Why should you care about energy efficiency?

Perhaps the biggest reason is to save money. A home that isn't energy efficient takes more energy to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. This means you are spending extra money every month on energy bills, bills that can be significantly lowered by undertaking a few simple home improvements.

The key to making your home more efficient to correct air-flow problems. Make sure air is flowing where it needs to be and isn't flowing where it shouldn't be.

A few small cracks in your home can be as bad for your heating and cooling as a window left open. Older homes frequently have undergone small changes to accommodate updated wiring, and this can be an energy sink. Caulk all small holes where wires go through walls or floors. Check brick facades and the outside of your home for small cracks and signs of wear that may be counteracting insulation.

If your home has a chimney make sure it is sealed with high-temperature cement and metal flashing. Keep the flue closed when it is not in use to prevent air flowing indoors from it. Tight fitting glass covers can also help keep cold air where it belongs.

Plumbing stacks also need to be sealed on the outside. In general look for any holes between the attic and the heated space and seal them as much as possible. Use weather stripping on the entry to the attic as well as insulation on the attic-side of the door.

Now, how's your insulation? Making sure you have enough insulation is key to keeping your home efficient. 18 inches of fiberglass batting or cellulose will greatly improve your heating and cooling systems. The attic does need air flow, however, so make sure air vents are clear and unobstructed.

Each window needs to be checked to make sure it closes completely and locks. Windows can be weather stripped just like doors. Outlets and switches provide access for cold air to enter, but this can be prevented by installing foam gaskets behind them. Child-safety plugs for the outlets also reduce cold air flowing from the sockets.

Old windows and doors need to be checked every year. If one doesn't fit properly, seal it with caulking or weather stripping. If the piece is warped heavily replace it with a new energy efficient model. Expanding foam is also an option to use around door- and window-frames.

Every hole on the outside face of your home can increase inefficiency. Seal laundry vents, water faucets, electrical outlets, and other hookups. Install storm- windows and doors where you don't already have them to create a buffer of air that retains heat and coolness. When it comes time to change siding, add foam insulation behind it.

Basements and crawlspaces need to be checked and sealed. If you have a crawlspace, place a layer of plastic over it to help insulate. Regular basements with concrete walls can be a major problem for efficiency. Consider adding insulation and drywall over the concrete.

Appliances are rated for their efficiency. Choose products with Energy Star ratings and choose compact fluorescent light bulbs that fit in standard sockets.

These fairly inexpensive home improvements can save you a lot of money in the long run. It's definitely worth taking steps to increase your home's efficiency, and as you can now see, it's not even that hard.

By: TC Thorn
TC Thorn has written more articles on home improvements and energy efficiency at Luxury Housing Trends. Her article on green kitchen appliances discusses improving energy use in the kitchen.

Here are some frequently asked questions, and answers, about fireplaces.

1 - How high should a fireplace chimney be with respect to the height of the house, and what features of design affect its efficient operation?

ANSWER: A chimney should extend at least three feet above flat roofs and at least two feet above the ridge of a peak or hip roof. Solid masonry is the most commonly used material. Satisfactory performance of a chimney flue is determined by its size, direction, shape, height, tightness and smoothness.

2. Is there a particular kind of mortar that should be used in fireplace construction? How is it mixed and where is it used?

ANSWER: The brick around a fireplace and flue should be laid with cement mortar, since it is more resistant than lime mortar to the action of heat and flue gases. The best to use, except on firebrick, consists of one part portland cement, one part hydrated lime, and six parts clean sand. Firebrick is best laid in fire clay.

3. What is the purpose of a damper, and how is it constructed?

ANSWER: A damper affords a means of regulating the draft and prevents excessive loss of heat from the room when the fire is out. It consists of a cast-iron or steel frame with a lid hinged so the width of the throat opening may be varied from a closed to a wide-open position.

4. What is the proper procedure for connecting the chimney to the roof so as to guard against fire, and to allow for expansion due to temperature changes, settlement, or slight movement of the chimney during heavy winds?

ANSWER: Where the chimney passes through the roof, provide for a two-inch clearance between the wood framing and the masonry. The chimney must be flashed and counterflashed to make its junction with the roof watertight. Corrosion-resistant metal, such as copper, galvanized metal, zinc, aluminum, or lead is best for the counterfiashing. When tin is used, paint it well on both sides.

5. Is it necessary that a flue be lined, and if so, what are the advantages in lining it?

ANSWER: Chimneys can be built without linings, but those with linings are more efficient. When the flue is not lined, the mortar and bricks directly exposed to the action of fuel gases disintegrate. This disintegration and that occuring from changes in temperature often cause cracks in the masonry, which reduces the draft.

6. What is the proper way to build the smoke shelf?

ANSWER: The smoke shelf should be made by setting the brickwork back at the top of the throat to the line of the flue wall for the full width of the throat. The depth can vary from six to twelve inches or more, depending on the depth of the fireplace.

7. Does the kind of fuel to be burned have anything to do with the selection of a fireplace design, and does the size of the opening affect the operation?

