Saving Money on Your Energy Bills

Believe it or not, it is entirely possibly to start saving tonight on your energy bills - no matter where you live, or the type of house you live in. The real secret to saving money is knowing where to start. So, let's get started!

It's a very important step - yet it is one that nearly everyone falls all over. In fact, it is the first step for a reason. Knowing where to start looking for energy problems is half the battle. Once you find the problem areas of your home, you can find solutions that will fix or remedy those areas.

In this article, we'll focus on your kitchen's energy usage.

Every home or apartment has a kitchen. And in this kitchen there are numerous appliances you have to keep your eye on. Do you know what the biggest energy waster is in 95% of kitchens? It's the refrigerator. That modern marvel is terrific for keeping foods from spoiling, but if it is more than 10 years old, it is "obsolete" and a waster of energy. Today's refrigerator units use on average 25% less energy than their predecessors just 10 years ago.

So what can go wrong with a refrigerator? Usually the first sign of wear on an old fridge is the seals and hinges of the door. It isn't surprising when you consider that the doors are opened and closed repeatedly at least 10 times a day in over 50% of homes. Think about how often you open and close the doors on a daily basis. Twice at breakfast, four times or more at dinner, and a few more times to reach for a cold beverage.

All the strain on the hinges adds up, especially on older units. Now granted, they are built to withstand the constant opening and closing, but eventually problems will crop up. And when they do, either the door refuses to close all the way or it gives way to small areas around the door that aren't insulating as well as they should.

And the seal...well it doesn't take long for the seal to crack or lose its tight "grip". Once this happens, refrigerated air will leak out (or more to the point, warmer air will seep in) causing your fridge to work harder. The additional strain on the compressor, fan, and other parts means they run longer, on average, than usual. And this directly translates to high energy bills.

So, whats the solution? Well, hinges should be replaced if they are going bad, and the seals should be checked - especially on older units. You can also improve the efficiency of your fridge by ensuring it is not placed in direct sunlight or near a heat register. Minimize the amount of times the doors are opened and closed. Every time you open or close the door, you are exchanging cooled air for warm air. Finally, vacuum the exchanger coils once per year to allow better air circulation and more efficient operation.

The fridge is not the only place energy is used or potentially wasted. Your stove/oven also uses energy. And like refrigerators, the older they are the less efficient they become.

Whether you have an electric range or gas range, be aware that advances in appliance technology again means that units 10 years old or more are less efficient than current models. Keep in mind too if you have a natural gas range that there is inherent inefficiency with burning fuel for heat. Every gas appliance has an efficiency rating which tells you how efficient the unit is at converting the gas input to heat. As a practical example, if a range has a 10,000 BTU burner and operates at 80% efficiency, the most heat it will out put is 8,000 BTU. As the unit gets older, the efficiency rating goes down, so the fuel is burned less efficiently. This means that the range will need to run longer to achieve the desired result. Again, the direct result is higher gas bills.

Electric ranges are no different, except, as with all electronics, they are near 100% efficient in converting the "power". In other words, there isn't a built in efficiency problem as with natural gas appliances. The wattage the unit is rated at will be what it takes as input, and the heat output is consistent. There is no need to convert to an "efficiency output" as with natural gas. However, like their gas counterparts, the heating elements and electronics inside the unit certainly become outdated or can break over time. Consider that if an electric range burner "burns out" or breaks, it is useless. It must be replaced. Gas appliances usually don't have these electrical problems. Newer units use less power and heat better because of better convective cooking surfaces, better heating elements, and better, more energy friendly electronics inside the unit.

Ovens, whether they are electric or gas, typically have the same faults. Over time, the seals wear out and heat is wasted through the doors, Their heating elements as well can become old and outdated. Additionally, the insulation that surrounds the oven may crumble or being to show signs of wear. All these elements contribute to the oven's inefficiency.

