May 3rd, 2010
How do I put into words my feelings about the oil spill in the gulf. Do I blame the oil company, the government, the people that use the products(all of us). My first reaction is to state the obvious need for us to get off fossil fuels and I agree we should and inevitably will as we deplete the resource. But that doesn’t address the here and now, we are dependant on oil and the products made with it. The devastation to the people, animal life, sea life, and marsh life will take many years to repair if it can be repaired at all. The cost to the people that depend on the resources is incalcuable ,the damage to their lives immeasurable.
In March 1989 the Exxon Valdez hit a reef and spilled over 240 thousand barrels of crude oil into Prince William Sound , Alaska. In 1991, 9 million barrels of crude oil were spilled into the Persian Arabian Gulf during the Gulf War when the Iraqi army distroyed tankers, wells, and oil terminals. The price being paid by our planet is far to great and the suffering by the inhabitants unacceptable. We must develop alternatives and quickly.
House Talk Today urges all our listeners to embrace a planet friendly lifestyle by becoming aware of the way our decisions impact our environment. We must become less dependant on fossil fuels and become far better stewards on this beautiful planet we all share. This is not a rehearsal folks, this is the only shot we get!
In the following weeks we will be focusing on ways in “positively” impact the environment we share, your comments are appreciated as always.
Tags: energy, environment, green, home improvement, oil spill, remodel
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August 3rd, 2010
A brutal economy has forced many people to take a much different view on how they live their lives. Things that were no brainers 18 monthes ago like the cost of a fun night out or the purchase of an item at the grocery store is no longer a snap decision. Most of us have had to make tough choices and delay decisions that last year would not have registered even a second thought. And our world is a much different place as we watch our friends and neighbors struggle through losses of jobs and wealth.
As we maneuver through these challenges we will be defined and redefined, we will be forced to face our perceived failures and flaws and rebuild or even redirect our paths. A couple of generations ago our fore fathers were faced with even greater challenges, they survived and so will we, and as with them we will be defined by our ability and success in survival.
We at House Talk Today make our commitment to our listeners and readers to help anyway we can with helpful money saving advice that will make a difference in your life. We share your concern for the environment and believe in the spirit of the American People.
Tags: construction, DIY, Economy, energy, Energy Efficientcy, environment, EPA, flower mound, green, Gulf Oil Spill, Home, home improvement, House Talk Today, lead, lead abatement, New Home, paint, remodel, Remodeling, solar panels, wellington park, wind generator, wind turbines
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June 13th, 2010
Tags: construction, DIY, environment, EPA, Gulf Oil Spill, home improvement, House Talk Today, oil spill, wind generator, wind turbines
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May 26th, 2010
Once again we are reminded how fragile our earth and all its inhabitants (including us) are. As more and more disturbing pictures from the gulf coast oil leak are broadcast and the oily sludge makes its way deeper into the the fragile eco system, we are beginning to witness a disaster in the making. The totality of this environmental disaster certainly won’t be known for many years but the pain is definetly being felt now.
House Talk Today has received several emails and calls from listeners in suppport of off shore drilling claiming that we don’t know what caused the calamity and that the oil industry has an extremely good safety record. Well I relate that to the airline industry’s claims about its safety record after a crash, news flash – if you’re the one on the plane you don’t give a hoot! We’re not just talking about peoples lives here; the entire Gulf coast from Texas to Florida and now possibly the east coast are at risk. The damage to the deepwater animal and plant life is almost impossible to know but no doubt will be enormous.
We are the ones tapping the resource so we have an even larger resposibility to protect it. I’ts very disturbing to watch as politicians and executives play point the finger when so much is at stake. We need to be only concerned with repairing the damage; the finger pointing can happen later, the politicians can get their camara time later, this is the time to act not talk.
This is when we are defined as a nation and a people, this when our leaders show their true abilities; this is when we are reminded that our impact is real.
