Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

In this weeks podcast Eli is jumping for joy after spending the past week with his shiny new Steam Deck. We talk about the things we love about the hardware, the games that play well on it, and plenty more. Is this slowly morphing into a Steam Deck podcast? Kind of! That leads perfectly into a reader email that sparks further discussion, and then we hop into a few of the more interesting mobile gaming stories of the week before capping things off yet again with some super secret Playdate spoiler-filled discussion.

Dont forget to shoot us emails with any questions, feedback, or anything else relevant or irrelevant to [emailprotected]. We read em all, and love decoding messages written entirely in emoji. As always, you can listen to us with the links below And if you like what you hear, please subscribe and/or drop us a review in iTunes. Much appreciated!

As a companion to this audio podcast, we also do a video version of the same show that is exclusive to Patreon which allows you to see us playing the games were talking about. Backers can view the most recent video episodes of the TouchArcade show by clicking here. Be sure youre logged in to see the latest content. For everyone else who is curious, you can check out our public patreon posts to see older episodes of the video podcast. If you like what you see, consider becoming a TouchArcade Patreon backer.

Show Notes:

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A Steam Deck Verified Podcast The TouchArcade Show #529 - Touch Arcade

Soon theyll have the nerve to deck the halls / that we once walked through.

With graduation on the horizon, I havent been able to stop thinking about this line in Taylor Swifts champagne problems. I havent been able to stop thinking about the impermanence, the evanescence of our stay here on campus.

I havent been able to stop thinking about the passage of time, evidenced only by chips on the walls in dorm rooms, by the addition of post-its and newspaper copies to The Observers office walls, by eerily quiet hallways during Senior Week that scream of uncertainty and the future.

Ever since I stepped foot on campus in 2018, I havent been able to stop thinking about how this place has seen so many people come and go. And every time I think about it, its like someone is squeezing my heart dry. Its the feeling that something so mine is slipping through my fingers all the time (like the ABBA song).

But its part of the whole college thing, I guess.

How painfully bittersweet it is to have found something so wonderful that makes saying goodbye so hard. But Im going to try. This is my goodbye column, after all. And I do have some wishes for the people coming here after I graduate the ones who will deck the halls I once walked through.

To the future residents of 303 Farley Hall: I hope you find your own Abby and Isabel to hold you during your darkest times and to share your most unreserved laughs with. To the next people to have a Chipotle picnic on Irish Green: I hope you find your own Dane to crack open Mexican Coca-Colas and endless inside jokes with.

To the next people to share a pew at Milkshake Mass: I hope you find your own Sarah and Theresa to see flourish as they take on the world. To the next person doing the noon to 2 p.m. Irish Gardens shift on Wednesdays: I hope you find your own jovial Marty and your own little family in the basement of LaFun.

To the next people to frantically sign up for classes at 7:30 a.m. (because you will always get that registration time, for some reason): I hope you find your own Professors Jones, St. Martin, Cajka, Cortez, Kelly, Reifenberg, OMalley and Temple and their kindness, wisdom and boundless passion for teaching.

Of course, The Observer herself has borne witness to countless generations of tri-campus students coming and going. She has seen scores of talented student journalists learn and grow and leave on to bigger things. She has forged friendships, unbreakable bonds of trust and love that are so hard to explain to others.

On a corner of the bulletin board next to the Observer Editor-in-Chiefs office, a yellow tack holds a white sheet of paper. A cursory glance over the wall may miss the nugget of hard-won wisdom the piece of paper offers.

You stay up until three or four or five in the morning until everything gets done, and that was a really important training ground for me, to be wholly responsible for something every day and seeing it through to the end and having people in the newsroom be your best friends and totally trusting them and thats what we had to do.

This is working at The Observer, in the words of former Editor-in-Chief Michelle Krupa. And, honestly, I couldnt put it better myself, even if I tried.

To the next generations of Observer staff that get to stay up until ungodly hours in the surely haunted basement of South Dining Hall: I hope you find in this endeavor that you are part of something greater than yourself. I hope you find your own Alysa, Aidan, Manni, Gen, Allison, Abby, Maggie, Siobhan, Claire and Veronica to lead you gracefully and with love.

To the next generations of Observer editors that get to take mid-shift naps on the old, old couch in the Editor-in-Chiefs office: I hope you get fortunate enough to meet your best friends in this perfect little corner of campus, like I did. (Also, dont lift the cushions. Believe me, you dont want to see whats there).

