Here is a photo book of a pretty major room addition we did last summer. We added a spare room with a root/wine cellar underneath. The dig for the cellar proved to be a bit of a challenge, but we had a little fun with it in this book. Enjoy!
Call us today at 800-498-1833 or 209-772-9200 to get the extra space you have always wanted. The summer-time BBQ and entertaining season is just around the corner, don't wait any longer!
For more information about how we can help you get the home of your dreams, visit our website at www.uniquitybuilders.com.
When I think of droughts, I think of sweltering summer heat and desert wastelands. Not the middle of January with freezing morning temperatures. But the fact is, California has been experiencing one of it's driest winters on record! California, along with 10 other states, has been designated as a primary natural disaster area by federal officials. As you can see from the satellite images below, the snow pack, which is where California gets much of it's water, is significantly lower than the previous year. Almost non-existent.
The average american household uses 350 gallons of water each day! Between showers, laundry, flushing toilets and washing hands, it does add up! Water is an essential part of our lives, but there are ways to cut back our usage and reduce our water footprint. Here are just a few ways we can save.
Hold off on the car wash! I know some of you really like a nice, shiny car. When we are dealing with emergency drought conditions, it's probably better to just deal with a dirty car for a little while.
Skip the Garbage Disposal! That food sludge gets extracted at wastewater treatment plants and eventually winds up in a landfill. Plus, you'll save on water and electricity.
Fix Your Toilet! If you have one that is constantly running, you could be wasting up to a whopping 200 gallons (or 40 flushes) every day!
Take Shorter Showers! Shaving just one minute off your typical time will save 2.5 gallons of water.
Run Fewer, Fuller Loads! This goes for both the dishwasher and the washing machine.
If It's Yellow, Let It Mellow! Yep, I said it! By making it a new rule to not flush every time, a family of four could save 9-11 flushes--that's 45-55 gallons a day!
As you can see, some methods are pretty obvious, some you might have to get a little creative to accomplish, but it is all worth it. What are some of the ways that you and your family save water?
It's where you like to read. It's where you like to relax. It's where you like to create. Whenever you have a moment of down time, this is where you spend it. Your favorite spot. That cozy little corner in your bedroom. The bench by the big bay window. Your favorite spot. It's where you spend your lazy Sunday mornings, just you, your coffee and a good book. It's your sanctuary, your kid-free zone, your nook.
But what if you don't have a spot like this in your home? Maybe you settle for the breakfast table to drink your coffee, not exactly comfy chairs. Or perhaps you retreat to the bathroom for a little peace and quiet. Creating a relaxing space like this is easy, even if you live in a fairly small house. All you need is a little imagination and a few throw pillows.
There is bound to be an area of your home that you've been meaning to clean up or that spot in the corner of the living room that always seems to be a cluttered mess. Take that spot and transform it into your nook. By adding a comfortable chair, a few plush pillows and a side table, you can turn just about any small space into your own little getaway.
After a long work week, it's nice to have a something to look forward to during your weekend to help you recharge. So, take a look around your house, find the best space for your nook and enjoy your moment of serene solitude! Even if it only lasts a few precious minutes.
If you found this article helpful, take a minute to stop by our website at www.uniquitybuilders.com or simply scan the QR code below.
Here we are at the beginning of another Christmas holiday season. If you're like me, every year you go through the dilemma of deciding whether you should or shouldn't buy a real tree. I love the smell and the look of real trees. I also love bringing a bit of nature into my home for a little while. But I'm a believer in living "green", so I've always felt a little guilty about being the cause of another tree losing it's life in the name of holiday decorations.
After doing a little investigation, I was surprised to discover that buying a real tree is probably more eco-conscious than using an artificial one! Here's why...
According to the National Christmas Tree Association (yes, there really is one!), many people believe you save a tree by using an artificial tree. In reality, Christmas trees are grown as a crop, just like your veggies. They are planted by farmers to be used specifically for Christmas trees. Here in the USA, we grow almost half a billion trees on these tree farms. They also point out that artificial trees are transported, usually from China, in a large, sturdy cardboard box. It seems to me that cardboard boxes are made from paper, so not many trees are being saved there!
Let's explore another myth - fake trees are fireproof. As it turns out, according to the National Fire Protection Association, 28% of home fires involving Christmas trees turned out to be fake trees - hmmm...