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May 17th, 2010
Of the recession I hope. I can’t really tell truthfully, it seems that if you’re into stocks and bonds you’re having some good days and some really bad days. It seems none of us trust what the government or the pundits tell us since they all seem to be looking for votes. How are we supposed to react? Personally I think we should be looking out for #1 and I think that’s what is going on, people are doing more but are very guarded and on the defensive and I certainly don’t blame anyone for that. My advice to my clients and listeners is to make good decisions by hiring the right people and trusting them. I’m advising people to plan for the long term since they are more likely to stay in their home and should spend their money wisely. Most of us don’t feel real secure in our jobs since we’re watching friends and family struggle as never before and people around us are losing their jobs.
On the positive side, it does seem like certain sectors of the economy are trying to turn around and that will only benefit us all. I am trying to support local businesses as much as I can and sending clients to businesses that I know are struggling. My clients have been wonderful trying to help us with small projects and referring us to as many people as they can. I pray we don’t have any setbacks in this recovery and we all can relax some this summer.
Saturday’s show was extraordinary, we had a full bank of callers from around the state with amazing questions and thought provoking ideas. We encorage you to contact Chris – chris@housetalktoday.com or me – alex@housetalktoday.com with any follow up remarks or questions and we will read them on the air if appropiate.
We think we have the best audiance in radio and we appreciate you very much. Please feel free to tell us about any subjects you would like to hear about or any products you would us to check out for you.
Thanks for all your comments on the blog, we are really enjoying the feedback, keep ‘em coming.
Alex and Chris
Tags: construction, DIY, energy, environment, flower mound, green, home improvement, lead, lead abatement, oil spill, paint, radio, remodel, solar panels, wellington park, wind generator, wind turbines
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April 22nd, 2010
At first blush, wind power generation for the home sounds like a pretty good idea, but the question everyone wants to know is, “Does it work?”. Roof top wind turbines have yet to be proven efficient or sufficiently reliable and pole mounted turbines can be dangerous, noisy, aesthetically unattractive and extremely expensive. Don’t let the tax credits and great deals sway you into a bad decision. At this point in time, it seems there are more bad systems than good so it may be wiser to use the energy tax credits for solar panels or other upgrades eco-friendly and energy-saving upgrades on your home.
If you are dead-set on wind power generation–more power to ya, but here are a few things you might want to consider: First, is there enough wind where you live? A good way to start your research would be with the “Wind Resource Atlas of the United States”, http://rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/maps.html#2-1. (builditsolar.com). If your house is located in a sufficiently windy area, can the wind reach the wind generator? Nearby structures, trees, etc. can often interrupt the constant flow of wind. Third, are you in a neighborhood or HOA that will tolerate these devices on your roof or on a pole? How long will it take to get the financial payback you’re seeking? Last but not least, how loud is the device when operating? Even if your HOA approves your wind turbine device, your neighbors may not appreciate the constant ambient noise.
If you decide that wind generation is for you; keep a few tips in mind, 1) don’t go cheap on the equipment- on average; wind generators will require maintenance within the 1st four years of use and break down often 2) there have been 3 reported death’s and other related injury’s from DIY’rs attempting to install or service pole mounted generators. Don’t try something you’re not qualified to do. 3) if installing on your roof, make sure the device is secured properly and won’t cause water leaks.
We all want some sort of control over our electric bills and we would all love to help create a cleaner environment, so before you dive headlong into wind generation, start with a home energy audit. Many energy providers offer free audits. Develop a series of basic fixes that address your home’s energy efficiency issues, such as insulation, ductwork, windows, and addressing outside air infiltration.
House Talk Today is interested in your comments and experiences with this subject, please share them with us.
