Home & Garden...

Green Architecture Apr 11, 2008

Green Home Site Selection - Part One

Building Your Green Home - Choose the Perfect Plot of Land

In this post, I'll create a partial checklist that can help you prepare to choose the best plot of land when building your green home. In tomorrow's post (and maybe Friday) we'll see the rest of the checklist. And next week we'll start looking at each tip in more in-depth detail.

When we built our home, it took my partner over a year to find the perfect plot of land, I thought we might just look at all the land in New Mexico (we didn't). My point don't be discouraged if it takes some time. In fact timing is my number one tip...

1. Don't rush: Rushing makes it easy to buy land you're not completely happy with. If you plan on living in your home for a long time - and I hope so, because rampant moving is not a green choice, then you'll want to love the land you're on. Being patient can also save you money, and save you from making a mistake when you don't check out the land properly.

2. Research and then set a budget. You can set a budget before researching, but you won't know how far your money will take you in your area. See what's typical. Note how much land your budget can buy, and if you'll have to make any sacrifices. You might have to, but if you know ahead of time what sacrifices you may need to make you can pick and choose the lesser of two or three evils.

3. Slope is good. I though slope was a bad thing when we first started building, but it turns out, slope assists in a natural drainage, say for graywater systems.

4. Avoid flood plains: This seems obvious, but how many people build smack in the middle of a flood plain - tons. Don't be one of them.

5. Don't build in arroyos. Actually don't build near one either. In New Mexico for example, this could be a problem. It won't rain forever, and then when it does, it pours, transforming streets into lakes and arroyos into worse. Your house could be flooded and pounded down in one rainy downpour.

6. Make sure your site has decent to great solar access: Even if you won't be going full on solar, you'll want to try for passive at least. In the North Hemisphere choose land open to the south and in Southern Hemisphere of course do the opposite. If you don't know North from South take a compass with you as you search for land. I get really confused with direction, and there's no shame in taking tools that can help you. If you have the time - say a piece of land is not a likely hot seller you'll want to track the sun for a while on the land to get a feel for how solar might work on a day-to-day basis.

Tomorrow: More tips to add to this checklist. Possibly we'll wrap up. and if not, we'll finish up Friday. There's a lot to choosing the right plot of land, you don't want to leave anything out.

[Photo via author's personal home building photos - New Mexico land]

UGG Boots Cheap Ugg Boots

| iiveekee | Nov 4th, 2009

UGG Boots Cheap Ugg Boots Women's Classic Tall Tall Sheepskin Boot Ugg Classic Short Boots Classic Short Boot Ugg Classic Cardy Boots Women's Classic Cardy Ugg Classic Mini Boots Ugg Sundance Boots Ugg Sundance II Boots Ugg Kid's Boots Ugg Children Boots Ugg Bailey Button Boots Ugg Ultral Short Boots Ugg Ultral Tall Boots Ugg Metallic Tall Metallic Tall Boots Nightfall Boots Ugg Nightfall Boots

UGG Boots the Arctic and China Sheepskin Boots, sheepskin boots Ugg Classic Tall Boots have long been popular with people in rural. Occupations, such as sheep shearers, who have ready access to the raw materials, are traditionally Sheepskin Tall Boots used for skiing. Their Ugg Classic Short Boots popularity increased as a result of World War I and World War II, where they were popular Classic Short Boot with aviators Classic Cardy, because of their Nightfall Boots need to keep warm Metallic Tall Boots in non-pressurized planes at high Ugg Ultral Tall Boots altitudes. [Citation needed] An exhibit of a WWI aviator's outfit in the Canadian War Museum Ugg Bailey Button Boots cites the term Ugg Classic Cardy Boots ""fug"" boots. [Citation needed] Ugg boots have also been popular with surfers and competitive swimmers since Ugg Classic Mini Boots at least the 1960s, for Ugg Sundance Boots keeping warm while out of the water. The terms Ugg Nightfall Boots ugg boots, ugh boots Ugg Sundance ii Boots and ug boots have been used as Ugg Kid's Boots generic terms for sheepskin boots in Australia Ugg Ultral Short Boots since the 1950s and 1960s,when they Ugg Metallic Tall first appeared in advertising and other Ugg Children Boots publications.

replica watches

| kof21410 | Nov 3rd, 2009

. Ebel Watch David Davis and Aaron Dennison met in Roxbury. Massachusetts. and joined their effortsreplica soccer jersey to Wholesale Bedat & CO Watch start their own watch company. They established the "American Horologe Company" in 1851 and 17 archetype watches were launched Frank Muller Fake Watches in 1852 with "Howard. Davis & Dennison" engraving on the movements. The Alain Silberstein Fake Watch company was then named Longines Wristwatch the "Warren Mfg. Co." after a renowned Revolutionary War hero. and the next watches Soccer Jersey Wholesale featured the Omega Fake Watches name "Warren" on their movements. In 1853 the name was once again officially changed to the "Boston Watch Company" and in 1854 the Replica Breitling Watches founders based a factory in Waltham. Massachusetts.

The factory employed a lot of Yankee Protestants offering higher wages and skilled work. Its management possessed enough knowledge about watchmaking but lacked experience at replica watch operating with money. and three years later the Boston Watch Company failed and was purchased soccer jersey supplier by Royal Robbins that transformed the company into the "Appleton. Tracy & Co." In 1859 its fusion with the company called the Waltham Improvement Company resulted in the appearance of "The American Watch Company" that was soon renamed into "The American Waltham Watch Company."

