Tip of the Day - Energy Saving

Someone who lives in Richmond, VA has probably noticed a big difference in temperature in the past few days. As the climate changes and you need to ensure that you are being as energy efficient as possible, for more than one reason: first you could be saving money and second it's just better for the environment. It's really just a win win for everyone. So where should you start?

Windows

This should be your first line of defense when it comes to energy deficiency. Most homes will lose a lot of their energy because of faulty or old windows. This is why it is important to consider windows that have double panes, which tend to be a bit more expensive but are able to contain both cold or hot air a lot better. Also, there could be drafts coming from faulty seals around the windows. These can deteriorate with time so it's a good idea to check these periodically.

An article found in curiosity.com estimates that someone who switches windows to energy efficient ones can save between 5-10% but probably won't save anymore than 25%.

Window frames to expand and contract as temperatures drop and rise, and eventually that change creates permanent creases and gaps. Metal ones tend to have much better resistance but still encounter problems over time. These small changes, if not addressed quickly can do some serious damage to your electric bill.

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Four Budget Fall Gardening Ideas

Gardening doesn't stop after Spring or Summer, in fact the only season you may be able to take a break is Winter in Virginia. This is why it is important to keep some basic maintenance tips in mind to keep things in order. Our friends at HouseLogic.com offer some really great tips if you don't know where to start!

Spread Mulch

“Fall mulching is better for the plants than spring mulching,” says Dan Taft, owner of The Cutting Edge in Chantilly, Va. “It helps protect roots from frost and helps retain moisture during a cold and dry winter.”

Spread 2 to 3 inches of fresh mulch around shrubs and trees. Taft warns home owners to avoid using free mulch from municipal piles, which often contain disease spores; instead, buy hardwood shredded mulch from home and garden centers, he says.

“Cheap, dump mulch mainly is made from trees that have died from disease,” Taft says. “Many diseases will linger in the mulch, like leaf spot and pine bark borers. You don’t want ground-up diseased plants around your landscaping.”

Remove the Dead and Dying

Fall isn’t the time to prune, because that encourages growth when healthy plants should remain dormant. But don’t shelve your shears and loppers yet. Fall is the time to neaten your landscaping before putting it to bed for the winter.

“If you remove dead landscaping in fall, you don’t have to look at it all winter,” Taft says.

• Remove dead annuals.
• Deadhead spent blooms, and cut back dead and desiccated ornamental grasses and perennials.
• Lightly prune dead and dying branches from shrubs and trees. Carefully remove dried blossoms from hydrangea, but don’t remove dead-looking stalks, where new buds will form in spring.
• After the first frost, cut back tea roses to about a third of their height.

Wrap Delicate Shrubs

Heavy snow, ice, and high winds can dry and split your delicate and pricey shrubs. To protect your landscaping from the winter elements:

• Hide small plants under overturned plastic pots or buckets.
• Wrap shrubs, such as boxwoods, in burlap.
• Surround vulnerable trees with shredded leaves.

Take Advantage of Fall Sales

Early fall until the ground freezes is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. Not only do cooler weather and autumn rain put less stress on young landscaping plants, nurseries often have sales to empty their shelves before winter.

“They need to sell every plant by Dec. 1,” Taft says. “Nurseries generally pay a third of the price that you’re paying. So don’t be afraid to offer less than the asking price. If you’re buying several things, the manager may give you a break.”

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5 Back to School Home Improvement Ideas

Kids or no kids, this is the time period that is typically reserved for parents and Back To School. Take this as an opportunity to get organized and see what kind of home improvements can be done around the house. This should also serve as a reminder that fall is almost here and it is time to unpack all those fall and winter clothes that you have in storage.

New Earth gives you five great things to take off this Back To School season.

Like we said before, this doesn't really apply to only families with kids but instead use this opportunity to take care of some of these things that we can all do!

Clean, Clean, Clean! 
Whether you have been putting off cleaning your backyard from kids toys, old bbqs, unfinished projects or even if you just have a cluttered home office space there is no time like the present! It is time to clean house, it will open the space and also be a lot more inviting for yourself and guests. Another thing that could be good to clean other than the standard kitchen, bathroom, living and bedroom spaces; would be to clean out old electronics. Have old computers, cellphones or appliances laying around? Get rid of them, but be responsible and take them to a place like Best Buy which recycles them for free.

Create Effective Use of Space
This is a great opportunity to add more closet space by adding shelves or storage containers. There are many options that are already made that can be hung inside closets that require minimal assembly. This will help you be more organized and give things that need their own space.

Do A Little Carpentry
Give new life to some of those old chairs, cabinets and tables by sanding them down and giving them a fresh coat of paint or varnish. Also if you have any old furniture that needs to be repaired this may be a good time, most repairs are typically small and only require basic tools and a minimal amount of materials to get them up and running again. This is New Earth's favorite type of projects

Switch Up Lighting 
Check to make sure all your light bulbs are in order and working properly, in addition to that you might want to consider more efficient lighting by switching to LED lights which tend to last longer and consume less electricity. Also if you have been contemplating getting track lighting or a have a fan installed, this might by the best time to do it.

Rearrange Furniture
Sometimes moving furniture around to use a space more effectively can breathe life into a stale room.   Also adding and subtracting furnishings can really improve a room, especially if you decide to use colors that pop and compliment the existing colors in the room.

