Tuscan Architecture

Tuscan architecture combines modern and classic elements that make up pure Old World Europe. The beauty of architecture Tuscan style comes from the typical custom crafted natural stone. This includes limestone, travertine and marble. Terracotta floor and roof tiles are often used to give the antique feel. In Tuscan architecture, wooden beams are often refurbished from Tuscan farmhouses.

Tuscany architecture involves fine Italian building materials that create beautiful marble fireplaces, wrought iron gates and amazing fountains.

Integrating Tuscan elements brings a sense of Old-World charm and mystique to indoor and outdoor aspects of your home.

Exterior architecture typically include:

Tile roof Wrought iron front door entrance Walls covered with vines Crumbling stone walls that outline patios and walkways Beautiful travertine cobblestone driveways Brick or stone set garden paving Tuscan Landscape : Lavender, rosemary and sage can be found surrounding a Tuscan style home. Old lemon pots and antique jars give the feel of a Tuscany garden .

Interior architecture typically include:

Walls: Plaster walls with hand painted wall treatments. Usage of warm colors that represent the rolling hills of Tuscany bring the feel of basking under the Tuscan sun! Mediterranean decor involves subtle earth tones. These are standard in French Country decorating.

Ceilings: Textured richly. Stenciled borders can be found along the ceilings. Paneled or vaulted ceilings are a typical choice in decor as it creates pure Tuscany architectural framework. Wooden or chestnut beams provide a rustic feel to the Old World style home.

Floor: Glass, stone and tile are often used to create amazing mosaic art for flooring, which works well with table tops. Terracotta tiles, marble and ceramic flooring marks true Tuscany home decor . Selection of marbles that blend nicely with your Tuscan color palette.

Tuscany architecture uses pale travertine in home flooring. Marble Chips, stucco and crushed stone are polished nicely creating terrazo floors.

Your home can be so beautiful when choosing architecture Tuscan style!

Patrice D. Walker is an Architect student who specializes in Tuscan Decorating. Visit: http://www.Tuscan-Home-101.com/tuscan_decor.html for more Tuscan interior design tips and information.

3 Water Treatment System Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs

Let's face it. Buying a water treatment system for your home is no small purchase. If you are currently in the market for one of these in-home water purification systems, I'd like to make you aware of 3 mistakes you should avoid at all costs when making your purchasing decision.

Mistake #1 - Assuming that clean drinking water is your only concern.

While making sure that your family has safe, clean water to drink, you also have to remember that the best water treatment should cover your cooking and bathing/showering needs, as well as, protection from plumbing pipe corrosion.

It doesn't do you any good to drink clean water, but eat food that's been cooked in water containing dangerous chemical toxins like herbicides and pesticides.

Furthermore, if you purify your drinking water, but use regular tap water to bathe and shower, you're being exposed to high levels of chlorine. Chlorine not only strips your skin of essential oils, but it also creates a harmful gas in the shower steam. This chlorinated steam can aggravate asthma and other respiratory sensitivities.

All the chemicals contained in unfiltered tap water have the potential of leaching lead, copper and other heavy metals from the pipes in your home's plumbing. These metals are poisonous and can have a serious effect on the health of your family...especially small children.

Mistake #2 - Relying on bottled water as an effective water treatment system.

The bottled water industry has enjoyed an explosive success due to consumer awareness of dangerous water pollution. The problem with thinking that bottled water uses the best water treatment is that it's a complete fallacy. There are absolutely NO government standards or regulations requiring bottled water to be any cleaner or safer than tap water. A water company could be filling these bottles with a garden hose, slapping on a label that reads, "pure mountain spring water" and you would never know the difference.

Even if bottled water companies make an effort to purify their water, you are still left with the plastic waste that these bottles create. Over 60,000,000 plastic water bottles a day are being dumped in land fills. In my way of thinking, this is NOT the best water treatment system.

Mistake #3 - Purchasing a water purification system that requires expensive add-ons and heavy maintenance.

Reverse osmosis and distillation are popular water purification systems that have some technical problems when it comes to filtering certain contaminants. There is a whole host of chemical toxins and dangerous bacteria that these systems, by themselves, cannot get rid of. I won't bore you with details, but it involves the molecular size of these toxins.

If you want to get rid of these water polluters, a reverse osmosis or distillation water treatment system will require a carbon filter add-on. This is an on-going expense and inconvenience as these filters must be purchased and changed on a regular basis.

Additionally, a reverse osmosis water treatment system requires a diaphragmed storage tank due to the slow speed of clean water production.

These are unnecessary expenses when you consider that there is a less expensive, more comprehensive and convenient water treatment system available.

