Archives for 2020

Clean energy is hopefully becoming a more and more permanent practice for homeowners around the world and not just some trend that would quickly go away in a year or so. Renewables offer more than just savings and a fancy way of lighting up your house… It’s packed with several good benefits that your family, community, and the entire Earth will be thankful for.

So for this article, we’ll be talking about how you can install solar power systems in your house to experience all the benefits of solar energy and to help you make the world a better place to live in.

To Panel or Not To Panel

Perhaps you’re unaware of this but solar power systems don’t really require any panels installed on your roof. This is actually good news for those who cannot afford a solar professional or those who’s not much of a handyman around the house.

If you’re someone with very little budget to spare for investing in renewable energy, you shouldn’t be paying a lot for this upgrade. Instead, you could actually opt to subscribe to a community solar company that can give you enough power to supplement your electricity needs at home.

Now you may be wondering, is community solar right for me? And my answer to that is a simple yes. Anyone who has a community solar provider near their area should consider getting solar power from the community-based system that would give you reliable connection every time. You wouldn’t need to buy panels or figure out how and where to put them on your roof, plus, it’s virtually risk-free!

However, this kind of instant solar is not for everyone. If you run a big operation and you’d rather get solar power 100% from your own solar system, then, by all means, get your own panels.

Pro-installed or DIY

If you do decide to install panels for your home electricity needs, then the next thing you need to do is figure out if you can install a DIY solar power kit (which is actually more of a truck than it is a kit with all the equipment you’d need) or if you want someone to do the installation for you.

I suggest the former if you are somewhat of a “techy” guy or gal or if one of your family members is a techy person. Doing it yourself may be a bit more daunting but the satisfaction of installing your own electricity system is worth it. But, of course, that would really be up to you.

Rooftop or Grounded Panel?

Whether you choose to have someone install your new panels or not, you should still consider whether or not you’re going to put it over your roof or propped up from the ground. This will depend on the shade near your house and how much sunlight you can get from where you live. If the roof itself can’t take in much sunlight, then perhaps the grounded ones would work better for you.

Size, Shape, Number of Panels

This is where things get tricky. There are different kinds of solar panels (and solar roof tiles even). This will directly depend on your electricity needs and how much money you have. The most expensive panels use monocrystalline panels that look sleek and are more efficient. Then there are the regular blue panels that use polycrystalline which are fairly cheaper.

Another consideration would have to be how many panels you’d be putting up based on your needs and how big your roof is.

Choosing the Right Inverter

Once you’ve decided on your panel system, it’s time to look into the right inverter for you. Like the panels, there are several types of inverters (or the device that converts the power captured by your panels to usable energy to power your home).

There are string inverters, microinverters, and battery-based ones. You can search for the differences and similarities of these systems online. But what you need to know is that microinverters are becoming the most popular ones for residential panel systems. Why? Because of their small form factors. They can convert power from DC directly to AC. Plus, they can be hooked up to the internet so you can monitor your generation and use every single day.

Final Thoughts

In whatever shape or form, the fact that you want to shift from using traditional electricity to solar power is commendable in itself. This means you understand how much better this is for the environment and for humanity.

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Planning a party is not for the faint of heart. Maybe you’ve always been one who gets invited to dinner parties but never had an opportunity or reason to throw one of your own… until now. With the holiday season being here, people are starting to get their homes ready for various dinner parties, and it looks like you’re next up to host your very first dinner party!

Hosting dinner parties can be pretty exhausting and intimidating, if you let it. Everything from the food to the appearance of your home, those are some of the biggest concerns for most people but luckily both can be easy as pie if done correctly, especially preparing your home.

Food prep is something that can be done in advance, depending on what you’re serving. For example, there are certain dishes that you can make ahead of time and freeze it. The day of or the day before your party, you simply pull it out to thaw and warm it up in time for dinner. The food you serve will indeed say a lot about you to your guests.

But the thing that will leave an even bigger impression on your guests, whether friends or family, is the appearance of your home. A lot of times, people who host parties will have the food catered and focus more on the appearance of their home… The food would be one less thing to worry about… the appearance of your home is what people will be talking about most.

According to housebeautiful.com, it takes just 38 seconds for guests to your home to judge your home. Some of the major areas they judge include the following:

● If your floors have been vacuumed

● The smell of your home

● If they can see dust

● The condition of your furniture (style, appearance, and comfort)

● The temperature of your home

Judgment isn’t something you look forward to in hosting a dinner party in your home… You would think that people would be thankful enough for being invited, but to be invited and then have the nerve to judge the host’s home… That says a lot about your guests too. But that’s what comes with hosting a dinner party or any gathering, so to avoid any negative talk about your home, don’t give them anything to talk about.

In hosting your very first dinner party, don’t worry yourself about what people will say about your home, because they’re going to talk about it anyway, but by following these tips, they’ll have nothing but good things to say about it.

