Digging The Trench

Are you currently using an electric attic fan or some sort of electric ventilation system at home? Then have you ever thought of installing a solar attic fan? When most people think of solar products, they immediately think “expensive!”, but when we investigated getting a solar powered attic fan and compared it to conventional ventilation systems, it was obvious which way we were going to go.

Once you have discovered the advantages of a solar attic fan, you’ll be ready to move into the 21st century. Here are 5 such advantages:

1 - Easy Cheap Installation:

A solar attic fan has its own power source - the sun - so no wiring is needed. This means you require no electricity permits or qualified electricians to install the fan. All you need to do is follow the accompanying step-by-step instructions. And at most it will take you 2 hours to get it working.

2 - Did We Say Free Energy?

Since a solar powered attic fan’s power source is the sun, it operates on free energy. The only cost you will incur is that of the fan itself. Otherwise it is free to operate.

Also, most states offer tax incentives for installing renewable energy technology at home. This lowers the initial cost of a solar attic fan.

3 - Non-Stop Operation:

You do not need to control when the fan works to reduce power consumption. This is because it uses the sun’s free energy all day long. This helps in keeping the air in your home temperate and fresh, and you do not have to wait until it is scorching hot for the fan to start working.

4 - Helps Maintain your roof’s condition:

A solar powered attic fan is capable of working even in winter when the sun is weak. This helps keep warm air out of the attic and prevents costly damage from ice damming in your gutters and eaves.

What’s more is a solar powered attic fan prevents warm, moist air from collecting in the attic in winter. This moist air (from showering and cooking) usually leads to mold and mildew, which can cause your roof frame to rot.

5 - Reduce Your Carbon Footprint:

If you already have an attic fan, chances are it is connected to your home’s power supply. This power is produced by burning coal, gas, and other fossil fuels, which all churn out large volumes of air pollution.

Whereas a solar attic fan operates on the sun’s clean, free energy. This helps decrease the need to burn fossil fuels and aids in fighting global warming.

Conclusion:

So many people rant on and on about global warming, but hardly any of them actually do something about it. Now that you understand how affordable, clean and simple it is to use a solar attic fan at home, you can play a part in living a greener life.

You can pick up a solar attic fan for about $400, which is nothing if you think how much money you’ll save in power bills, and roof repairs.

Tim McDonald and his wife have been living off the grid since June 2008. He recommends you Try Earth4Energy For FREE if you are keen on learning more about making home solar power and reducing your electricity bills.

Usually, when individuals decide to start hydroponic gardening, they will set up a system wherever they have some extra space, such as the basement. However most people would not be willing to allow their hydroponic garden to overtake the house. Once you get to the point where you know you’ll be continuing with hydroponic gardening, it only makes sense that you ought to consider buying or building a greenhouse.

Making use of a greenhouse to grow your plants hydroponically is really the ideal setup. It is much simpler to manage all the conditions required for your garden to flourish if it is in a greenhouse setting. Temperature, ventilation and lighting are all less difficult to control. Also, a hydroponic garden will involve systems for irrigation and lighting which require sufficient room to install. You can install this equipment precisely where you need it in a greenhouse. This is essential since regulation of water and light are more important in hydroponics than in a regular garden.

The main advantage of growing a hydroponic garden in a greenhouse is lighting. A hydroponic garden won’t flourish unless it gets the right amount of light. Although if there is too much light, algae will flourish, and this is not something that is desirable. In a greenhouse setting, daylight is filtered and diffused naturally. It’s even possible to regulate the lighting level and angle of sunlight with blinds or shutters. A further benefit is that you’ll consume less energy since there’s no need to constantly burn your hydroponic lights.

When you have a greenhouse, you’ll see that the system for providing nutrients to your plants is simpler to set up and maintain. This is imperative to how well your hydroponic specimens grow and flourish. When plants grow in solution rather than the ground, the pH content can change more rapidly. There will be great variations in alkaline and acid levels since it’s all dependent on the water. With a greenhouse it is quite easy to install an automated pH control system, so you are not constantly monitoring the numbers.

The temperature reading is also imperative when it comes to hydroponic gardening. Even in cold climates, a well constructed greenhouse will maintain the temperature at an appropriate level without the need for heaters. If you dwell in a region that experiences cold weather yet has plenty of sun, this is especially pertinent. Fans and vents can also be installed that will further help to control the temperature inside your greenhouse.

Even though there are a lot of ready-made kits available for greenhouses, you can also build one on your own. You can find them in a wide array of styles and dimensions. There are also styles that will accommodate expansion if you decide to boost the size of your indoor garden. There are many great reasons why you ought to consider purchasing a greenhouse to assist in your hydroponic gardening.

Hydroponics is an increasingly popular technique for year-round, indoor gardening. Find out more at Hydroponic Gardening.

categories: hydroponic greenhouse,hydroponics,hydroponic gardening,indoor gardening,gardening,greenhouse

When I bought my first house in Chicago, I was so excited to have an old house and the ability to fix it up to make it the way I wanted it to be. After I bought the house, I looked on the internet to find a western suburbs handyman who could help me with the huge remodeling project I was about to take on. Finally, I came across someone who had a whole page dedicated to a western suburbs bathroom he had helped someone complete recently and I knew he was the guy for the job. So, I gave him a call and we quickly made an appointment for him to take a look at the house to give an estimate.

Frank, the handyman, came over a few days after I bought the house and he said he would be thrilled to assist with the job. I told him I wanted to completely re-do the kitchen by replacing the sink, cabinets, the floors, and the countertops. I also told him I would prefer to paint the walls in the living room. Finally, I explained that I also needed his aide in replacing some fixtures, replacing the shower, and repainting the bathroom. Frank said that it might be three weeks for the project to be complete. So, after the meeting I got to work looking for all of the materials I needed for my project.

After the meeting, I decided to go to a home improvement store to buy everything I would need for the project. I bought all kinds of paint colors, new light fixtures, new countertops, new wood floors, cabinets, and I arranged to have the floors, cabinets, and a new shower delivered the following week.

For the first week, Frank and I worked on the kitchen because that was the room that would take the most time. We started by painting first, then we uninstalled the ancient countertops. Next, we put the cabinets in place and then installed the fresh granite countertops. The end of the kitchen project came when we replaced the entire floor with new wood flooring to take the place of the old linoleum.

The second week we worked on redecorating the living room. Since the room was so large, it took just over forty-eight hours to complete the paint job. Frank also helped me put in a few new fixtures and he made small improvements to the living room when Frank found any minor issues while painting the room.

The third week was the final week of the project and we got the bathroom completed. Frank installed the new shower without my help, then he helped in putting in the new sink. Finally, Frank also assisted in painting the bathroom after everything else had been installed.

I really enjoyed working with Frank, the handyman, because he always went above and beyond by being flexible with helping me replace and fix anything that needed fixing along the way. During the redecorating job, Frank and I became great friends and remain so to this day. I am really grateful that I decided to remodel my new home because I able to make a new friend and create the home of my dreams in just three weeks.

Connor Sullivan has been interviewing western suburbs handyman companies to do some work in his home. He has hired western suburbs bathroom remodeling companies to update his master bathroom.