RISMEDIA, November 30, 2009—Consumers are more conscientious about healthy living than ever before and this awareness is making its way to the homebuilding industry, particularly in the custom home market, says Michael Lenahen who owns Ponte Vedra, Fla.-based Aurora Custom Homes.

“As more consumers begin to realize how much their home affects every aspect of their health, they are beginning to see the importance of improving its environmental quality with products to benefit their health and that of their family,” Lenahen said. “The new emphasis toward healthy living focuses around four main categories – air, water, odor/fumes and lighting.”

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, pollutants are often two to five times higher indoors than outdoors and this can significantly affect air in the home causing breathing problems and respiratory diseases. When it comes to the quality of the air, Lenahen said several products are available on the market that homeowners should incorporate into their home such as:

-Advanced allergy filters to control dust particles and pollutants
-Dehumidification devices to manage the humidity in the home
-Variable speed air handlers to maintain the circulation of air throughout the home and ventilation fans to introduce fresh air into the home while removing stale, humid air

Improving the water quality in a home is just as important as the air quality, Lenahen said. Several products are available to improve the quality and efficiency of a home’s water flow and usage, including:

-Carbon filter and reverse osmosis units to purify drinking water by removing particulate matter and harmful minerals
-Whole-house water softeners to remove calcium and other harmful minerals while providing added benefit to the home’s appliances and pluming fixtures. Water softeners also improve skin tone and texture by removing calcium, magnesium and iron from the water.
-Underground cisterns to collect rainwater from the gutter and downspouts to use for irrigating the lawn and landscapeHealthy home living is also improved by the use of low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) materials, which emit lower levels of gasses into the home from everyday materials such as paints, sealants, cabinets and flooring materials. Lenahen said homeowners should use the lowest emitting VOC products for custom homebuilding and remodeling projects, thereby reducing the negative health impact the products may have on the occupants. Low VOC products will have labeling to help homeowners find the healthiest option.

Better lighting solutions can also foster healthier living. Traditional light fixtures typically include high wattage bulbs, which waste electricity while adding excessive heat into the home. Suggested improvements include:

-Decorative light fixtures with less wattage requirements and soft-light emitting globes
-Compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs or L.E.D. fixtures and bulbs for longer life usage
-Next generation skylights, such as Velux Sun Tunnel or Solatube, that bring natural light into the home, reducing the need for artificial light and energy consumption

“These are just some of the many changes that can be made to current homes or built into new homes that will greatly improve the quality of life and health of its occupants,” Lenahen said. “The more consumers become aware of the positive affects of healthy living within the home, the more products will enter the mainstream of standard building practices.”

Image by wildphotons via Flickr

I am thankful that I have a supportive family.  My Mom lives across town and she is alway there to help us in any way possible.  Although my Father lives in Montana we talk with and about him often.  My Wife has 3 sisters in town that are also available to help us in any way possible.  That leads me to my wife…  She is not only a great wife but an excellent mother to our two kids.

Currently I am helping my mom sell my grandfathers house.  This is a house that he built himself in 1965.  It seems that since the day he moved in that he has not thrown a single thing away- not a nut, bolt, or bent nail.  I have come across newspapers from the late 60′s, magazines from the last 55ish years, and thousands of nuts, bolts, and screws.  He probably has 3 of every tool imaginable (he built houses and cabinets for a living).  We are doing an estate sale in early December and I have a pile of tools that I have no idea what they are used for.  I have come across some wonderful things as well.  An old brass outboard boat motor, lots of old camping gear, and my grandmothers canning supplies (he didn’t throw anything away!!!).  He has a collection of items that he found on the old Emigrant Trail, thing from the wagon train days.  I don’t know if it is worth anything but it sure is cool.  My son has especially enjoyed exploring Papas old things.  We still have another whole garage to go in our adventure so maybe I will have some more interesting things to write about.

Back to my wife.  This whole grandfather house thing has taken away from the family time for the last couple of weeks.  I am thankful that I have a supportive, loving, and understanding wife……

Image via CrunchBase

Here are some tips to help improve your credit score. 

