Power washing wood surfaces without harsh chemicals

image courtesy of: wikimedia commons

(this post has been brought to you by a sponsor)

Power washing is something that any homeowner can do. That doesn't mean it is the optimal way to approach it. While anyone can buy a power washer and use it properly, there are distinct advantages to professional techniques that may not be immediately obvious. Here are three of the top advantages to having professionals handle your power washing.

The first is that professionals can safely power wash a bigger variety of surfaces. Power washing well is about material sciences. There are many surfaces that simply aren't safe for power washing by default unless you know exactly how the material will respond to the pressure. Renew Crew is a company that boasts being able to power wash wood, for instance. Ordinarily wood is too soft and would be damaged by power washing. This improved versatility means that hiring a power washing team just once can cover a lot more ground than individually utilizing different cleaning processes on different surfaces. If they can handle the whole thing, they will.

The next reason is precision. There are circumstances under which you simply can't afford to have the pressure of the power washer hit certain surfaces. Professionals are well-trained in cleaning with precision. It allows them to clean tighter spaces than an amateur safely. In many cases they are also willing to guarantee the safety of their power washing and take care of any damage that might result from error on their part. There is no such guarantee for those that simply purchase a power washer.

Finally, professionals are capable of power washing with much more powerful tools. The power washers that are available in hardware stores are effective for rudimentary tasks but aren't capable of standing up to the deeper cleaning professionals can offer. This is because professionals can afford the outlay required for top-end equipment that uses and can safely maintain higher pressures. This often requires the use of expensive air compressors or high-pressure tools that can be very dangerous to handle without training.

These are just a few of the advantages that professionals have. In large part this simply indicates the advantages that can come from better training, practice and equipment and the depth of power washing as a task to perform. It's more complex than simply spraying down a surface with high-pressure water. It takes care and awareness of what different pressures can do, the appropriate angles to spray at, and so forth. Hiring professionals is therefore more than just a matter of convenience; it's a matter of quality as well.

Utility company expands past fossil fuels to solar energy

photo courtesy of: Wikimedia Commons

The future of energy for both commercial and residential use is the area of sustainable energy solutions. This simply refers to the use of energy that can be renewed as well as used cleanly. Fossil fuels are not clean to use, and the supply is limited. This presents a problem for energy providers who want to continue to supply their customers with adequate power, but recognize the growing problem with reliance on fossil fuels. Innovative suppliers are exploring their options beyond heating oil and coal.

Plymouth Rock Energy is one such company. After 60 years of servicing the Northeast with heating oil and coal, now they are leading their customers into the future with renewable energy, including increased development of solar energy. They delivered 38 megawatts of solar energy to their residential sector in the third quarter alone in 2013. Families are now able to save money on their electric bills while at the same time reducing their carbon footprint.

For qualified families, Plymouth Rock Energy will install solar panels free of charge. They also offer customers the option to lease the panels instead of buying them. The electricity generated by the panels will not only supply the home with power, but eventually pays for the cost of leasing of the panels. It is not uncommon for customers to save as much as 50 percent on a utility bill.

Plymouth Rock Energy continues to deliver natural gas to its customers in both the residential and commercial sectors. Natural gas represents a 50 percent reduction in carbon versus what is seen with traditional fossil fuels such as heating oils. Plymouth Rock Energy figures to continue with its growth in the year 2014.

This post has been sponsored by Plymouth Rock Energy, providing sustainable energy solutions to customers in MD, NY, NJ, PA, IL, and OH. 

Eco-friendly beanie from REPREVE

#TurnItGreen

As prevalent as plastic bottles have become, unfortunately, over two-thirds of them wind up in landfills. But the ones that are recycled, become amazing products, many are already probably familiar to you. In fact, when I was invited to write about REPREVE recycled fibers, I remembered a swimsuit I reviewed last year that was made from REPREVE, so I was very excited to participate in this campaign.

Some of your favorite brands already use REPREVE fibers, including popular companies such as Patagonia, Haggar, and The North Face. A Patagonia fleece jacket, for example, uses 40 recycled plastic bottles. Haggar Life Khaki pants use 7 recycled bottles, and REPREVE sent us two beanie hats, which we promptly chose to share with the youngest member of our family and his father. We care about the future we leave for the next generation and want to inspired them to keep plastic out of landfills.

While we may not be able to eliminate plastic use, we can reduce it, and what we don't reduce, we should recycle. Our Daily Green's brother and his son agree, as this photo clearly shows. They love being green! (the shirts were coincidence, but one we couldn't resist snapping a photo) 

Stay tuned for some of the ways our family tries to be green and some tips you can incorporate into your daily choices to live more in harmony with our planet for a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

Today's post has been brought to you by our friends at REPREVE, but we are always thrilled to share new and innovative ways to green your life. Please visit their site to learn more about the fantastic things they are doing with plastic bottles and fiber!