tips

8 Tips to Keep Your Home Cool

This winter really is feeling like summer in Southern California. Want to stay cool and not use your air conditioning unit? Here are some tips from Huffington Post to keep your home cool without using your AC!

Photo: One of Kaplan Construction's projects, a home remodel in Laguna Beach, CA. For more photos on this home remodel, click here.

Photo: One of Kaplan Construction's projects, a home remodel in Laguna Beach, CA. For more photos on this home remodel, click here.

  1. Keep your blinds close
  2. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter clockwise
  3. Focus on the temperature in your body, not the house
  4. Turn on your bathroom fans when you shower and your kitchen exhaust fan when cooking
  5. Let the night air in
  6. Ditch the incandescent lights
  7. Start grilling
  8. Consider long term improvements such as installing awnings or getting blinds for your windows

For more details on these tips and other tips, visit the Huffington Post's blog here.

Water Conservation at Home

As you have been seeing on the news and social media, California is facing a drought. The Long Beach Water Department has declared  a Stage 2 Water Shortage and thus incorporated restrictions and regulations on certain uses of water.  Learn how to save water around your home below and do your part to help the state we love.

Photo by Getty Images

Photo by Getty Images

The California Urban Water Conservation Council gives their Top 5 actions to save water around your home on their website H2ouse.org.

1. Leak Repair
Homes can waste more than 10% due leaking, which costs both you and the environment. Check areas such as faucets, bathtubs, and irrigation systems for leaks and either make simple repairs yourself or call a professional for bigger problems.

2. Replace your toilet
If your home was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced, then it is very likely that you do not have a water efficient 1.6 gallon per flush toilet.

3. Replace your washer
The Long Beach Water Department is offering incentive programs your family can take advantage of to save water and energy (read: money). Through these programs you can replace your old appliances and receive a rebate. Valid appliances are listed here as well as the amount given in the rebate.

4. Incorporate a proper landscape design
Select plants that thrive in our local climate. Consider xeriscaping. California has plethora of beautiful native plants to replace out of region greenery that require more frequent watering. The Long Beach Water Department has started an incentive program for more appropriate landscape for our semi-arid climate at www.lblawntogarden.com. The website provides many resources for converting your lawn to a true California garden as well as free design ideas and nurseries to purchase water-wise plants to compliment your home. 

5. Implement an irrigation regiment
On May 11, 2015 the City of Long Beach released a declaration stating irrigation of landscape with potable water any day other than Tuesday or Saturday is prohibited. Additionally, advise on how frequently your plants need to be watered. The website states most water is wasted in the garden by watering plants that don't need the water or by not maintaining the irrigation system.

On this list are several things that Kaplan Construction can help you do. Give us a call or email and we can get you on your way toward water conservation!