There is good reason why you have heard so much lately about radiant in-floor heating systems. It’s because they make sense! A radiant floor heating system radiates heat upward from the floor rather than blowing heated air out of ducts. The method of distributing heat provides optimum comfort and offers many other benefits.

If you're considering a radiant floor heating system, you can choose between electric and water (hydronic) systems. Electric is a simpler system, but you are limited to electricity and its uncertain future costs. With a water system, the boiler that heats the water can employ any heating method and can even be updated in the future as energy costs fluctuate. Electricity, solar, natural gas, propane, oil, and wood can all be used as the source for the heat itself with a hydronic system. The same boiler can also be used to heat the pool or hot tub, keep snow off the driveway, or for domestic hot water needs. Some hydronic systems can even circulate cold water to provide cooling in the summer.

You'll also need to consider whether the installation will be "wet" or "dry". “Wet” means embedded in concrete - the preferred choice for new construction and for many renovations. “Dry” is attached to the sub-floor or sandwiched between two layers of sub-flooring.

The number one benefit of a radiant floor heating system is comfort. A forced air system delivers heat which quickly rises to the ceiling. A radiant floor heating system "radiates" heat from the floor and delivers the heat evenly throughout the rooms. Other benefits include:

• A healthier home – radiant floor heating doesn't stir up dust, allergens, or germs. And radiant heat is less likely to dry out your breathing passages and skin.
• Energy savings – Radiant heat warms your body and other objects rather than just the room's air, so you can turn the thermostat down two to three degrees and reduce energy costs by 10-40% without sacrificing comfort.
• Silent operation – No hum or whistle of a forced air systems.
• Inconspicuousness of the system – you don’t see vents or hear air blowing.
• No wasted heat - forced-air heating pressurizes the air causing it to be pushed out through cracks and openings, wasting the heat. A home heated by radiant heat isn't under pressure, so the room air—and heat—stays inside.

Green tea isn’t new, but perhaps green coffee is. We’re not talking colour here, this green coffee is coffee with an eco-conscience. And it is not just about how you make your ‘cuppa joe’, but also how you drink it.

Organic coffees are more eco-friendly because they are grown and processed without toxic chemicals, are cultivated and harvested in ways that protect sensitive ecosystems, and spare workers from exposure to harmful pesticides and herbicides. Shade grown coffee is another important category that preserves habitats for migratory birds on coffee farms, also letting beans mature more slowly and creating richer flavours.

Another huge coffee-related eco plus can be realized through regular use of a traveling mug. We’ve all seen the trash cans full of take-out coffee cups. Such a huge waste! Using a mug will help save the environment by eliminating paper and plastic, plus it will feel better than wrapping your lips around waxed cardboard.

There are also two less obvious benefits from using a mug. First, it will mean you will also not be buying your coffee at the drive-though - so no noxious fumes from your idling car. Secondly, people will find your eco-effort admirable – and copy it, spreading the habit to others.

"Every child is an artist.
The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."
~ Pablo Picasso

Oceans impact life on this planet in many ways. They are key factors in human habitats and ecological systems, influence food production, and generate hazards such as storms, earthquakes, and tsunamis. Oceans are critical in determining the quality of life on Earth.

Did J’a Know these Ocean Facts?;

• The Pacific Ocean occupies approximately half of the total ocean area and is larger than all the world’s land masses combined.
• Antarctica has as much ice as the Atlantic Ocean has water.
• The oceans account for 97% of the earth's water area.
• The oceans contain 99% of the living space on the planet.
• An estimated 80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean surface.
• 90% of all volcanic activity occurs in the oceans.
• The top ten feet of the ocean hold as much heat as the entire atmosphere.
• The pressure at the deepest point in the ocean is more than 10,267 metric tons/sq m (11,318 tons/sq m), or the equivalent of one person trying to support 50 jumbo jets.
• 80% of pollution to the marine environment comes from land-based sources, such as runoff pollution from many small sources like septic tanks, cars, trucks and boats, plus larger sources such as farms. 

Make Your Own Holiday Greeting Cards - We seem to get fewer and fewer greeting cards each year. One thing I've noticed though is that the ones we do receive stand out more than ever, especially the ones that are handmade. This site has some wonderful ideas for cards that will really make an impact. Check it out and plan a day in November to get creative.

Festive Fire-Starter Pine Cones - I used this idea a few years ago as a hostess gift and for friends with cottages. They were very well-received - we still get nice comments about them - so we’re making more this year. The kids love making them. Maybe you have a few candidates for these handy little fire-starting helpers. They really work!

Hot Cider Recipes – Nothing like enjoying a hot mug of cider on a cool day. It’s a prefect thirst-quencher for tired leaf-rakers and snow-shovelers. Some of these recipes are ideal for cold-weather soirees, too. Check them out. I’ve tried many of them. My fav is probably the Notchland "Muddled" Cider.

Decorate Your Stairway for the Holidays – One big reason we bought the home we have is the front entranceway and the stairway that leads from it. When the stairs, banister and newels are decked out for the holiday season, it becomes a beautiful focal point for friends and neighbours dropping by. This website has some really helpful ideas to add that festive touch to your stairway.

"We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument."
~ Heather Robertson

Remembrance Day Crafts – Jenny, age 5, says, “Mom and I had lots of fun making crafts for Remembrance Day. It’s coming up soon. We made two fingerprint poppy wreaths; one for our door and one for Grampa’s. He’s going to love it, cuz he loves me so much.”

Air Hockey – Bryan, age 8, says, “I really love playing hockey and I really loved playing this game. It’s just like real air hockey. But you can play it by yourself. I’ve only lost 3 times so far. I’m going to try the hard level next.”

Cheerleading Tips – Lauren, age 13, says, “The boys basketball team starts playing soon and we want to have our cheerleading squad ready. This site has some really great tips and suggestions that I’m going to share with the other girls. We want to polish our routines.”

Might I Bite? – Eddie, age 11, says, “We played this at our Halloween Party. Everyone loved it and laughed a lot. I was the last one to guess my animal one time. I was a hyena! Who knew?!”

Maintaining clean gutters helps keep your home top condition for resale and maintains the lifespan of your investment. If eaves troughs are not clean and clear of debris, they can’t do their job of removing water from the roof and away from the house. A buildup of leaves and dirt can lead to overflow and leakage - and to major damage to your roof, exterior siding and even foundations.

There is no simple, fool-proof method - different solutions work well in different situations. But one tip I have is to do more while you are up there. Getting yourself in position is always a hassle. So while up there, don’t just clean the gunk out, check and repair connections to the roof and seal up small leaks now – before ice expands them to a more problematic size. And be sure the downspouts are also free-flowing and that they are taking the run-off far enough away from the house.

Do it once - do it right!

"Without geography, you're nowhere." ~ Author Unknown

"Roses are red, Violets are blue. I'm schizophrenic, and so am I!" ~ Oscar Levant

"I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want -- an adorable pancreas?" ~ Jean Kerr

"The trouble with political jokes is that very often they get elected!" ~ Will Rogers