Tags: construction, DIY, home improvement, radio, solar panels, wind generator, wind turbines
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April 18th, 2010
Chris and Alex had a great time today at the Live Green Expo in Plano, Texas. Our broadcast was packed with fascinating guests with great ideas and products. We were especially impressed with the interest from the community even in a soft economy. Green is alive and well and the public can’t get enough of it. The incredibly diverse vendors proved beyond a doubt that green living is a lifestyle not just a fad. Green living includes all aspects of our lives, not just what we do to our homes but how we live in our homes; it is a lifestyle and our gift to our children and grandchildren. Thanks to all our friends and listeners that came to visit us at our booth, we would like to hear your thoughts and feelings about the show.
House Talk Today will begin broadcasting live in Houston, Texas on May 1st on 1070 AM KNTH from 1-3 PM.
Tags: construction, DIY, green, home improvement, paint, radio, remodel, solar panels
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April 11th, 2010
Follow Up to – “Man gets sued for saving the Earth”
House Talk Today is proud of the HOA and residents of Wellington Park in Flower Mound, Texas for voting to approve the use of solar panels on roofs. In a surprising and somewhat uncommon gesture the HOA took a vote of the residents asking their opinion as to whether a resident should be allowed to install solar panels on his roof and unanimously voted to approve. With all the stories and negative press directed at HOA’s in the state of Texas we are pleased to see the democratic process rule and common sense prevail.
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/green/Flower-Mound-HOA-Tries-to-Ban-Solar-Power-88878782.html
Tags: DIY, flower mound, home improvement, remodel, solar panels, wellington park
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April 10th, 2010
Once again Chris and I had an incredible show today with our guests James Crawford of TTI and Phil Crone with Greenbuild North Texas and The Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas. As soon as the phone lines were opened, they were filled with callers. The impressive part is how informed and intelligent our listeners are; we also appreciate how many trade professionals listen and interact with us. Our goal is to inform and educate and I think we accomplish that, however; we always appreciate the things we learn from our listeners as well. We welcome opposing points of view as we are constantly learning ourselves. Thank you for your calls and especially compliments. Our listeners are awesome!
We have recently expanded to Tampa, Florida and soon will be expanding to California and another major Texas market. We are looking forward to interacting in these new markets and making new friends.
Next week we are broadcasting from and participating at the Live Green Expo in Plano, this is a free event for all who attend and there will be 200 vendors.
Thanks to all our listeners, we appreciate you very much.
Tags: construction, DIY, EPA, home improvement, paint, radio, remodel
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April 6th, 2010
Sorry, I couldn’t resist…the Department of Energy couldn’t come up with a fun nickname for their new “Cash for Appliances” rebate program, so I thought I would give them some help, “Cash for Coolers”. “Rebates for Energy Star Appliances”, just isn’t as catchy as, the auto rebate “Cash for Clunkers” from earlier in the year.
According to the DOE’s Energy Savers website, http://www.energysavers.gov,
you may be eligible to cash in on rebates from your state for the purchase of qualified Energy Star appliances. Funded with $300 million from the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009, eligible consumers can receive rebates to purchase new energy-efficient appliances when they replace their used ones. Each state and U.S. territory has their own individual program and mileage may vary. The website includes an interactive map with start dates and rebate criteria.
Like the “Cash for Clunkers” car program, Cash for Appliances is designed to replace your inefficient old refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, air conditioners, washers, furnaces and heat pumps with Energy Star rated ones, that should, in turn save you money on your energy bills–and that’s good for all of us.
The program officially begins at 7am April 7th and runs through April 25th, or until the funds run out–whichever comes first. Check the site for further details. One really important thing to keep in mind is you need to get rid of the old fridge to be eligible in most cases. That means you can’t just take your old 1957 Westinghouse Refrigerator and park it out in the garage to use as a “Beer and Deer” Fridge! That would pretty-well defeat the purpose. You certainly wouldn’t be saving energy! If the appliance center doesn’t haul away the old one you must show proof that you hauled away your dud–or no rebate.
So, tick-tock, tick-tock! The money has been allocated and the clock is ticking! Are you planning to swap your old Amana or Frigidare? I’d love to hear about your “Cash for Coolers” experience.
Alex
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