So, how do you combat these problems? Sometimes, it isn't an option to use them less. But ideally, that is the best course of action. When using the oven, try to cook foods during the last 5 minutes of the cooking cycle with the heat "off". Avoid peeking into the oven - use the window. Opening the oven too often allows vital heat to escape, and thus the oven as to turn on for a period of time to compensate for the lost heat. You can use a similar trick with electric ranges. The element will remain warm for a couple minutes after it is turned off. Use covers when cooking on the range as they trap more heat than open pots and pans. Lastly, once boiling temperature is reached, turn down the burner to maintain the boil. It saves energy, while still boiling the liquid.

Last, let's touch briefly on microwaves. Another modern marvel that makes cooking fast and simple. There is a direct correlation between the power of the microwave and the power consumption. The power, measured in watts, is the power input. At 100% power, the microwave converts most of the power input to radiation, which heats the food/liquid in the microwave. Simply put, the more powerful the microwave, the more energy it takes. There is no such thing as a powerful microwave that is "energy efficient". Powerful microwaves are inherently energy hogs.

So, where's the opportunity for savings here? Well, using the microwave in "short" periods helps. The less you use the unit, the better off you are. And like most other appliances, older units become inefficient over time. The electronics and more importantly the radiation (microwave) source becomes outdated and produces less radiation. The 10 year rule applies here - if it is older than 10 years old, look into replacing it. Also, watch the hinges and door latch. These have a tendency to come loose with constant usage, even if the unit is only a few years old!

I hope you've enjoyed the energy journey through the kitchen. Next article, We'll walk through your living room and look for opportunities for energy savings there. See you then!

Dave Andersen regularly writes about home energy savings tips, energy efficiency, and saving money on home energy bills. He is not only an avid proponent of alternative energy and energy conservation, but of homeowner education about their home energy usage. He is a regular contributor to Utility Bill Busters, a free blog updated often with cutting edge energy saving tips for homes and businesses. It can be found at http://www.utilitybillbusters.com

Hole Drilled Through Footing

Benefits You Can Get in Using Marble Tiles

Nowadays, more and more homebuyers are using marble tiles for their flooring. These are materials that can free the area from bacteria allergens and it can keep the area clean and attractive.

Actually, marble tiles have been known as best materials for building homes, sculptures, and work of arts. These tiles are known for there durability. These tiles give lots of advantages as you use it in your home. When you use it with your flooring, it will provide a cool walking surface especially for the parts of the house that is humid. These tiles can retain the coolness of its surroundings. So it is actually best for people who have humid weathers.

In cleaning, all you need is a clean cloth with a cleaning solution in order to make your flooring looks good as new always. Of course, you have to free your marble tiles from dirt and dust to assure that it will maintain its shine and beauty. These tiles come with different styles, patterns, shapes, and colors. So you have plenty to choose from. In choosing, you have to pick the one that can add up to the beauty of your home, match it with your home's design and style.

The best benefit that you can gain in using marble tiles is that it can enhance the look of your home. These tiles are typically being use in kitchen and some with their bathrooms as well. If you want to gain elegant and beautiful home, you use these tiles for your flooring and to your countertop to match it. It will give a relaxing feel to your home and you can make guests and others attracted with your home.

You need to take good card of your marble tiles. If may not easily scratch but it best to avoid things that can damage your tiles. Do not drag things or furniture; it can cause scratches to your tiles. Do not let any acidic solutions or water to be poured in your marble tile flooring. But if it accidentally happens, clean it as soon as possible, never let it stay for long period of time since it will cause stains.

If you intend to use marble tiles for your flooring and walling, hire a professional to installed it, do not do it on your own if you are not good at it, t will just waste your money and it will not be properly installed. So assure it will look good and be properly installed, hire someone who can do it for you. In order to ensure it durability, you have to gain the proper measures in taking care of your marble tiles to keep its elegance and shine for long period of time.

