“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” As any experienced gardener would tell you, gardening is a marathon; not a sprint. As our yummy sustainable gardens developed, we had to make a few changes to help them continue growing strong. (P.S. All the photos used in this post are straight from our own gardens!).
Monthly Archives: June 2015
Summer is in full swing here in the Foothills. For many, this means taking the time to ensure that their home is well-equipped to deal with the heat of the summer. Have you considered taking a closer look at your home’s ductwork? There’s a lot of talk about the importance of duct cleaning or duct sealing, but which one is right for your home? What is ductwork, anyway?
24
Jun
Jun
If there is one home upgrade best known for its visual impact, it’s windows. A home’s windows serve as a gateway to the outside world. It’s difficult for first-time homeowners or re-modelers in the Sacramento area to know where to start. To help narrow it down, we’ve compiled a list of common criteria to think about when considering new windows in your home.
23
Jun
Jun
When we heard about how much water you can save through Drip Irrigation, we knew we had to add it to our Sustainable Gardening series. With the California drought becoming the “new normal,” it’s more important than ever to save where you can. Here is everything you need to know about Drip Irrigation.
18
Jun
Jun
Nest Labs left no stone unturned today with four announcements that updated and unified Nest’s offerings. The new Nest products will be available for purchase directly from California Energy Services. The Nest Cam was unveiled (bye Dropcam) with 1080p video quality, a new stand, and improvements on features. The second generation Nest Protect has improved smoke detection. The Nest Learning Thermostat is getting a software update that provides better integrations with Cam and Protect. And finally, the redesigned Nest app that allows you to control all your Nest products from one place.
17
Jun
Jun
The only thing my dad loves more than BBQ’ing up a nice steak in his own backyard is doing so after all the yardwork is done. Show him how grateful you are this Fathers’ Day by cleaning up the weeds and trimming the hedges, before he asks. It doesn’t cost anything and you’ll get free food afterwards!
California is the nation’s leader in energy efficiency. We’re continuing to make important strides towards finding better ways to source electricity. Take a look at solar power: Californians are so invested in solar that we’re the first state in the country to generate more than 5% of electricity from utility-scale solar.
Energy Announcement, In Your Home, Product Announcement
5 Things You Need to Know About the Apple HomeKit
16
Jun
Jun
Apple unveiled HomeKit at WWDC 2014. Devices this approved for HomeKit are finally hitting the market this month. Always one to elevate a product category, Apple has outdone themselves this time. Two weeks ago, Apple released the HomeKit: A complete set of “home automation” devices that when combined, become the brain of your home.
For El Dorado Hills homeowners, keeping on top of home performance is usually easier said than done. Homes don’t exactly come along with owner’s manuals, after all. Knowing what to look for in terms of potential issues that might pop up is important, but is definitely a challenge. Your home is a complex system comprised of a number of different pieces, and if one goes out of whack, everything else gets affected.
04
Jun
Jun
The well-known “Smart” thermostat claims to save you
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