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Colour takes baths
from blah to aha (NC)
 Today's bath has been redefined as home spa, the one place in a home where you can retreat to for a reviving pick-me-up. So, when it comes time to give this room a pampering of its own, consider paint and the power of colour. It's a quick, easy and economical way to invigorate the space. “A splash of paint can be the perfect tonic for toning up a tired bathroom,” suggested Benjamin Moore colour expert Sharon Grech. “Whether it's just a fresh coat of existing colours or a whole new palette, budget-conscious consumers will appreciate the affordability.” In today's volatile housing market, a bath makeover remains a home renovation that still is a wise investment, increasing a home's value. Often, just a simple paint job can be so transformational that it also can achieve comparable payoffs whether your plans are to stay put or re-sell. When it comes to bathroom paint, conventional wisdom has always dictated that only a high-gloss finish will do, to avoid telltale water spots and streaks from showing. Now, according to Grech, Benjamin Moore has developed Aura Bath & Spa a matte finish paint that locks out moisture. “It is exceptionally eco-friendly, low-VOC premium performance paint that retains the colour integrity regardless the steamiest conditions and offers a terrific option for consumers.” The new formulation is available in 1,800-plus colours. With a choice of colours that extensive, deciding which ones to use can be the biggest challenge. “The cool palette of blues, greens and watery hues is, of course, a popular choice for creating a calming and serene setting,” she advised. “Think about using the warmer end of the spectrum—yellows, oranges and pinks—if you want a room that wakes up the senses and is more stimulating and lively.” You can learn more online at www.benjaminmoore.ca. Get a rainbow of environmentally friendly paint (NC)  Being green has never been so colourful now that there's a zero-VOC paint in a rainbow of hues. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are solvents that get released into the air as paint dries. Exposure to high amounts can pose health hazards, which is why, by the end of 2010, Canadian law will regulate the VOC content in paint. Fifteen years ago, Benjamin Moore introduced its first zero-VOC paint, an environmental milestone even though the palette was restricted to pale colours. Now the company has developed a technology yielding a VOC-free formulation regardless of the colour. The new line, Natura, is making its own history because it's rare to have a truly zero-VOC paint available in limitless colour choices. There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about zero-VOC paint. Here are a few: • Myth: Low and zero-VOC paint means a limited colour palette to choose from. • Fact: While true in most cases, Natura is an exception. It is unaffected by the addition of colourant because the paint is based on a patented waterborne colourant system. The line is available in all of the 1,800 colors Benjamin Moore offers plus it can be custom colour-matched and still be zero-VOC. • Myth: All zero-VOC paints are the same. • Fact: False. Some paint claims to be VOC-free, and in its pure white formulation, it is. But, when you ask the paint store for a colour, that's where and when colourant is “mixed” or added in. The colourant is a culprit, adding VOCs. The deeper and more saturated the colour, the more colourant needed and, obviously, the more VOCs. In comparison testing, it was found that Natura releases fewer total volatile compounds than other top-selling zero-VOC paints. There are some paints that are legitimately zero-VOC due to the use of dry pigments for colourant. But, the colour performance of these types of paints is compromised because the dry ingredient doesn't disperse well in the wet paint. It reduces colour fidelity. • Myth: Zero-VOC paint is difficult to use. • Fact: The new paint line promises easy application, excellent hide and outstanding durability. It dries fast and is virtually odourless. And, it is highly washable, as well, within days after it's been applied. Not all homebuilders discuss energy efficiency: survey (NC)  A recent survey by EnerQuality Corporation shows that the majority of buyers (93%) expect builders to offer energy efficient features as a standard rather than an upgrade and that they believe builders are doing an “average” job of communicating the benefits of energy efficiency (rating of 2.8 on 1-5 scale). However, the study also showed that far more buyers were offered energy efficient features by their builder in 2008 (52%) compared to 2007 (25%). The polling indicates that homebuyers recognize the value of energy efficiency; specifically, lower energy costs and higher quality construction. In fact, 87% of buyers said that they value energy efficiency when making their new home purchase decision.Consumers can initiate the discussion by becoming more informed. Natural Resources Canada, the federal department that administers the EnerGuide Rating System initiative across Canada has a wealth of information available on its website at www.newhomes.nrcan.gc.ca or by calling 1-800-387-2000 to order publications. |
