Best House Floor Plans

Heating your home in the winter can be costly and environmentally unfriendly no matter what type of home or house plan you have. Taking steps to winterize your home and carefully considering your heating options can save you money while helping to make your home green. If you are considering geothermal heating this winter, a recent post on the Hoffmann Brothers St. Louis heating and cooling blog mentioned the following recent regulations regarding geothermal heating and the energy tax credit:

“On December 1st 2009 The Environmental Protection Agency announced revised regulations for residential geothermal heat pumps (GHPs). The new requirements approve water-to-water geothermal pumps to qualify for the Energy Star label. In the past, the geothermal standards were conventional pumps, only. This means that homeowners are entitled to a 30 percent tax credit with the installation of any geothermal heating pump.”

For a more efficient form of heating this winter consider geothermal heating and its value to your home and the environment.

Related Articles:

10-Things to Know About Geothermal Heating and the Energy Tax Credit

 Simple Green Home Energy Tips

Heating, lights and electricity contribute to the outlay of maintaining the home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that the average household spends $1500 each year on energy costs. During the winter months, utility bills can mount to unknown expenditures. Throughout the home, there are several simple tactics to reduce every day costs.

Change the bulbs. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that lighting accounts for 20 percent of the electricity bill. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) bulbs. Although, the bulbs are slightly costlier than standard bulbs, the savings reduces the electricity bill overtime.

Control the temperature.  When the home is vacant for several hours, reduce the temperature five to eight degrees. Thermostats, which can be controlled from remote locations, are a surefire way to cut heating costs. The EPA recommends that by replacing thermostats with Energy Star qualified programmable gages with four-temperature settings, homeowners can recoup $100 in annual energy costs.

Power down. Battery chargers, computers and other unused electronic appliances contribute to the overall power load.

Quarter off rooms. Extra rooms, demanding infrequent traffic should be closed to  reduce drafts and entrap warmth.

Time it. To avoid unnecessary power loads, place lights on timers. 

Protect it. At doors, windows and other drafty entryways, affix weather stripping.

Replace filters. Ensuring the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems means replacing dirty air filters with clean ones.

Select ENERGY STAR. Instead of buying new standard appliances, opt for Energy Star qualifying products, such as home electronics, lighting, heating and cooling equipment which have passed a series of energy efficiency assessments.

Additional Green Energy Tip  Resources:

• FAQs About Going Green
• Green Conservation Tips
• Efficiency Facts

Beyond the front door wreath and Christmas tree, certain holiday party decorations are reminiscent of the scents, scenes and sounds of the season. Here is a recipe for decorating the home for a holiday party.

The Supply List

• Bough of Holly
• Candy canes
• Cinnamon sticks
• Crystal bowls
• Frankincense
• Gold and silver spray paint
• Mistletoe
• Myrrh
• Orange peel
• Pinecones
• Red or green bows
• Three to four strings of Christmas lights
• Votive candles

 The Smells

In 5-quart pan, boil 2-quarts of water with cinnamon sticks, lemon and orange peels, until the aroma fills the air. As an alternate, burn myrrh and frankincense.

 The Sights

Bedeck it in crystal. From Swarovski to Waterford, crystal adornments twinkle. Introducing an element of depth. Fill the crystal with

 Throughout the living room, and kitchen dress up vases with the varied sized bows. Affix to the exterior of vases, candles holders carafes and other accessories.

Take 30 to 40 pinecones. Spray paint them in gold or silver. Affix a fishing hook and hang on the tree.

As an alternate holiday decoration idea: Do not spray the pinecones, but arrange in a crystal bowl and mix with evergreen branches.

Candy canes and various sized bows are inexpensive and simple ways to decorate the home. On the Christmas tree, bows fill in where other tree decorations are lacking. Candy canes make for another tree adornment. As an alternate hang candy canes around the parameter of a crystal bowl.

Display votive candles throughout the home to capture and accentuate the sparkling crystal features.

 Select the hues of the season: crimson, evergreen, and gold. Embellish the home with objects that make the home shimmer and glisten.

Punctuate entryways with a strand of Christmas holiday.

 Introduce other natural elements, such as boughs of holly, mistletoe and evergreen twigs.

 The Sounds

Right before the guests arrive, turn on the fireplace. And sync the sounds of the season in tune with your holiday party decorations.

Related Articles:

• Heating and Tree Safety
• Safety Tips for Holiday Home

Winterizing the home is a chore that no one likes to do. But, it goes far in conserving on the energy bill, shutting out chilly temperatures and reducing the carbon footprint.  Best House Floor Plans compiled a short list of winterizing tactics to keep the home buzzing with warm efficiency:

Plastic wrap

Cover windows and storm doors with a sheet of plastic, designed to maintain insulation.

Caulk

If certain areas of the home are drafty or feel cooler than other rooms,  investigate the source of the chill. Windows and doors are notorious for developing miniscule cracks, which impede the energy efficiency of the home.  Caulk cracks around doors and windows.

Drainage

Be sure to insulate any exposed pipes and drain all backyard hoses The aforementioned steps can prevent pipes from freezing. In case of an emergency situation, in which the water mains have to shutdown, it’s a commonsensical idea to reacquaint yourself with the location.  
 

Furnace

About every three to four years, have the furnace duct cleaned. To assure clean air quality, do not forget to change the filter to the furnace, monthly. Also, shop around for a special blanket to keep the hot water heater functioning properly.

