What have you got planned for summer? A nice vacation, perhaps? The chance to spend more time with the kids as they enjoy a break from school. You might even just be looking forward to the opportunity of lounging around in the sun doing nothing much at all.

If you’re sensible though, you’ll be looking to use the summer to get that long-awaited home improvement project underway. That’s because the summer is the perfect season to do it – you should have more time, and the warmer, more reliable weather means there is less chance of the work being derailed by rain or cold.

Are you sold? If so, then here are the three home improvement projects to carry out this summer. Whereas, if you’re not convinced, here are some ideas to prove you wrong.

Get your roof sorted

Given that for an effective roof repair you need warm temperatures and a low chance of rain, the summer is the perfect time for sorting out that most important component of your home.

The first thing to do is get up there and take a look. If the winter weather has left you with only a few loosened shingles, then that is pretty basic work that you can probably carry out yourself. If, however, you find serious damage that looks beyond your skill level, then you’ll need to contact a specialist such as CMS commercial roofing Columbia, SC who’ll be able to fix the problem or even replace the entire roof if necessary.

What you don’t want is not to discover a potential problem or even worse ignore it, only for it to become an issue which requires emergency work in the depths of winter. Prevention is better than a cure as they say, and that’s why you should get your roof sorted this summer.

Reside your home

If the outside of your home is looking a little shabby, then the summer is the perfect time to either give it a fresh lick of paint or reside the exterior altogether. If residing is the route you want to go down, then you should give fiber cementing some serious consideration.

There are plenty of reasons for fiber cementing, but the clearest is that it is incredibly durable, requires very little maintenance other than an annual wash down, and comes in a variety of different colors. That means that you can transform the outside of your home this summer, increasing its curb appeal and making it the envy of the neighborhood.

Build a deck

Most people will want to spend their summer outside in the sunshine, and there is no better place for doing that than in your own garden, on your own decking. Not only is ground level decking relatively easy to build, but it can also add significant value to your home, recouping on average 85.4 percent of the cost of the project.

The summer is the best time for undertaking this sort of home improvement project; not just because it’s when you are likely to get the most use out of your new decking, but also because the ground conditions are also more favorable. If you’re working on it yourself, then you’ll also be able to get more done thanks to the longer days and the better weather.

Did you know that by law your car must carry a valid MOT certificate? When buying a car from brand new, you have three years from the date of purchase, but otherwise getting an MOT test is something you must carry out every year. People who drive their cars without a valid MOT certificate, could actually be fined up to £1,000 if caught but aside from that, its important to make sure your car is safe for the roads and meets environmental standards.

An MOT test can be carried out at one of around 21,000 MOT test centres around the UK. A logo, made up of three blue/white triangles, is displayed in all garages qualified to do this. Each certificate will run for one year, from the date the car is tested (and passes), but they can be renewed slightly earlier and still keep their annual date. MOT tests do vary in costs slightly, depending where in the country you are getting your car tested, but there is a capped price of £54.85 for standard cars. Of course, if your car needs any work done to pass its test, this price will be on top of the MOT cost.

During the MOT test, various checks will be carried out. They include all sorts of testing on your brakes and fuel system, to lights, mirrors, seatbelts and windowscreen wipers. They do not however, check the condition of your engine, gearbox or clutch. An average MOT test takes around 45-60 minutes, however if the car fails it can take much longer for the car to be fixed and be road worthy again. If your car passes its MOT, you will be given a certificate and the MOT will also be recorded in the national database. If your car fails its MOT, you will not be able to drive it away (unless your current certificate still has time remaining on it). Often, even when a car passes, it may have some minor points or “advisories” as they are often called. This is a list of things that are starting to be a problem with your car and could well need fixing in the future, however they weren’t serious enough at the time to cause your car to fail it’s MOT. If your car has failed its MOT and can be fixed, often a retest is free – especially if it’s only a partial retest that will require doing. Often MOT centres allow you to return within 10 days to have your car retested without any additional charge.

