be good for sustainability, as the process of creating new materials itself produces carbon emissions.

So, if you want to demolish, say, a garage or extension, look into carefully deconstructing it instead so that materials like bricks could be reused elsewhere at your residence. Meanwhile, non-reusable steel beams can be melted down and turned into new, usable steel beams.

When you are thinking about fitting ladders in to any part of your home then you will want to ensure that they comply with all necessary and legal laws and regulations, doing this will keep your home and the people in it as safe as possible. This is no different when you are fitting a Loft Ladder Kit in to your home, you will probably have a loft hole that is in need of being fitted with a ladder so as to be able to gain regular and safe access to your loft space or room. The particular type of loft ladder kit that you choose to buy is dependent on your style and décor choice.

There are a wide variety of loft ladders that you can choose from, all made with different materials and finishes so as to add a stylish finish to an opening. You may not always need regular access to your loft space so there is also the option to have folding ladders that can be pushed up and stored inside the loft space until you need them, hiding them out of the way to create more floor space around the house. Loft ladders can help with the design of a space too, loft access hatches are not always as conventional as they once were and with so many more modern style décor homes being refurbished there are so many different ways you can hang ladder for a loft space. It may be to enter another open level in a room that means you can hang sliding ladders that can be stored in a corner that does not detract attention from the rest of the room. Some loft spaces allow enough space around the ladder to be able to leave it accessible at all times, especially if you need regular access to your loft space. Maybe it is used as an additional bedroom or lounge room but whatever the use if regular access is needed and the space below the access hatch allows for ladders with extra space to be available then it can also add a very different look to a room.

Choosing your loft ladder kit is only the beginning of creating the perfect space within your home. With all the different types of ladders that are available there will certainly be one that is more than perfect for the space that you need it for. Any advice or tips you may need will come plentiful from the professional company that is able to make and supply the perfect loft ladder kits. They will be more than willing to help you every step of the way to creating, making and fitting your loft ladder kit and helping you to create the perfect space that you have needed to make the most of your loft access hatch. You will feel so much better knowing that your perfect loft ladder kit was made and fitted to the highest possible standard.

 

Doing your own pest control can be a good idea in certain situations, but there are also several reasons you might want to avoid it. If you have termites or ants, it’s worth hiring a professional rather than trying to do your own treatment. There are dangers associated with DIY treatments as well, from toxic chemicals and pesticides to unsafe traps. Moreover, you cannot take pest control Cedar Park, TX for granted unless you hire professionals or experts in pest control.

A professional exterminator can optimize his or her methods and equipment, so they are most effective. In addition, they are likely to have the right tools and supplies available to kill the pests you have. While you might think that you can be just as effective using a variety of homemade traps, these often won’t be as effective and can result in other problems. A professional will know how to correctly get rid of an infestation without causing damage or exposing others to harmful toxins or accidents by using hazardous chemicals incorrectly.

In addition, trying to save money by doing your own pest control is also not recommended if any members of your family have allergies or asthma. This should be a factor in deciding whether to hire a professional exterminator for any type of pest control treatment job.

We will now look into some main reasons why you should not go for DIY when it is about pest control.

• You may fail to inspect and identify properly

In case you have insects, as opposed to other pests, you will need to identify them prior to choosing the right treatment. It is essential for you not just to take the word of a pest control professional on what the problem is. You can help professionals by laying out sheets for them and then collecting samples before they arrive.

• Increased chance of injuries and dangers

There are times you’ll need to handle hazardous chemicals, which may be poisonous. You should be very cautious if you find yourself doing this on your own. You might also have to handle traps that require you to come in contact with insects and other pests.

• High chances for repeated infestation

Dealing with pest infestation is not as easy as it seems, especially when you are not using the right materials, or doing things in the wrong way. The pests will continue to come back unless you completely eradicate them and their living conditions. This might be less likely to happen when you have the assistance of professional exterminators.

 

As liberating as living alone can be, let’s face it, it’s also scary. This blog is going to detail five tips to help you feel less afraid during the night, or the day, when you’re living on your own.

• Invest in a security door (or at least change your locks)

If you really want to add an extra level of protection, purchase a security door. Often metal, any attack or force on one of these doors is bound to make a ton of noise, something criminals are very keen to avoid.

