Here are several tips to keep you warm this winter as well as save you money!
1. Seal cracks! Fill in all tiny cracks in door and windows with caulk or weather stripping. A great natural water-based caulk is Safecoat. Seal up these crack will pay for itself in reduced heating costs.
2. Add insulation! After sealing all the leaks you can increase your saving by adding insulation to your attic space. An insulated attic can save between 20 to 35 % in heating costs.
3. Automate you thermostat! A programmable thermostat lets you turn the heat down at night and during times when you are not home (most folks lower it to 65 degrees during these times). If your thermostat can be turned down 7 degrees for 8 hours a day it can save you as much as 10 % on your years heating costs.
4. Install storm windows! Installing interior storm windows can prevent drafts and cost about $7.50 to $12.50 per sq. ft. Energy Star certified windows are a much bigger investment between $10,000 to $30,000 per house, but can save you up to $465 a year if you are replacing single pane windows and about $100 a year if replacing double-pane windows. Storm windows can reduce heat loss by as much as 50%.
5. Run a fan! Yes, that's right run a fan. Run it at it's slowest speed in a clockwise direction so that it pulls the cool air up and forces the warmer near the ceiling downward to circulate throughout the house. Also a desk fan placed near a heat source will have a similar effect. Running a fan can reduce your heat consumption by as much as 10 percent.
Another way to keep warm is to check out all of the fantastic soft, warm, winter hats and scarves at Two Artisan Sisters studio at http://www.twoartisansisters.artfire.com
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Two Artisan Sisters on Plumdrop
Two Artisan Sisters is now on Plumdrop!
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Thursday, January 8, 2009
Handmade Products Shopping Directory
As of today Two Artisan Sisters is now listed in the Handmade Products Shopping Directory. We are excited about increasing our online visibility.
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Wednesday, January 7, 2009
NRDC MAKES BEE LINE TO COURT
Saw this article and thought it would be a great item to pass along!
A growing number of bee specialists have concluded that a new class of pesticides, first approved for use in the past decade, is partly to blame for the sudden and dramatic loss of one-third of America's bee colonies, referred to as colony collapse disorder. Over the past two years, beekeepers have reported unexplained losses of 30 to 90 percent of their hives. Now the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is taking the issue to federal court, demanding that the Bush Administration release records about the risks of the widely used pesticides and their toxicity to bees. As much as $15 billion worth of U.S. crops - from apples to avocados to onions - depend on bees for pollination. Yet the Bush Administration is refusing to tell the American public what it knows about the role of pesticides in the bees decline!
In July, NRDC asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to turn over public records regarding its approval of clothianidin, a pesticide manufactured by Bayer CropScience that has been temporarily banned in Germany after being linked to a massive bee die-off. But the agency failed to disclose whether Bayer submitted a series of required studies about the impacts of clothianidin on bees and if so, what they show. As NRDC fights in court to force the EPA to come clean, we are building public pressure on the Department of Agriculture to determine the root causes of the bees' distress and to find solutions. The 2008 Farm Bill awarded the department $20 million annually for 5 years to help unlock the bee mystery!
Just another example of how these dangerous chemical pesticides are damaging our whole eco-system!
A growing number of bee specialists have concluded that a new class of pesticides, first approved for use in the past decade, is partly to blame for the sudden and dramatic loss of one-third of America's bee colonies, referred to as colony collapse disorder. Over the past two years, beekeepers have reported unexplained losses of 30 to 90 percent of their hives. Now the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is taking the issue to federal court, demanding that the Bush Administration release records about the risks of the widely used pesticides and their toxicity to bees. As much as $15 billion worth of U.S. crops - from apples to avocados to onions - depend on bees for pollination. Yet the Bush Administration is refusing to tell the American public what it knows about the role of pesticides in the bees decline!
In July, NRDC asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to turn over public records regarding its approval of clothianidin, a pesticide manufactured by Bayer CropScience that has been temporarily banned in Germany after being linked to a massive bee die-off. But the agency failed to disclose whether Bayer submitted a series of required studies about the impacts of clothianidin on bees and if so, what they show. As NRDC fights in court to force the EPA to come clean, we are building public pressure on the Department of Agriculture to determine the root causes of the bees' distress and to find solutions. The 2008 Farm Bill awarded the department $20 million annually for 5 years to help unlock the bee mystery!
Just another example of how these dangerous chemical pesticides are damaging our whole eco-system!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009
Marilyn and I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of our friends a very happy,healthy and prosperous New year 2009! We are constantly adding new items to our studio so please put us on your markets list of favorites and keep checking back frequently because you never know what you might find!
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