inspections portland: Setting The Stage: Making Your Stove Shine
- 08/04/10 03:40 AM
One of the most dreaded cleaning chores is the mainstay of every kitchen - the stove. Here are some easy environmentally friendly ways to keep your stove shining with less effort. … (0 comments)
inspections portland: DEQ is seeking public comments on its proposal to raise fees
- 08/02/10 06:02 AM
DEQ is seeking public comments on its proposal to raise fees for certifying that activities requiring licenses and permits comply with water quality requirements and standards. The fees would apply to most removal, fill and other activities - except hydroelectric projects - that may result in discharges to navigable state waters. DEQ is proposing the fee increase to ensure sufficient revenues and staff for implementing the 401 certification program, including reducing the time for certification review and increasing technical assistance. The increased fees, as directed by the 2009 Oregon Legislature, will be based on projected program costs rather than on volume … (0 comments)
inspections portland: Drying Clothes With Less Energy
- 08/02/10 05:57 AM
Today we'll turn our attention to drying, which accounts for approximately 6% of all household electricity consumption in the U.S. The more effectively we extract water from clothes during the spin cycle of washing, the less energy it takes to dry them. That's another reason the new horizontal-axis (H-axis or front-loading) clothes washers are so good. The extremely fast spin speeds remove far more moisture than vertical-axis top-loaders-and more than some H-axis machines. When we traded in our older, entry-level Frigidaire H-axis on a new Whirlpool Duet mode, the difference in water removal was dramatic. It seemed that the clothes came … (0 comments)
inspections portland: Green Rating Systems
- 07/31/10 06:25 AM
ABOUT GREEN RATING SYSTEMS Getting a label for your house Green certification can be a valuable marketing tool for builders as U.S. home buyers start to focus more attention on energy efficiency, durability and healthy interiors. Builders who want the advantages of green certification have many options. In addition to the above four programs, dozens of local and regional green building rating programs have been established by local builders' associations. Some have been in operation for more than a decade. LEED for Homes and the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) are alike in how they work and what they cover, and … (4 comments)
inspections portland: Green Building Vocabulary Disputes: Watch out — sloppy terminology may earn you a scolding from the word police
- 07/30/10 03:39 AM
Unless you're a word junkie, you may roll your eyes at some of the technical disputes listed in the table below. After all, who cares whether WRB stands for "weather-resistant barrier" or "water-resistive barrier"? (Just help me nail up the freakin' housewrap, okay?) For the record, I'm not necessarily in favor of all of the terms in the "preferred" column. Many of these vocabulary disputes are not yet resolved. In the meantime, the words we choose should communicate our meaning clearly. Adopting an unusual (though technically correct) term doesn't improve communication if it leaves the listener or reader confused. … (1 comments)
inspections portland: Motivation: Getting Unstuck
- 07/29/10 03:41 AM
You're stuck. Frozen. Can't seem to move forward. What's stopping you? Is it because you're afraid you might fail? Here are some ways to blast through the blockage and get on with it. You have heard the expression, "Anything worth doing is worth doing well." Here's your new motto: "Anything worth doing is worth being willing to do badly." If something is important to you then you have got to be willing to try it, knowing that you may flop, because sometimes you will. Consider the words of Saint Francis of Assisi: "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's … (1 comments)
inspections portland: Reminder: Oregon Woodstove Law Goes Into Effect August 1st
- 07/28/10 08:27 AM
Oregon's new woodstove law designed to protect homebuyers and clear the air of unnecessary wood smoke pollution takes effect on August 1st. The 2009 Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 102 which was later signed into law by Governor Kulongoski requires the removal and decommissioning of any uncertified woodstove or insert from a home when it is sold. These uncertified stoves and inserts were manufactured prior to 1986, before emissions certification was required to control smoke from these devices. Residential wood burning is a significant source of air pollution, including fine particulate and air toxics. For more information about this requirement, please … (0 comments)
inspections portland: Removing Moisture from Homes with Air Conditioners
- 07/28/10 03:51 AM
Air conditioners not only cool homes, they also remove moisture-which is a high priority in many parts of the country To understand moisture removal, it's important to brush up on a bit of physics. Air is able to hold only a finite amount of water vapor, and that amount is governed by the temperature of the air. Warm air can hold more moisture than cool air. This is why water droplets appear on that cold glass of iced tea: the outer surface of the glass is cold so the air close to the glass cools off and the amount of moisture … (1 comments)
inspections portland: 3 Things you should Never Say to your Customer
- 07/27/10 05:59 AM
•1. I was in the area and thought I'd drop by/call - Meet or call your customer only when you have something useful or important to give or share. Unless you two are buddies don't do that. •2. I'm not sure about that - You can instead respond by saying "give me x hours/days and I'll get back to you with an answer". This shows that you are taking your customer's concern seriously and want to help. •3. It's not my fault - You are the customer's only contact in the company. Even if it isn't your fault, its your responsibility … (5 comments)