I hope you find your own Evan, Colin, Issy and Nelisha to continually raise the bar for dedicated, fair and quality journalism at The Observer. To lead by your side and in your absence, to report alongside you, to have a way-too-personal question of the day ready before every Editorial Board meeting. To never fail to offer you thoughtful advice, a warm hug, a reprieve from a long night of editing. To trust wholeheartedly with difficult tasks that you dont even trust yourself with.

I hope you find your own Evan, Colin, Issy and Nelisha to be unhealthily codependent with. To drop first and last names with at the local Salsas. To make you cackle with glee at their quips and jokes (I dont normally do belly laughs, but they sure can get one out of me). To love you unconditionally, even when youre too mean or too annoying or you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. To never judge you for your faults but show you, kindly and gently, that these are lovable too.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would find any of this. But I did. And I hope you find it, too.

Adriana Perez, Adri to her friends, is graduating from Notre Dame with a degree in political science and a minor in Journalism, Ethics and Democracy. Shell be in Chicago over the next six months working as a reporting intern at the Chicago Tribune. Please send pizza recommendations, your favorite John Mulaney quote or your thoughts on the most recent Taylor Swift re-recordings to [emailprotected] or @adrianamperezr on Twitter.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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Deck the halls - Observer Online

Netflixs fabled culture deck, which over the years has taken on the importance of the Magna Carta in tech and business circles, has gotten some updates reflecting the streaming giants current circumstances.

The document, which is based on a PowerPoint deck created by Co-Founder and Co-CEO Reed Hastings, lays out precepts guiding employee priorities and the companys overall approach. It has been posted publicly for years, revised at various intervals, and viewed more than 20 million times. Its section headings (Highly Aligned, Loosely Coupled, Disagree Then Commit) echo some of the pillars of the companys uniquely articulated culture. Hastings elaborated on many of those tenets in his 2020 book, No Rules Rules.

In a section called Judgment, a new bullet point is phrased in the imperative tense: You spend our members money wisely. At a current level estimated at $20 billion in 2022, Netflixs content spending is under harsh scrutiny after the company posted its first subscriber declines in more than a decade in the first quarter and indicated more losses in the current quarter. More than two-thirds of its market value has vanished over the past six months. While the company is unlikely to radically slash its spending, management has signaled a new commitment to trimming the fat and some shows and employees have already been cut loose as that process begins.

Another newly updated section, Artistic Expression, indirectly references recent controversies over titles like Cuties or Dave Chappelles comedy special The Closer. The latter, released last fall, created a fierce backlash and a large-scale walkout by employees upset over Chappelles broadsides against transgender people. Netflix resisted calls for the special to be taken down from its service.

Entertaining the world is an amazing opportunity and also a challenge because viewers have very different tastes and points of view, the section says. Ratings, content warnings and parental controls are all tools aimed at helping subscribers avoid content that may upset them, the document adds.

Not everyone will likeor agree witheverything on our service, it goes on. While every title is different, we approach them based on the same set of principles: we support the artistic expression of the creators we choose to work with; we program for a diversity of audiences and tastes; and we let viewers decide whats appropriate for them, versus having Netflix censor specific artists or voices.

Variety first reported on the update to the document.

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Netflix Pledges To Spend Subscribers Money Wisely, Respect Artistic Expression In Newly Revised Version Of Its Fabled Culture Deck - Deadline

Branded for Beginners, Lukes ultimate Deck (sorta) for Rush Duels, Vendread, and Spellbooks!

Beginner Deck: Branded Deck Featuring Cyber-Stein

1 Cyber-Stein3 Sangan3 Witch of the Black Forest3 Tour Guide From the Underworld1 Ad Libitum of Despia3 Aluber the Jester of Despia2 Fallen of Albaz1 Despian Tragedy2 Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous

3 Branded Fusion1 Branded in Red3 Telekinetic Charging Cell3 Brain Research Lab3 Allure of Darkness3 Scapegoat2 Branded Opening1 Foolish Burial1 Monster Reborn1 Terraforming

2 Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon2 Lubellion the Searing Dragon1 Albion the Branded Dragon1 Alba-Lenatus the Abyss Dragon1 The Last Warrior from Another Planet1 Destiny HERO Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer1 Guardian Chimera2 Naturia Exterio1 Salamangreat Almiraj1 Artemis, the Magistus Moon Maiden2 Reprodocus

[RUSH DUEL] New Product Deck: Dragon Deck Featuring Void Strike Dragon Zerogygias

