Life in Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Springs is located in northwest Colorado in the Routt National Forest of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. A perfect getaway for anyone and everyone. Steamboat's western authenticity can be seen throughout the town in the working cattle ranches that still surround the resort, the locals' casual lifestyle and down home friendliness.

Steamboat Springs, which bears the trademarked name "Ski Town USA," has several things that set it apart from other Colorado ski towns. First, there's the snow, which is among the driest and deepest in the country, "Champagne Powder". The mountain catches the state's blizzards as well as those that hit Utah and Wyoming and has averaged more than 400 inches of snow the past two winters.

The resort also is a family-friendly destination, ranked best in North America by SKI magazine. In addition to the major Steamboat resort, with its acclaimed children's instruction programs, the municipally owned Howelsen Hill has long been a training ground for local kids and future Olympians. Both offer specials aimed at children. Steamboat has produced more Winter Olympians than any U.S. town. The region is famous for its mineral hot springs, particularly the natural setting of the Strawberry Park Hot Springs, which is located seven miles outside of town. There are also hot springs located downtown at the Steamboat Health and Recreation, which provides three hot pools for relaxing and swimming laps, all of which are naturally heated. Steamboat Springs also offers fantastic summer activities as well. Outdoor enthusiasts are captivated by the breathtaking vistas and wide open ranch lands which are home to infinite hiking and horse riding trails, renowned golf courses, tranquil fly fishing streams and, of course, the secluded hot springs. Adrenaline junkies relish in whitewater rafting, kayaking and mountain biking adventures!

The final attraction is the town itself, just over 2 miles from the ski resort. People come because they saw the mountain ranked top five by the ski magazines, but then they find themselves enthralled with the town. Lincoln Avenue is the main drag, and it has a traditional Main Street setup. Shopaholics and foodies head downtown to one of the more authentic towns in the Rockies to splurge on bona fide cowboy boots, sip a freshly squeezed margarita or sample the local culinary delights. Take time to discover Steamboat's cultural side at the Strings in the Mountains Music Festival and the Steamboat Wine Festival. Little and big kids alike will tell you that Steamboat is their destination of choice because of the free family friendly events to choose from every weekend.

Take a weekend to experience the Steamboat lifestyle. You may find yourself captivated.

Green Remodeling

Why go green? It’s easier on the earth, it lowers costs, and it provides a healthier home in which to live. According to the Sustainable Building Industry Council (SBIC), housing alone consumes 20% of America’s energy. Homeowners who choose to remodel green can lower their energy consumption by 30-50%. It’s widely agreed that forests produce 40% of Earth's oxygen, and that building supplies use 25% of its forests. Remodeling green by incorporating recycled materials or sustainable species will help homeowners to tread more lightly on Earth’s natural resources. Green remodeling is becoming more popular as homeowners consider health issues, skyrocketing energy costs and Earth’s natural resources. More than 15 million Americans are estimated to have asthma, including one-in-13 school-age children, and more than 28 million Americans suffer from hay fever and other allergies, all of which are aggravated by poor indoor air quality.

Components of Green Remodeling Energy conservation:

• Energy Conservation: The average home today utilizes systems for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and most homes are not built as efficiently as they could be, all of which results in high energy consumption. The U.S. Department of Energy believes if current buildings were green-improved, they would use $20 billion less energy per year. Green remodeling puts a strong emphasis on making homes as efficient as possible with modifications like energy efficient appliances and thermostats that can be programmed at different temperatures for different times of the day.

• Indoor air quality: There are many sources that contribute to the air quality inside a home. They include pollutants brought in from the outside, toxic chemicals existing inside the home, and the activities of the occupants that create pollutants. Major contributors are tobacco smoke, smoke from the burning of wood, coal, kerosene or other such substances, toxic fumes from sealants or chemicals from cleaning products, lead paint, asbestos from insulation, damp carpets or fabrics, and certain pressed-wood furniture products that release chemicals into the air. Green remodeling seeks to remedy these problems with things like better ventilation systems and using wood, paint, and sealants that are nontoxic.

• Reduced material waste and resource conservation: When remodeling a home, there is often a large amount of construction waste. This amounts to 136 million tons of waste annually, according to the EPA, which in turn makes up 20% of the waste in landfills. Green remodeling focuses on reducing this waste during remodeling and reusing materials whenever possible, as 85 to 90% of materials thrown out can be recycled. Using local materials, building with engineered lumber, and using recycling companies to remove waste are all ways this can be achieved during remodeling.