This summer we hope to have lots of great adventures, all in the UK. However my MOT is actually due in August so getting that sorted out beforehand will be a major priority so as not to ruin our plans. Living in Lincolnshire we hope to visit some of the nearby counties, such as Derbyshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Northampton itself, originating as a walled town with a castle, is definitely a must for our sightseeing. For a highly professional MOT in Northampton we may take our car to Calmac MOT Autocentre, they offer VOSA approved MOT test services.

Did you know that you can actually find out when your car is due for it’s MOT renewal by checking on the Gov.uk website? This is great for people who are forgetful or even misplace their MOT certificate.

One of the highest forms of self-care is when you take care of our health. Everything else that we do will cease to matter if we are not in good health. No matter how much accomplishments we have or how much money we have, when one’s health is at risk, we don’t get to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Suffice it to say, our health is something to value and prioritize at all costs because it means we can live a high-quality and comfortable life. But a lot of times, we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves. This is also due to the fact that health care can sometimes be expensive. But if you know where to look, you can actually take care of your health without shelling out a lot of cash.

Here are 5 tips to caring for your health on a budget.

1.    Eat healthily.

Everything that we put into our mouth can affect our overall health. So if you always eat foods with no nutritional value, it’s guaranteed that your body will not be getting enough vitamins and nutrients that it needs. Start by eating healthily and when you do, you will be able to avoid unnecessary visits to the doctor. More so, healthy foods are really not expensive.

2.    Make time for nature.

All humans depend on nature. And with that, there are so many health benefits to get when we connect with nature. Spend some time under the sun and smell the trees and the ocean! Take long walks with nature and for sure, it will provide a lot of benefits to your lungs. You will be healthier and happier as well. Do it more often as it is one of the best ways to take care of your health. More so, it doesn’t cost anything to be out there.

3.    Do some home exercises every day.

You don’t need to enroll in a gym to get healthy. Skip the expensive monthly fees but simply doing home exercises. By spending even at least 15 minutes every day, you will be able to get your heart pumping and keep your body moving. It’s free and will provide health benefits not just for your body but also your skin. Do it consistently and you won’t regret taking care of your health as you age.

4.    Check out some online deals for medical equipment.

If the need to get medical equipment arises, avoid spending your hard-earned money on expensive ones when you can find ones that are made of high-quality materials. Check out some coupons and online deals like you would find in Save Rite Medical.

5.    Meditate for a few minutes every day.

We need to manage our stress levels to remain healthy. Some of the ways to do this are by doing yoga, going on vacation, and whatnots. But this can be quite expensive and not all of us can afford to have a vacation or yoga subscription all the time. Just spend some quiet time every day and meditate for a few minutes at home. Those few minutes will make a big difference.

Do you find your meals to be bland and dull? Do you avoid cooking dinner at home or dread dinnertime? Adding flavour to your food can be the difference between a Michigan star level meal and a meal that is headed straight for the bin. However, it is incredibly easy to add extra flavour to any meal, and here are some of the best ways.

• Olive Oil

Changing the oil that your meal is cooked in can help to add an extra flair of flavour to any meal and will even reduce the need of adding a sauce or stronger flavour such as a spice. Not only can olive oil stop your meat from sticking to the bottom of the pan, but it can also give your meal a richer, Mediterranean flavouring that can complement meats and vegetables. Olive oil can also be dribbled as a finishing touch onto your meals for the last relish of flavour. Gringo Cool’s organic extra virgin olive oil is both a healthy and environmentally friendly option to add to your cupboards, giving you both a smooth and flavourful cooking experience.

• Spices

Spices are the go-to additions to meals when it comes to flavour, and these are mostly found in foreign food dishes such as curries and rice dishes. However, there are many spices which can be added to meals to add an extra layer of flavour. Some of the favourite spices on the market include cinnamon and nutmeg for a sweet, earthy and aromatic taste, while spices such as turmeric, cardamom, and cumin are also popular in many dishes, with their mild yet tasty flavourings, and these also have many health benefits.