3 Nullstrike Dragon Zerogias3 Cladsoul Dragon Gygias1 Multistrike Dragon Dragias3 Fortitude Dragon1 Dragon Knight of Darkness3 Dragon Bat1 Dragorite1 The Fire Dragon1 Sylphidra3 Phoenix Dragon3 Sportsdragon Slugger3 Sportsdragon Pitcher

1 Monster Reborn (LEGEND)3 Tribute Doll3 Fusion1 Star Restart2 Dragons Inferno1 Dragons Return1 Ship of Seven Treasures

1 Vengeful Dragons Counterattack1 Dragonic Disorder

2 Void Strike Dragon Zerogygias1 Full Moon Dragon Umbrlancer F

New Product Deck: Vendread Deck Featuring Dragon Kings Aura

3 Vendread Scarvenger1 Revendread Executor3 Revendread Slayer3 Scar Vendread3 Changshi the Spiridao3 Alghoul Mazera1 Mad Mauler2 Vendread Revenants2 Vendread Striges2 Vendread Houndhorde1 Darkest Diabolos, Lord of the Lair

3 Ravenous Vendread2 Revendread Evolution2 Revendread Origin1 Vendread Nights3 Pre-Preparation of Rites1 Zombie Necronize

3 Dragon Kings Aura1 Vendread Reunion

1 Immortal Dragon1 Revived King Ha Des1 Shiranui Samuraisaga1 Skeletal Dragon Felgrand1 Shiranui Shogunsaga1 Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord1 Shiranui Sunsaga1 Avendread Savior1 Vampire Sucker1 Yuki-Onna, the Icicle Mayakashi1 Vampire Fascinator1 Yuki-Onna, the Absolute Zero Mayakashi1 Dhampir Vampire Sheridan1 The Zombie Vampire1 Number 22: Zombiestein

My Favorite Deck: DARK Spellcaster Deck

Centered Around Reaper of Prophecy!

1 Reaper of Prophecy1 Harr, Generaider Boss of Storms1 Sauge de Fleur1 Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic1 Witchcrafter Haine1 Dark Magician1 Apprentice Illusion Magician1 Prophecy Destroyer2 Witch of the Black Forest1 Silent Magician3 Fool of Prophecy2 Spellbook Magician of Prophecy3 Magicians Souls1 Jester Confit2 Illusion of Chaos

3 Spellbook of Secrets2 Spellbook of Fate2 Spellbook of Life1 Spellbook Library of the Crescent1 Spellbook Library of the Heliosphere1 Spellbook of the Master1 Spellbook of Knowledge1 Spellbook of Power1 Spellbook of Eternity1 Spellbook of Miracles1 Spellbook of Wisdom1 Spellbook Organization1 The Grand Spellbook Tower1 Instant Fusion

1 Artemis, the Magistus Moon Maiden1 Dharc the Dark Charmer, Gloomy3 Crowley, the First Propheseer3 Selene, Queen of the Master Magicians1 Magi MagiMagician Gal1 Norito the Moral Leader1 Constellar Ptolemy M71 Ebon Illusion Magician1 Number 11: Big Eye1 El Shaddoll Winda1 Millennium-Eyes Restrict

Master Duel (Fusion Festival):

Gladiator Beast Deck

Dragonmaid Deck

Ancient Gear Deck

Armityle the Chaos Phantasm Deck

Master Duel (Diamond):

Prank-Kids Deck

HERO Deck

Endymion Deck

Thunder Dragon Deck

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The Organization | [Deck Recipes] May 12th, 2022 - YGOrganization

Heat pumps heating and cooling systems that run entirely on electricity have been getting a lot of attention recently. Theyve been called the most overlooked climate solution and an answer to heat waves. And the technology is finally experiencing a global boom in popularity. Last year, 117 million units were installed worldwide, up from 90 million in 2010. As temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions rise, heat pumps, which can be easily powered by renewable energy, promise to provide a pathway to carbon-free home heating. Environmental activist Bill McKibben even suggested sending heat pumps to Europe to help wean the continent off Russian natural gas.

But despite this global surge in popularity, heat pumps in the U.S. are laboring under a misconception that has plagued them for decades: That if the temperature falls to below 30 or even 40 degrees Fahrenheit, their technology simply doesnt work. Do heat pumps work in cold weather is even a trending question on Google.

Its a narrative that Andy Meyer, a senior program manager for the independent state agency Efficiency Maine, has spent the past decade debunking for residents in one of the U.S.s coldest states.