Eliza Maledevic Ayson

http://marble-tile.xon.us/

Eliza Maledevic writes for http://Jump2Top.com - SEO Company

Tricky Home Improvement Projects - Poway Remodels

As homeowners, we have all gotten in over our heads and found ourselves overwhelmed by those tricky home repairs and improvement projects. Deciding we are fully capable of accomplishing a project, we often find ourselves wishing we had hired more capable hands. Contractors are skilled and experienced in their respective fields and are always on hand to provide excellent service to those in need.

Home improvement is often riddled with unforeseen problems that an inexperienced homeowner cannot anticipate. Contractors, with their abundance of experience, can often anticipate problems before they occur and find solutions to any problem that may arise. This is the difference that many homeowners do not consider before making the decision of whether or not to hire a professional.

With a great deal of problems that may arise, more complex projects such as home exterior painting should always be left to professional contractors. Sometimes, a homeowner will be skilled and experienced in a certain field, such as home painting, and in these cases, doing the work oneself may prove to be a better option. However, these skilled homeowners are few and far between, so for the majority of you homeowners, hiring a professional to do the home improvement work on your house will pay dividends in the end. Not only will the project look much better upon completion, but having a professional do the work will allow you to relax and trust that your project is in excellent hands. With so much experience and training in the field, contractors are valuable assets to any project.

More information on College Works Painting home improvement for your home is just a click away.

Mold On Lower Wall Area

The Value of Concrete Countertops

Customization Increases Aesthetic Appeal and Real Estate Investment for Homeowners

From top-dollar homes in the San Francisco Bay Area to sprawling mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, discriminating homeowners are demanding custom designs and finishes in their kitchens. In particular, they are looking to express their individuality and distinct design preferences with the fast-growing design material of choice concrete.

In fact, concrete countertops have become somewhat of a
status symbol for kitchens, rivaling granite and other high-
end countertop surface options. Consumer Reports Magazine
(August 2004) ranked concrete highest for its customization and exclusivity among high-end kitchen countertops.

As a custom product, the amount of time and craftsmanship required to produce concrete countertops places them as the most labor-intensive and priciest among leading countertop materials.
However, concrete countertops are becoming more accessible for those on a modest budget. The latest do-it-yourself (DIY) trend to captivate homeowners and builders is building your own concrete countertop. This phenomenon has gained popularity largely due to Chengs best-selling book Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little monetary investment in making concrete countertops, yet the creative gains of working with concrete are plentiful.

THE SHOWSTOPPER

Increasingly, homeowners are moving away from the monotonous, manufactured look of traditional countertop surfaces and choosing concrete for its earthy, timeless appeal. Plus, the options for personalizing concrete countertops are endless: one can color, polish, stamp and stain concrete or imbed personal objects like stones, seashells and fossils into the countertops surface, adding sentiment and character. Functional features such as drain boards, soap dishes, and trivets can also be incorporated to suit the homeowners own needs and lifestyle.

Concrete is slowly becoming demystified as characteristically cold and industrial. In contrary, this age-old material is warm and surprisingly tactile; people cannot help but touch their smooth, polished surfaces. Real estate agent Joy Rasmussen, who has recently sold her mountain home a short-term investment property in Steamboat Springs, CO recounts her visitors experiences with concrete: When I had open houses, visitors gravitated to the concrete countertops many people around here have never seen them.

Joys 2,265 sq. ft. mountain home was custom build by her husband, Ken Otterman, along with KJ Otterman, president of Classic Special Custom Homes. They built pour-in-place concrete counters for the homes kitchen and three bathrooms by using Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-colored concrete countertops were polished smooth, then paired with natural slate of varying colors like charcoal, rust and gold tones that forms the backsplashes in the kitchen and baths. As a design accent, small rectangular slate tiles were added to
the rim of the bathroom sinks, which provided a unique detail to the custom vanities.

When Joy and Ken decided to sell their house, their investment in concrete countertops proved its value. We were able to list the house $20,000 over market value, and had no problems selling it, comments Joy, while discussing the long list of upgrades throughout their house, including knotty pine solid doors, natural slate wall accents and hardwood floors. The concrete countertops were easily the most unique and impressive of all the finishes. I believe they were a huge part in

adding value to the home. Around here, all you see in homes are granite countertops and I really think homebuyers are getting quite numb with granite.