For more fun recipes, please visit this link

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Around RVA: Festivals

Whether you are new to Richmond or not, there's always so many things to do. We're so impressed with this comprehensive list that Richmond.com has put together of things to do this week. We're also really glad to see Magpie on this list, since it is a restaurant that New Earth VA has helped remodel. Check out the article below for details on what's going on around Richmond! (Article via Richmond.com)

Wednesday, July 23

Treveri Sparkling and Fried Food Pairing at Metzger Bar and Butchery

Stop by this new Church Hill-area restaurant to learn all about Treveri Cellars sparkling wines and try some of chef Brittanny Anderson's snacks. Four wines, four snacks. $25. Starts at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 24

Free Meet, Greet, and Eat with Free Run Wines and Andrew Jones of Field Recordings Wines at Saison Market

California winemaker Andrew Jones will be in town tasting his wines and chef Adam Hall will be cooking up some pairings for each wine. Free. Starts at 6 p.m.

The Kick-Off for 909 Courtyard's new Wine Tasting Series

First up: Wine Tasting I. Terricinia St. Clair from The Tipsy Sommelier will cover "basic wine tasting techniques as well as the various identifying characteristics of five of the noble wine varietals (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon).  And at the end of the course you'll be able to identify them by sight, smell and taste. Tickets are all-inclusive at $30 and can bepurchased here. Starts at 5:30 p.m.

Friday, July 25

Lickinghole Creek tap takeover for the 23rd & Main One Year Anniversary Party

Lickinghole is taking over the bar at 23rd and Main for an anniversary party with food and drink specials and live music from 5 - 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 26

RVAle Belgian Summer Ale Release at Center of the Universe Brewing

 

The COTU folks are honoring Wort Share Competition winner Scott Golden with an RVAle release party, with lots of beer, live music and food trucks from 3 - 9 p.m.

 

Every Monday

 

Wine Down Monday at Lehja

 

All day and night on Monday, Lehja in Short Pump is doing half-off selections from its award-winning wine list.

Thursday, Aug. 7

Hardywood Park Craft Beer Dinner at Morton’s, $85

A four-course dinner with steak as the entrée and a beer appetizer at Morton’s at 6 p.m.MENU. Call (804) 648-1662 for reservations.

Friday, Aug. 15

Wine & Whiskers at The Shops at Willow Lawn

This free event features wineries, food sampling, and live music by the 80’s cover band Party McFly. It's just $10 to do the wine tasting, 6 - 9 p.m. Details.

More upcoming dining events:

Saturday, July 26

Tiki Party & Pig Roast at The Rogue Gentlemen, $30

The Rogue Gentlemen are roasting up a whole Autumn Olive Farms heritage pig and torch-lining the patio for their tiki party. Side dishes re included with the pig (and ticket price) an there will be tiki drinks with flowers and umbrellas. Tickets. Party starts at 5 p.m.

Pop-Up Cookout at Amuse

It's a party on the patio at Amuse from 5 - 8 p.m. on Saturday, with gourmet hot dogs, corn dogs, kimchi tater tots, Hardywood beer flowing, tons of craft cocktails and much more. No reservations necessary, just show up and enjoy (and pay for your things a la carte).

Monday, July 28

La Urraca at The Magpie

In celebration of its third anniversary, The Magpie is transforming itself into La Urraca for one-night only. The restaurant will be serving a "a mix of Spanish and Latin American flavors with an emphasis on traditional style street foods and complementing cocktails." The party starts at 5 p.m. and goes until whatever. Reservations are encouraged but not necessary. Menu coming soon.

The menu (prices will be $5 - $14)

(Article via Richmond.com)

Eco Friendly Homes

(Image Courtesy ChicagoMag.com)

There has been an increasing amount of homeowners that are considering building green, not only because it is better for the environment but because it can be better for homes in the long run. These options can also end up saving some money on utility and repair bills. 

Insulation

You can get different type of materials, both synthetic and natural for insulation, but did you know you could use things like old carpets and curtains as insulation? These materials may already be readily available to you in your home or you may know of someone who has an excess amount of these supplies laying around the house. These items can easily be found in thrift stores or discount stores. 

Geothermal Heating

This isn't an option that a lot of people know about, this option is something that harvests the heat from the soil beneath us. It is expensive to install at first but can save you a lot of money over time. It uses minimal electricity and no gas. It can be incorporated into the whole HVAC system and is regulated in a traditional way, with a thermostat. 

Water Based Paints

Most paints have a chemical element to them, water based paints don't. These are better for your overall health and the environment will help you since they are biodegradable. An added bonus to using this type of paint is the more natural look that you'll get. Chemical paints to have a much harsher tone to them. 

Furniture & Material Repurposing

One of our favorite past times is to find old furniture or using found pieces of wood and giving them new life. You can find many amazing pieces of furniture at places like antique shops or thrift stores, a fresh coat of paint and some adjustments and you can have a piece of furniture that is unique and has character. Turning a piece of found wood into something completely different like a coffee table is another great way to make a statement piece. If you haven't done so already, visit our website at www.newearthva.com to find some examples of how this can be accomplished. 

For more tips and tricks for all your home needs visit:
NewEarthVA.com

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