There were two types of people in Maine in 2012, he said. Those who didnt know what heat pumps were and those who knew they didnt work in the cold. But while that concern may have been true years ago, he said, today its not at all true for high-performance heat pumps.

Air-source heat pumps there are also geothermal heat pumps and water-source heat pumps are poorly named and poorly understood. (According to one small 2020 study from the heating tech company Sealed, about 47 percent of homeowners in the U.S. Northeast had never even heard of heat pumps.) They are essentially reversible air conditioners: Like AC units, they can take heat from inside a home and pump it out to provide a cooling effect. But unlike air conditioners, they can also run backwards drawing heat from outdoors and bringing it inside to warm a home.

That process of moving heat rather than creating it explains why heat pumps are mind-blowingly efficient. A gas furnace which burns natural gas to create heat can only reach around 95 percent efficiency. A heat pump can easily reach 300 or 400 percent efficiency; that is, it can make around 3 to 4 times as much energy as it consumes.

Years ago, the technology really only worked in mild climates. The early generation of heat pumps were installed mostly in southern states that needed air conditioning and just a little bit of extra warmth in the winter. They really gained traction in areas where it wasnt cold, said Ben Schoenbauer, a senior research engineer at the Center for Energy and Environment, or CEE, in Minnesota.

But over the past decade or so, heating companies began developing a new generation of heat pumps with inverter-driven variable-speed compressors a mouthful of a term that essentially gives the heat pump the ability to more quickly transport heat from frigid outdoor air.

Soon, high-performance heat pumps were being produced that could warm a home even when outdoor temperatures were down to -31 degrees Fahrenheit. (Even in extreme sub-zero temperatures, there is still some amount of heat in outdoor air.) A heat pumps efficiency does go down as it gets colder, but even in subzero temperatures high-end units can be over 100 percent efficient. And in recent years, some of the countrys coldest states have gone all-in on the technology. According to a study in Environmental Research Letters, heat pumps could reduce CO2 emissions in 70 percent of homes across the country; homes heated by inefficient electric heaters or fuel oil could particularly benefit. Utilities and states have started offering rebates for consumers to install heat pumps, even in colder states like New York, Massachusetts, or Maine. Many environmental groups and state agencies are working hard to convince residents that top-of-the-line heat pumps can function well in cold climates.

Efficiency Maine has been part of that trend. Early on, Meyer said, residents were deeply skeptical that a simple electric device could keep them warm in the states frigid conditions. But Efficiency Maine recruited installers, ran social media and radio ads, and released studies and reports showing that heat pumps could work. It started in Northern Maine a very close, tightly knit community, Meyer said. Once a few people installed heat pumps, they began telling their friends, who told their friends, and so on. So far, Meyer says, Efficiency Maine has offered rebates for 100,000 heat pumps in a state where there are less than 600,000 occupied housing units. Maine now has a higher rate of heat pump installations per capita than most European countries.

Other organizations are doing similar work. The Center for Energy and Environment in Minnesota has formed a collaborative with utilities to help boost heat pump adoption in the state; they also maintain a list of contractors who have been vetted to install the systems. The Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit, has resources for installers and consumers, including a list of air-source heat pumps that operate well under the climate conditions of Northeast states. Some heat pumps are even being installed in Alaska, where average winter temperatures hover around a high of 23 degrees Fahrenheit.

One of the benefits of installing heat pumps is cost-savings. In Maine, many homes are heated with fuel oil or propane. At current prices, Meyer says, running a heat pump costs half as much as oil and one-third as much as propane. According to Efficiency Maines analysis, that can save homeowners up to thousands of dollars in annual energy costs. A 2017 study by CEE similarly found that installing heat pumps in Minnesota could save residents between $349 and $764 per year, compared to heating with a standard electric or propane furnace.

There are some caveats. Lacey Tan, a manager for the carbon-free buildings program at the energy think tank RMI, says there is still a price premium for heat pumps: Some installers arent yet comfortable with how they work and try to reduce their risk by increasing up-front costs. In cold climates, some homes may want to have a back-up heating system for extremely frigid days or in the event of a power outage. (In Maine, Meyer says many homeowners use wood stoves as back-up for their heat pumps.)

But many experts believe more and more cold-weather heat pumps will be sold as homeowners learn about the new advances in the technology. Meyer says that Mainers who install heat pumps naturally begin to share their experience with friends and family. We have over 100,000 salespeople who have already gotten heat pumps, he said jokingly. Not bad for a state where they dont work in the cold.