So now what?

It is probably apparent that I've done some research when it comes to the best water treatment system. I believe that a system based on multi-stage filtration is the most effective when it comes to removing most chemical pollutants and bacteria. I say "most" because I've learned that there isn't any water treatment system that can be 100% certain.

That being said, however, multi-stage filtration comes as close as possible. The cutting-edge technology behind multi-stage filtration means that you can rest easy knowing that you're providing safe, clean water for every household use. Multi-stage filtration products come in a wide variety of convenient appliances...including whole-house filter systems.

If you want to see what these innovative appliances look like, just visit my web site. There you will find pictures and more information about my recommendation for the best water treatment system, based upon my extensive research.

Article written by Olivia Romero - "There are many reasons why we need clean, healthy water but there's one that has to rank as the most important of all." Visit http://www.cleancoolwater.com to find out what it is.

The Technologies For Harnessing Solar Energy

In a time when renewable energy resources are being developed in a world-wide effort to reduce the harmful effects we are having on our planet, solar energy is a very popular resource being captured in many forms to reduce our dependency upon electricity. Solar power is concentrated in four major technologies which are competing for supremacy in its applications throughout the world. These solar advances include Solar thermal, Concentrated photovoltaic, Thin-film photo voltaics, and Crystalline photo voltaics. Each has great potential and certain limitations but their boundaries are widening as their respective technology advances.

Solar Thermal involves the use of panels to collect solar energy to an intense level that can heat water to boiling point. The resulting steam is then used to drive turbines. A primary disadvantage of solar energy is the consistent supply of sunlight to the grid. Night fall and cloud cover reduces solar supply, meaning that even in the sunniest regions there's no guarantee of solar energy supply.

Solar thermal technologies have advanced to bypass this limitation by: 1) Using molten salt to store the sun's heat overnight, then converting it to steam then powering the turbines long after the sun has set, or 2) through integration of a biomass or even fossil fuel generator to power the turbines when weather conditions are not optimal to be solar generated. Solar thermal energy enthusiasts also insist that despite high overhead and equipment costs, desert solar thermal farms promise to be far more cost effective than PV systems.

Concentrated Photo Voltaic is a newer technology using mirrors to concentrate the sun's rays on to PV cells. Supporters claim it has a high field durability and about 25 per cent efficiency. This format is ideal for regions with plenty of sunlight and higher temperatures such as desert regions. On the down side, it is inefficient at converting indirect light into energy and thus not suitable for areas commonly used to plenty of cloud cover. Concentrator panels consist mainly of aluminum and glass, while the PV cells can be gallium indium-based so construction of the technology is not necessarily reliant on currently stretched silicon supplies. Supporters claim it is already relatively cost competitive, creating energy at less than 15 US cents per watt. This technology also does not utilize water, also making it attractive for desert climates.

Crystalline Photo Voltaics The most cost efficient and widespread use of solar energy is arguably through the development and use of Crystalline PV panels. These panels are commonly used for decentralized installations, home generation, and are commonly seen in commercial and residential rooftop installations. These silicon-based crystalline solar panels remain the most popular solar application, although newer technologies are quickly developing and gaining ground. The manufacturing costs of the PV panels remain lower than newer technologies despite concerns regarding the supply of silicon that may drive up costs in the future. Field experts indicate otherwise stating that manufacturers are maneuvering to maintain control over their silicon supply chains and combined with advancing manufacturing techniques, believe prices should continue to fall in the long term.

The panels, appearing as uniform black squares, are most preferred for rooftop installations. They are reliable for about 20 years and are becoming a popular commercial and residential application. They are more space efficient than their thin-film solar panel counterparts and their supporters insist that if installed in the right position and climate, they offer payback periods over five years. This application has been available for over 30 years and production costs continue to reduce.

Thin-film Photo Voltaics Thin film is a modernized solar technology, but many experts believe it may indicate the future of solar energy. WIthin the next 5 years they may account for a third of PV panels.

A variety of thin-film technologies are now available, anywhere from more traditional silicon and glass systems to the innovative copper indium gallium solenide cells. These thin-film cells are spectacular at converting indirect sun light. Solar calculators and other small instruments are examples of this technology and thus are best applied in areas with more cloud cover.

Thin-film cells can also be produced through the use of printing press-style manufacturing techniques, meaning that they could be produced more efficiently and in a more cost-effective manner than their more established rivals. Meanwhile, the flexible and lighter nature of thin-film types indicates that they are more likely to be applied in many applications, ranging anywhere from solar windows to solar clothing. Right now thin film may be relatively expensive and not yet efficient, but millions of dollars are being invested in firms who intend to mainstream this promising technology.