• Salt

Although you should only add a pinch of salt to any one dish to ensure that you can keep your salt intake low, salt can enhance the flavours of any dish, including meats and vegetables, because it reduces bitter tastes and increases the sweeter tastes through their reaction with its sodium ions. These can then be added to both sour and sweet dishes for an enhancing effect, making any dish taste better than before.

• Herbs

Herbs can not only add a sprinkle of natural flavour to a dish but are an incredibly healthy option when cooking. Many people use herbs such as mint as a garnish on top of their finished food, and this can help to enhance and complement the flavours already evident in the dish and create depth. While herbs like rosemary are best used in simmering dishes, some herbs like cilantro even have anti-bacterial effects.

• Cooking Method

By changing your cooking method, you may be able to add flavour to the best of your favourite dishes. High heat cooking methods are the best for this, such as frying, pan-searing and grilling as these brown the meat and vegetables to make their flavour more intense. However, these methods can be less healthy than others if not cooked correctly and can be harder to avoid burning when in use.

Everybody needs a bit of help every now and again, including your friends considering how close you are to them, it could very well be you that they choose to lean on for support. If this does prove to be the case, then you need to be able to provide them with whatever assistance they need to overcome the plight that has befallen them.

To prepare yourself for a time when your friends need your support, here are three general ways you can help a friend in need.

Get their mind off their troubles

This doesn’t mean allowing your friend to bury his or her head in the sand with regards to the issue that they are facing, and neither does it mean lying to them to make them feel better about their situations. It simply means, if your friend is in desperate need of some respite, you should be the one to provide it for them. It could entail anything, from taking them on vacation for the weekend to simply talking to them on the phone for a few hours. Whatever your friend needs to do to relax and forget about their plight for a short while, be sure to provide it for them. By doing so, you might just provide them with enough perspective on their problem to make them realize that it is, in fact, not worth worrying about.

Get them professional support

If your friend shows signs of depression, addiction, or even suicide because of the problem they are facing, you should have no qualms about getting them professional support. Your friend might not like you for it at the time, but taking this kind of action will be sure to benefit them in the long run. In the end, they’ll no doubt thank you for intervening in this fashion.

Should your friend become dependant on alcohol in order to cope with their problem, then this means enrolling them on an alcohol detox program right away. By doing so, your friend will be able to achieve a safe and supportive withdrawal from alcohol, which will ultimately leave them in a better frame of mind and better equipped to face their problems head-on.

Eliminate their triggers

Triggers are all the things that make your friend feel low, sad, or anxious. However, they might not be physical, but they can cause serious damage to your friend’s mental health. If you truly care for them, you should make it your job to eliminate all of the things that trigger your friend and force them to worry or stress about their problem and life in general.

If your friend was alcohol-dependent, for example, eliminating their triggers would involve:

• Stripping their home of alcohol
• Ensuring that the local stores know their face and do not sell them any alcohol
• Not drinking alcohol yourself while around them

In order to help your friend in need, it’s imperative that you take the three courses of action laid out above. By doing so, you could just save their life.

The Golden State of California has a reputation for being a glamorous and pricey place to visit. However, in reality, the state is so vast and varied that it offers a wide variety of destinations which are family-friendly, fun and can suit even the tightest of budgets. You’ll discover everything from bright sunshine, incredible surf, majestic mountains, ski resorts, thrilling theme parks, and beautiful national parks for camping and adventure.  If you’re considering a vacation to California this year but after somewhere which will please all the family, take a look at this list of 10 of the very best.

• Joshua Tree

The famous Joshua Tree National Park is the ideal place to spend an adventurous day (or more) taking in the stunning scenery, hiking, and climbing through the incredible trees. It costs just $25 per car to enter the park, and you can camp for around $15-$20 per night. Other highlights of the area include the Art Museum of Assemblage Sculpture, Smith’s Drive-In and The Outdoor Desert by Noah Purifoy.