ANSWER When a fireplace design is being selected, the kind of fuel to be burned should be considered; also, the design should harmonize with the room in proportion and detail. Years ago, when cordwood was plentiful, fireplaces seven feet wide and five feet high were common, but they required large amounts of fuel and were often smoky. Where cordwood is cut in half, a 30-inch width is desirable for a fireplace, but where coal is burned, the opening can be narrower. Thirty inches is a practical height for the fireplace where the width is less than six feet. The higher the opening, the greater the chance of a smoky fireplace. In general, the wider the opening the greater should be the depth.

Following these guidelines, a satisfactory chimney may be selected.

By: Russell R. Freeman
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Asian kitchens are truly elegant and symmetrical in nature because of the fine attention to finish and detail. If you're eyeing on getting the same clean and chic style, make sure you know the right colors to use, the decors and the materials. Consistency and symmetry are two of the most important qualities of an Asian kitchen. Here are a few guidelines for yours.

The Materials

Bamboo immediately creates a wonderful Asian feel to your kitchen. You can use bamboo independently as a plant decoration. However, other more creative ideas would be to split it then line your cupboards, one part of the wall or chairs. You can also line the lower areas of your island counter or sink. Smaller bamboo stalks with leaves can be glued on to cabinet doors and areas over the sink for a Japanese feel.

Silk is very versatile and adds some Chinese influence into your Asian kitchen. You can buy silk with beautiful prints and hang them on the wall. Other silks preferably dark red, orange and pink can be made into table cloths, mats and coasters. Install a wooden frame over the island counter and hang white silk on it together with pots, pans and utensils.

Chrome is very popular among Asians. Choose chrome silver or gold pans, pots and utensils. You can select your refrigerator, oven, stoves and sinks in this manner too. Accessorize drawer pulls and knobs with by choosing chrome ones. The gleam of this material will help add to the sleekness and symmetry that you are trying to create.

Asian Colors and Decors

Popular Asian colors are red, white, black and dark brown. To add an oriental feel, use some gold on red or black with red. Silver also provides a cooling accent. Chrome kitchen utensils, pots and pans will give a nice contrast. Use 3 to 4 main colors at most. You may want to use plants as well to neutralize everything. A single flower on a vase is stylish enough. Assorted fruits in a large bowl or dish also look great.

Setting chopsticks, Thai toothpicks and other native pieces will compliment your overall theme. Utilitarian rice chests are very aesthetic and useful. Hand-forged ironware are very bold as well so you may want to use one or two only at most. You can store condiments in them when not in use. Feel free to add or mix furniture with different Asian influences. Japanese cabinets will still provide a warm effect beside exotic woodworks from Korea.

By: Tim Lee
For more kitchen design ideas, visit http://www.kitchendesignideas101.com.

Designing a new bathroom for your home is a challenge, and enormously rewarding if you get it right. The trouble is, bathroom design is no walk in the park and there are many pitfalls to avoid. The most common errors are also the most the basic and if you avoid those, you'll be on the right track.

So what are the basic errors of bathroom design to avoid?

The first is possibly - or at least should be - the most obvious, and that's not giving enough consideration to the space into which your new bathroom must be fitted. Whether big or small, all bathrooms have only a finite amount of space so give proper thought to the best way to use it. If you clutter up that space with lots of nice but unnecessary features, all your planning and money will go to waste and you'll be left with a bathroom that's unsuitable or unsightly. Likewise, if you don't make proper use of the space available, it will be a missed opportunity.

You also have to get your colour scheme right. If you don't pay proper attention to the light and shade then you could end up with an uninviting bathroom. Bear in mind that the mornings and evenings are the times you'll be using the bathroom most.

Another common error of bathroom design is not giving proper consideration to the style of the rest of your home - that is, designing a bathroom that's incongruous with the interior design concept you've employed elsewhere. It's no good having state-of-the-art, space-age features and looks if the rest of your home is rustic and cosy. And it's no good having a country-style bathroom if your other rooms have been decorated in an art deco style. You get the picture. Interior design is like a jigsaw; the pieces - that is, the different rooms - have to fit together without being forced.

Here's another biggie - don't forget who's going to be using the bathroom. Get the design right for your living situation. If you have a family, the design of your bathroom has to reflect that and cater for everyone. Is a bath more important than a shower, or vice versa? It's a personal choice and once again these things might seem obvious, but you'd be amazed at how many people end up with a bathroom that's unsuitable for their needs because they've been blinded by the latest cool looking features.

Which brings us to the next common faux pas - prioritizing the latest fashions and fads over tried and tested, functional designs. This is especially true when it comes to bathroom tile designs and flooring. Just because it looks good today and everyone's got it now, it doesn't mean that a year down the line it will look as fresh. Today's fashions can be tomorrow's embarrassments so choose wisely and don't buy something because some overpaid presenter on TV tells you it's the latest must-have feature for your bathroom.

So there you have it. Bear the basics in mind, have fun and knock yourself out designing the perfect bathroom for your home.

By: Peter Deville
Peter Deville is an interior design expert and contributor to the Bathroom Design.