It’s freezing cold across much of the United States. Are you wearing passive solar clothes to stay warm?
I know it sounds like an odd question. We tend to think of using solar design for houses, not clothes. I’ll explain.
If you know it’s a cold day, do you think about what you’re going to wear? Of course you do. You might wear several layers. The layering forms more tiny air spaces around you and increases the insulating effectiveness of your clothing. You might pick out dark colors. Even if you don’t …

When guests arrive for a few nights or even a few weeks, where do you put them?
Many of us opt to stash guests in a home office which also functions as guestroom. The advantage is clear: Since most of the time we don’t have guests, we get to use this space for important tasks like paying bills or surfing the net.  We haven’t wasted precious square footage on an event that happens rather infrequently. And yet, when that occasional guest does arrive — well, we’re all set!
For those of us who have gone this route, the success of …

    Now is a great time to build! Builders are hungry, prices of many construction materials are low, and the vendors are making deals to get business. If you have the resources, don’t wait. Build now and capture the savings. Right now, Warren Buffett is buying U.S. stocks because he sees them as a low-priced opportunity. Construction costs represent the very same opportunity. You can cash in big time if you act now. 
    I got a note from a prospective client recently asking for my advice on what construction costs might …