• Cupertino

If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, the city of Cupertino is a great choice. It is more expensive to find accommodation during the week as it’s the home of the tech giant Apple and attracts a lot of tech professionals but weekends are considerably cheaper. Take the kids to the Apple company store, have a shopping spree in Main Street, try some fishing and hiking at the Stevens Creek County Park and meet animals and birds at the18-acre McClellan Ranch.

• Big Bear Lake

Big Bear is a popular and expensive skiing destination during the winter, but visiting in summer is a lot cheaper and can be just as enjoyable. The lake is 1.5 hours away from LA and offers mountain biking, zip lining, fishing, swimming, mini-golf and more.

• Carlsbad

If your kids are LEGO fans, you can’t miss in Carlsbad. Not only is it home to LEGOLAND California, but it’s also much more affordable than Disneyland in Anaheim and provides access to the beach and other great attractions such as the Flower Fields and Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park. You can easily find places to stay in Carlsbad today.

• Dana Point

Dana Point is a beautiful marina town between LA and San Diego, making it the ideal place for a beach vacation. In particular, Baby Beach is a great choice for families with young children because of its smooth waters. Pine Park is another great choice as it has climbing frames and incredible views of the ocean so you can sit back and relax while the kids play.

• Big Sur

Big Sur is one of the most visually stunning places in California with a wooded coastline which is bordered by both the ocean and the Santa Lucia Mountains. In the area, you’ll also find the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park with Pfeiffer Beach’s sand dunes and arched rock formations, the famous Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls, an 80-foot high waterfall over a beach. While accommodation can be pricey it’s a great destination for campers and if you book in advance you can get great deals on cabins. If you explore a little further afield the Central Coast of California is lush and green which makes simply driving along the coast an activity in itself. The main towns in the area are Carmel-by-the-Sea, San Simeon and Monterey.

• Death Valley National Park

The ghost towns of the Death Valley National Park are a fascinating sight for both adults and children alike. It’s also a beautiful place with sand dunes, salt flats and once-in-a-lifetime sunsets to be enjoyed. Camping is best in cooler weather but there are several cheaper hotels too. The landscape is made up of incredibly fine sand and hills which are covered in stunning crystal formations. The area has been featured in several movies with the most famous being the original Star Wars by George Lucas.

• Oxnard

Oxnard is a beach town on the same Pacific coastline as Malibu. Mandalay Beach, in particular, is perfect for sunbathing, swimming and jogging or cycling down the 7 miles of beach which is lined with palm trees. The whole area offers the same stunning beaches as the more well-known Malibu but at much lower prices. In addition, the Channel Islands are only a boat ride away. Known as America’s Galapagos, these five islands are perfect for exploration. If you visit between January and April, you can also take a whale watching tour.

• Ventura

Ventura is a great place to take the children; it’s a relaxed town with beaches and plenty of stunning scenery but also boasts the Ventura Pier and Promenade which has a fantastic playground. The Ventura Botanical Gardens are ripe for exploration and discovery while more active families can take the 30-mile bike ride from Ventura to Ojai.

• Palm Springs

You may have presumed that Palm Springs would be a costly place to visit, but actually prices fall quite considerably in summer as temperatures can exceed 100 degrees. There aren’t any beaches nearby but you won’t be short of things to do with the Wet ‘n’ Wild water park, Palm Desert Aquatic Center, The Living Desert (a non-profit zoo), Indian Canyons, the Discovery Children’s Museum of the Desert and the incredible views you’ll enjoy from Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.  

A Note About Camping in Florida

California offers plenty of opportunities for camping as there is a lot of land in which you camp for free in either an RV or a tent. It’s called dispersed camping and is essentially finding a bit of wild land, camping and moving on without leaving any evidence that you’ve been there. You can usually do this on land which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management or in the national forests. There obviously won’t be any facilities to use but you don’t need to book or pay any fees so it’s a great way to take a family vacation on a budget. You’ll need to research free campsites with the Bureau of Land Management.