1. Review your current credit report for accuracy. Everyone is entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Get a copy of your credit report and look at it for accuracy. First, make sure that the information in your file is about you and only you, not someone who has a similar name or a similar Social Security number. It is very common for your credit reports to have mistakes or incorrect information. At a minimum, make sure that the information you are being evaluated on is current and correct.

2. Repair credit report mistakes. If you find something on your credit report that is incorrect or missing, you should dispute the mistake by contacting the credit bureaus directly. All credit bureaus have their dispute procedures on their website. They are also required by law to investigate any disputed items and these investigations will usually be done within 30 days of your request.

3. Pay your bills on time. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Payment history accounts for roughly 35% of your credit score. Paying bills on time is the most important thing to do. If you’re struggling to catch up, contact your creditors to work out a payment schedule.

4. Increase the length of your credit history. This accounts for about 15% of your score. Don’t cancel your old card or get a lot of new ones in a short time span because this can hurt your score.

5. Keep credit card balances low. It’s a good idea to keep the balances below 25% of your available credit. Even if you pay off your credit cards every month, a high average balance will impact your score. This accounts for about 30% of your credit score.

6. Keep new credit requests to a minimum. This accounts for 10% of your score. Every time a lender runs your credit, an inquiry is recorded. If you are trying to get a loan, don’t apply for new credit cards first.

7. Be aware that paying off a collection account will not remove it from your credit report. It will stay on your report for seven years.

8. Pay off debt rather than moving it around. The most effective way to improve your credit score in this area is by paying down your revolving credit. In fact, owing the same amount but having fewer open accounts may lower your score.

9. Beware credit-repair scams. By all means, don’t pay someone to wipe away the negative items in your file. If they don’t follow through, the damaging items will reappear in two or three months.

You may also consider talking to your lender also for other options when your credit score is not were you would like it to be.

Image via Wikipedia

The California Highway Patrol is starting its annual Chips for Kids program on November 23rd.  They will be collecting food, new unwrapped toys,  and new or lightly used jackets.  The items will be donated to such local organizations as the Lake Tahoe Women’s Center, Christmas Cheer, and St.  Catholic Church.

For questins please call Officer Jeff Gartner at 530-577-1001.

U.S. Forest Service
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
35 College Drive
South Lake Tahoe CA 96150
(530) 543-2600
www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu

Date:  November 16, 2009

Contact:  Public Affairs, Cheva Heck 530-543-2608 or Rex Norman 530-543-2627

PRESCRIBED FIRE UPDATE FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009

South Lake Tahoe Calif.–U.S. Forest Service Fuels Management Crews will begin prescribed fire operations in the Cave Rock and Lakeridge areas starting Tuesday, November 17, 2009, as weather and staffing allows.

Residents and travelers can expect to see smoke from prescribed fire project areas.

Other fire protection agencies, state and local, may also be conducting prescribed fire operations during this period.

This and other prescribed fire projects are designed to reduce wildfire risks to communities and critical resources. Smoke management is part of every prescribed fire burn plan, and efforts will be taken to reduce actual or potential smoke impacts on community areas.

To learn more about the efforts to reduce catastrophic wildfire risks in the Tahoe Basin, visit:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/documents/fuel-reduction-projects/10-year-plan/LTBCFP_Public_Presentation_8_3.pdf.

Take a few moments to visit an excellent web site and learn about Prescribed Fire vs. Wildfire at: http://www.smokeybear.com/good-bad.asp.