Falling TVs and furniture raise safety concerns for parents (NC)  More and more consumers are bringing flat-screen TVs into their homes. Not only are these new-generation TVs thinner and more stylish, they offer outstanding picture quality for watching HD movies and programs, and they're more affordable than ever. But with them comes a price, as many American parents are finding out all too often. A study conducted by Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and published in early 2009 in the journal Clinical Pediatrics, reported an average of 15,000 children ages 17 and under are treated in U.S. emergency rooms each year due to falling TVs and furniture—a more than 40 per cent increase from 1990 to 2007, the last year for which numbers were available. Most of the victims were under the age of six. In fact, these injuries are becoming so common, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ranks danger from tipping furniture and TVs among its top five hidden home hazards. “This trend demonstrates the inadequacy of current prevention strategies and underscores the need for increased prevention efforts,” study senior author Dr. Gary Smith, director of the hospital's Center for Injury Research and Policy, has said. The CPSC recommends securing furniture and TVs to the floor or wall using brackets, screws or toggles. Hospital researchers also recommend parents purchase furniture with wide legs and stable bases. Drawer stops can also prevent children from pulling out cabinet drawers and climbing on them. Experts at Sanus Systems, makers of audio video furniture and mounts, agree that mounting TVs on the wall is a safer method than setting them on a cabinet or stand. Mounts attach to studs behind the wall and support a TV with wall brackets. “If you must set your TV on something, make absolute certain that 'something' is a piece of furniture stable enough to support the TV and the TV is properly secured to the furniture's frame,” said Keith Pribyl, vice president for Sanus. The company is currently developing security methods for its AV Foundations furniture line. Still, Pribyl recommends mounting TVs on the wall is the safest option. Sanus (www.Sanus.com) offers a variety of its Vision Mount brand wall mounts, which are all rated by Underwriters Laboratories, an independent product safety testing organization. Pribyl adds that all Sanus wall mounts have a built-in locking mechanism to secure the mounting brackets to the wall plate for added security. The study authors urge parents to take proper safety precautions. A last piece of advice, Smith says, “Never put attractive items, such as a toy or a TV remote control on top of the furniture or on top of the TV. Children often will try to climb up to reach those and that will cause the furniture to topple over onto them.” Put a freeze on escalating heating costs (NC)  (NC)—Snuggling up indoors as you watch the blistery Canadian winter outside may be a relaxing and enjoyable pastime for many Canadians. But if it's costing you a fortune to maintain a warm and cozy home this winter, the thought of rising heating costs may damper those enjoyable and comforting feelings. If you're one of the seven million under-insulated homes in Canada, chances are that you may be losing a significant amount of heat through your roof resulting in high energy bills. If you're interested in learning how to slow the amount of heat lost in your home this winter, here's some advice from an insulation expert. “To slow the amount of heat escaping through the roof, all you need to do is add to the amount of insulation you already have in place using PINK FIBERGLAS® batt insulation,” says Cheryl West, Insulation Expert at Owens Corning. “An adequate and evenly distributed layer of 15 inches of batt insulation acts like a hat on top of your head, helping to keep hot air in.” You can help regulate indoor temperatures by topping up on your attic insulation. It requires only a weekend's worth of work to help increase your savings of energy and money through the winter. Re-insulating the attic can help you save up to 28 per cent* on your energy bills every month, year after year, adding to the long-term benefits of your home. And there's even more opportunities to save when you take on this home renovation project. The Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) is designed to help homeowners save up to 15 per cent on eligible renovation costs up to maximum of $1,350. If you think it can't get any better, Natural Resources Canada offers an additional $750 in retrofit rebates under the ecoENERGY Retrofit program when you re-insulate your attic. Matching grants are also available in certain provinces and municipalities to help contribute to your project cost savings. Some incentives are only available for a limited time so re-insulate today to make your home as comfortable as it can be this season. Learn more about the HRTC and instructions on how to insulate your attic by visiting www.insulationtaxcredit.ca and www.actionplan.gc.ca. For details about the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program, visit www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca. *Savings vary depending on the original amount of insulation in your home, climate, house size, air leaks and personal energy use and living habits. The colour PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning ©2009 Owens Corning. All Rights Reserved. |
Does your home have a radon
problem? (NC) All homes contain some radon gas. The question is whether your home's radon level presents a danger that can be avoided? The amount of radon gas present in your home will depend on various factors such as soil characteristics, geographic location, a home's construction type, foundation condition, and weather. It's almost impossible to predict your home's radon level based on these factors, but the good news is that a simple test can tell you if you're in the safe zone or not. There are a number or testing kits available to the Canadian public. Health Canada recommends that the radon test performed in a home or public building be a long-term measurement for a minimum of 3 months. These detectors use a small piece of special plastic or film inside a container with a filter-covered opening. Air being tested diffuses (passive detector) or is pumped (active