Technology is changing the way that we humans live. From driverless cars which could hit the streets in the next couple of years to smart appliances which can place a grocery order on your behalf when your refrigerator is running low on stock, life is becoming much more manageable thanks to highly exciting developments.

These developments aren’t just restricted to the human world either; they’re stretching into the canine world too. Dog technology is becoming increasingly popular as tech companies belatedly begin to realize that us dog lovers are more than happy to fork out on devices that can also improve the lives of our animal best friends.

From Fitbit’s for dogs to devices that allow you to talk to your dog even when you aren’t home, there are all kinds of devicesavailable which can make owning a dog easier and more fun – as if that were possible!

Here are some of the craziest and the coolest examples of technology for dogs.

Dog fitness trackers

If your dog likes one too many treats and needs to lose some weight or you are just interested in seeing how much distance they actually cover in a day, then dog fitness trackers have been invented precisely with you in mind.

These devices are effectively a Fitbit for dogs, with one of the most popular ones on the market rather aptly being called the FitBark. They use GPS to track your dog’s whereabouts, record its steps and they can even let you know where it is right now – particularly helpful if you’ve got a mischievous pup who likes to go missing from time to time.

You can even tell devices like Whistle where your dog is and isn’t allowed to go, allowing them to put up virtual fences. If your dog strays into an area they aren’t meant to be, say the vegetable patch for instance, then you’ll be alerted instantly.

FitBark and Whistle are just two of the many different dog fitness trackers available. Each one caters for different needs, so to be sure to carry out some research before deciding which one is best for your dog.

The collar that tells you how your dog is feeling

Speaking of Fitbits, there are countless stories of how Fitbits have saved people’s lives, often by advising wearers that their resting heartbeat was rocketing and that they should seek urgent medical attention as a result. In one example, the teenager in question hadn’t even noticed anything was wrong, but when she was checked out at an urgent care facility, the doctors there quickly realized she was suffering kidney failure and could be at risk of death.

That sort of technology is now available to dogs in the shape of smart collars such as the Kyon. These devices offer alerts if the temperature is too high for dogs and can let your dog know about the dangers around water if they aren’t a particularly strong swimmer.

Most helpfully of all though is the fact that they claim to be able to read your dog‘s mood. By taking note of your dog’s activity level, it can determine whether it is unwell and alert you accordingly via a message sent to your smartphone.

This sort of technology isn’t cheap, often costing $249 at the most basic level, but what price can you put on the happiness of your dog? If you think it’s out of your price range, then click here to learn about how a payday loan could help you afford it.

Watch what your dog gets up to when you’re not there

If you come home from work to find mysteriously chewed cushions or carpet that has somehow moved, you might be wondering what weird things your dog gets up to when they’re home alone. Now, you can discover the answer.

While it’s easy enough to set up a simple webcam which allows you to keep an eye on your dog during the day, you can go a step further as technological advances mean that you can do much more than just monitor them.

Some devices allow you to watch, talk to, and even play with your dog remotely. Wide angled cameras beam pictures to you wherever you are in the world, and a built–in microphone and speaker system allows you to chat with your dog. If they are the playful sort, there is a laser light built–in which you can control, allowing them the chance to play by chasing it around the room.

See the world through your dog’s eyes

The surveillance of your dog doesn’t just stop with traditional cameras – you can also see what they get up to through their own eyes if you wish. The shrinkage and increased durability of technology now mean that cameras which are small enough to fit on your dogs’ collar and tough enough to withstand whatever the dog puts themselves through are now available.

This is a great way to discover what your dog really gets up to, where they are going and what they are seeing. You can have hours of fun playing back the recorded footage to see the world exactly how your dog sees it.

Lifesaving technology for those with service dogs

Technology isn’t just helping improve the lives of dogs, but it is making a genuine difference to those who rely on our canine friends to look after them as well. Take the FIDO vest for example. This device is effectively a smart version of a normal service dog’s coat, which is laced with technology to ensure that the service dog can do an even better job of looking after their vulnerable owner.

