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RE: Choosing between energy efficiency or water savings for green building points?
I’ve found that initial cost calculations rarely tell the whole story, especially when it comes to water systems. Energy efficiency upgrades are easy to quantify - there’s a clear payback period, utility rebates, all tha...
RE: Building On Level Ground: Step-By-Step Tips For Making The Most Of A Flat Lot
That’s been my experience too. Clay’s a pain, but if you use a geotextile fabric under the gravel base, it really helps keep things stable and prevents the gravel from just disappearing into the muck over time. I’ve also...
RE: Switching to energy-saving bulbs: how many of your lights are actually LEDs?
That's a huge point. I've had to swap out a few “dimmable” LEDs because they just didn’t play nice with my old Lutron switches - lots of buzzing, sometimes even a weird strobe effect. It’s wild how much compatibility mat...
RE: Digging up the backyard: found more than just dirt
I’ve actually had some luck, though it’s hit or miss. Dug up a stack of old bricks behind my garage - turns out they were original to the house, 1920s clay. Cleaned them up and used them for a garden path. The labor was ...
RE: What if your city paid you to use less water?
Honestly, I think the bigger challenge is that most cities just look at your total water usage, not how you got there. If you install something like a greywater system, but the inspector isn’t familiar, you might end up ...