Concrete countertops are a unique offering to homebuyers who see the same finishes used in house after house they visit, explains Joy, offering her observation as a seasoned realtor. Having concrete countertops almost gives you bragging rights you have something different from your neighbors.

BREAKING THE MOLD

Another advantage of concrete is its adaptability in either modern or traditional settings, especially when coupled with other materials like varied metals, wood or stone. Concrete adds so many [possibilities] to stone, and the combination with slate, which is hugely popular here, gives the mountain homes an overall warm, natural touch, says Joy.

Joy and Ken have since built a much larger home (4,000 sq. ft.) that offers expansive views of the Steamboat Ski Resort and is meant to serve as a long-term investment for the couple. Theyve also expanded their list of custom finishes, including hand-troweled walls, elegant oil-rubbed bronze hardware, knotty pine doors that arch at the top, cabinets in a natural, knotty alder, and their favorite concrete kitchen countertops.

Unlike in their previous home, KJ and his specialty crew poured charcoal-colored countertops using the pre-cast method in the unfinished basement of the new home. Before pouring the concrete, they sprinkled an array of semi-precious stones in the mold including Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Turquoise. After the surface was ground and lightly polished, the finished result was an impressive blend of colors, By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most incredible, says Joy.

The L-shaped concrete countertop has a rough, rustic stone appearance, complementing its rugged country surroundings. An integral drain board and trivets provides function and added interest to the concrete countertop. Natural slate backsplashes, distinct wall accents, and a butcher block countertop at the kitchen island all resonate with the traditional warmth and earthiness of the concrete countertops.

Joy and Kens respective backgrounds in real estate and custom homebuilding, and as investment homebuyers, have helped them realize that concrete countertops can add tremendous aesthetic and financial value to a home. Concretes customization and show-stopping appeal is like no other countertop surface. Cheng is a proponent of emotional aesthetics and building homes that capture these emotions, as in the case of Joy and Ken Otterman. Cheng concludes: People really want differentiation, something personal, something custom and concrete can do that for them.

For more information about concrete countertops please visit: http://www.ConcreteExchange.com/

Deborah Meyer works as Marketing Assistant for Cheng Design, a Berkeley-based interior design company headed by award-winning designer and author Fu-Tung Cheng. Deborah's work includes writing press releases for Cheng Design and Cheng Concrete Exchange, with a focus on do-it-yourself stories of the companys customers.

How Steel Buildings Cost Less Than Conventional Buildings

Anyone who is considering the construction of a building usually has two concerns: cost and durability. While traditional lumber buildings are usually the norm, metal buildings are quickly gaining popularity for many reasons.

Metal buildings are available in many shapes and sizes to fit even the choosiest consumers. The first step should be to determine your budget. You will quickly find that you can have a larger, better equipped building if you choose a steel building as your primary building material. If you are expecting your new building to be warm in the winter, then ensure that insulation is included in the cost.

Ensure that when you are purchasing a metal building that the exterior panels and trim are coated with a protective paint, otherwise you will have to add the cost of the paint into your budget as well. Items such as doors and windows are typically not included either.

Before you go with the lowest cost steel building, check to see what the total costs are. Here at Absolute Steel, we will always figure out what your total costs are or at least estimate them for you. Many companies will give you a low price but when they add in freight and other costs you will find that you are paying more. Furthermore, most companies engineered plans do not include the foundation and concrete which you'll need to include to obtain a building permit. Also check the thickness of the metal and try to get the thickest metal you can afford, as this will ensure that your new building can stand up to the elements.

No matter what type of building you choose the cost of laying the foundation is not included, unless you are purchasing through a construction company, in which case it should be included in the cost (along with labor). Absolute Steel metal buildings are easy to assemble yourself, so you can save on labor costs with a metal building after your foundation is laid.