Say, for example, a visually impaired person is in danger but unable to reach or operate their phone. The FIDO vest contains a tug or bite sensor which the dog can activate when they realize that there is a problem and that sends a call directly to 911, alerting the emergency services to the fact that help is needed. It’s remarkable and truly life–saving technology.

You have probably heard a lot about the need to preserve the environment whether it be by watching the news, reading the paper or seeing it in on the packaging of some of your favorite products. This is because environmental issues affect everyone inhabiting the earth and not just a single person, especially in the grand scheme of things. As a result, you may want to make your own personal contribution to the environment by picking up eco-friendly habits on a daily basis. Here are a few simple ways that you can go about making your home eco-friendlier.

Get Indoor Plants

When it comes to making your home more environmentally friendly, you can start with something as simple as getting indoor plants. This can help purify the air and also give your home a refreshing atmosphere.

In terms of the best types of indoor plants, consider getting a Chinese Evergreen on Amazon which does best in indirect sunlight as well as low-light spaces. Also, try the Ficus Bonsai Tree which can be very intriguing to look at and is good for small spaces.

Try Solar Energy

Energy consumption can also be done in a way that is eco-friendlier, so explore your options in that department too. One suggestion is to convert to using solar energy as a means of reducing costs and helping the environment. It is a good long-term investment as it needs very little maintenance and produces renewable energy. If you visit Going Solar then you can learn more about homeowner solar panels and their many benefits.

Make Your Own Cleaning Products

Another tip for being eco-friendlier is reducing the number of chemicals you use around the house. A primary example would be making your own cleaning products using natural ingredients. For instance, you could make a scented all-purpose cleaner using part white vinegar, one- part water, lemon rind, as well as rosemary springs. In the same regard, you could make a window cleaner out of water, white or cider vinegar and rubbing alcohol.

To find other mixtures that you can create, check online. Not only is this an eco-friendlier approach, but it’s also more cost effective for those who want to cut costs.

Use Eco-friendly Toiletries

Following on from the last point, why not extend your natural remedies from cleaning products to your toiletries and medicines. Consider using natural products or buying medicine that uses eco-friendly packaging. Other ways of making your toiletries eco-friendly are to ensure your toothbrush uses environmentally friendly materials and sticking with beauty product brands that are eco-friendly as well.

Avoid Food Waste

Every household wastes food every day, and this adds up and contributes to environmental waste. Do your part by looking for ways to waste less food as it adds to the CO2 being created in landfills. To avoid food waste take simple measures such as cooking and freezing raw food before it expires. Also, avoid buying non-perishable foods in bulk as you may not eat it all in time and it could lead to more waste.

In the last couple of years, we have started hearing about renewable energy more often. This supposed ongoing popularity of renewable energy has a lot to do with the looming crises of global warming and environmental deterioration that has already started showing its effect. Amid all the extensive discussion centered on renewable energy, it is still far away from becoming a mainstream power source.

For homeowners particularly, going all renewable is still an alien concept. Many people don’t factor in renewable energy for their utility consumption because they still don’t have a complete understanding of the benefits that can be seized with this eco-friendly option.

It might still not be possible to go completely off the grid and fully rely on renewable energy. However, there is still a lot of room to accommodate renewable energy with your living. Let’s have a look at the advantages that homeowners can enjoy by adding a share of renewable energy in their overall utility power consumption.

This discussion might help in persuading some people to invest in renewable energy and subsequently in an eco-friendly future.

1) It Is an Unlimited Power Supply

We have an impression regarding utility energy sources that they deplete and ultimately finish after running their course. This is true for all the conventional energy sources. A regular battery eventually drains out. A power generator works until its tank has some trace of fuel.

However, these constraints are not associated with renewable energy. It is an unlimited supply of power. For instance, solar panels or a solar generator will keep on providing energy as far as the sun is shining out there. Similarly, wind turbines continue to churn electricity under the air current of the atmosphere.

