Back in the distant ‘70s, up in the foothills above my family’s suburban tract home, you could discern the fine line of demarcation where the small, subdivided parcels quickly progressed from squarefeet to acres and cookie-cutter boxes to custom-built estates. Doctors in Tudor mansions next to lawyers in sprawling Ranch houses and Cape-Cod gabled manors sharing wide, tidy streets with Tuscan villas. Basically, it was a gated community without the gates. Whenever a lowland commoner like me ventured into the refined air of “The Estates,” the uneasy feeling of being watched was confirmed when the Westec security car followed my rusty Ford Pinto back down the hill.
Archive for the ‘Lifestyle’ Category
Eco-Dome on the Range
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
Air Quality Statistics–a must-know for all homeowners
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010We’ve recently come across some alarming statistics about indoor air-quality, illustrating just how important it is to be careful about all the products we use in our homes.
Behavior problems have been linked to exposure to toxic chemicals and mold. At the same time, we see that ADD/ADHD rates in today’s schools are higher than ever. (more…)
Solar Rebates in Massachusetts: A good sign and good recovery
Monday, January 4th, 2010Massachusetts has an existing rebate program for residential and small commercial parties that installed solar systems. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) the funds ran out in October, almost two years ahead of schedule, showing that people are embracing the idea of solar panels and systems in their homes!
The solar industry worried that the lack of incentives would slow down projects–but fortunately we’ll never know, as the state is re-implementing solar rebates starting in January. (There is also program for larger-scale businesses.) (more…)