Insulate

In the northern states, where winter temperatures plummet below freezing, extra insulation is beneficial for the prevention of ice dams around downspouts and gutters. Consider insulating any overhead crawlspaces and attics.
 

Fireplace

While fireplaces render ambient warmth, there are several safety steps to heat up the winter season. Hire a contractor to inspect the hearth’s brick and mortar as well as the damper. During maintenance, have the contractor clean the chimney. (Remember to store firewood in a dry space, outdoors).

On a final note, make sure that carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are in working order. At House Plans and More.com, read additional details pertaining to winterizing the home. 

Related topic:

• Child Proofing

At Dictionary.com, the definition of a hearth is “the fireplace’s floor, usually made of brick or stone…often extending a short distance into a room.” With more domiciles trying to be green, hearths are making a comeback in home design. Several Web sites, such as Home Floor Plans and More, are highlighting these antiquated heat sourced, centerpieces as a catalyst for being green.

Best House Floors Plans went snooping around to determine the benefits, green features and facts about hearths. Here’s what we learned:

1)    Hearth rooms are emerging as the new gathering epicenter of the home. Situated in close proximity to the kitchen, and the midpoint of the home floor plan, hearths warm multiple rooms at a time.

2)    In home design and as seen on these house floor plans, hearths are a sizzling new trend.

3)    Over the last decade, numerous new energy efficient, burning fireplaces and inserts have become available on the market. These new products release far less particulate matter than older models.

4)    According to HomePlansandMore, hearth rooms are also referred to as a “keeping room”, characteristic of Colonial times.

5)    Constructed of stone or brick, hearths are emblematic of masonry fireplaces.

6)    Although, many people contend that hearths are not designed to be a primary heat source, most agree that hearths institute a sense of aesthetic warmth.

7)    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a program, mandating the certification of hearths, built-in fireplaces and fireplace inserts.  As a result, consumers, who are shopping for a hearth, can learn how-to distinguish the green fireplace insert.

8)    Certain hearths, fireplace inserts and fireplaces qualify for the federally funded Tax Credit, which covers up to $1500 or a 30 percent credit of the total purchase, (effective now through December 31, 2010).

9)    Environmentalists theorize that a biomass, burning fireplace can save heating costs, annually by up to 40 percent.

So, you be the judge, do you think hearths are really green?

Add your opinion.

Related Articles:

Gas Burning 101

Wood Fireplace Insert Pros and Cons

Fireplace Solutions That Are Economical, Energy Efficient, Eco-Friendly, and Easy

What Is A Keeping Room?

How to create an idyllic space for company. Design information for embellishing the guesthouse plan

Guest house plans acclimatize company with accents emblematic of a spa. Imagine a luxurious space that feels like a peaceful respite from the rest of the home and accommodates guests. Designed with the elderly parent, visiting children or other frequent houseguests, guest house plans are the blueprint to unwinding company and promoting relaxation.

We gleaned several guest house plan tips at HousePlansandMore.com. Here are the findings:

Privacy. Although the House Plans and more points out that “a guest house can also be converted to a home office,” Best House Floor Plan considers an in-home spa, tucked away from the main action as the utmost alter ego for the guesthouse.

Closet Space. To get away from the traditional closet space, we went to House Plans and More to shop for a built in storage space, which appears as a cabinet. The one that appears in this photo, about organizing closets, departmentalizes coats, shoes, hats, and miscellaneous items. The storage cabinet is comprised of deep drawers, cabinets and shelves.

If the guest house floor plan is stocked with a large closet, House Plans and More reminds us that real guesthouse hospitality means not using the space to store household inventory, clothes and exercise equipment. Also, we learned that two-tiered closet rods maximize hanging space.

Based on our research, we decided to incorporate these design ideas to the guest house plan:

-    We chose earthy tones of sienna, sea green and a light turquoise to instill a sense of natural tranquility.

-    Replicating a spa-like ambiance, we opted for guest house plans with genuine timber, marbles, and sustainable materials.

-    To decorate with multifunctional amenities, we chose various sized pillows in divergent patterns, but the same color scheme to add tangible comfort.

-    Intensifying a tranquil environ, aromatherapy, infused soy candles were thoughtfully displayed to evoke a sense of calmness.

As for additional guest floor plan ideas, review these luxury mansion house plans.

Related Articles:

Guest House Decorating Ideas

Thinking Pink

The Guest House: A Visitor’s Home Away From Home

A large part of home design and making the space your own is in the decorating.  Now is the time of year for decorating your home indoors and out for the holiday season.  A big part of the tradition in many homes is bringing home the Christmas tree to decorate.  While natural Christmas trees can make your whole house feel festive with yuletide cheer, they can also be a risk for your home and those in it if not maintained properly.  A recent post on “Heating and Your Christmas Tree” on the Hoffman Brothers blog gives the following tips on Christmas Tree Safety for your home this season:

Christmas Tree Safety Tips

• Have the tree trunk and branches trimmed at the nursery, approximately 1.5 to 2-inches

• Place the Christmas tree in a stand, which accommodates water

• To prevent fire do not position the tree near any type of heating system: radiator, kerosene / electrical heaters, and fireplace

• Situate the Christmas tree in a cool room or space (heated rooms tend to dry trees out)

• Don’t forget to fill the tree stand with ample water

Following these simple tips will help keep your home safe and your Christmas tree green.  To keep your house green by saving energy this holiday season don’t forget to keep your furnace filters clean and to have your heating system serviced.

Related home design tips articles:

Inspiring a Hospitable Entryway

More Design Tips

Keeping the Laundry Room and Mudroom Green