A job with the Waltham Watch Company was in high demand. Its market success was provided by the fact that it became the Oris Replica first watch manufacturer that launched the production of watches on assembly lines rather Replica Watches than Fake Watches the traditional artisan style of watch. Beforte the Civil War Cheap Watches. Waltham presented the largest watch manufacturer in the United States.

In 1891 in Cleveland. Ohio. two trains collided because a watch of one of the engineers stopped. Following the disaster. the railroads Cheap Calvin Klein Watches were given a set of universal precision time keeping standards introduced in 1893. The American watch industry started developing a special category of railroad watches among which the Waltam watches enjoyed real appreciation. Their Aigner Replica success helped Waltham begin the export of its timepieces. Russia Jersey Wholesale especially of fine Ulysse Nardin Watch watches in “hunter” Oris Replica style to Great Britain.

In 1957 with the great demand of cheap mass Cheap Corum Watches produced watches. the company changed its name to the Waltham Precision Instrument Company that finally completed its activity in 1973.

The Waltham Watches

About 40 million Swiss Watches Replica Waltham watches were produced 2009 New Arrival Watch through the company's long history. Among them there were medium grade watches that Replica Girard Perregaux Watch satisfied the needs of the existing markets. but Waltham also developed watches of superior quality. They engaged themselves into producing a wide variety of watches comprising railroad watches. chronographs. repeating watches and deck watches. Replica Breitling Watches as well as jeweled watches. clocks Replica Rolex. speedometers. compasses. time fuses for bombs and other precision instruments. Early Waltham watches with low serial numbers have been particularly appreciated by many collectors.

Waltham's "hunter" style pocket watches are among the most desirable by collectors and Replica Breitling Watch watch lovers. Often produced in silver or gold and superbly engraved. the "hunter" Fake Cheap Rolex style is preferred by both gentlemen and railroad men.

While choosing a watch. try to find one featuring a serial number below 180.000 that possesses solid balances and a heavy silver case or one of Fake Porsche Design the very underestimated "railroad watches." Starting a collection might cost as little as few hundred dollars.

%9%9%9%9%9%9 Replica Cartier Replica Omega,Replica Breitling Watches,Replica Cartier

replica watches

| kof21410 | Nov 3rd, 2009

. Officine Tissot Fake Panerai has been a constant leader in the watch industry creating reliable professional timepieces for Replica La Galaxy Jersey over 140 years.%9
Committed to soccer jersey wholesale the Dolce & Gabbana Fake high traditions of first-class quality and design. the Wholesale Croatia Jersey old Italian watch company Officine Panerai has introduced its new and innovative watch collections.

Officine Panerai is one of the brands. which are not very known by the general public. yet it has achieved a solid status among sportspeople and Concord Watches sporty Hollywood actors. The company’s name has always Cheap Oris been associated with the marine environment. Each Blancpain Watches Replica and every Panerai product is designed Ulysse Nardin Fake according to requirements of excellence and dependability to meet the needs of marine armed forces.

Officine Panerai has markedly improved its designs Soccer Jersey Wholesale Bedat & CO Replica Watch color=red>Replica Soccer Jersey. with better radiance of numbers and hands. and famous crown-locking device. The radioactive radium. which provided such a good readability to the famous Radiomir timepieces. was substituted with the less toxic mix Breguet Watch Replica "Luminor". Manufactured in very restricted editions. these watches are Christian Dior Fake Watches predominantly made for collectors. It is not just the beautiful high quality wooden package that makes this watch outstanding. Jaeger LeCoultre Watch Replica Being water-resistant to 300 meters. the watches passed the test on withholding the pressure of 40 atmospheres. which is 10 atmospheres superior and corresponding to the depth of 400 meters.

Officine Panerai Presents Caliber P.2002

The Panerai Caliber soccer jersey supplier P.2002. the first movement to be developed entirely at the brand’s watch plant at Neuchatel Replica Benz Watches Replica Breitling Watches. is the offspring of Officine Panerai’s resourceful and ground-breaking proficiency and the technical know-how of Swiss leading watchmakers: once again. the Panerai’s philosophy is embodied: the blend of Italian styling and Swiss technical sophistication. The power reserve enabling the movement to run for 8 days without rewinding. reminds you about the Angelus movement developed in the 1940s. It features a new concept of power train including three spring barrels and a typical power reserve indicator with linear demonstration. The system of adjusting the time employs the ‘zero reset device. which stops the balance and Replica Seiko Zenith Watch sends back the seconds hand to zero when the winding crown is pulled out. allowing you to set the watch precisely. The second time zone. another great Panerai feature. uses the method of displaying with two hands indicating the time on 12-hour and 24-hour faces (certainly Replica Rolex. the center hands show the main time).

Replica Denver Nuggets Jersey Panerai Watches

Home & Garden...

Green Home Site Selection - Part One

Building Your Green Home - Choose the Perfect Plot of Land

Live Greener Now

Get Your RiverWired Feed

Save Energy & Money: Free Music Downloads!

Want to see more on this topic?

Greener Summer Cooling Options

Putting Green Heating Tactics to the Test

How You Can Help Prevent Climate Change

Games

Navigation