Then there's the myth that it's better to use a fake tree because you can reuse it year-after-year. I've had an artificial tree in the past. After a few years use, they tend to loose their shape and begin looking really "artificial". It seems that many people feel the same way, since research has shown that most fake trees are used only 6 to 9 years. After that they end up in a landfill where, unlike real trees, they sit for years and years and years, since they are non-biodegradable and non-recyclable.
Another myth is that real trees may have pesticides and chemicals on them. Again, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, Christmas tree farmers don't use chemicals in a "harmful" way. They are only used when needed and only according to instructions given by the EPA, USDA, and the FDA.
According to Earth911.com, about 93% of our real Christmas trees are recycled through more than 4,000 recycling programs available nationwide. I especially like the idea that our real trees are reused for mulch, landscaping and gardening, playground material, hiking trails, paths, and walkways. They can also be used for beachfront erosion prevention, lake and river shoreline stabilization and fish and wildlife habitats.
A third alternative, that I'm particularly partial to, is buying a real potted tree and planting it after Christmas. As I have discovered in the past, you have to be very conscientious about getting the tree out of your home and planting it within a short period of time in order for the real tree to live through the trauma of being indoors out of its natural environment.
The more I read about the drawbacks of artificial trees:
Manufactured with metal and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), non-biodegradable materials, and some may contain lead.
Many being shipped from China (where's the "green" in that?!)
Taking up landfill space, with no redeeming qualities of being recyclable. Not adding to our ecology in any positive way that I can see...
Not fireproof, as proved by the National Fire Protection Association.
Possible health problems of lead dust coming from plastic trees - so much so that my state, California, requires a warning label on trees and wreaths.
It seems like a no-brainer to me - I will be happy to buy real trees in the future!
Still not convinced? This short video will give you some compelling reasons why real is better, not to mention that when you buy a local, real tree you're supporting the "Made in America" movement, helping American's keep working!
If you enjoyed this article, visit our website at www.uniquitybuilders.com to learn more about us, or simply scan the QR code below.
Have you ever stopped to think about the mountains of computer waste going on across the U.S.? Many of us, especially business owners such as I am, need to keep up with the latest computer technology as a matter of survival. No longer a luxury item, computers are a requirement for businesses. According to youchange , the leading community for electronics collection, asset tracking, and re-Commerce, the average lifespan of computers has dropped from six years to merely two years in less than a decade.
Youchange is definitely an idea whose time has come. Based in Arizona, they are in the process of expanding their operation across the U.S. and Canada by educating our students about computer waste and how it affects the environment, and turning them into "agents of change".
"With 100's of millions of electronic items being discarded each year youchange is committed to recovering those resources and hopes to engage thousands of schools across the U.S. and Canada to help. Educating students and then empowering them to be the agents of change is a great way to teach stewardship to the next generation; kids learn about the dangers of electronic waste (e-waste) and then are asked to go home and collect unwanted devices from their family, neighbors and friends. The items are collected by the schools and youchange converts them into cash giving back to the school to help support important programs being cut by budget deficiencies," said Jeffrey Rassas, CEO and Founder of youchange.
With many unwanted items having a secondary market value, recycling these items is more than just environmentally friendly; it's about economics and the recovery of valuable commodities like gold, copper and aluminum. It's estimated that 37 million cell phones a year are being stockpiled by consumers because they are unsure of what to do with them. Youchange solves this problem by creating a way for schools to collect cell phones and other electronic items and turn them into much needed cash.
Derrick Mains, EVP of youchange said, "We've collected more than 10,000 pounds of electronics from the schools in our beta test and are now opening up the program to the more than 2,300 public and private schools in Arizona with hopes of expanding the program to the more than 125,000 schools nationwide in 2012; educate our kids about electronic waste, help mom and dad clean out their closest and put money back into the coffers of cash starved schools, it's a win for everyone!"
"It starts with you…and ends in change."
Until youchange comes to our area, if you have a home in Calaveras County, California you can try donating to your local schools or recycle your old computer and electronics equipment at several locations including the Red Hill Transfer Station in Vallecito; Avery Transfer Station in Avery; and the Rock Creek Solid Waste Facility in Milton. For other locations, just Google "electronics recycling", or try www.allgreenrecycling.com.
To learn more about Uniquity Builders, feel free to stop by our website at www.uniquitybuilders.com, or simply scan the QR code below using your smartphone QR code reader.
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