My name is Thomas Metscher, owner of http://www.solarselectives.com We provide eco-friendly solar lights and rechargeable lights from Gama Sonic. Our lights are of the highest quality and durability in the industry. A single day's charge will illuminate our powerful solar lights, available in five colorful LEDs, for up to ten hours once the sun goes down. Our rechargeable products accessorize your home's interior with colorful light changing products such as our atmosphere vase and atmosphere bowl. These products recharge quickly and easily and operate while charging. Come by http://www.solarselectives.com and view our solar lights now on sale at a rate 25% or more below retail price.

Proper Considerations When Selecting Vertical Blinds

Home improvement or decorating projects can come to a sudden stop when it comes time to choose the vertical blinds or window treatments. It can be a chore choosing between the wide variety of colors, fabrics, and other options available. In some cases, finding the right vertical blind can seem almost impossible. Fortunately, there are four easy-to-learn principals to help you select your blinds. Apply these principals, and you are likely to find just the right vertical blinds to fit your needs.

When buying vertical blinds, privacy is a very important element to consider. You may want more privacy in some rooms than you do in others. Kitchens, dens, and living rooms do not require nearly as much privacy as bathrooms and bedrooms do. This desire for privacy can, and should, be reflected by your vertical blinds. It is important to keep in mind that no matter how fantastic you may think the vertical blinds look on your bathroom window, if they aren't the right blinds, your neighbors may be the ones with the great view!

You need to know that many suppliers of vertical blinds charge extra for a valance to go with the blinds they supply. It is possible that when the supplier sends the blinds to you, these will arrive without anything to cover the control system or the plastic slat carriers. You will have little to no recourse if you are demanding a valance, since the product is technically functional. Make sure that you are looking at the complete vertical blinds, and ensure that they include a finishing valance, when selecting your vertical blinds.

While choosing your vertical blinds, another important thing to keep in mind is control of light. Most likely you would prefer to have various light control options for each room in your house. Additionally, you may desire more control of the lighting during various times of the day. An essential element for living rooms is light control. Over time, the sun's rays can cause considerable fading and damage to your furniture and upholstery. Reading and watching television can also become difficult when the sunlight is streaming into the room. So make sure you think about how much light control you require when choosing your vertical blinds.

Another thing to keep in mind while choosing your vertical blinds is how they function. You should be considering safety, among other things. Cords may create a safety hazard if you have children. Also, how will you get to those difficult to reach areas? Can you manually operate these vertical blinds or is a remote control required to operate them? Being safe and happy with your vertical blinds relies heavily on their functionality. Through normal use, expensive and high quality blinds can still break. You can experience some loss of function, whether from normal wear and tear or from the effects of weathering.

Lastly, there is the question of attractiveness. Indeed, you want the blinds to blend well with your overall home decor. The blinds you choose ought to accentuate your own style and taste, not look as if they don't belong. These four things should always be kept in mind while choosing your vertical blinds. Undoubtedly, you can make a choice that meets all of the desired qualifications. Do not just choose the cheapest option; you can find many high quality blinds online.

Judith Persit is certified as an interior decorator and gets her vertical blinds from blindsfactorydirect.com at blinds.

"Saving on Electricity Bills" System - It Really Works!

Having an independent power-supply doesn't have to be that expensive or complicated task anymore, simply because "Saving On Electricity Bills" System enable you to do that at minimal cost and effort. You may be surprised but this technique can easily operate refrigerators, w. machines, and other popular home-appliances. Read the following article to hear more about how this technology can help you to significantly cut your expenses.

Short background

The idea is quite simple yet a clever one - "Saving On Electricity Bills" System is based on a downloadable instructional guide that explains in simple words how to assemble Solar-Cells at ridiculous cost. It may sound obvious, but be sure to choose the right guide; make sure it provides detailed descriptions, diagrams, and support so you'll never get lost. In any case, here are just a few advantage & advices to help you better understand this topic.

Important benefits

Implementing this exciting solution definitely provides many benefits:

* Very quick return on investment (ROI).

* Rely only on your own energy-resources and not the ones supplied by governments or corporations.

* Can produce 1000 Watts +.

* Uses natural and clean resources.

* Increases the value of your home by thousands.

Advice

In many states you can sell your unused energy, give it a quick search on the Web to verify that you can benefit from that.

Conclusions

Many home-makers already recognized the fact that "Saving On Electricity Bills" System is a 'must have' for the simple reason that it truly works, and most importantly it saves up 80% on elect. expenses. Without any question - there are plenty other advantages provided by this one-of-a-kind 'machine', simply because it is innovative. The best advice would be to simply try it and experience how it takes just days to start enjoying from its benefits.