detector) through a filter covering a hole in the container. At the end of the test period the container is sealed and returned to a laboratory for analysis. The testing period of an alpha track detector is usually 1 to 12 months. Two versions of this detector exist: one for short-term tests of a few days or weeks and another for tests of several weeks or months. The detector is exposed during the measurement period, allowing radon to diffuse through a filter-covered opening into the chamber. Results can be read in the home using a special analysis device, or mailed for laboratory analysis. This type of detector can be deployed for 1 to 12 months. This detector plugs into a standard wall outlet much like a consumer carbon monoxide detector, and continuously monitors for radon. It allows the homeowner to make radon measurements in different areas of the home. After being plugged in for an initial period of 48 hours, the device displays the average radon concentration continuously. This convenience comes at a price though: continuous monitors are generally more expensive than other radon-testing devices. Like most testing kits, charcoal detectors need to be exposed to home air for a specified time period. Charcoal detectors consisting of a charcoal-filled container covered with a screen and filter are exposed to a home's air for two to seven days. They are then sealed and sent to a lab for analysis. You can find Canadian radon testing service providers listed in the yellow pages, on the Canadian Radiation Protection Association (CRPA) website at: www.crpa-acrp.com/biz_directory/radon/ or on the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) website at: www.neha-nrpp.org/Canada_Measurement.html. You can also find out more about radon at Health Canada's website, www.healthcanada.gc.ca/radon , where you can order the free booklet Radon - A Guide for Canadian Homeowners. How does an energy evaluation help me get a more efficient home? (NC)  When you build your own home, you want the best product on the market – a house that is as energy-efficient as possible and will keep your energy bills low for years to come. One of the best ways to do that is to work with your builder ahead of time to identify potential efficiencies before you even start to build. In Canada, Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide Rating System is a tool that can help you determine which energy efficiency upgrades to include in your building plans. Builders offering the EnerGuide rating service have their house plans evaluated by a certified energy advisor. They then work with the advisor to develop energy upgrade options that have money-saving features you may want to include in your new home. Together, they use NRCan's computer software to simulate different options, looking for cost-effective measures that will lower your energy bills. They focus on ways to improve the energy efficiency of: • heating and ventilation equipment, such as the furnace; • the building envelope, such as windows; • and insulation levels in the attic, walls and basement. Builders will offer you options, but you make the final choice about what you would like to include in your home. Many of the most valuable energy improvements are easier and cheaper to install while a home is being built. Any investment in energy efficiency improvements you make at the building stage will start to pay you back in lower energy bills the day you move in. Visit Natural Resources Canada's website for everything you need to know about building or buying an energy efficient new home at www.newhomes.nrcan.gc.ca or by calling 1-800-387-2000 to order publications. (This article is not applicable in Quebec) Make 2010 the year to achieve your New Year's Resolutions! (NC) The presents are open, the champagne has flowed, and the holiday parties are over. Now what? For many Canadians, the New Year means it's time to start fresh – and that means setting resolutions. Whether you're determined to exercise regularly, eat a healthier diet or quit smoking, here are a few tips and tricks to help you achieve your resolutions in 2010: 1. Eat your way to a slimmer waistline. If you're looking to follow a healthy diet this year, start by taking simple steps to change your eating habits that are both friendly on your waistline and that keep your stomach happy. Indulge in sweets moderately, limit the number of helpings you take, reduce portion sizes and eat until you are satisfied, rather than uncomfortable. These simple steps can make a big difference! 2. Celebrate your successes! No matter what your resolution, it's important to celebrate mini-milestones along the way. For example, smokers know how difficult it can be to quit smoking so for a little extra motivation, celebrate each week you go smoke-free! Fight the urge to light up by using nicotine replacement therapies such as Nicorette gum, inhaler or lozenges or the Nicoderm Patch, which have been clinically proven to help reduce cravings and control withdrawal symptoms. 3. Can't make it to the gym? Don't sweat it. If you're determined to exercise more often this year, but find yourself struggling to get into the gym, get creative and look for alternate ways to break a sweat. Opt for the stairs instead of the elevator, get off of public transit one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way to your destination, or do some stretching exercises during the lunch hour instead. 4. Don't let stress get the best of you. Anxiety, family or work pressures can lead some Canadians to give into temptations and break their resolutions. That's why it's important to reduce tension as much as possible. Make time to catch-up with loved ones, read a few pages from your favourite book each night and remember to set time aside for yourself to relax. |