Implications for Homeowners

This unrestrained nature of renewable energy entails a lot of benefits for homeowners. To begin with, any renewable energy source will be a one-time investment with no recurrent expenses. There are no fuel and refill expenses knotted with renewable power sources. By adding some renewable energy to their residential grid through solar setups, homeowners can save thousands of dollars every year on their energy bills.

2) Renewable Energy Provides Independence

We are so much dependent on federal, state and local governments for the fulfillment of our basic amenities. Sometimes, the relevant authorities also exploit this severe dependence. Renewable energy is one such thing that can help homeowners all across the country to cut down their dependence on the powerful regulators.

If you are producing a considerable amount of power with your domestic renewable energy sources then you don’t have to bear the brunt of increased power tariff or fuel prices every other day. On the flip side, all the money you save through the use of renewable energy can also help you in making your abode more worth living.

3) Renewable Energy Can Reduce Your Home’s Carbon Footprint

If you are among the conscious lot that is worried about the rapidly deteriorating environment of the planet due to human activity, then renewable energy can help you in mending your ways. By fulfilling the large part of your utility power needs through renewable energy, you can decrease your carbon footprint.

There are estimates which suggest that a home using solar energy for a share of its utility needs can cut down the production of carbon dioxide by several tons. In other words, your house will not become an active participant in tainting the environment with greenhouse gases that are increasing the average temperature of the planet, which is not a good thing.

4) Integration of Renewable Energy Can Increase the Value of Your Abode

Besides having the intrinsic relief of not spoiling the environment through your domestic utility needs, you can also have a functional benefit of switching to renewable energy on a permanent basis. Yes, you can increase the value of your house with the integration of renewable energy. A roof with solar shingles or towering wind turbine will get better quotes in any real estate listing.

Use these renewable energy sources for all their benefits and when it’s time to sell the house, get a good selling price. All these financial implications of using renewable energy suggest that the upfront cost for its installation won’t be a problem if you strategize it properly.

What Are Some of the Renewable Energy Options for Homeowners?

It is possible for every homeowner to add some renewable energy to their overall power consumption through different sources.

A Wind Turbine

If your region experiences good average gust speed all through the year, then you can go with wind turbine(s).  A single turbine ranging between 5 and 15 kW can produce a good amount of power for any household. Moreover, their vertical installation demands lesser square footage, which means they can easily be accommodated with every residential plan.

Geothermal Pumps

This is another way for homeowners to produce some renewable energy for their abode. Geothermal pumps basically use the underground heat to harness electricity that is clean with no emissions. This technology is still in its formative phase and hence not available for residential use on a larger commercial scale.

Solar Setup

This is the most suitable option for any homeowner. First of all, every region in the US receives enough sunshine to produce a utilizable quantity of energy through solar power. Moreover, its adaptive installation through panels and shingles can go with any house construction. Also, solar setups promise one of the best energy outputs for long term use.

There are also solar generators that use photovoltaic panels to generate power. They also convert the generated DC voltage to usable AC rating. They are portable, noiseless and don’t need any fuel. You can use it for your house and can also travel with it. For homeowners interested in camping and RV excursions, this solar setup can come in really handy.

In some states, going green with your abode can also earn you tax rebates.  In short, renewable energy only entail benefits of for homeowners and one should not miss out on them without any solid reason.

Do you share your home with a fur baby? Would you love to be able to care for your pet more naturally? We’re all becoming more health and environment conscious, and there’s no reason why your cat or dog can’t be included. The best place to start is with their diet. As you may or may not realise, commercial pet foods often contain mostly grain waste and meat by-products, along with lots of other less than savoury ingredients. Feeding your pet food that’s so low in nutrition increases the chances of cancer and other diseases.

Natural Pet Food

Dogs and cats aren’t designed to handle processed foods. They’re much better suited to raw, uncooked food. For a balanced diet, you can mix fresh cuts of meat with whole grains and vegetables. If you want to buy a ready-made solution, there are pet food companies that sell food mixes containing nuts, herbs, and grains if you want to add to the meat you’re preparing for complete nutrition. Fish is another ingredient that should be included in your pet’s diet, but it’s best if you cook it to eliminate parasites. There are also companies that sell already-prepared dry and wet foods for both dogs and cats. If you want to buy your pet food, here are some tips to help you choose the best one.