As well as this, it provides an extra door for somebody to try to get through, making it just that little bit harder for them to actually enter the property.

If this is a little out of budget for you, changing the locks on your doors, especially if you lose a key, may give that peace of mind that nobody unwanted has access to your home.

• Install security alarms

There are a vast range of intruder alarm installers for you to pick from as well as a variety of alarms themselves. From fancy alarms that send signals straight to the police, to panic alarms that alert those around you that something isn’t right, you’ll be certain to find something that works for you on the market.

• Secure your garage

While garages are one of the greater modern designs, they’re also quite a big vulnerability when it comes to protecting your home. Because of the rope on the inside of the door that allows the automatic door motor to be disengaged, gaining access to your garage is pretty easy for anyone who knows how.

In order to prevent this, make use of a zip tie by securing it around the release rope so it’s the door is unable to be disengaged. The benefit of this DIY trick is that you can still use the rope for emergencies.

• Make use of lighting

Realistically it would be very difficult to burgle a house without any form of light. Instead of shrouding your house in darkness and making yourself extra vulnerable, consider a motion sensor light that will target light onto anyone who comes within a certain distance of your house.

Burglars or other criminals are likely to bypass a property that gives anyone a clear view of what they’re up to.

• CCTV

In a similar way, criminals will avoid houses with CCTV cameras for obvious reasons. Research suggests that even investing in dummy cameras will act as a great deterrent because the potential offender would then have to weigh up the pros and cons of committing a crime in this area. More often than not they’ll decide that the risks outweigh the benefits and will move on.

Hopefully these tips help you to feel a little less afraid and spend a little more time enjoying living on your own. In the majority of cases you’ll find that the fear of something happening is scarier than the thing itself, so don’t be scared to sleep alone. It’s extremely unlikely you’re as unsafe as you feel.

Firms like Nelson Partners, which specialize in providing affordable, quality student housing, are growing to meet the exploding demand for their product. But as the college concept evolves, due to factors like online and distance learning, so too does the need for housing to accommodate the changes.

As a result, developers who work in the student housing space stay on their toes to keep up with student needs. Here are a few key areas where student housing is headed.

Distance Learning and Flexible Class Schedules

It isn’t easy for students who take their education beyond the traditional four walls of a classroom (known as distance learning) to manage part-time jobs and commuting hours. And for those who attend school on “flexible” schedules (meaning they’re working full-time while attending college part-time), affordable and convenient housing becomes increasingly difficult to find.

As a result, over half of the college students live off-campus. In addition, nearly one-third of those students commute more than 30 minutes each way to school – which means they likely need housing near their schools.

Living in Community with Adults Who Are Not Peers

Gone are the days when students attend college to live on campus or live close to peers (with similar age groups and class schedules). Instead, today’s college students are more likely to be older – partly because they’re returning to school to improve their job prospects. They also have more responsibilities beyond school, which can include raising children and caring for elderly parents.

Consumer Features That Appeal to Both Students & Families

As the composition of college students evolves, so too does the demand for student housing that appeals to a broader audience – not just those with similar academic objectives. This means amenities that promote community interaction, in addition to common spaces that appeal to family members (like group study rooms and computer labs).

It also means more amenities aimed at students who are aging out of traditional college housing. For example, many modern student housing developments include features like a fitness center aimed at the busy professional who’s trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle on the go.

Making an Internet Centered Housing Experience Convenient

Staying connected is important for students who are constantly tethered to their laptops and using the Internet for class. As a result, many developers have designed all their communities with high-speed wireless connectivity throughout the property. And they’ve also partnered with private companies like AT&T so that every resident enjoys free broadband access in their unit.

Making Student Housing More Inclusive of All Generations

As the conventional college student evolves, so does the family dynamic. This means many more parents are looking for on-campus housing near colleges (to be closer to their children) and independent housing (which is affordable and features everything students need). To accommodate this, developers are retrofitting existing housing stock by adding more amenities that appeal to this growing demographic.

For example, many properties now offer furnished units that come complete with cable and Internet access – so students can live on campus without paying for those items as an added expense.

Developers respond to students’ various housing needs by designing their communities with the best features in mind – and collaborating with local colleges and universities to ensure on-campus housing is available to students who are planning their academic path.