• Environmentally safe products: Many products and practices used in the remodel of a home have negative effects on the environment. From chemicals and materials that pollute the air to the disturbing of the surrounding landscape, a myriad of actions taken can cause harm. With green, care is given to minimizing or eliminating products that could cause harm to the environment or the occupants during remodeling or after.

Overall green remodeling proves to be very beneficial for homeowners. It:

• Reduces operating costs in the home by increasing efficiency
• Conserves natural resources
• Increases the value of the home
• Improves indoor air quality and in turn, overall health
• Reduces waste
• Reduces emissions costs
• Increases productivity of occupants
• Improves quality of life

Ways to Implement Green Into Your Home: Green remodeling can be done in small ways and doesn’t necessarily have to encompass the entire home. It’s easy to pick and choose elements that fit each particular homeowner.

• Non-toxic paints and sealants
• Programmable thermostats
• Energy efficient appliances
• Natural flooring
• Local building materials
• Natural fiber rugs and fabrics
• Recycled material roof shingles and tiles
• Energy efficient lighting
• Insulated hot water pipes
• Tankless water heaters
• Quality insulation
• Native plants for landscaping

Dryer Vents and Carbon Monoxide

Inspecting your dryer vents each year can help prevent unnecessary deaths and injuries because of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. Gas powered appliances require maintenance to ensure they are working safely and efficiently. All gas appliances must be properly vented to eliminate the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The dryer vent system is responsible for removing heat, moisture and gas by-products by forcing it out through the dryer vent outside. When the dryer vent is clogged with lint, it makes it harder for the hot, moist air to escape. Lint build-up in dryer vent systems can cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to enter your home too. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, difficult to detect, and it is deadly!

Some of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: dizziness, headaches, nausea, burning eyes, and feeling faint and tired. Many people who experience these symptoms don’t realize it until it's too late. They attribute their symptoms to some other ailment. With carbon monoxide, you will not smell the fuel leak as it takes over your home. Have your clothes dryer exhaust ducts inspected annually and maintained as necessary by a certified technician. Don't forget to clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Also clean the lint screen before or after drying each load of clothes.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors!

Many elderly people are quite capable of living on their own well into their later years. But even with the ability to live alone, some measures should be taken to ensure their safety, and to prevent needless accidents and illness from occurring. A driveway or path might need to be cleared. Errands might need to be taken care of and it is easy to run low on food and essentials. A sudden storm might find one out of a vital medication. During a really severe storm an electric outage could put an elderly person, without heat, perhaps without a telephone, in real danger. A phone call, a knock on the door, and some real help might make all the difference for someone, especially someone living alone.

If someone you know is elderly or dependent on life-sustaining or health-related equipment such as a ventilator, respirator or oxygen concentrator, you should make plans now to ensure their needs are met during severe winter weather and possible power outages. Help them stock a home disaster kit including a flashlight and extra batteries, a battery-operated radio, bottled water, non-perishable foods, essential medicines, and extra blankets or sleeping bags. Check on them after a storm or power outage. Register them as a special needs customer with their utility so they will become a priority customer. Notify others who could provide help such as neighbors, relatives, nearby friends and local emergency responders such as the fire department. Have a list of emergency numbers readily available. Have a standby generator or an alternative source of power available. Be aware of the safety rules for its use.

Winter Weekend Improvements

Six simple, inexpensive projects to consider for a winter home improvement lineup.

1. Good lighting is critical, especially in the dining area. The right chandelier sets the tone and makes a dramatic impact. Think universal appeal. In other words, don't go all Liberace if your house is country-style. Also, beware of an oversize or undersize fixture, which can make the room seem out of proportion. Use your dining table as a judge: The chandelier's diameter should be 12 inches less than the table's width.

2. Spend a day finding a place for everything. Invest in a good garage cabinet that will enable you to organize tools, hardware and other garage items neatly. This will help keep clutter out of sight and allow residents in the home to find everything when needed. Another inexpensive way to declutter a garage is by installing large wall hooks, which help get bikes, lawn implements and other items off the ground and onto the walls.

3. Do you have an odd nook that otherwise would seem like wasted space - say, under the stairwell or alongside the fireplace - or you need to add dimension and character to a room that lacks any architectural detailing. Hardwoods like oak and mahogany are sturdier and more appealing than cheaper fiberboard and particleboard. Fixed shelves are beloved by realtors and designers for their clean look (no unsightly brackets). As for color, aim for innocuous - natural woods or woods painted off-white or beige are best.

