Tips for having a green Halloween

Halloween is finally here.That means loads of local children will be hitting the streets and knocking on doors looking for those coveted candy treats. While you may be more concerned with getting your child's costume right than energy efficiency on October 31, that doesn't mean you can't have fun and be environmentally conscious over the holiday. Here are a few tips to help you stay green on All Hallow's Eve without putting a damper on your seasonal style:

Block parties – Not only does sharing the duties of organizing festivities help you alleviate the stress of hosting a party yourself, it also conserves resources. You don't need to drive kids to the best places in town to get candy, as everyone in the neighborhood can get together to make sure no trick or treater's leave empty handed.

Healthy candy alternatives – Instead of going to the store and buying bags of fun-size candy, consider healthy alternatives like toasted pumpkin seeds, "guacamole brain dip" and other imaginative creations. This will save you money and help your kids avoid that nasty sugar high. 

Homemade decor – Another way to pool your resources is to avoid hitting up the store for new decorations. Instead, use items you have around the house. Making headstones out of cardboard boxes, for instance, or using old clothes to stuff a scarecrow will have the same spooky effect as if you paid top dollar for your decor.

After you wrap the party up, you can continue the green kick by contacting a Maryland home inspector to highlight areas of the house where you could make modifications to lower your utility costs.

Americans on the move following Great Recession

Roughly a decade ago, the major story regarding the national real estate market was the mass exodus of citizens from northern states to the sunbelt, where properties were abundant and affordable. However, when the housing bubble burst at the tail end of 2007, a wave of foreclosures swept over the southern United States, as property values plummeted and demand sank to near-record lows.

However, recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the southbound exodus may be on the verge of returning, as families appear to be fleeing the North in hopes of capitalizing on the recovering sunbelt housing market.

According to USA Today, "domestic migration" was as high last year as it has been at any point in the last five years. For instance, more than 16.9 million individuals have moved to different counties, while long-distance interstate moving accounted for roughly 7 million of those individuals in 2012 – a 5 percent increase over domestic migration in 2010.

And the numbers indicate that those regions hit hardest by the Great Recession are those benefiting most from the great move South. Florida, Arizona and Nevada, for instance, are three states that saw record rates of foreclosure just a few years back and are now seeing home sales skyrocket back from the trough of the Great Recession.

History appears to be repeating itself, as the northern states that are being hit hardest by this phenomenon are the ones that were seeing residents relocate in droves before the Great Recession. For instance, New York state lost roughly 136,000 residents over the course of 2012, while Massachusetts saw 15,600 citizens relocate over the same span of time. 

At the same time, property values in major cities within these states like New York City and Boston have been skyrocketing over the past year. And while core urban populations are on the rise, with metros attracting a wealthier consumer, these cities are becoming less hospitable to lower-income families, who are flocking south while housing costs remain somewhat affordable.

Another major factor for individuals to relocate is to take advantage of more energy efficient living in parts of the country where initiatives that encourage this behavior – and reward it – are in place. Maryland, for instance, is one of the greenest states in the country thanks to a number of green measures that promote energy efficiency for residents by allowing them to trade in older appliances or make improvements to their homes.

If you are relocating to a new property in the coming months, a home inspection is a must – especially if you are looking to find out ways to conserve your household utility expenses. However, you don't have to move to increase your energy efficiency and a home inspection contractor can show you what path to take.

Energy efficiency a priority for homeowners on both sides of the Atlantic

Homeowners stateside are increasingly warming up to the benefits of energy efficient living and, as a result, more households than ever are turning over a new leaf and seeking greener lifestyles. However, green living isn't just an issue here in the United States, as a recent threat to groundbreaking legislation in the British Parliament has taken the country's lead policymaker to task should the program be scrapped.

The Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) is a program that costs British utilities roughly 1.3 billion pounds a year. The regulation forces energy firms to fund energy efficient improvements for low-income households that otherwise wouldn't be able to benefit from the savings of a green lifestyle.

A group of more than 40 companies, along with Liberal Democrats in Parliament, including former energy secretary Chris Huhne, drafted a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron in which they threaten to withdraw support for the politician if he scraps the ECO program. 

According to a copy of the document obtained by British news source The Guardian, organizations including the Federation of Master Builders and the National Energy Foundation – two of the UK's largest trade organizations – believe that repealing ECO "would have the perverse effect of increasing energy bills for [low-income households], with severe consequences for jobs in what should be a growth sector of the economy"."

The funds from ECO go to allowing low-income residents to borrow loans from the government. In order to make home modifications that will reduce their long-term energy use. After a period, households that partake in the program will be able to not only repay the loans but also enjoy savings for years to come.

If you want help for living green stateside, have a home inspection contractor come to your property and evaluate what changes you can make to lower your energy expenses.

Remodels taking place at highest levels in almost a decade

Coming off more than a half decade of economic uncertainty, the United States has at least one bright spot on the horizon when it comes to seeing a stabilization of its citizens' finances: The housing market. Once floundering and considered by many analysts to be beyond repair following the burst of the housing bubble in 2007, property values have risen dramatically over the past year, giving homeowners more equity and confidence to pursue investments into their residences.