Freight costs also need to be considered when you are choosing your building type, and again a metal building is a better choice. Most all our building quotes include shipping so at Absolute Steel this is not a concern. Pre-fabricated metal buildings come pre-cut and packaged, so you are only shipped what you need and there is very little waste. Since metal buildings weight much less than lumber the freight costs are typically much less.

Even if the cost of a lumber versus metal building were exactly the same, you would still save money by choosing metal. You will likely never have to spend a dime on maintenance on a metal building as it comes coated with a protective paint that means it won't rust. There is also no chance of your metal building being susceptible to insects, rot or other common lumber problems.

The lifespan of a metal building is much longer than other materials since it stands up to all types of weather conditions. When a metal building is finally demolished, it is 100% recyclable so you don't even have to pay for disposal. From start to finish a metal building is easier to assemble, less costly to ship and put together, requires less maintenance, and lasts longer than lumber. It is easy to see why metal makes a great choice for building material when you want a strong, durable building that is easy on the pocketbook.

For more information on steel buildings, visit AbsoluteRV.com.

Ceiling Repairs

Sacred Love - The Second Law of Nature - Growing From Challenge

J came to me totally turulated, her husband had packed up and left her. She was distraught. She described the disaster in a way youd expect her to. He did this and I feel that, and poor me and nasty him. I said to her you only have two choices, see this differently or just give it time. You cant change the reality that he left, you can only change how you deal with it She didnt want to wait for the three years it takes to get over most dramas, she wanted to get through this now, permanently and without holding anger for the rest of her life. It took 2 hours.

This second law of nature challenges our conventional way of looking at things. The ego sees the world and thinks how can I change it, your true nature sees the world as asks how can I change my attitude to it. In other words the ego wants the world to look how it sees right, and to look less like it sees wrong. Whereas the true nature, knows the world is perfect and it is our ego thats screwed up.

The two most important words for the ego, are blame and victim. The two enemies of our true nature are blame and victim, because by using these two instruments of deception we can avoid what nature intended. We can avoid growth.

We need to make a choice around how we are going to think about life. To think one way when all is going well, and another when all is not going well is delusional. There are those who dont have any interest in spiritual practice or healing, until something goes wrong. But this is a delusion of the ego, it wants an all upside existence. When all is great who cares about balance? When all is crappy, I do but this individual does not understand the teaching of natural law. It says that the downer they are trying to heal with balance, was caused by imbalance. It is a way of life, this balanced thinking, not just a one off flash in the pan when life is crappy.

P came to me for help. He was a tennis pro and was rated in the worlds top 100. He was having periods of depression after tournaments. We looked at the process of his thinking and it was all based on winning. When he won he was as high as a kite, but after he was low and depressed. I explained the laws of balance, uppers and downers, he got it. I said so are you going to cool your celebrations of uppers. He replied no way, now I know what causes the downers, its ok, Ill just take a few days off with my dog on the beach to let them go through me.

We make choices, if those choices are about accepting rather than fighting reality, we have grown. More than a better or worse way to be in the world, this second law of nature is about how to think about our choices, have real expectations and stay centered in life.

We all want to deal with the challenges of life in the best and most effective way possible. To deal with the dramas as they happen and stay open hearted and devoted to our family and work. We dont want problems, especially the same ones recurring over and over. Yet, for the most part they do. We can change our city, change our lover, change our job but nothing helps in the long term, until we change the way we think about things.

For me, it is like not being bitten by the same dog twice. If something happens that disturbs my heart or mind, I try to find the cause so that it wont be an issue if it happens again.

I went through a divorce that hurt. I healed my pain after 2 years but didnt want it all to happen again. Or, if it did happen again, I didnt want to nearly die like that first time again. So, I studied the science of letting go, of relationship and applied the laws of nature to the whole thing. After getting past blame and victim, which took another 2 years I found the answers and since then, I have had several important relationships break and Instead of becoming vitriolic, I have been able to stay loving all the way through those breakups. It still hurts, but I know how to deal with the hurt so much faster.

