How to Increase Your Home's R-Value

What the heck is R-Value?

R-Value is the rating given to the efficiency of insulation. The higher the rating, the better the insulation is at keeping your home at the temperature you want.

But wait, isn't this a blog about floors? What does insulation have to do with flooring?

Because I recently learned that carpet is the only floor covering material available that has been recognized to measurably improve your home's R-Value.
 

According to the blog post I read by The Carpet and Rug Institute Blog, '"Under the Home Star bill, carpet would help homeowners qualify for the highest-level "Gold Star" $3000 tax credit reserved for renovations that result in an overall 20 percent energy savings," said Carpet and Rug Institute Vice-President Frank Hurd.'

The Home Star Bill (also known as Cash for Caulkers) is meant to encourage home owners to increase the energy efficiency of their home.

• Rebates of as much as 50%, up to $3,000, for energy-saving efforts (or up to $250 for DIY projects)
• Reimbursements for comprehensive energy audits and reduction of a home's total consumption (Reduce your energy usage by at least 20% and you could receive up to $8,000 in rebates!)
• This bill has the potential to cut energy bills by up to $500 a year for about 3 million households.

Wool for a Better World - the blog of New Zealand Wool (recognized as the highest quality of wool available) - also commented on the insulative properties of carpet, focusing on the unique properties of wool carpet and rugs, of course.

Because of the natural engineering that went into the construction of wool fibers, wool has been and continues to be recognized as the most useful and most efficient of all fibers and is what all synthetics strive to become when they grow up.

Its unique engineering makes it highly insulative because it traps thousands of tiny air pockets per square inch. This prevents the movement of air through your floors, making your air conditioning (or, as the cooler months - believe it or not - start to arrive, your heater) more efficient.

Also, wool can absorb up to 40% of its weight in water and still feel dry. 'As they absorb moisture, wool fibers warm up reducing humidity and condensation in the room. Conversely as moisture evaporates back into the air it cools down. This process means less energy is required to heat and cool a room' says Wool for a Better World.

Rugs and carpet have been known to add warmth to a space, but - go figure - with their insulative properties they also help keep your home cool!

To read what the Carpet and Rug Institute has to say on the subject, read their blog post: 'Cash For Caulkers, Carpet For Energy-Saving: Homeowners Benefit'.

Also check out Wool For A Better World's blog post on the subject: 'Staying Cool with Wool Rugs'.

How are you taking the bull of rising energy costs by the horns? Do you have any energy saving tips that you would like to share?

How to Work with Warm & Cool Colors by Appartment Therapy

Ever tried to pick a color scheme for a room and wondered where to start with all of the...
 ~ tempuratures,
 ~ tones,
 ~ shandes,
 ~ tints,
 ~ blends,
 ~ compliments, and
 ~ triads? 
Here's one article that we found to be helpful when using the tempuratures of different colors to help create the atmosphere you desire in a space.

How to Work with Warm & Cool Colors

Have You Voted Yet?

The Carroll's Best Awards were started 12 years ago, in 1998, by the Carroll County Times so residents could vote for their favorite businesses. 

Who do you think is worthy of the title: Carroll's Best? 

Have you placed your vote? Voting for this year runs through this Saturday, August 14th.

What would you look for in a business to consider it one of the best?

Howard Has Their Best Also!

Are you a resident of Howard County Maryland?

Do you recieve the Howard Magazine?

Then you are eligible to vote for your favorite Howard County Businesses and Organizations!

Who has earned your vote?  What makes a business the 'best' to you?