According to the Home Remodeling Index from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the market for these projects moved higher in the third quarter, representing its highest level since the first quarter of 2004. The index currently reads at 57, which is two points higher than it was in the second quarter. Any reading above 50 is considered healthy.

"In addition to existing home sales, which support remodeling activity as owners fix up their homes before and after a move, remodeling has benefitted from rising home values,"  NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe said in a press release. "This boosts home equity that owners can tap to finance remodeling projects. We expect existing home sales and house prices to increase, but at a slower rate over the next year, so the demand for remodeling services should also increase, but more gradually over that period."

Before undertaking a renovation or a remodel, homeowners should seek the consultation of a home inspection contractor. This way, they will be alerted to any hazards that could make a project more difficult or that need to be addressed as part of the remodel.

Inspect your fireplace before cozying up by the flames

According to the National Weather Service, much of the eastern portion of the United States is currently in the midst of a cold spell. And while the temperatures we are experiencing now are well above the lows we can expect when winter comes rolling in, many Americans are already unpacking their sweaters and stocking up on firewood to combat the chilly nights to come.

However, before you spark up those first flames of the season, there are several steps you need to take to make sure you aren't putting your home in any danger. Whether you have a gas or natural wood fireplace, potential hazards run the gamut from chimney clogging that could cause smoke to back up to a missing safety clip on the damper, releasing noxious fumes into the house. Follow this checklist of home inspections you should make before you cozy up by the fire this fall.

Converted fireplace, wood to gas

There are many benefits to having a gas fireplace, chief among them being that you don't have to wait as long for your logs to produce a robust flame. Often, traditional wood fireplaces will be converted to gas ones, which essentially results in a standard open alcove with a gas log in place of a natural one. Before you turn this log on, check the damper to make sure it doesn't close completely. If it does, fumes could escape from it, causing a fire and a breathing hazard. This means that the safety clip – a small piece that allows the damper to remain opened – is either broken or missing. In this case, you'll need to either contact a fireplace specialist or replace the gas log altogether.

Gas fireplace

The biggest concern with these designs is making sure they stay clean. Because many gas fireplaces have fans that help regulate the flames produced, dust tends to accumulate around them, which can easily catch flame and create a larger than expected – or wanted – blaze. Frequently vacuum out the area beneath and around the gas log and give the whole fireplace a thorough cleansing before you light it up this season.

Traditional, wood-burning fireplace

You'll want to inspect the whole interior of the fireplace looking for small cracks in the bricks. These should be filled with common, heat-resistant cement immediately so that they don't get any worse as the season wears on.

A top priority for all homeowners with wood-burning fireplaces is to make sure the flue is as clean as possible. Creosote builds up when you burn naturally seasoned wood in your fireplace and this could cause smoke to back up down the chimney, make the flue inoperable and even fan the flames of a larger fire.

Every season, Maryland homeowners need to look into having a trusted home inspection contractor visit their property to make sure their property is ready to endure the elements. 

Don’t be fooled by lackluster hurricane season

While it seems that hurricane season may pass those of us in the Mid-Atlantic without a major storm, that doesn't mean that homeowners are totally in the clear when it comes to the more subtle damages associated with wet fall weather. Specifically, mold buildups are common occurrences in residences and businesses during this time of year, and significant outbreaks can come about completely unbeknownst to occupants.

This can be hazardous not only to the structure of your home or place of work, but also to your health. Continued exposure to mold spores is known for causing serious respiratory ailments that can be painful not only for individuals with asthma or allergies, but even people who have never had breathing problems in the past. Should babies or young children be exposed to mold spores for a prolonged period, they potentially run the risk of developing long-term respiratory illnesses that will require years of medical attention.

Mold is most commonly found in areas that don't receive proper ventilation, such as the attic, basement or small crawl spaces. Just because these outbreaks may not be evident in more commonly occupied areas of a structure doesn't mean the spores can't travel and harm individuals in other parts of the house.

If you or members of your family or business have been plagued by undiagnosed breathing issues, there could be an unseen mold outbreak somewhere in your building. Have an expert home inspection contractor visit your residence today should this be the case in order to help you identify a potential health hazard.

Maryland company undertaking “Hobbitat” initiative

Before the Great Recession, the average size of the American home had ballooned to the most square footage in modern history, while the number of occupants living in the household continued the downward trend it had been following for decades. When the economy took a turn for the worse around 2007, however, both of these figures began to reverse. But now that the housing market has once again returned to pre-crash conditions, so too has the size of the average residence – 2,315 square feet as of 2012, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

According to the Miami Herald, one Maryland company is hoping to buck this trend, as they aim to produce homes that are not only significantly smaller than the norm, but also  more sustainable. Called "Hobbitat," this enterprise produces cottages in a workshop that can house up to four people in only 250 square feet. The designs can be built between six and eight weeks and transported from the shop to the site in only a day.