In knowing the difference between my constructed ego, conditioned responses and true nature, drama has become an opportunity to grow through my own blockages. Like one relationship where I invested over $150,000 in a business together and when we broke up she took my half of the business. I looked at it from a different viewpoint, not a victim (she took) instead of invested (helped her). This way, I didnt waste my whole energy fighting in court and got back to living with love. I stay friends with her even now. Really is shouldnt take more than an hour or so to deal with this stuff, instead of years of resentment.

Nature never grows in straight lines. Every day the weather is different. Trees grow fast one season and slow the next. It seems, if we observe that nature grows in cycles, and we see these cycles are between chaos and order, (same as challenge and support, growth and rejuvenation) that our lives too, have periods of calm and periods of turmoil. Some people think that turmoil is normal and productive, others think that calm is normal and productive. But neither is true.

There is a tension which is called life, that tension is an active tension, a joyful bright and affirmative tension. Below that tension, life becomes slothful and valueless, self depreciating. Above that tension life becomes stressful, hyperactive and rigid. Your body knows the difference. Jammed shoulders and stiff necks come from hyper tension obesity and pot belly come from sloth. Your body knows the ideal tension.

So it is not a matter of avoiding tension or challenge because this is just one side of natures coin. Nor is a matter of infatuation with sloth and peace. Maximum growth occurs between too much and too little tension and we, like nature will swing along this path, making adjustments as we go. Those infatuated with peace will get huge challenge. Those infatuated with challenge will get huge peace.

H came to me. He had a stroke some 12 months before and was undertaking remedial work to get functionality back into his body and mind. He wanted to heal at the cause, and we discussed the sudden rest that he had been given by nature. I was always healthy, happy, working on the business, keeping fit, doing yoga. I cant understand why me I asked how much of your life was devoted to just being. To just being you He replied we used to go on holidays and I would watch the TV every night with my wife I responded yes, that is not what I am talking about. I mean closing down, really concentrating on rest, allowing your whole being to be in the moment He replied I dont understand what you are talking about I said I know and welcome to a stroke

Imagine a magnificent ocean, a wide expanse of magnificent seascape with blue sky, vast expanses of tranquil and wonderful oceanic stillness. Beautiful isnt it. If you were watching TV, reading a magazine, meditating you might not notice it. That stillness is your true nature and you cant experience that by relaxing in front of TV. It requires a certain tension to find it. Now imagine you are in the scene, now you are on the water in a boat, now there is a different perspective, now it is not a scene but an experience of a scene, there is a sense of self consciousness. Now you will tell me how it feels to be in that scene. One is the spontaneous awareness of a scene, the other is a personal experience I .

This is the difference between who you are naturally and who you become with ego. The ego creates self consciousness, a sense of ME in everything. When we are in every scene, the dialogue is me, me ,me ,me, I, I, I, I , I the conversation is I feel this, I believe this, I want this, I like that, I am doing this and soon I will be doing that. It is my business, my house, my cat, my dog In this dialogue you and everything around you are merged, inseparable. You will even say my children

The benefit of this conversation is that you take everything personally so you are highly self conscious about what you do. The problem is that you expect this Me, or that I, to be fixed and rigid. You build your life around mine, My, our, me, I, us. That is akin to saying the boat in the ocean is fixed and the ocean is happening around it. Or, more poignantly, sitting on earth, which is spinning through space, and saying, ah look at all the stars in space spinning around my earth, me, my home

The ego thinks it is the center and that all else is floating past. It has opinions about everything and will give advice but rarely receive it unless it agrees with pre existing beliefs. So the ego becomes rigid, it becomes solid, or at least people hope that it is solid. Then, challenge happens and the only way to stay solid, is to accuse the ocean of making a mistake, or the stars for holding a full moon, or the past life for bringing bad karma. All blame so that the ego, which is really nothing but a collection of erroneous beliefs, can stay rigid and fixed.