inspections portland: Cooling Your Home Without A/C
- 07/23/10 04:14 AM
As summer sets in, so does the increase to our energy bills because A/Cs are often turned on so we all need to find new ways to keep the house cool without wasting energy. You can save money and conserve energy by keeping your home naturally cool without using air-conditioning. Here are some helpful tips to keep your home cool during the hot season. Let the Cool Air In - When the day cools off, open doors and windows to allow the cool air to circulate through the rooms of your home. Turn on fans to create a cross-breeze, circulating the … (3 comments)
inspections portland: MORE ABOUT OUTDOOR ADD-ONS
- 07/21/10 03:35 AM
LAYOUT/SPACE PLANNING SiteDisturb the site as little as possible. Modify landscaping to improve solar access. Choose porous surfaces to improve water infiltration and reduce runoff. Reduce the size of the lawn and choose plantings that don't need extra water, weed killers or insecticides. Consider a rainwater collection system (even a simple one) for garden and yard use. Where possible, make room for a vegetable garden. Outdoor structuresTry to reuse existing materials. Consider a ground-level patio rather than a wood deck (it lasts longer with less maintenance). Use environmentally friendly materials. When building a deck, detail the connection between the house and … (0 comments)
inspections portland: Remodel Project: Outdoor Add-Ons
- 07/21/10 03:33 AM
A Good Design Can Have High Utility and Low Environmental Impact Use Durable Materials Improving outdoor living spaces can bring many rewards to homeowners, not least of which is a closer connection to natural surroundings. Landscaping and gardening don't have to be expensive, but remember that durable and green materials are key when building for the outdoors. Outdoor rooms increase a home's livabilityAppealing outdoor spaces can relieve pressure on a home's interior. For example, a covered porch may reduce the need for enlarging indoor entertainment areas. An outdoor kitchen can help lower cooling bills in warmer weather. Outdoor designs can include … (0 comments)
inspections portland: Four steps to green remodeling
- 07/20/10 03:48 AM
Step 1: Get an energy audit Making a remodeled house more energy efficient should be a top priority, and coming up with a plan begins with an energy audit. The beauty of this relatively inexpensive battery of scientific tests is that it will pinpoint and measure a house's energy deficiencies. A detailed inspection will uncover air leaks, equipment inefficiencies, inadequate insulation and other structural shortcomings that together add up to a drafty, uncomfortable and ultimately wasteful house. Energy audits range from unscientific walk-throughs taking a few hours to more detailed examinations aided by diagnostic equipment. Utilities may provide them for free. … (0 comments)
inspections portland: Vacation Tips: Why waste watts when you’re away? Send your home appliances on vacation, too.
- 06/19/10 06:16 AM
Before you leave on vacation, take a few minutes to turn off and unplug equipment. You'll save energy and avoid safety hazards. You might want to read your meter before you leave and when you return - it's a good way to spot any hidden energy wasters. What to unplug, turn off or turn down before leaving LightsTurn off all lights except for one or two. Unless these lights are compact fluorescents, put them on timers that can be set to random patterns to discourage potential prowlers. Photo sensors or motion detectors are good ideas for outdoor lights. Air conditioningTurn it … (4 comments)
When comparing sales activity in the Portland metro area in May 2010 to the same time last year, May 2009, closed sales increased 43.7%. Pending sales and new listings both decreased by 24.1% and 10.2%, respectively. On a month-to-month basis, when comparing May 2010 to April 2010, closed sales grew 5.6% (2,050 v. 1,941) while pending sales fell 50.1% (1,493 v. 2,991). New listings also dropped 26.2% (3,482 v. 4,713). At the month’s rate of sales, the 14,372 active residential listings would last approximately 7 months, the lowest inventory has been since August of 2007. … (1 comments)
inspections portland: Pressure treated wood
- 06/01/10 12:34 PM
Pressure treated wood is a staple of the North American backyard. Decks, fences and play structures will last longer when made from pressure treated wood. Wood exposed to the elements will decay as it is attacked by fungus and insects. Pressure treatment introduces a chemical into the wood that inhibits fungus growth. No fungus - no rot. For many years, the chemical used was chromated copper arsenate (CCA). CCA contains chromium, copper and arsenic. Chromium and arsenic are toxic to the environment and to people. In 2004, CCA was phased out. It is no longer used to pressure treat wood for … (1 comments)
inspections portland: Your garage vehicle door may be the largest moving object in your home and could weigh up to 400 pounds. For your safety make sure it’s in good condition.
- 02/08/10 03:40 AM
Overhead garage doors have gravity to deal with. In the absence of some type of balancing mechanism, the door would slam shut as soon as you let go of it. Older garage doors may employ a weight and pulley system to balance the weight of the door however virtually all modern systems use springs. Regardless of the method used, the door should balance. If you open the garage door about half way and let go, it should balance there. Spring failure The springs used to balance the weight of the door are under enormous stress. If a spring were to … (1 comments)
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One of the most dreaded cleaning chores is the mainstay of every kitchen - the stove. Here are some easy environmentally friendly ways to keep your stove shining with less effort.
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