newsletter-new-02

Good News to share: The new-home project passed final inspection, and the homeowners can move in! Wa-Hoo!! They deserve a special medal for their wonderful attitude during the worst challenges, when the original contractor went out of business midway through the project. It was the inspiration for a blog I wrote, which is too long to include in its entirety, so I've decided to include tips from it for the next several weeks.

The contractor who finished the project also deserves a medal, for picking up the ball at the one-yard line and scoring a 99-yard touchdown that won the game. I'm grateful to everyone who was involved in this very special project.

I've included tidbits of information about "green" living, including the ten greenest major cities in the U.S., and trivia that you may want to use during conversations.

With Inspired Ideas for Your Home,

Researching information for the "green" chapter of "THE Survival Guide: Building and Remodeling" has yielded some interesting facts and tips, to help us live and work in healthier environments, and to save natural resources. It has been a fascinating discovery tour. Below are some statistics about how we're doing, after a "stump your friends" question:

When did the first recycling center in the U.S. open? The answer is at the bottom of this message!

The U.S. has only 5% of the world’s population. We generate 4.6 pounds of trash per day (1,679 pounds per year), per person -- 40% of the total trash generated worldwide.

One quart of motor oil that is disposed of improperly can contaminate up to 2,000,000 gallons of fresh water.
We recycle about 1.5 pounds per person per day in the United States.

We compost 62% of yard waste.

We recycle 53.4% of all paper products -- about 42 million tons.

Total recycling in the U.S. increased 98% during the past decade.

Recycling an aluminum can saves 95% of the energy required to manufacture a new one.
FACTOID: The Hershey Company produces about 20,000,000 kisses each day using 133 square miles of aluminum to wrap them in.

Are you thinking about replacing your carpet? Mohawk is one of several manufacturers using post-consumer waste, recycling three billion plastic bottles every year (30 bottles for each yard). Since 1999, over 17 billion bottles have been recycled (approximately one billion pounds). The link at the left will take you to Mohawk's site, where you can read more about how the carpet is manufactured.

Carpeting is one example that technology is helping to make "green" products price-competitive. The square-yard suggested retail price of Mohawk's "Smart Strand" carpet is $34.25, similar to comparable nylon carpet. The least-expensive wool carpet (also considered a "green" product) is $40 a square yard. Whether you decide to purchase recycled-content products, recycle Hershey's kisses wrappers and household trash, or create a compost bin, anything (and everything) you do deserves "thumbs up"!

The Mother Nature Network just published their list of the ten greenest cities in the U.S.. Although there are no official standards, considerations include the cities' efforts to reduce carbon footprint, improve air and water quality, increase recycling, manage waste, use renewable energy, and expand access to green products and services. The criteria for selection also included the percentage of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings, and acres of land devoted to green space. Here's the list:

10. Austin, Texas
9. Chicago, Illinois
8. Seattle, Washington
7. Berkeley, California
6. Cambridge, Massachusetts
5. Eugene, Oregon
4. Oakland, California
3. Boston, Massachusetts
2. San Francisco, California
1. Portland, Oregon

Congratulations to all the cities that made the list, and all the cities that are working to get on the list!

Answer to question: 1896! The Benedetto family of New York City collected newspaper, rags, and trash in a pushcart.

NOTE: I guarantee that if you follow the suggestions, you will save precious time, effort, and money!

You always have choices. It’s your home, and your money. Run, don’t walk, from any contractor or design professional whose contract includes terms that make you uncomfortable, or trap you into an irrevocable relationship. It’s worth hiring an attorney, to review the contract and intercede on your behalf.

Be courageous: Ask questions to gather and verify information that will help you make informed decisions. If the answer you get doesn't satisfy you, be persistent -- "Never give up, never give in." If the contractor (or design professional) refuses (by words or actions) to provide the information you request, he or she is not right for your project.

--o0o--

"Plesset's Principles for Today is Home" is YOUR personal information service, to help you make informed decisions about every aspect of your building or remodeling project. Send an e-mail today with your questions to: Q@dp-design.com

Diane established D. P. Design in April of 1984, to help homeowners, like you, achieve the best building and remodeling experience with her personalized consulting, design services, seminars, articles, and books. She is a homeowner advocate, an award-winning designer and author, and former co-host of a weekly radio program. "Plesset's Principles for Today's Home®" is another avenue for Diane to express her passion for helping people, using her God-given talents, education, and experience to provide "Inspired Ideas for Your Home®".

She is one of about 150 designers in the United States with multiple certifications as a Master Kitchen-Bath Designer, Interior Designer, and Aging-in-Place Specialist. She can help you achieve your building or remodeling goals. To request more information, visit Diane's website, or send an e-mail to Diane: Q@dp-design.com.

You are welcome to share this newsletter. We request that you copy and paste it in its entirety, including Diane's bio.