• Be wary of corn in the list of ingredients because it’s generally genetically modified unless it’s labelled as organic
• Two named types of meat or meat meals should be among the top ingredients in dry food
• Avoid synthetic chemical preservatives such as BHT, BHA, propyl gallate, propylene glycol and ethoxyquin
• Cats, in particular, require food that’s high in protein and moisture as this helps to prevent kidney and bladder problems, obesity and associated diseases

Kitty Litter

If your pet is litter trained, there are less toxic and more eco-friendly options. Conventional clay litters tend to be laden with silica dust, a well-known carcinogen. Litter that is marketed as being clumping has also been found to cause intestinal blockages in cats and kittens because the clumps can be inadvertently consumed when grooming. Look for eco-friendly cat litter that’s wheat-based because it’s scoopable, biodegradable and flushable. Other options include odour-absorbing pellets made from 100% recycled pine wood waste, recycled newspaper and recycled wood pulp.

Fleas and Ticks

If you read the small print on the conventional flea and tick treatments and then investigate the ingredients further, you’d be horrified. These pests can be a nuisance, carry some nasty diseases and you don’t want them in your home but are there any natural alternatives? Herbal shampoos, collars, sachets and sprays that contain citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree oil and other aromatic oils can be used to repel ticks and fleas, or you can make your own. Another recommended method includes adding garlic and brewers yeast to your pet’s diet as they produce body odours that fleas simply don’t like.

Flea combs are the best method to discover if fleas have taken up residence. Pay particular attention to the tummy and tail areas. Combing your pet on a regular basis may seem rather tedious, but it happens to be very effective.

For controlling fleas and ticks in your garden, diatomaceous earth, borax and beneficial nematodes can be used. Keeping your grass cut and the garden tidy will also help. Regular vacuuming of your car and home should also help keep pests at bay.   

Pet Grooming

Companies are free to use whatever perfumes and detergents they want as there is very little regulation when it comes to pet grooming products. Shampoos that are intended to kill fleas or solve skin problems are particularly problematic because the chemicals in the products can be absorbed through the skin, get into the bloodstream and put your pet’s liver under extra strain. Natural pet grooming products, on the other hand, contain mild ingredients and safe herbs that are gentle on the skin and less likely to be absorbed and accumulated in the body.

Pet Treats and Chews

Everyone likes to treat their pet every now and again, and for dogs in particular treats can form an important part of the training process. Many of those you can purchase in your local pet store are made in China and have been implicated in causing illness and death. A far better option is freeze-dried or dehydrated meats and organs, or cutting up some of their food into bite-sized pieces and freezing them yourself. Alternatively, have a go at making some of your own treats.

More Tips for a Healthier Pet

• Vaccines – If you’re planning to bring a young pet into your home, wait until they are at least three months old before vaccinating. It is still a very controversial area of pet care, and an increasing number of chronic and severe diseases are now being linked to vaccinations and their overuse.
• Drug Use – Homeopathic treatments are much safer and gently stimulate natural healing. Use of strong drugs such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatories should be kept to a minimum. CBD is becoming an increasingly popular method of treatment for a variety of conditions, and you can read more about it in this blog.  
• Environmental Toxins – Many of the products you use around your home are not very pet-friendly. Look for safer and greener cleaning products. You should also try to walk your dog away from grass that might have been sprayed with insecticides.
• Stress – Environmental and emotional stress can impact on your pet’s health, so try to avoid it whenever possible. Interact and mentally stimulate them as much as possible. Enrich their environment with stimulating toys and training classes. Try not to leave your pet alone at home for long periods of time and never yell at them.

Being a pet owner is a big responsibility, and if you want to do everything you can to raise a healthy and happy pet, you need to look for ways to do it as naturally as possible. Of course, it’s going to take a little more work, but it will be worth it in the end.