Concerned About Air Quality? Houseplants Might Help
Plant-filled spaces may be all the rage on Instagram, but did you know they can actually be good for your health? Certain plants, according to studies, can reduce pollutants by purifying the air around them. So they not only beautify your space, but they do double duty. The best part? Most of them are easy to maintain, so if you’re worried about your lack of green thumb, these are a great place to start. Here are some of the best options for improving the health of your space: Spider PlantsThese fast-growing and easy-care plants were a staple of 1970s décor, but they’re making a comeback and boast some healthy perks to boot. Naturally purifying, they love bright, indirect sunlight. Snake PlantsPossibly the holy grail of low-maintenance greenery, these plants boast richly coloured leaves and can go weeks without water. They’re great in low-light environments and are one of nature’s most effective air purifying plants. PothosThese Ivy-like plants climb fast and thrive without a whole lot of attention. They’re great in a hanging planter or placed on top of a surface like a tall bookshelf where they can cascade downward. BambooTall, wispy and decidedly tropical, bamboo palms not only purify the air, but can also increase humidity indoors. They can grow up to 12 feet, making them a dramatic and lush option for living rooms.
Thinking of Downsizing? How to Choose the Right Time
Canadians love familiarity. They love spending quality time with family and friends, and many find it difficult to let go of the places such as the family home where those cherished memories were made. If you’re at a time in your life when the starlings have fled the nest and you’re finding that your voice echoes in many of the rooms in which all those memories were made, you may consider downsizing. Just thinking about it can be daunting and emotionally charged. But if you’re seriously considering moving into a smaller place, you may want to use these as a measure to make your final decision: You’re finding the upkeep to be too much.Needless to say, there’s a lot of work in the upkeep of a home. Winters can be especially rough since most parts of Canada get a lot of snow and it’s up to you to keep your walkways clear. In addition to all that yard work, there always seems to be something to do inside. Household maintenance can also put a pretty hefty dent in your pocketbook. Downsizing will give you more time to enjoy planning those trips to the sunshine using all those funds you’ve saved. You’re retired or planning on retiring in the near future.This is probably the single most prevalent reason people decide to move out of their homes. Selling a larger home will give you more funds to put toward your retirement and to pursue all those things for which you didn’t have time when you were working and taking care of kids. Moving into a smaller home will likely mean paying fewer taxes, having a smaller mortgage (if you have one at all) and shelling out less for home insurance. Use the capital that’s tied up in your home for your retirement nest egg. There’s just too much extra space.Are there unused rooms that have to be cleaned? Or doors to certain rooms constantly shut since the space isn’t being used? When your home has just too much square footage for you, maybe it’s time to call a REALTOR®. Having a larger home means added expenses. And if those four bedrooms aren’t always being used, why not sell to a young couple who is raising a family and would benefit from all those unused areas? It would be a win-win situation. You’ve been bitten by the travel bug.If you’re thinking of downsizing, you may be feeling the pangs of wanderlust. If you’ve always wanted to travel to the four corners of the world and scratch those marvelous, exotic places off your bucket list, now is the time to do it. Think about being the carefree Canadian snowbird you’ve always dreamed of being and use the capital in your home to get on a plane, train or automobile and do some serious sightseeing.
Eco-Friendly Tips With Low Costs and High Savings
Most homeowners have weather-stripped their doors to maximize climate control, and have switched out traditional incandescent light bulbs with eco-friendly CFL models. Short of installing double paned windows or making other costly home improvements, what more can you do to make your home “greener” without emptying your wallet? Change filters often. Change air conditioning filters monthly to keep the system running at peak performance. Dry bigger loads. Your dryer has more capacity than you think. Dry two or more loads at once so the dryer cools down and heats up less frequently. And clean out the lint filter often. Check the fridge seal. Feel for cold air around your closed refrigerator door to be sure the seal is in good condition. Adjust stove top cooking. Avoid wasting heat by matching up your pot/pan size to the correct burner. Unplug battery chargers. Many chargers continue to draw power even when not connected to a device, so unplug yours after charging. Use a laptop. They use less energy than your desktop computer, so use them instead when you can. Reduce hot water consumption. Install low-flow, aerating faucets and shower heads. Select a shower head with a flow rate of less than 2.5 gallons per minute.Choose drought-tolerant plants. Any number of plants and ground covers can add greenery to a yard without gulping lots of water – including clover, certain breeds of grass like Bermuda and Zoysia, and edible plants like herbs and strawberries. (Note: you may want to put in some type of wood or brick border to contain groundcovers or plants in the area you want them to stay in.)
Categories
Recent Posts