Learn how "Saving On Electricity Bills" System easily enables you to produce free and unlimited electricity in just few days.

Visit: http://www.EasyFreeEnergy.com

Prevent Pinhole Leaks & Slab Leaks & Conserve Energy by Controlling Your Hot Water Circulating Pump

If you have had 1 leak, more will surely follow - you can do something about it before further damage is done and additional money is wasted.

Circulating hot water is the fastest way to wear out your pipes. In fact 90% of all pinhole leaks and slab leaks happen in hot water lines for the following reasons:

1. Chemicals in water are corrosive

2. Chemicals in water when heated are even more corrosive

3. Chemicals in water when heated and circulated through copper pipes that bend around corners and turn up walls and curve around electrical conduit and sewer pipes and are reduced in size as water passes through a building is extremely corrosive

In order to understand the solution it is helpful to know what causes the problem. With a little insight into how domestic hot water recirculation lines or recirc loops are built and how they work we can see that the answer is as easy as flipping a switch.

Apartments, hotels and larger homes have recirc loops designed to move hot water to the farthest fixture from the boiler or water heater in a reasonable amount of time. Each loop has a pump pushing water through a copper pipe 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each loop has multiple joints and fittings that obstruct the flow of water. Gate or ball valves and flapper checks and expansion tanks and whatever else the plumber had on his truck the day he built the line create disturbances in the flow path.

Water likes to flow in a nice straight line with no obstructions. This is called laminar flow - nice and smooth. Anything in the flow path can disrupt the flow and cause an eddy to form. Eddies are the bad boys, the unwanted visitor, the black sheep of the family.

Create a little friction, add in some turbulence and the next thing you know you have a leak.

As your reading this please keep in mind there are things you can do to reduce or even eliminate leaks. They are relatively inexpensive and I'll tell you what they are in a minute.

When water pipes leak many things can happen - none of which are any good. Pinhole and slab leaks, mold, wasted water, wasted energy, property damage, resident/guest complaints and inconvenience all mean one thing.

It cost you time and money.

The only question left is how much? Please refer to Table 1 for an idea of how much a leak can cost.

Table 1: The Cost of a Leak

1 $200 You caught the leak early and it wasn't buried in a wall or under a slab

2 $1,000 The leak was in a wall and you caught it early and it was relatively accessible after tearing out some drywall

3 $2,000 Same as above except you didn't catch it early and mold and light structural damage had occurred

4 $10,000 The leak was underneath a concrete slab but you were able to pinpoint the exact location

5 $20,000 Same as above except you had to chase the leak into another rooms

6 $100,000 + The leak went unnoticed until someone got sick and you got sued

So there is the doom and gloom. What's the solution?

Good question. The answer is there are a number of things you can do. As you go through my list keep in mind that people only use hot water 15% to 20% of the time (based on a study by the California Energy Commission).

First, check your water pressure. 40 psi is high enough for most 1 or 2 story buildings. Be sure to check it in several places to find the lowest pressure in the building. Typically that would be the point furthest from the water meter. If you don't have a pressure regulator, put one in.

When implementing this strategy do it in stages. Drop the pressure by 5 psi at a time and wait to see if you have any complaints. Shower heads and aerators already restrict flow to 2.5 gpm or less. Newer fixtures like the Evolve line of low flow shower heads have pressure compensating technology built into them and work just as well at low pressure as they do at high pressure.

Second, turn off the pump when no one is using hot water. That's right. I said turn off the pump. As I mentioned earlier people only use hot water 15% to 20% of the time. The pump only needs to be on when people need water.

There are 3 methods of implementing this strategy:

1. The Manual Method

2. The Guessing Method

3. The Automated Method

Manual Method

Have someone go to the switch and turn on the pump when you need hot water and turn it off when you are done. Might be practical for a single family home (certainly not convenient) but impossible in an apartment or hotel.

The Guessing Method

Plug your pump into a timer and guess when hot water will be needed. This may be a practical solution if the number of people living in the house or apartment or with a limited number of guests in a hotel and everyone has the same predictable need for hot water. Unfortunately when hot water is needed during an off period the timer gets disabled and never turned back on.

The Automated Method

Think about your recirculation line as a closed loop. When there is no demand for hot water, no water enters or leaves the system. When a hot water faucet is turned on there is a "leak" in the system.

When water leaves the system more water is added from the city water line through a cold water make-up line (this is the technical name for the copper pipe that brings cold water to your water heater).

If a flow sensor is placed in the cold water make-up line, any indication of water movement would mean someone is using hot water.