Ways to Get Your Home Ready to Host a Dinner Party

First and Foremost, Declutter

Party planning doesn’t have to be expensive, and part of getting your home ready for your dinner party is decluttering, and it doesn’t cost you a dime. Over time, we tend to let stuff pile up or not put things back where they belong after using them, and when we do that, it contributes to clutter in the home.

Before you can even begin to start cleaning or pull out your decorations, you first need to declutter your home. Your kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and living room are going to be the common areas where your guests will be so you want to start decluttering in those areas first.

Everything from junk mail and dirty dishes left out to items being in the wrong place and unnecessary knick-knacks, you either need to throw those things away or put them where they belong. You can start this process the week of the party and go room by room attacking clutter. That way, when it’s time to clean, you can do just that without having to determine what to keep or where things should go.

Hire House Cleaning Services

If you’re nervous about your guest coming and having negative things to say about your home, the only way to “shut them up,” so to say, is to hire professional house cleaning services. Now, the thing about hiring house cleaning services is that you need to declutter your home first because cleaners can come into your home and clean it but will it really look clean if you have junk lying around? Probably not.

You do your part in decluttering and then have cleaning services come in. Depending on what time your dinner party will be, you can have them come the morning of or the day before to help you prepare. If your home is needing a good scrubbing, check out Tidytn.com for availability.

Make Your Home Smell Good

Making your home smell good is something that can be done the day of the party as well. Candles, potpourri, and wall plug-ins are great hacks to make your home smell nice. The aroma from the food alone will make your home smell wonderful, but a trick to making your home smell good with candles or plug-ins is to not go with scents that are in opposition to the scents of your food.

Instead of going with a fresh linen scented candle, opt for an apple or pumpkin pie scented candle, or a fruit-scented candle.

Keep Your Decorations Consistent With the Theme

Nothing is tackier at a dinner party than decorations that are inconsistent. Your decor can be themed in many different ways but just make sure they coordinate. Maybe your dinner party is themed by color. If you choose black and white as a theme, stick to that. Trying to throw in other colors and decorative pieces that don’t match will definitely give your guests something negative to say about your dinner party.

November is National Caregivers Month, and we’re here to talk about how we can better show our appreciation to those whose life is dedicated to the support of others. You’d be surprised how many individuals have recently stepped into a caregiving role for a loved one as a result of new virtual schooling requirements or multigenerational housing accommodations. Research shows that the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the caregiving crisis significantly, reporting a 55 percent increase in self-identified caregivers over the previous year.

The Role of a Caregiver The daily responsibilities of long-term caregivers can vary and are often tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual. On average, a caregiver might handle anything from grooming to scheduling appointments, plant care, medication management, laundry or food preparation. This type of work requires a foundation in empathy, kindness and patience because not every day is easy. If you know a caregiver who has helped you or a loved one, consider taking any of our suggestions below on how to show your gratitude:

1. Provide Time Off

The role of a caregiver often goes beyond the traditional 9 AM – 5 PM work schedule. These individuals provide consistent support that can be requested most hours of the day. As such, it can be hard to step away and take a break. If you’re able, coordinate a day off for your caregiver. Ask a family member or friend to step in to make sure regular responsibilities can be taken care of during this time period. Small gestures like these can help prevent burnout and improve a caregiver’s ability to address their own physical and mental health needs.

2. Create Connections

A support network is one of the best ways caregivers can address their individual concerns or get help when their role presents new challenges. All caregivers should regularly maintain connections with friends, family and industry professionals to avoid feelings of isolations or helplessness. The relationships we cultivate, whether in-person or digitally, can have a profound impact on our attitude and outlook. Find ways to connect your caregiver to other like minded individuals and help them build their long-term support system.

3. Send a Gift

If you’re looking for something to wrap up in a bag or bow, always think about the individual first. What does this specific caregiver like? What are their hobbies? What have they expressed

interest in? With the answers to those questions in mind, purchase a gift that they’ll enjoy and appreciate, whether it’s a gift card to the spa or a dinner for two.

If you’d like to create a more personalized gift, consider involving those they care for to create a fun craft to share. From paper flowers to clay figurines and custom cards, a gift with a personal touch can brighten anyone’s day. Arts and crafts are also a great way to engage those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, keeping the mind active and promoting the use of fine motor skills.

4. Say “Thanks”

While it might seem simple, one of the best ways you can express gratitude to caregivers is by saying what you’re thinking out loud! Too often, we keep our, “thanks” silent and assume the other person knows that we appreciate their work. Simple reminders to your caregiver that they’re doing a great job and you are thankful for their support can make all the difference.

Caregiving is a fulfilling job, but one that can sometimes feel overwhelming or isolating. We challenge everyone to set a goal to recognize and appreciate these individuals year-round, and continue to share your support for those who are dedicated to providing care for others.