Turn Your House into an Eco Home with Eco Furniture

With tackling global warming, pollution and our shrinking rainforests high on the agenda, living an ecological lifestyle is seen as the responsible thing to do. This is why <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=http://www.eco-designer.co.uk/>eco furniture</a> is growing in popularity all the time. It seems inevitable that <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=http://www.eco-designer.co.uk/>eco houses</a>will become more widespread in the future. And eco furniture, such as eco chairs, eco tables and eco sofas, enables you to start living in your own eco home today.

Why We Need Eco Furniture

Some scientists estimate that half the world’s mature tropical rainforests have already been cut down in the last 50 years, and that we could be left with only a fifth of the world’s rainforests by 2030.

With rainforests so vital for reducing pollution and global warming, it’s essential that we find more sustainable ways of living. And this applies to the way we furnish our homes too.

Eco furniture is built from recyclable materials or those from sustainable sources. Being made from recyclable parts means they can be easily disassembled and reused, whilst wooden eco furniture, such as eco chairs and eco beds, is made from wood taken from ecologically managed forests.

The environmental impact of eco furniture is also minimised by sourcing materials locally. This reduces the carbon emissions produced by transporting them to the workshop, compared to the pollution created by planes and ships hauling them across the Atlantic.

Longer lasting

A lot of cheap, mass produced furniture isn’t designed with longevity in mind. So it often deteriorates and breaks after a few years, instead of lasting a lifetime, as well designed furniture should. This leads to unwanted furniture becoming dumped into our already overflowing rubbish tips.

Eco furniture, on the other hand, is designed to be durable and easy to repair. This helps it to last a lot longer than furniture which isn’t designed with sustainability in mind. So investing in eco furniture makes smart economic as well as ecological sense.

Elegant and comfortable

Going green and creating your own eco home doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on comfort and style. Eco furniture is just as luxurious, comfortable and attractive as any conventional item of furniture.

In fact, lying in your own eco bed in your eco house can offer a heightened sense of comfort knowing you’ve helped to reduce pollution, save trees and take care of the planet at the same time.

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Vinyl Windows – Why You Need Them

When looking to replace the windows in your home, be sure to look at vinyl replacement windows. These windows are not only extremely durable but very energy efficient as well. When fitted properly they can provide you with many years of use as well as improve the appearance of your home. Many families have changed to vinyl siding on their homes which based on past experiences we can see has been very beneficial to the maintenance of the homes. The same is now true of the vinyl windows which are virtually maintenance-free. One of the great aspects of vinyl replacement windows is that they resist corrosion. The initial out-of pocket cost is low enough that in a relatively short time the vinyl replacement windows will pay for themselves. There are many styles to choose from as well.

There is usually some information displayed on the vinyl replacement windows explaining the NRFC values. The will include the U-Factor, solar heat gain, visible transmittance, and leakage and on some displays, the condensation resistance. Also displayed with be the Energy Star standard. As you know, this is a program that encourages use of energy efficient products. This is something to take note as it will show you the minimum requirements for your particular area of the country as it does differ from region to region.

Vinyl windows have been found to be a good investment which will not set you back financially, but in fact, pay for itself in the long run. They come in various styles and sizes including patio doors. The benefits of vinyl replacement windows offer more than just energy efficiency, but sun protection , due to the dual pane windows, for your family and furniture . You also get security because of the solid locking mechanisms on the windows and of special note is the noise reduction factor these windows offer.

By replacing your old widows with vinyl replacement widows you will not only add significant value to your home because of the energy efficiency of the windows, but add to the beauty of your home as well. Make your home not only energy efficient but nice to look at as well.

 

 

 

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The Silent Predator: Damp and Mold in the Home

You’d be forgiven for thinking that people in the Western World live in relatively good conditions – but did you know that nearly half of all houses in Europe and North America have serious damp and mold problems.  Anyone who’s moved house recently will probably have come across many properties with damp, stained walls and even growth of mold spores.  But most people aren’t even aware of the problem.  Damp and mould problems are often in hidden corners of your home and many times it resides inside walls where you can’t see it. 

Illnesses
There are a number of frightening health issues caused by damp in the home.  Most common are allergic reactions and flu-like symptoms like sneezing, sore eyes, coughing and wheezing.It can be a nightmare for asthma sufferers, and there’s even been a study connecting it with causing asthma during childhood.  Damp can also cause serious respiratory problems in the long run.  Another recent study even revealed a connection between mold and depression! 

Causes
So how does this silent predator manage to infect so many homes?To start with, it’s important to state that mould occurs naturally in small amounts and can be sorted out quite simply.  But the real problems occur when it is allowed to spread and develop fungal spores.  Mould builds up as a result of too much humidity in the air combined with a lack of proper ventilation for the moisture to escape.The air inside a home becomes naturally humid after things like showers, cooking or tumble drying.But this moisture needs somewhere to go!Poor ventilation could be caused by dodgy workmen who cut corners on damp proofing when building the house.Often there aren’t sufficient air vents in a property.And the more we are concerned about saving energy these days, the more we are tending to lock the air – and moisture – into our homes.

Dealing with damp
Hopefully by know you’re convinced that mold in the home is something that needs preventative action. And just because you don’t already have damp, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do act now.If it does appear and spread, getting rid of it can be a real headache.  Here are some top tips on how to avoid damp buildup in your home or workplace:

 

1. Dry up any build up of condensation you notice around the house within 24-48 hours.If you take away the moisture, you leave no chance of mold building up in the first place.
2. Make sure you have proper ventilation in your house so that the moisture has somewhere to go.  Consider installing air vents or opening a window after showers.
3. Insulate cold surfaces where condensation might collect, such as windows, pipes, roofs and external walls.
4. It’s well worth considering investing in one of the many dehumidifiers out there to remove moisture from the atmosphere.  Certain portable air conditioners also do the job, with the added bonus of keeping you cool in the summer.
5. Be aware of your legal rights.If things get really serious it can have awful consequenses on both your life and your finances. Insurance companies are notoriously bad for damp coverage – but it’s certainly worth checking with them. If you’re renting, get your landlord to hire professional mould inspectors to deal with the problem.