Renewable Energy Options for the Home - Part 2 (Solar Energy)

The use of energy in our homes is inescapable. Traditionally, we have relied on fossil fuels such as coal and gas to provide our energy. These fuels are finite and also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. This article is part two of a series of articles looking at the alternative Renewable Energy option available within the Home concentrating on Solar-Power.

The New Shape of Modular Housing

Modular homes have begun to incorporate the best the world has to offer not only in construction ideas and knowledge, but also in environmental control, ecological awareness, advanced electronics and computerized functionality.

Building Custom Homes In Phoenix, Arizona

Building a custom home in Phoenix, Arizona requires a lot of planning and quite possibly some special financing.

Stock House Plans - 4 Great Reasons To Buy Them

Building your family’s dream house needs careful planning to suit your family’s lifestyle and for you to avoid wasting your hard earned dollars in the process. You are on to a good start by using a stock house plan!

Buying a Home After Filing Bankruptcy-Rules For Success

Here are some rules for success if you are considering buying a home and you have a recent bankruptcy.

Quality Construction Counts In Condo Purchase And Resale

The new-construction boom has crated thousands of new condominiums. Some are well built and some utilize questionable building techniques. Before you sign a real estate purchase contract, be aware of some beyond the surface construction flaws that should make you run not walk from the development.

Bricks and Sticks: Firewood Facts

If you're ready to graduate from picking up the expensive per-use bundles of firewood from the local convenience store and have a load of firewood delivered, keep in mind some tips on purchasing firewood in bulk. Firewood comes in two versions, soft or hardwood. The most common hardwoods for burning are elm, hickory, maple and oak. Popular softwoods available are pine and popular. Hardwood is a more efficient heat source and burns at a slower rate than softwoods.

11 Black Homeowner Secrets For Buying A Home For 20 - 50% Off Retail

Can you still buy a home for 20%-50% off retail. The answer is a resounding yes! All you need to know to get started is these 11 secrets. This is no hocus-pocus-dream magic. Learn the step-by-step plan in this article and you can have a home for 20%-50% off. And best of all you can do it with the help of the Federal Government.

Communication and Your Contractor

Good communication between you and your contractor is the best way to ensure that your project runs smoothly without any glitches. How much communication is enough? Well, in most cases you can't communicate too often. More communication is always better than less. And since there is something new happening on your project more or less every day, a good rule of thumb is to check in with your contractor once per day.

Do You Need an Architect

Are you up for the challenge of designing your own home? If you have the time and experience, then maybe you are. Otherwise, you may want to consider hiring an architect. Whether you want an architect to modify a stock home to better suit your needs, or whether you want him or her to design a home from scratch based on your vision, an architect can add value to your home building experience. While it may seem like an added cost in the beginning, the experience an architect brings to the table, coupled with the fact that using one often saves time, can save you money in the long run.

Eco-Friendly Home

Green building design process grows out of a connection with natural landscape. A set of informed decisions that consider the site and materials to reduce cost, maintenance and energy usage Green homes are healthier, safer, and more comfortable and cost less to operate.

Home Buyer Beware -- Windows that Leak

The number one housing defect is water intrusion. The number one entry path for water is around things that penetrate the exterior walls. How do you know that the windows have been installed properly on the home you are about to purchase?

Planning for Your Home

In a world of slap-dash home construction, having a custom or semi-custom home built just for you isn't something most of the population has experience with. And while it's an exhilarating adventure that will (hopefully) result in the home of your dreams, if it's your first time, it can also be overwhelming.

Building A House? Here's How To Reduce The Cost of Artificial Lighting

Each room of a house requires different levels of general lighting and task lighting. Ideally, general or ambient lighting which is the base level of lighting for the whole room, should be as even as possible. Many home owners today are concerned with how they can reduce artificial lighting for home construction so that the home's artificial lighting can be as practical and energy-efficient as possible.

Advantages of Garages: Why You Would Want To Build Your Own Garage

Why go into the trouble of building your own garage? Four words: space, function, security, value.