This is like a tree in the forest refusing to bend when the wind blows, because that wind should never be blowing here in the first place

Ys origins are European. Her heritage is Catholic and her mother died recently. Her mother was 90 years old and had cancer. The mother died overnight with very little discomfort. Y went into drama and grief, she held that grief for months and months. When she finally came to me for a consult I asked why. Her answer was because this is normal for our culture I asked her what she wanted from me and her response was I want to forget my mother because it is time to get over this grief I said That is not how you get over grief, grief isnt necessary in the first place Her response was it is in my family I offered my condolences and told her I couldnt help.

When the way things are becomes fixed, we have no way to change the consequence. When the ego becomes so fixed, it is like calcification in the muscles of our body, no blood can travel there, so no healing can take place. Similarly, when the ego becomes rigid, no love, no consciousness can travel there, only rigid thoughts can enter. So, whether that lady Y, sat on the couch, watched TV, or did yoga meditation for the next 10 years, the ego was fixed, her beliefs unquestionable, nothing could penetrate her ego. Only her own death could make that shift.

We want something solid to base our life upon, but we have forgotten who we really are so we have started basing our life on that sense of I, or Me, or we. We have begun to believe that the intangible, flexible, ever changing, ever growing, adaptive ego, is fixed and so all the worlds problems become the conquest between egos. Your thoughts, which you think are right and my thoughts which you think are wrong and your right to act to change or exclude me.

Instead of this ego based thinking you can wake every day, ignorant. Yes, that is what I said, ignorant. You can wake every day as if you know nothing about anyone. You can enter the world open minded, open hearted, treating every challenge as an opportunity to expand your ignorance, and therefore become wiser, rather than righter. This chapter lists those opportunities and helps you grow, evolve and mature through them, rather than fix and avoid.

F, came to me for a consultation. He was a corporate tycoon and had a net worth of over a billion dollars. He was in his 50s and his partner was in her 20s. He was an athletic, clever and ethical businessman, with what seemed to be a quite stable existence. But, he was addicted to alcohol. The first 2 consultations we had, he turned up drunk so I refused to work with him.

Finally we made an appointment at 7.ooam and managed to share the morning. I opened the meeting. so tell me where you are atF well I have this alcohol issue Me. no, no, I dont want to know the outcome of the situation, I only work on the cause, your ego is getting drunk, because it isnt getting what it wants, not youF well I dont feel very happyMe no, no, I dont want to know the outcome of the situation, I only work on the cause tell me about youF I am in love. And I have pulled back from my business in order to make this relationship work, but she is still not happyMe F, if you were a tree and one day you said to nature, I am going to stop being a tree, I am going to stop making oxygen, stop all this photosynthesis, I am not going to draw water up through my roots, bugger it, I am going to spend my time cuddling a rose bush. What do you think nature would sayF, I have no idea what you are talking aboutMe nature destroys anything that does not fulfill its purpose. So, if a rose bush stops making roses nature would take all the materials and reuse them, thats the great recycling system of nature.F, soMe what do you think the purpose of a billionaire, aged 55 is?F I have no ideaMe maybe its to use the knowledge and power of their 55 years to create a bigger vision of what they can do in their livesF but I am tiredMe no, you are boredF yes, ok, I dont want to do more property dealsMe so, with your knowledge and power, what vision could you have for your life so that instead of taking less responsibility for the world, you take moreF but I just want peace and quietMe nature wont let that happen, you can hide on an island somewhere, and tell everyone how happy you are, but youll need lots of dope, rum and anything else to numb your brainF you know, I started drinking when I got bored, I thought it was time to stop work, but I love working, I just dont need to do the old stuff as much, I could put time into helping people and building homes for people, and I could have a family of my own but I need to do this, its been my dream all my life, man I forgot

F cried right there in front of me, for 10 minutes he cried.
Me wake up each day and ask, how can I take more responsibility. When a person starts looking to retire from responsibility, they retire from growth and life. And nature destroys anything that isnt fulfilling its purpose. Purpose means growth. Chaos and order.