The "hobs," as these structures are called, have only 11 percent of the square footage of the median U.S. house, so much less energy is required to heat and cool them, the source reports. Most of the materials used to create the dwellings are repurposed or recycled.

"Despite the fact that a smaller house is one of the best ways to shrink energy costs, this new focus on sustainability doesn't necessarily translate to reduced square footage. People are concentrating on making the most energy efficient home possible without consideration for size," Carri Beer, senior associate for Brenna Architects, told the source. 

If you would like to make your home more energy efficient, consider looking into a Maryland home inspection today to learn where you can cut utility costs and help the environment.

How to get your kids engaged with green living

Energy efficiency is a top priority for homeowners, as streamlining your energy consumption leads not only to a healthier planet and lower utility bills, but also a cleaner conscience. You may know grownups who find it difficult to change their lifestyles to meet the needs of a greener planet. To avoid this happening with your own kids, help to get them involved in making energy efficiency a part of day-to-day life so that they take good green habits with them into the future.

The perfect place to start is by getting involved with the green efforts at your child's school. Care2.com, a healthy living blog, suggests the following five ways parents can successfully integrate their environmentally-friendly prerogative into their child's curriculum:

  1. Start a committee – Enlist the help of like-minded parents who could meet regularly to discuss the school's sustainability and initiatives you can petition the school to take in improving it's environmental issues.
  2. Involve your children – Beginning with the cafeteria, encourage your children to take active steps to reduce waste, recycle and be wise about the foods they consume, opting for fresher, healthier options instead of processed offerings.
  3. Pack a trash-free lunch – If your child isn't throwing out paper and plastic bags but instead sticking with reusable containers to store their food, they will be making a significant impact on the environment for the long term.
  4. Increase awareness – Petition for signs throughout the school that inform individuals to turn off lights when they aren't in use and other environmentally responsible actions.
  5. Ask for help – You probably aren't the only adult involved in the community who is concerned about the environment, so seek out teachers and administrators who can help you be more effective.

Green living begins at home, so make sure you look into a Maryland home inspection to highlight to you and the rest of the household what changes will help you live a greener life.

United States on track to become global leader in energy efficiency

It's no secret that energy efficiency is popular with both penny-pinchers and environmentalists. The efforts to go green among American households and businesses have always been driven by some combination of wanting to save money and reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions. This year, President Barack Obama implemented his Climate Action Plan, which calls for doubling the country's energy productivity by 2030, a feat that would generate billions in saved utility expenses and contribute significantly to economic growth. As we move toward that goal, a new report shows that the U.S. is already slowly but surely becoming one of the world's leaders in energy efficiency.

Citing new data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Bloomberg reports that the U.S. has already achieved an above-average rating in generating renewable power. Gains or losses in sustainability are measured by the IEA in terms of $1,000 per economic output. According to the IEA's latest study, while green energy output in the U.S. dropped by 4.8 percent this past year, the figure is still 15 percent greater than that of the average IEA member country.

"Having accomplished a solid decade of often double-digit growth, U.S. energy-efficiency markets have grown from a footnote to a force to be reckoned with," the IEA wrote in their report. 

The agency added that, with the implementation of further efficiency measures, the country stands to more than triple its power savings in 2020 compared to 2011.

Washington, D.C., homeowners can hop on the eco-friendly bandwagon themselves by scheduling an appointment for a home inspection. Locally based, qualified DC home inspectors can perform an energy audit of your property, helping to identify sources of energy waste, which – when corrected – can reap significant savings on utility bills. 

Virginia encourages local homeowners to have a home inspection

October is National Energy Action Month, and to mark the occasion, Virginia is launching a new statewide campaign to promote energy efficiency among Virginia households. The program, Virginia Energy Sense, is reaching out across the Commonwealth to educate residents about the financial and environmental benefits that even modest eco-friendly improvements can make in curbing long-term energy consumption. The state's goal is to reduce electricity use by 10 percent, which officials argue will have broader, positive economic implications.

As part of the promotion, Virginia Energy Sense has put together a list of "31 Tips for 31 Days," that homeowners can follow in order to cut back on power usage and the utility bills that go with it:

  • Install a programmable thermostat that can set energy use on low while you're not in the house.
  • Replace HVAC air filters on a regular basis. Clogged filters lead to poor circulation and unnecessarily higher rates of power consumption.
  • Schedule a home inspection to "identify energy waste in a home," particularly in areas that are typically hard to reach, such as attics and crawl spaces.
  • Use caulk and weatherstripping to fill in cracks and gaps in doors and windows, reducing the number of air leaks and helping you save on heating and cooling costs.

An energy audit can help assess how at-risk your home may be for these and other energy-wasting scenarios. By meeting with local Virginia home inspectors, homeowners in the area can learn more about how their property could be unnecessarily using power. Resolving this kind of waste can reduce both expensive utility costs and environmentally-harmful carbon dioxide emissions.