4. Make your laundry room into a restful spot by organizing non-seasonal clothing into labeled storage bins, adding a candle or picture, or installing a comfortable chair with favorite reading materials where one can relax while waiting for the next load of laundry to finish. Adding wall hooks, inexpensive wire shelving and other storage container units can make the room seem like a whole new place.

5. Add a new tile backsplash to your kitchen. Ever-stylish white tile will brighten up the space. Even if you can't afford a full kitchen renovation, small changes like inexpensive tile will give your space a nearly instant nip/tuck effect.

6. Focusing on a small room enables homeowners to feel a sense of accomplishment when a project is complete. A bathroom is perfect for a small winter home improvement project. Whether replacing a tub, sink and/or toilet or simply choosing new area rugs, towels and other bathroom accessories, the area of the room is small, making it a perfect room to start and finish on a cold winter weekend.

Electrical Fire Prevention Tips

Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects, but many more are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, incorrectly installed wiring, and overloaded circuits and extension cords. Most electrical fires result from problems with "fixed wiring" such as faulty electrical outlets and old wiring. Problems with cords and plugs, such as extension and appliance cords, also cause many home electrical fires. In urban areas, faulty wiring accounts for 33% of residential electrical fires. Many avoidable electrical fires can be traced to misuse of electric cords, such as overloading circuits, poor maintenance and running the cords under rugs or in high traffic areas. The home appliances most often involved in electrical fires are electric stoves and ovens, dryers, central heating units, televisions, radios and record players.

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) would like consumers to know that there are simple steps you can take to prevent the loss of life and property resulting from electrical fires.

Safety Precautions:

• Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring.
• Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.
• Use electrical extension cords wisely and don't overload them.
• Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters; pay special care to electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen.
• Whey buying electrical appliances look for products evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Don't allow children to play with or around electrical appliances like space heaters, irons and hair dryers.
• Keep clothes, curtains and other potentially combustible items at least three feet from all heaters.
• If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
• Never overload extension cords or wall sockets. Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker. Use safety closures to "child-proof" electrical outlets.
• Check your electrical tools regularly for signs of wear. If the cords are frayed or cracked, replace them. Replace any tool if it causes even small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts out or gives off smoke or sparks.

Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

Green Remodeling

Did you know that residential demolition and remodeling account for over 50 millions tons of debris going to landfills every year? Building materials reuse is one of the most sustainable activities associated with our built environment. Deconstruction is the practice of disassembling a building in such a way that the materials (joists, flooring, siding, fixtures, and more) can be reused for new construction. Deconstruction is a cost competitive alternative to conventional building demolition.

By reusing building materials, many environmental and social benefits can be realized, including:

• Reducing the consumption of new resources
• Minimizing landfill waste and pollution.
• Creating value-added markets from waste materials.
• Expanding job opportunities and workforce development skills

The Building Materials Reuse Association website has a directory of members that accept donations of reusable building materials and then resells them to the public at great prices. www.bmra.org/listings/directory-map

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Remodeling? Practice the three Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. Dispose of what's left in the most environmentally friendly way. We are big fans of the Habitat for Humanity Restores. Habitat ReStores are outlets that accept donated goods for resale. While every ReStore is a little different, most focus on home improvement goods—furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances. These donated goods are sold to the general public at a fraction of the retail price to help local affiliates fund the construction of Habitat homes within their communities. Materials sold by Habitat ReStores are usually donated by local retailers, contractors and individuals in the community. ReStores provide an environmentally and socially responsible way to keep good, reusable materials out of the waste stream and simultaneously provide funding for all of Habitat’s community improvement work. Locate a Habitat for Humanity affiliate near you to donate old appliances, fixtures, and furniture. www.habitat.org/cd/local/

The Low-Flow Venture

Starting in 1995, The National Energy Policy Act mandated that all new toilets had to be low flow toilets using no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. This volume is less than half the water used by toilets in the 1980s. Toilets consume an average of 20.1 gallons of water per person, per day. That’s nearly 30 percent of an average home’s daily per-person indoor water use. Upgrading from a 3.5 gpf (gallons per flush) toilet to a 1.6 gpf model will reduce one person’s annual water use from 27,300 gallons to 12,500 gallons.

The first low flow toilets were made by adding water-saving modifications to a standard design toilet. These modifications would reduce the overall use of water, but they had a reduced flush force which met with a lot of customer dissatisfaction. But 1.6 gpf ultralow-flow toilets have improved dramatically since then.