DIANE PLESSET,
CMKBD, NCIDQ #13029, C.A.P.S.
D. P. DESIGN
P.O. Box 1132
Oregon City, OR. 97045

IF YOU WISH TO STOP RECEIVING THESE E-MAILS, REPLY WITH "UNSUBSCRIBE" IN THE SUBJECT LINE

IN THIS ISSUE: It's NOT A Trivial Pursuit!!! The Best Advice You'll Ever Get			Dear [dear] Good News to share: The new-home project passed final inspection, and the homeowners can move in! Wa-Hoo!! They deserve a special medal for their wonderful attitude during the worst challenges, when the original contractor went out of business midway through the project. It was the inspiration for a blog I wrote, which is too long to include in its entirety, so I've decided to include tips from it for the next several weeks. The contractor who finished the project also deserves a medal, for picking up the ball at the one-yard line and scoring a 99-yard touchdown that won the game. I'm grateful to everyone who was involved in this very special project. I've included tidbits of information about "green" living, including the ten greenest major cities in the U.S., and trivia that you may want to use during conversations. With Inspired Ideas for Your Home,
QUICK LINKS:
dp-design.com
Diane's MySpace
Diane's FaceBook
Diane on Twitter
Q@dp-design.com
orders@dp-design.com
Send to a Friend
Mohawk Carpets

		Plesset's Principles for Today's Home® IT'S NOT A TRIVIAL PURSUIT!! Researching information for the "green" chapter of "THE Survival Guide: Building and Remodeling" has yielded some interesting facts and tips, to help us live and work in healthier environments, and to save natural resources. It has been a fascinating discovery tour. Below are some statistics about how we're doing, after a "stump your friends" question: When did the first recycling center in the U.S. open? The answer is at the bottom of this message! The U.S. has only 5% of the world’s population. We generate 4.6 pounds of trash per day (1,679 pounds per year), per person -- 40% of the total trash generated worldwide. One quart of motor oil that is disposed of improperly can contaminate up to 2,000,000 gallons of fresh water. We recycle about 1.5 pounds per person per day in the United States. We compost 62% of yard waste. We recycle 53.4% of all paper products -- about 42 million tons. Total recycling in the U.S. increased 98% during the past decade. Recycling an aluminum can saves 95% of the energy required to manufacture a new one. FACTOID: The Hershey Company produces about 20,000,000 kisses each day using 133 square miles of aluminum to wrap them in. Are you thinking about replacing your carpet? Mohawk is one of several manufacturers using post-consumer waste, recycling three billion plastic bottles every year (30 bottles for each yard). Since 1999, over 17 billion bottles have been recycled (approximately one billion pounds). The link at the left will take you to Mohawk's site, where you can read more about how the carpet is manufactured. Carpeting is one example that technology is helping to make "green" products price-competitive. The square-yard suggested retail price of Mohawk's "Smart Strand" carpet is $34.25, similar to comparable nylon carpet. The least-expensive wool carpet (also considered a "green" product) is $40 a square yard. Whether you decide to purchase recycled-content products, recycle Hershey's kisses wrappers and household trash, or create a compost bin, anything (and everything) you do deserves "thumbs up"! The Mother Nature Network just published their list of the ten greenest cities in the U.S.. Although there are no official standards, considerations include the cities' efforts to reduce carbon footprint, improve air and water quality, increase recycling, manage waste, use renewable energy, and expand access to green products and services. The criteria for selection also included the percentage of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings, and acres of land devoted to green space. Here's the list: 10. Austin, Texas 9. Chicago, Illinois 8. Seattle, Washington 7. Berkeley, California 6. Cambridge, Massachusetts 5. Eugene, Oregon 4. Oakland, California 3. Boston, Massachusetts 2. San Francisco, California 1. Portland, Oregon Congratulations to all the cities that made the list, and all the cities that are working to get on the list! Answer to question: 1896! The Benedetto family of New York City collected newspaper, rags, and trash in a pushcart. THE BEST ADVICE YOU'LL EVER GET #1 (TIPS TO GUARANTEE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT) NOTE: I guarantee that if you follow the suggestions, you will save precious time, effort, and money! You always have choices. It’s your home, and your money. Run, don’t walk, from any contractor or design professional whose contract includes terms that make you uncomfortable, or trap you into an irrevocable relationship. It’s worth hiring an attorney, to review the contract and intercede on your behalf. Be courageous: Ask questions to gather and verify information that will help you make informed decisions. If the answer you get doesn't satisfy you, be persistent -- "Never give up, never give in." If the contractor (or design professional) refuses (by words or actions) to provide the information you request, he or she is not right for your project. --o0o-- "Plesset's Principles for Today is Home" is YOUR personal information service, to help you make informed decisions about every aspect of your building or remodeling project. Send an e-mail today with your questions to: Q@dp-design.com
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		ABOUT DIANE Diane established D. P. Design in April of 1984, to help homeowners, like you, achieve the best building and remodeling experience with her personalized consulting, design services, seminars, articles, and books. She is a homeowner advocate, an award-winning designer and author, and former co-host of a weekly radio program. "Plesset's Principles for Today's Home®" is another avenue for Diane to express her passion for helping people, using her God-given talents, education, and experience to provide "Inspired Ideas for Your Home®". She is one of about 150 designers in the United States with multiple certifications as a Master Kitchen-Bath Designer, Interior Designer, and Aging-in-Place Specialist. She can help you achieve your building or remodeling goals. To request more information, visit Diane's website, or send an e-mail to Diane: Q@dp-design.com. You are welcome to share this newsletter. We request that you copy and paste it in its entirety, including Diane's bio.
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		DIANE PLESSET, CMKBD, NCIDQ #13029, C.A.P.S. D. P. DESIGN P.O. Box 1132 Oregon City, OR. 97045 IF YOU WISH TO STOP RECEIVING THESE E-MAILS, REPLY WITH "UNSUBSCRIBE" IN THE SUBJECT LINE © 2009 D. P. Design - All Rights Reserved
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