When it comes to turning your attic into living space, here are a few building code basics that you will need to know.

Generally, code requires a full size staircase with a minimum of 6 foot 8 inch clearance above it. There must be two ways out like a window or a second staircase in case of fire.

The ceiling height on any living space must be at least 7 feet in each direction. Some of the low clearance area can be kept as storage area.
Attic floors usually need to be reinforced with joists and a subfloor. Older homes, built before the 1950’s, may need some foundation work as well, according to architect Stewart Davis.

Heat and moisture rise, which often times means having to add air conditioning, and ceiling fans. If you install windows, this will help with the ventilation as well. Spray foam insulation under the roof and in the walls will help with heating and cooling costs.

Plan for wiring and plumbing needs in advance of beginning work. These can present huge challenges in attics. Be sure that the flooring does not rest on any wires. Remember that if you are planning a bathroom, you can save money by placing it in close proximity to another existing supply and drain line.

There are several ways to make your home green from recycling to using cleaning materials. These changes in your home will help the planet a lot. The best way to be Earth-friendly is to cut down on what you consume and recycle when possible. The United States generates 208 million tons of solid waste per year, which is more than 4 pounds per person per day. Recycling one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.
Here are some other ways to green your home.

1. First off you will want to consider your appliances, like getting rid of an old refrigerator could save you as much as $150 a year. If any appliance in your home is more than 10 years old, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends replacing them. Energy Star qualified appliances use 10-50% less energy and water than the standard models. The EPA says if one in 10 homes used these appliances, it would be the same as planting 1.7 million new acres of trees.

When stocking your fridge with food, consider pesticides, transportation and packaging. Buying local cuts down on the fossil fuels burned to get the food to you.

2. Nearly half of a home’s energy is consumed with heating and cooling. Here are some tips to save energy:
• Turning down the thermostat in cold weather and up during warmer weather will assist you in saving money. Each degree below 68 during colder weather will save you 3-5% more heating energy. Also, 78°F in warmer weather will save you energy and money.
• During heavy usage, you should clean your furnace.
• Today’s furnaces are around 25% more efficient than they used to be, so consider purchasing a new one.
• During warm weather, shade the east and west windows and put heat generating activities such as washing dishes off until the evening hours.
• Ceiling fans instead of air conditioning is a great way to save on energy.

3. There is a website called “Water –Use it Wisely” which lists 100 ways to save water. A couple of those ideas are: Putting an aerator on faucets to cut your water usage annually by as much as 50% and installing a low flow toilet. You can adjust your float valve so that the toilet tank takes less water. Also, if you turn off the water as you brush your teeth, it will save 4.5 gallons each time.

4. “The Safe Shopper’s Bible” is a book that recommends that you read labels for eco–friendly ingredients. Some of these suggestions are using coconut or other plant oils instead of petroleum in detergents, also baking soda is a great abrasive for cleaning. Other books that are of interest for these suggestions are “Better Basics for the Home” and “Clean and Green”.

5. You can use 66% less energy if you use Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs instead of standard incandescent bulbs and they last up to 10 times longer.

6. Using less paper is another way to go green. You can buy “tree-free” 100% post consumer recycled paper, which means it is recycled instead of put in landfills.

7. If you are considering hardwood floors, consider Bamboo. Bamboo is environmentally friendly material due to the fast rate that it re-grows. It takes only 4-6 years for Bamboo to mature, while trees take 50-100 years.

8. Each year in the US, there are 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags thrown away, from grocery store bags to sandwich bags. Plastics are made from petroleum, which is the processing and burning, which is one of the main factors in global warming. Sending plastics to a landfill increases greenhouse gases. Everyone’s goal should be to reduce, re-use and recycle plastics.

9. According to the EPA, there are toxic metals and volatile organic compounds that cause smog, indoor air quality problems and ozone pollution in conventional paints. These ingredients are released into the air before, during and after painting, including after it is completely dry.

10. Compost should be used to balance the nutrients need for the soil’s well-being without the bad for you chemicals that synthetic fertilizers have. Healthy soil will assists in less weeds and is great for the production of healthy plants, which helps with having less pests.
• Native plants should be chosen as they are adapted to your local environment and will use less water and need less attention.
• Perennials will live more than a year which means new plants don’t have to be purchased every year.
• American households use 80 million pounds of pesticides per year. These toxic chemicals go into the environment and pose threats to animals and children. There is a variety of organic and physical pest control methods you should consider.

Energy prices are skyrocketing really fast, this article will assist in saving you money as well as giving you tips for saving the planet.

First off, you need to be sure you close all your doors and windows unless it is necessary to open them. This is actually one of the easiest tips to take care of. If you are planning to leave your doors or windows open, be sure to turn off your heat otherwise your heater will be trying to heat the world instead of just your home.
Another way to save energy is to change your energy supplier. A supplier with a low tariff or one whose energy is produced using a more sustainable source will save you money and/or save the planet.

If you have an opportunity to recycle, do it. Recycling lowers the amount of energy expended producing new materials. This could mean more leftover food or reupholstering a sofa instead of purchasing a new one.

There is a lot of energy lost through walls and roofs of houses and garages. It is a great idea to improve insulation in your home or garage. You may want to add a thicker insulation in your walls or attic space. Bad insulation is a major way to drain energy from your home.

More homes are installing their own solar energy or wind captures these days as well. Wind turbine and solar panels can significantly reduce energy costs. How well these will work will depend on how much sun or wind you get.