If the sensor sensed a demand (i.e., someone turned on a hot water faucet) it could turn on the pump. The demand would be met and the pump could be turned off automatically when the demand ended.

That is precisely how an On-Demand Intelligent Pump Controller works. The pump is only on when there is a demand.

As it turns out, there are many benefits to automating your recirc pumps operation:

Drastically reduces pinhole leaks and slab leaks - if the hot water is not moving, it is much less corrosive

Energy is conserved - since people only use hot water 15% to 20% of the time, the pump will be off 80% to 85% of the time. That means the recirculation line isn't full of hot water and no energy is being lost. California Energy Commission studies indicate 37% less energy is consumed when an On-Demand Controller is installed.

Note: A sufficiently high speed pump is required (2,200 rpm or faster) to implement this strategy. If you have a high speed pump you will only need an On-Demand Controller. If not you will need a full system including a high speed pump.

In conclusion, cut your risks, lower your losses, reduce your energy bill and extend the life of you pipes and water heater or boiler by turning off you recirc pump with an On-Demand Intelligent Pump Controller.

Contact me directly at the email address below to find out if this solution will work for you or what other options you might have. To purchase the On-Demand Intelligent Pump Controller click on the link below.

Do it now and sleep better tonight knowing that one of your biggest headaches just got cured.

For information on the On-Demand Intelligent Pump Controller go to http://www.SavesYouEnergy.com

Mark Franklin is CEO of Saves You Energy, LLC a manufacturer and retailer of water and energy conservation products. As a civil engineer Mr. Franklin was involved in the design of multi-family and commercial projects worth in excess of $100 million

Mr. Franklin has worked with companies ranging from the US Navy to Embassy Suites and Biltmore Hotels to Stanford Student Housing. Pinnacle Properties, United Development Group and ConAm are among the apartment ownership and management companies that have used his products. School Districts like the Blue Valley School District in Kansas and ESCOs such as Johnson Controls have utilized his technologies to reduce energy consumption

Mr. Franklin can be reached at mark@SavesYouEnergy.com or visit his company's web site at http://www.SavesYouEnergy.com

Why Bathroom Remodeling Will Add Life to Your Home

There are many ways to remodel a bathroom and depending on how extensive of a remodel project you want, you could spend three or four times the normal amount if you are doing a lot of tile work, granite counters, new cabinetry, etc. Usually the older the bathroom the more extensive and expensive the remodel project will be.

There are so many things to consider when renovating your bathroom. Replacing the current window with a larger one will add light and also give you an opportunity to add a more energy efficient window. Maybe you can add a skylight, this is an excellent way to bring in more light and increase the feeling of spaciousness. Replacing fixtures with modern designs can make a bathroom more decorative and style that not only looks good, but is functional. There is a wide price range for light fixtures, so you can easily pick one that fits your budget. Replacing a toilet can be a simple thing if you avoid the most common mistakes made by many homeowners.

Remember, the door fixtures will be the first thing you see when you enter any room so you might want to start here! Remember, if you don't fell 100% comfortable with or confident in the possible outcome, stop and meet with your contractor immediately and discuss an alternative route. Piece of mind is priceless especially with a project of this importance. After all, it is your sanctuary.

A shower remodel is also a perfect time to experiment with shower heads. There are many types, styles and brands you can choose from. The type of concrete used for shower walls and floors is highly engineered and a must if your looking for the perfect job. Tiles are generally durable, and you won't have to worry about replacing them if you choose the right material.

Tile is also an area where you have a wide range of choices. From sheet linoleum to ceramic tile the choices are numerous. Tile mosaics are especially popular in Mediterranean style bathrooms. Tile can also be used as decorative design pieces (glazed, glass mosaic or quarry styles).

Bathroom flooring, more than anything else, can have a stunning effect on the overall look of a bathroom; choose bathroom flooring wisely and you will achieve the bathroom of your dreams? Many homeowners like to install below floor heating, which is recommended with a stone or concrete floor.

You can install hardwood floors on the floor of your Bathroom, provided that they are coated with a water-proof finish. Many people will opt for this type of flooring in this part of the house because it provides warmth and has the effect of creating a soft relaxing atmosphere.

Neutral colors are probably your best bet and will last for many years to come. Some contractors will recommend using self leveling cement but good old poured concrete screened floors is the only way to get that perfect job. Selecting a contractor by referrals is also the best way to choose the right company for the job.

DiCicco Building Company has been doing Home Additions Macomb for over 20 years. We are also leaders in Macomb Remodeling along with being an award winning custom residential home builder. We also specialize in Finished Basements and home additions.