As winter sets in, it’s crucial to prioritize home maintenance tasks to ensure your living space remains in optimal condition. One of the primary tasks during the colder months is pinpointing and plugging air leaks. Hunt for drafts around windows and doors, as these can significantly contribute to heat loss. Additionally, assess the insulation in your attic to ensure it is sufficient to keep your home warm. Consider scheduling an energy audit to identify areas where energy efficiency can be improved, ultimately leading to a more comfortable and cost-effective winter season.

To prevent the risk of burst pipes, take proactive measures. Insulate exposed pipes in unheated areas of your home, such as the basement or crawl spaces. This can help avoid freezing and subsequent pipe damage. Be vigilant about potential floods, especially in areas prone to heavy precipitation or snowmelt. Check the condition of your roof and gutters, ensuring proper drainage to minimize the risk of water damage. Act promptly to address any leaks or weaknesses in your home’s structure to prevent potential flooding issues.

Give your oven a fresh start before the holiday cooking season kicks into full gear. Perform a thorough cleaning to remove built-up grease and food residues, ensuring your oven operates efficiently and safely. Winter is also an opportune time to address outdoor concerns. Act now to prevent potholes in your driveway by filling any existing cracks and applying a protective sealant. Additionally, consider upgrading to a plug-in generator to have a reliable power source during winter storms or power outages. These winter home maintenance tasks collectively contribute to a well-prepared and resilient living environment during the colder months.

Approximately 25 years ago, designer Lisa Moody had a small garden that eventually took a backseat to raising her children and growing her business. Now, with her children older and her passion for gardening rekindled, Lisa, along with her husband, decided to invest in their garden project. Living on an acre of land in North Surrey, B.C., about an hour from Vancouver, they installed raised beds and, inspired by a trip to Sweden, decided to add a greenhouse and chicken coop to their property. Continue reading “This Dreamy Scandinavian Greenhouse Is Also A Chicken Coop” »

Embarking on a DIY duck coop project over the last 6-8 weeks, the hardworking creators are excited to reveal their masterpieces. The duck run is ingeniously attached to a shed, offering a convenient location for access to fresh water and food, especially when the shed transforms into a she-shed or garden shed in the future. Continue reading “Start to Plan in Time for the Warm Season With This DIY Duck Coop” »

The summer of 2023 marked a significant turning point for grid batteries, showcasing their increasing importance in ensuring grid reliability and resilience. According to data from the American Clean Power industry group and Wood Mackenzie, the second quarter of 2023 saw the highest-ever new grid-storage capacity installations by battery developers, highlighting a rebound from previous quarters affected by COVID-related supply-chain constraints. Concentrated in California and Texas, these installations played a crucial role in supporting the grid during extreme weather events, preventing blackouts, and demonstrating the technology’s effectiveness. In Texas, grid battery capacity surged from 275 megawatts in 2020 to 3,500 megawatts by the summer of 2023, a remarkable 13-fold increase in just three years. The state’s reliance on grid batteries played a pivotal role in avoiding blackouts despite setting 10 records for electricity demand during the summer. Similarly, California, which has been a pioneer in grid battery adoption, increased its grid battery capacity by a factor of 10 in the last three years. Batteries now contribute 7.6% of the nameplate capacity for the power system overseen by the California Independent System Operator.

While these developments underscore the positive impact of grid batteries, challenges such as safety concerns, exemplified by storage plant fires in New York, highlight the need for careful management and regulation in the growing battery fleet. The rise of grid batteries reflects a broader shift toward cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions. While the clichéd understanding is that grid batteries store clean energy for periods of low renewable generation, the reality is more nuanced. Batteries contribute bursts of power at crucial moments with rapid response times, playing a role akin to fossil gas peaker plants in responding to high demand. As lithium-ion batteries currently have limitations on sustained discharge durations, ongoing efforts to commercialize long-duration storage technologies are underway to further enhance the capabilities of grid batteries and support the transition to clean energy. The success of grid batteries in addressing critical reliability challenges positions them as key players in the evolving energy landscape.

The surge in interest in alternative housing solutions in recent years has fueled a growing fascination with minimalist, off-grid living. Among the various unconventional dwellings, container homes have emerged as a popular choice, blending the stability of brick-and-mortar structures with the mobility of more transient homes. These homes, constructed from repurposed shipping containers, offer advantages such as easy assembly, reduced costs, and the possibility of do-it-yourself projects. While container homes may come with some limitations in terms of layout, their ability to be moved on a flatbed trailer and set up quickly with minimal ground preparation makes them an attractive and sustainable housing option. The River Forest Lookout serves as an outstanding example, showcasing how creativity can transform a standard container into a unique, completely off-grid escape.

Situated in Epworth, Georgia, the River Forest Lookout defies conventional notions of container living. Comprising two containers suspended 60 feet above the forest floor, it can be more accurately described as a “container tower.” The containers have been ingeniously converted into distinct living spaces, with one container serving as the bedroom, kitchen, and lounge, while the other functions as a full bathroom. Both containers boast floor-to-ceiling glazing, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. While the mobility aspect is lost in this transformation, the River Forest Lookout exemplifies how innovative design can turn a container into a comfortable, visually stunning home for two people, offering a unique and serene living experience high above the forest canopy.

The iconic Disney character Mickey Mouse, in his ‘Steamboat Willie’ incarnation, has officially entered the public domain, marking a significant milestone in intellectual property law. ‘Steamboat Willie,’ first released in 1928, is a pioneering animated short film featuring the beloved character, and its entry into the public domain means that the work is no longer under copyright protection. This development holds profound implications for the creative landscape, as artists, Continue reading “Disney’s ‘Steamboat Willie’ Version of Mickey Mouse is Now in the Public Domain” »

Lego enthusiasts have an exciting start to 2024 with the launch of new sets featuring iconic characters from Sonic, Marvel, and Mario franchises. Marvel fans can dive into the X-Men X-Jet set, intricately designed after the jet from the beloved X-Men ’97 animated show, complete with Magneto and Wolverine Minifigures. Another Marvel addition is the Spider-Man vs. Sandman: Final Battle set inspired by the film No Way Home, featuring a thrilling showdown between Spidey and Doc Ock in a motorcycle chase. Mario’s Lego Mushroom Kingdom expands with new sets, including the budget-friendly Bowser’s Muscle Car set, offering a comprehensive experience for just $29.99, along with Yoshi’s Egg-cellent Forest and Dorrie’s Sunken Shipwreck sets. Continue reading “Lego Launches New Bowser, X-Men, Spider-Man, And Knuckles Sets To Kick Off 2024” »

In North London’s Newington Green, expat lawyer Tess Bridgman and digital product designer Matjaz Cuk have turned their Victorian terraced house into a stunning blend of tradition and modernity. While the front of the house adheres to the typical terrace appearance with a row of brick houses, a bright yellow-painted front door hints at the contemporary transformation within. The couple envisioned marrying old and new elements, expanding the house at the rear to bring in more sunlight, Continue reading “Expat Lawyer Turns UK Terrace Into a Beauty by Blending Tradition with Modernity” »

The Karapiro Luxe by Compac Homes has earned the prestigious title of Tiny House of the Year in the 2023 NZ Tiny House awards, standing out for its luxurious features and innovative design. Located in North Waikato, this award-winning tiny house boasts a unique scullery, setting it apart from its counterparts. The Karapiro Continue reading “This Award-Winning $200K Luxury Tiny Home Comes with a Scullery” »