Pillar To Post Portland West Side Blog

Instant water heaters don't have the standby losses of storage units, but when the result is an 'endless supply of hot water' real savings are dubious. Tankless water heaters have one advantage over conventional storage units: no standby losses. Instead of keeping water hot around the clock, rega...

As summer sets in, so does the increase to our energy bills because A/Cs are often turned on so we all need to find new ways to keep the house cool without wasting energy. You can save money and conserve energy by keeping your home naturally cool without using air-conditioning. Here are some help...

LAYOUT/SPACE PLANNING SiteDisturb the site as little as possible. Modify landscaping to improve solar access. Choose porous surfaces to improve water infiltration and reduce runoff. Reduce the size of the lawn and choose plantings that don't need extra water, weed killers or insecticides. Conside...

A Good Design Can Have High Utility and Low Environmental Impact Use Durable Materials Improving outdoor living spaces can bring many rewards to homeowners, not least of which is a closer connection to natural surroundings. Landscaping and gardening don't have to be expensive, but remember that d...

Step 1: Get an energy audit Making a remodeled house more energy efficient should be a top priority, and coming up with a plan begins with an energy audit. The beauty of this relatively inexpensive battery of scientific tests is that it will pinpoint and measure a house's energy deficiencies. A d...

If you know someone looking for a job as a home inspector, and they are already certified in Oregon, please let them know we are hiring. http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/rej/1851869726.html  

The first step in controlling unwanted summer humidity should be eliminating sources of moisture in the home High relative humidity is a significant problem in many regions of the country during the summer months. In hot weather, the higher the humidity, the less comfortable we are--partly becaus...

New proposed federal rule interpretation defining showerheads more restrictively has both plumbing manufacturers and water conservationists up in arms You would think that establishing a definition for "showerhead" would be simple. But, as the Department of Energy (DOE) is discovering after issui...

I'm glad they extended it for the people already in the pipeline for the credit and I'm very impressed that they passed it by itself instead of with more pork like they usually do. Here's a link to one of the many stories. http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2010/07/01/congress-approves-tax-credit-...

EPA Delays Lead-Paint Restriction Move praised by industry because it will allow more time for contractors to receive training Remodeling and home repair specialists fuming over a new federal lead-based paint rule have some breathing room - and more time to get trained - after the government put ...