Home Sweet Home

COLLECTING YOUR THOUGHTS

Start by compiling a scrapbook of ideas that appeal to you — a loose-leaf file is best, so that you can slot in extra suggestions as you come across them. Collect pictures from magazines, fabric and wallpaper samples, paint colours (paint patches of colour on to paper so that you get a more realistic idea of how they’ll look in situ), postcards and photos. The most unexpected places become sources of inspiration: a holiday snap of Mediterranean skies and bright potted geraniums, sheets of patterned gift wrap chosen for a birthday present, a street of houses all painted different colours, even a random- coloured row of books on a shelf. (more…)

We use far too much energy and, worst of all, we waste most of what we draw from main supplies anyway. Since it costs only one-tenth as much to save energy through conservation measures as it does to produce more of it, this is obviously the place to make a start.

An average-sized, older-style house uses 20,000 to 30,000kWh of energy each year. Of the total amount spent on energy, between 40 and 60 per cent (depending on climate and the level of insulation) goes on space heating, 20 per cent on hot water, and 15 to 30 per cent on cooking, lighting, and electrical appliances. The remainder goes on maintenance and standing charges. By improving insulation and draughtproofing and by using better controls, it is possible to save at least half the money now spent on heating and hot water. (more…)

“The more you know, the less you need.” Old Australian Aborigine proverb

Animals, birds, and insects respond to a far greater range of natural stimuli than do people. Dolphins, whales, birds, butterflies, and many other creatures can all detect electromagnetic energy and use this “supersense” to navigate and guide them in their migratory routes. Beyond our visible spectrum, insects use ultraviolet to see food-bearing plants and snakes use infrared to detect their prey. Although our sensory awareness is not as acute as this, our own senses were once far sharper.

Our move indoors, out of the wild and into cities, coupled with the effects of pollution, have dulled our senses, as well as altered the emphasis we place on them. In a world beset with noise, unpleasant air, and bad smells, amid the dominance of visual information, TV, and advertising, we have come to rely heavily on sight and have pushed into the background sensory input from our ears or nose (let alone the subtler messages of electromagnetism to which we may also be sensitive). These “sensory blind spots” have had their effect on our homes. (more…)

Equally as important as the quality of our water is the quantity we consume. Most of us have become accustomed to using a lot of water everyday and take it for granted that supplies are limitless (or at least put to the back of our minds the fact that they are not). This attitude is particularly in evidence in North America where an average family of four can use on average up to 1000 litres (220 gallons) a day - between two and four times average consumption for a family in Europe.

Water leaks

Before water even reaches your home, huge amounts are often lost through old and corroded underground distribution pipes. This waste can be as high as 40 or 50 per cent of valuable, processed drinking water. On top of this, an additional 5 to 10 per cent can be lost through leaks in the home, mostly from faulty toilet cistern valves and worn tap washers - a steadily dripping tap can lose 90 litres (20 gallons) per day. Hot-water leaks increase your energy costs, too. As a first priority, run a regular check on all your tap washers and cistern valves. You can also fit a check valve to the incoming main water supply. This valve shuts off the flow if a predetermined rate is exceeded by either a sudden or slow, steady loss. (more…)

Hazardous gas concentrations

This type of problem is less universal and arises from locally high exposure. Ozone is a cause of immediate discomfort; radon, however, a more serious, long-term hazard.

Ozone is an unstable poisonous gas present in small amounts in the air, and it is responsible for the protective atmospheric layer that shields the Earth from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Ozone is also generated when the UV in sunlight acts on hydrocarbons and nitric oxides in polluted air, as well as by electrical discharges from appliances with brush- type motors and photocopiers. High ozone concentrations cause smog conditions and can be hazardous to people with chest problems. (more…)

The home and its setting in the landscape symbolize our relationship with nature. A building can be constructed in such a way that it supports the natural ecology of the area — the vegetation, water, and wildlife — or it can be disruptive and damaging. Most buildings have a major impact on the local environment and unless the degree of disturbance is carefully controlled and the land restored afterward, the delicate ecological balance could be destroyed.

For your home to be comfortable yet use as little energy as possible, working with nature rather than against it is the fundamental principle. The location, siting, and orientation are all vitally important if you are to gain the maximum benefit of winter sun but also make the most of shelter given by hills and trees against any prevailing winter winds and summer overheating. A well-sited, energy-efficient home will use the natural features of the locality and, therefore, will never have to draw on as much supplementary energy as one built without any regard for its surroundings. (more…)

Most people are now familiar with the growing worldwide threat of atmospheric pollution; far fewer, however, are aware that they are surrounded by this danger inside their own homes.

Take a tour around your home and you will be surprised to find sources of pollution everywhere. Starting at the top, roofing timbers may have been treated with toxic fluids or be insulated with potentially unhealthy materials, and the roofs of older buildings may contain asbestos-cement products. Cavity walls could have been injected with insulating foam emitting formaldehyde vapour, while interior decoration will consist of petrochemical-based paints or vinyl wallpapers, which emit more dangerous vapours, especially when new. Older paint may contain lead. Timber floors and stairs may, too, have been treated; synthetic carpets may cover them (emitting formaldehyde and creating dust) or else plastic tiles may have been used that can emit chemicals. (more…)

EMFs and ELFs

Of particular concern is our continual exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and, in particular, to extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields in our homes and workplaces emitted by mains supply alternating current pulsating at 50 or 60 cycles a second. Although studies are still at an early stage, there is enough evidence to suggest that all living organisms react to even weak electromagnetic ELF stimuli. It is this continual exposure to these sources and the effects they may be having on us that are of present concern. (more…)

After the shock of the oil crisis, there was a surge of activity from governments and industry in the fields of conservation and the use of alternative energy sources. But the recent oil glut and the fall in oil prices have lulled many back into the old belief that cheap energy is here to stay.

At present, three-quarters of world energy consumption comes from nonrenewable “hard- energy” sources - a third of this amount is oil, a quarter coal, and the rest from natural gas. The other quarter of world usage is supplied by amixture of nuclear power, hydropower, and biomass. In developing countries, however, there is heavy dependence on biomass, and the burning of fuelwood and animal dung is resulting in serious environmental destruction. (more…)

Too many homes in hot or humid climates rely on air-conditioning systems as the chief means of cooling during the summer months. But there are alternatives, many of which have been used successfully in different countries for centuries. Of course, in the hottest and most humid climates it may be necessary to use some form of air conditioning when temperatures are at their most extreme, but by using traditional alternatives as well, the need will be much reduced.

To make the home comfortable in this type of climate there are a number of things you need to do. The first and most obvious of these is to lower the air temperature; then you should concentrate on speeding up the movement of the air, making surfaces cooler, and finally reducing the humidity. (more…)