Low flow toilets have evolved once again with the introduction of the dual-flush toilets. The dual-flush gives you a choice: push one button for flushing liquid waste (.8 gallons of water) and another for solid waste (1.6 gallons). Caroma pioneered the dual-flush system to help conserve water, but they made it efficient, too. The gaping 4-inch trapway on the Caroma helps ensure that when you go so does your waste. And although it is a gravity-assist flush system, it doesn't use the siphonic action of traditional toilets, in which waste is pulled out of the bowel after the water. Caroma uses a wash-down system: there's very little water in the deep bowl; most of it comes cascading down from the tank through the rim of the bowl. Find out more about Caroma's high efficiency toilets at http://www.caromausa.com/toilets.

Winter Survival : The Car Kit

While the stories of individuals lost in winter storms or trapped or sliding off the road and being trapped in their cars overnight are far less frequent than they once were, we can all be better prepared by simply packing a winter essentials kit in our cars. Keep a bag stocked and always present in your trunk. Kits should include, at minimum:

• Winter coat, hat, and gloves; ideally a blanket (or more than one) as well
• First-aid kit
• Some non-perishable food such as granola bars, or crackers; even just some hard candy can help
• Strike anywhere matches in a water-tight container
• Candles and an empty coffee can to melt snow; a cup is a good idea as well
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Small tool kit or at least an all purpose tool
• Shovel
• Jumper cables
• Tire chains

During winter, keep the gas tank near full to help avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Don't forget to prepare your car for winter.

• Have the radiator system serviced, or check the antifreeze level yourself with an antifreeze tester. Add antifreeze, as needed.
• Replace windshield-wiper fluid with a wintertime mixture.
• Replace any worn tires, and check the air pressure in the tires.

GCH wishes you many safe travels!

Make disaster planning top priority this year!

What if a disaster should strike in your area? Are you prepared with the basic housewares? Many such products are often overlooked but could be very crucial in times of extended power outages, evacuations or other disasters. Here's a list of housewares that should be included in your household emergency kit:

• Sufficient drinking water for every family member for 3 to 4 days
• First Aid Kit
• Special medications your family members would need for a few days
• One blanket for every family member
• Flashlight, at least one, but preferable two, with spare batteries.
• Manual can opener.
  
• Basic cutlery, to prepare simple meals, as well as for your family to use.
• Plastic containers for water.
• Small amount of either plastic or tin plates and cups.
• An assortment of non-perishable foods to sustain your family for 2-3 days
• A transistor radio with spare batteries

Products for use in case of emergencies should form part of your emergency kit which can be stored in a plastic storage bin until needed. It should be ready at a moment's notice, so it's a good idea to purchase these specifically for the disaster kit, and resist the temptation to borrow periodically from it. Also check your local, provincial, state or federal agencies for their emergency preparedness plans, which will be tailored to your special climate or area conditions.

Weary Windows

Windows can be one of your home's most attractive features. Windows provide views, daylighting, ventilation, and solar heating in the winter. Unfortunately, they can also account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill. During the summer, your air conditioner must work harder to cool hot air from sunny windows. Install Energy Star windows and use curtains and shade to give your air conditioner and energy bill a break. If you live in the Sun Belt, look into low-e windows, which can cut the cooling load by 10% to 15%.

If your home has single-pane windows, as many U.S. homes do, consider replacing them with new double-pane windows with high-performance glass (e.g., low-e or spectrally selective). In colder climates, select windows that are gas filled with low emissivity (low-e) coatings on the glass to reduce heat loss. In warmer climates, select windows with spectrally selective coatings to reduce heat gain. If you are building a new home, you can offset some of the cost of installing more efficient windows because they allow you to buy smaller, less expensive heating and cooling equipment.

Here are a few shopping tips when purchasing your new windows:

• Look for the ENERGY STAR label.

• Check with local utilities to see what rebates or other financial incentives are available for window replacement.

• High-performance windows have at least two panes of glass and a low-e (low emissivity) coating.

• Remember, the lower the U-factor, the better the insulation. In colder climates, focus on finding a low U-factor.

• Low solar heat gain coefficients (SHGCs) reduce heat gain. In warm climates, look for a low SHGC.

• In temperate climates with both heating and cooling seasons, select windows with both low U-factors and low SHGCs to maximize energy savings.

• Look for whole-unit U-factors and SHGCs, rather than center-of-glass, or COG, U-factors and SHGCs. Whole-unit numbers more accurately reflect the energy performance of the entire product.

• Have your windows installed by trained professionals. Be sure they're installed according to manufacturer's instructions; otherwise, your warranty may be void.