Green change - Home Makeover Magazine

Recommendations

Info

8 HOT �� Super scrubber mop You can mop and scrub away floor dirt, scuff marks and more with the quick new Power Mop from Black and Decker. The Power Mop is two cleaning tools in one: a mop with cleaning fluid dispenser that cleans large surfaces, and a rotating powered scrubber that tackles tough stuck-on dirt and grime. Pour any floor cleaner into the Power Mop’s refillable cleaner bottle, and its spray nozzle directs the cleaner where you need it. The cleaning pad also clicks onto the mop so you don’t have to bend over to put it on. After you finish cleaning, just twist a knob and the ejection system drops the pad directly into the trash. It also accepts most disposable floor cleaning pads. The Power Mop has a suggested retail price of around $40, and is available at home centres and hardware retailers. An affordable house Vancouver-based Smallworks Studio and Laneway Housing introduced this concept at the Design Vancouver Expo this May: a tiny house that can be placed in a backyard (zoning permitting) as a garden suite, say for an elderly relative or as a guest suite. They could be an option to renovating a suite into an existing house. Their show suite, 123 Anywhere Lane, is the size of a single-car garage and features millwork, solar panels and interior finishing. They also have a traditional design that looks something like a big dollhouse. Estimated cost of the small houses is about $175 per square foot, or from $30,000-$50,000 for a 200-square foot model. Something hot? Know of a hot new product? Share it with our readers. E-mail: hmeditor@biv.com
GREEN CHANGES Invisible window film reduces energy use Summer is coming, and the cost of keeping homes cool and comfortable means higher air conditioning costs. Studies show that windows account for about 40 Window on the left has a clear spectrally selective window film; the one on the right is not coated with a film. per cent of a home’s cooling cost, due to heat entering through the glass. There are high-performance windows that can reduce heat buildup, but there is also a less expensive method using window films. Now, with new technology, the window film looks just as clear as normal glass. Most tinted window films transmit less than 34 per cent of visible light, far less than the 70 per cent necessary to be undetected by the naked eye. The result is interiors are darkened, often requiring the use of increased illumination. This leads to higher electricity consumption that may increase inside temperatures requiring more air-conditioning, which defeats the whole purpose. New, clear “spectrally selective window film” have the ability to let in desirable daylight, while blocking out undesirable heat. Spectrally selective film, which blocks heat equivalent to the darkest films, transmits 70 per cent of the visible light yet is virtually invisible. The spectrally selective film is more expensive than tinted films. Depending on the installation and the geographic area, the best spectrally selective film ranges from approximately $13 to $18 a square foot installed, or about twice the price of tinted and reflective films, according to Dale Malkovich of Universal Solar Film of Kelowna. Ask your renovation contractor or window supplier about the new window films, the payback can be fairly quick. ReStore extends recycling Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver has opened its second ReStore outlet, selling donated new and used building and renovation materials at bargain prices. Located at 69 West 69th Avenue in Vancouver, the store offers good quality new and used materials ranging from laminate and ceramic flooring to windows, doors, hardware, cabinets, tool and even appliances. Materials are donated to ReStore by building supply stores, contractors, demolition crews and manu- Second Restore now open at 69, West 69th, Vancouver. facturers. ReStore helps the environment by selling re-usable materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill. “Profits from ReStore also help to build affordable housing,” notes Anneke Rees, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver. Traditional bulbs fade into history. Lights out for old bulbs The light is fading on the traditional incandescent bulb that sheds more heat than light. The federal government has announced a plan to phase out inefficient lightbulbs by 2012 to cut energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn says the ban will eliminate more than six million tonnes in greenhouse pollution annually. Since fluorescent lights, the normal replacement, are more expensive than conventional bulbs, consumers will be paying a higher initial cost, but they will make it up in reduced electricity costs over the longer term. Ottawa’s move is part of a major continuing effort by the Conservative government to position itself as environmentally progressive. The ban is virtually cost-free for the government, and the political path has already been broken by Australia and Ontario, which announced a phaseout earlier this year. “Switching to energy-efficient lightbulbs is the first choice that we can make in becoming energy-efficient consumers,’’ said Stuart Hickox, executive director of Project Porchlight, which promotes efficient lighting. B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner voiced worries about the environmental risk posed by toxic mercury contained in fluorescent lights. Penner has asked his staff for an analysis of what impact the additional mercury will have in waste management. � ��
Page 1 and 2: ��
Page 3 and 4: Maybe it’s too comfortable. All b
Page 5 and 6: KOHLER®, the world’s most innova
Page 7 and 8: Fireplaces to Go 1150 United Blvd.
Page 9: Teak cooler cabinet HomeSense, whic
Page 13 and 14: tively low cost to blend seamlessly
Page 15 and 16: CLOCKWISE FORM ABOVE: Reproduction
Page 17 and 18: Decorative curbs can protect garden
Page 19 and 20: Photos: Jo-Anne Richards, Works Pho
Page 21 and 22: KITCHEN MAKEOVER Timeless taste By
Page 23 and 24: ALL HOMES OPEN SUNDAY JUNE 3, 10 A.
Page 25 and 26: 4523 Southridge Crescent, Langley S
Page 27 and 28: 7538 Haszard Street, Burnaby Quinto
Page 29 and 30: Extensive cedar and pine decking, f
Page 31 and 32: ing ways. Local wide plank alder, f
Page 33 and 34: Design. Th is is captured in subtle
Page 35 and 36: Three new gas fireplaces were insta
Page 37 and 38: Elevator doors can be matched to lo
Page 39 and 40: By Frank O’Brien If you are going
Page 41 and 42: Barbecue bonanza Styles, features t
Page 43 and 44: MAKEOVER MONEY Cash-strapped homeow
Page 45 and 46: TRIMS & TOUCHES continued from page
Page 47: Introducing Nucasa hand scraped Wal

Green change - Home Makeover Magazine

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?