Eco Homes 101

Exiled Mainer asked:


Of course I’ve heard that the scent of freshly baked cookies adds appeal during an open house (as in “house for sale”)… I don’t have time for that, so what’s a scent — from candles or potpourri — that is pretty universally appealing?

Lavender?
Vanilla?

I’m avoiding spray air fresheners, unless they are eco-friendly/natural.

Thanks!

LONNA

Richard H asked:


I need a manufacturer or the equipment used by a manufacturer to take alpaca fiber and turn it into home insulation batts/blow in. They are curently using sheeps fiber in NZ and England and as home insulation, I want to utilize this wonderful, healthy, extremely eco friendly product as a niche business but I need to know how to process it into the batting
I also need to know what I need to do to make this insulation meet California housing codes.

ROSS

mrs P asked:


I would like to work from home with a respectable source of income. I am efficient enough to work on internet. I am a law graduate with eco honors.

ZOFIA

Erica L asked:


I love to knit and I want to help the planet, but I don’t want my hobby to be killing my home!

MINAKO

athorgarak asked:


It is funny that those that use the title “LIBERAL” seek to constrain our activities the most.
No matter how you slice it, the human animal is more important than other life forms on this planet!
tree hugger-passed laws in california have made it illegal for home owners and municipalities to cut the grass and maintain empty, yet PRIVATELY OWNED tracts of land. This has led, yearly, to massive, out of control and devestating fires.
how is it, in any sense of the word, protecting the regional flora and fauna to create conditions that regularly lead to colossal devestation?
I am sure that spotted owls and wood lice really do so much better with their habitat burned, their food supply burned, etc…
Why in the ehll hasn’t california invested in hundreds of desalination stations to supply fresh water and permanently solve the problems that often come with dry conditions?
When you use the term liberal, should you not BE liberal, as in free and unrestrained, instead of controlling?

WHITBY

Chustar Of Naija asked:


How much electricity does a regular incandaccend 60w light bulb use? I wanted to change mine to cfl bulbs but was told that the 60 it uses is not enough to affect the energy quotient in my home. thanks for any help.

SHAKURA

Thomas asked:


Are most vegans and vegetarians wholly opposed to eating meat, or would they be ok with eating meat that was hunted in an eco-friendly and responsible way?

It seems like an obvious question, that yes of course vegans and vegetarians wouldn’t approve, but the reason I ask is that some vegan/vegetarian food, like the simulated meats and soforth, actually has a greater climatologial impact. Between the packaging and the transportation, I think it’s a lot more earth-friendly to eat what I grow in my garden and shoot near my home.

Of course I respect your views, I’m not trying to say that you’re wrong or that I’m right. I’m just asking, what do those of you that are vegan or vegetarian think?

Thank you for your answers.
The point I’m making is that I don’t buy most of my stuff at the store, and that plastics and styrofoams aren’t often recyclable. And not many folks recycle the stuff that is.

And it is kind of obnoxious to say how would I like it if an animal chewed on me. A responsible hunter kills an animal with very little if any pain at all, and only takes one animal (I’m talking about large game, like deer). And there are too many deer anyway.

ZINNA

Bleue asked:


i have to do a scholarship project for interior design, i need to design an entire home and i have been sticking with light floors throughout the house but both bedrooms have dark wood, bathroom has cherry on window frames, living room has dark wood like the bedrooms, and the dining room and kitchen cabinets have light wood. is it okay to have different wood colors for different rooms? or should it be the same throughout the house. if it helps, im trying to use all eco friendly material. thanks

VATUSIA

michelliosis asked:


we have a small area of our basement that needs new flooring as the carpet was damaged by flood and needed to go. the room will be used as computer/school and it also has a fireplace which will be used regularly. this room will recieve traffic daily for school/home based business on the computer, as well as it’s the route to/from the laundry room and garage to the main house. we are open to using carpet again, but would like to consider all possibilities first. would cork be a good option in this room? i’m concerend with putting laminate, etc over the cement basement floor - won’t it be quite hard? we also need to consider the computer chair moving over it constantly… and the dirt from bringing firewood in and out… and we have 2 small children and 2 big dogs.

OSBORN

SNAP! asked:


i have a hard time with gifts for men….so i’m always a little unsure of myself…..
but this is what i’m thinking of for valentine’s day for hubby (by the way i’m totally poor this year, and thus everything has to be home-made)

what do you think of this for a gift:
http://www.eco-sphere.com/home.htm
(it’s a self-sustaining “ecosphere”)
(i’m gonna make one myself, inspired by the above link)

(i’ve also made an “i love you” banner and a card and will probably bake some heart shaped cupcakes or other treat)

thanks for the feedback!!

SEAMUS