http://www.chriswalker.com.au Chris Walker is a world leading change agent, an environmentalist and author of more than 20 books. Born and bred in Australia, he consults to people and organisations throughout the world on improved relationships, health and lifestyle through the application of the Universal laws of Nature. The result he offers is that we stay balanced, share loving relationships, work with passion, enjoy success, and live our personal truth. To learn more about Chriss work and journeys to Nepal, visit http://www.chriswalker.com.au -- http://www.chriswalker.com.au

Outside Shutters Can Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

In this era of global warming and climate change, many people are converting their homes into a more energy efficient place. Green building typically means putting more energy efficient appliances in the home, using recycled materials during construction, installing a more sophisticated thermostat, and adding solar powered lighting. However, often overlooked is the source of the climate change problem - the sun.

Using the sun's rays effectively can help to save both energy costs and protect your furniture and carpet from the harmful rays of the sun. A good way to do this is to install functional outside shutters on your home. Functional outside shutters can be closed to keep out the sun's rays in the summer time which will lower your air conditioning costs. In the winter, you can open the external shutters wide to allow the sun to warm your home naturally, which will also make your home more energy efficient.

Many people look at the price of operable outside shutters and the related hardware and they can't see the value of installing something on their windows that costs so much money. However, when you consider that outside shutters do more than make your home more aesthetically appealing and can in fact more than pay for themselves through years of energy savings, you can see that outside shutters really do add value and savings to your home.

Global warming is a reality and unless energy usage in most homes is lowered, climate change is inevitable. You can do your part by making a few improvements to your home such as installing solar powered lights and putting outside shutters on your home's windows.

Of course, in addition to energy efficiency other some other benefits of outside shutters include:

Security - Functional outside shutters can make your home more difficult to break into because they can protect the glass from being easily broken. Also, because they typically latch on the inside, outside shutters make the window opening more difficult to penetrate. Outside shutters can be secured shut whenever you leave town to keep your home safe.

Privacy - Closing your outside shutters can avert your neighbor's prying eyes from penetrating your windows. Whenever you don't feel like having an audience, simply pull your outside shutters closed.

Harsh Weather Protection - If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, putting the right outside shutters on your home can protect the glass from shattering in high winds. Outside shutters can also help prevent your skylights from the heavy weight of snow in the winter time.

Solar Control - The ability to control the amount of light in the room with outside shutters can not only lower your energy bills, but also make your home a more comfortable place to live and work. Some operable louvered outside shutters work in 2 ways to control the amount of light that enters your home - they can be opened and closed over the entire window just like other outside shutters, but also the louvers can be opened and closed while the shutters are in the closed position using a tilt rod. This changes the angle of the louvers on the outside shutters thus controlling the amount of light that can pass through. In addition to making your home more comfortable, outside shutters can protect your expensive furniture and carpet from the sun's rays, meaning you will need to replace them less often over the years.

Elegance - Operable outside shutters can move your home up a notch in the pecking order of luxury and add a new dimension to your windows that you didn't have before. Installing functional outside shutters adds both to the perceived value and actual value of your home.

Aesthetics - And of course, the most popular reason to install outside shutters is to make your home more beautiful and to add a touch of personal style to its appearance. This can be done with either functional outside shutters or decorative outside shutters. While decorative shutters don't provide the other benefits listed here, they can make your home a more beautiful place and still add to its overall value.

When considering outside shutters for your home, it is important to realize that there is more to consider than just the price when determining the bottom line. Through years of use, functional outside shutters can pay for themselves many times over by providing other benefits.

Shad Storhaug is the founder of ShutterContractor.com and is an expert in providing advice about selection, measuring, installation, and maintenence of outside shutters. For more information, please visit ShutterContractor.com or http://www.external-shutters.com/.

This article is copyright (C) 2008 Shad Storhaug. You have permission to republish this article in its entirety on your blog or website provided all hyperlinks are left intact and no changes are made to the content of the article.

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