Stocks Swell on Monetary Promises
Last weekend, the G20 stated that they would continue to support global economies which caused stocks to jump earlier in the week.  The G20 finance ministers said they would maintain their current plan to stimulate their respective economies with emergency support initiatives although many nations are already recovering.  The plan to keep pumping money into the global system in order to spark growth is seen as a positive sign for businesses by most equity markets, and shows the commitment of the world’s largest economies to the current monetary policy strategy.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up roughly 1% in early afternoon trading on Friday, reaching its highest levels since October 2008.  Positive earnings reports and lower crude oil prices helped to offset weaker economic data on Friday. The Crude December contract was down about 0.4% at $76.67/barrel in the early afternoon.  Some cause for caution still remains, with the University of Michigan/Reuters consumer sentiment index declining from last month, which raises concern about the consumer side of the economic recovery and the prospects for retailers in the upcoming holiday shopping season.
Investors continue to hedge against inflation and devaluation of the U.S. Dollar by driving up the price of precious metals.  The price of gold is up over 25% while the price of silver has jumped nearly 60% since the beginning of the year.  Gold prices traded slightly higher on Friday afternoon to $1,116/ounce.
While precious metals are a traditional place to park capital to offset expected inflation by institutional investors, the current sustained plateau of demand seems broader based of late, with a larger amount of physical metal purchases by new investors both in the U.S. and abroad.  Additionally, the recent purchase of 200 metric tons of gold by India’s central bank from the IMF, along with the large Canadian miner Barrick Gold painfully unwinding its massive book of hedges, both suggest that the price of gold will likely continue to rise in the near term.

The Economy
The University of Michigan/Reuters consumer sentiment index fell to a reading of 66.0 from 70.6 in October.  This is the second straight month that the reading has declined which sparks concern as to whether U.S. consumers are onboard with the supposedly ongoing recovery.  Rising unemployment and weak wage growth has crimped the U.S. consumer which may hurt holiday shopping this year.
Initial unemployment claims continued to decline this week which gives optimism that things are stabilizing on the labor front.  The Labor Department reported on Thursday that initial claims for unemployment insurance fell by 12,000 to 502,000 in the week ending November 7 which is the lowest since January.

Housing Market
National average mortgage rates declined from the previous week to 4.91% in the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey released weekly by Freddie Mac on November 12th.  This is the second straight week that mortgage rates have declined and the lowest they have been in a month.  Fixed mortgage rates continue to sit at historically low levels.  In the week ending November 6th, the MBA’s seasonally-adjusted purchase index dropped 11.3% from the previous week and was down 22.4% compared to the same time last year.  This is the fifth straight week that purchase applications have declined and the lowest the purchase index has been since late December 2000.

Image via Wikipedia

Well its that time of the year again.  The 2009 Turkey Trot will be held at Bijou Community Park on Al Tahoe Blvd on Saturday, November 21st rain or shine.  All participants are encouraged to bring one non-perishable food item to donate to Christmas Cheer.  Those of us that are 18 and older have a $2.00 entrance fee, the young ones are free.

The events are sponsored by the South Lake Tahoe Optimist Club, Tahoe Mountain Milers, and the City of South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation Department.

Registration starts a 10am.  Kids races start at 11am, and the adults race starts at 12 noon.  There are events for the whole family from the 25 yard dash for the 3 and 4 year olds to the 2.7 miles for the adults.

1st place is of course a turkey.  I am shooting for 2nd or 3rd however because of the pumpkin pie for those slots.  Gobble Gobble…..

For other information pleas call 542-6056.  See you there.

Image by Casey Hamilton via Flickr

I started making a list of things to do before the snow flies and I thought I would share it with you…  Please feel free to add anything you wish in the comments.

1. Tune the furnace and replace filters.
2. Clean fireplace and chimney.
3. Roof repairs that you have been putting off (like me).
4. Clean all the pine needles and leaves out of the gutters
5. Check heat tape.
6. Turn off sprinkler system.
7. Put hoses away (the snowblower loves to eat them).
8. Close the underhouse vents (after I get the squirrel out).
9. Winterize the lawn and garden.
10. Prepare for snow removal.  Ideally hire someone for this but at the very least have fresh gas for the snowblower and shovels handy.
11. Plan for the holiday light decorations (I try to put them up before it snows).

Hope this list helps you get thinking about all you need to do before we strap on the skis and boards (or chains).