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Heat pumps do work in the cold Americans just don't know it yet - Grist

Dozens of towns and cities in California, Washington, Colorado and Oregon have already effectively banned gas in most new buildings.New York City did the same in December. At the state level, California also adopted a landmarkbuilding code changelast August that strongly encourages new buildings to forgo gas hookups, but does not mandate it.

At the same time, the gas industry is vigorously fighting these policies and asserting that it will be possible to cut emissions from buildings using lower-carbon fuels like gas from landfills andclean hydrogen.At least 19 Republican-led state legislatureshave passed preemption laws that prevent municipalities from banning gas.

In Washington, the revised code came in response to a target set by the state Legislature to reduce the amount of energy consumed by nonresidential buildings by 70% by 2031. A2021 Washington state energy strategy reportalso found that electrification and energy efficiency were the most cost effective ways to achieve state greenhouse gas targets for buildings.

While Washington is the first state with an all-electric mandate, the California Energy Commission, which oversees the state building code, passed a similar policy last August that will also go into effect in 2023. The California code sets a baseline efficiency standard that all but requires the use of heat pumps for space heating. Developers have the option to install other types of heating as long as they adopt a raft of energy efficiency measures. The California code is also more flexible in regards to water heating.

Washingtons new code does contain a few exceptions for hospitals, research facilities and other buildings where fossil fuels are required for specific needs that cannot practicably be served by heat pump. Large commercial buildings in Eastern Washington, where the temperature can get down into the negative teens, are also allowed to use gas heating as a backup option. The code requires only that 50 percent of a buildings water heating needs are fulfilled using heat pumps.

No state is yet considering a ban on the use of gas for cooking though some of the local gas bans do apply to stoves. Kocher said the space and water-heating mandate is likely to prevent most commercial developers from hooking up new buildings to the gas system altogether. He also didnt want to invite further opposition to the idea by angering the restaurant industry, which has proved to be afierce opponent to gas bans in places like Berkeley, California.

We do need to stop putting gas lines in for all end uses. But we thought that this was a pretty big code change as it is, he said.

This story was originally published byGrist. You cansubscribe to its weekly newsletter here.

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Washington is the first state to require all-electric heating in new buildings - Crosscut

FRESNO, Calif., May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Time is running out for residents in central California looking to take advantage of a $3,950 rebate on a new air conditioning system. The Tech Clean California program announced on Friday that the rebates will be dramatically reduced at the end of this week, dropping from $3,950 to just $1,000.

The program, which launched in December 2021, has become very popular but has limited funds remaining. In order to take advantage of the maximum rebate, customers must identify a contractor and have the contractor submit a signed contract to the program. Otherwise, they will lose out on $2,950.

The Tech Clean California program is designed to help Californians transition to a cleaner and more efficient air conditioning system. The rebates are part of that effort, and the program has been successful in helping many Californians upgrade their AC units.

But with the deadline looming, time is running out for those who have not yet taken advantage of the rebate. Customers considering upgrading their AC system need to act now. Signed contracts must be submitted by May 13th, 2022 otherwise the rebate will drop significantly. This change was announced on Friday, May 6th giving residents only one week remaining to take advantage of this program.

Balanced Comfort Cooling, Heating & Plumbing has been a leader in helping customers maximize incentives available to install energy-efficient air conditioning systems. For more information about Balanced Comfort or these incentives visit Balancedcomfort.com or email us at Info@balancedcomfort.com.

Media Contact: Aaron Husak 559-243-6464 335985@email4pr.com

Cision

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SOURCE Balanced Comfort Cooling, Heating & Plumbing

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Balanced Comfort Cooling, Heating & Plumbing States Time Is of the Essence if Californians Wish to Take Advantage of $3,950 Rebate for a New Air...

Low housing inventory and high buyer demand have resulted in bidding wars even for homes that might normally linger in cooler markets. If you're thinking of selling a property that has increased in value, you might be tempted to list it without doing any repairs or upgrades.

It's understandable that you'd be reluctant to pour tons of money into renovations when so many eager buyers are snapping up homes sold as-is, but you're leaving money on the table if you don't make any improvements to your home. Consider these relatively quick and easy ways to add even more value to your home.

Curb appeal is everything when it comes to attracting buyer interest, but that doesn't have to end at a beautiful lawn and garden. Replacing, or even just repainting, your front door can add value to your home. According to Remodeling's Cost vs. Value Report, you can recoup 65% on a new steel door and 60.9% on a fiberglass door. Even a fresh coat of paint on an existing door can make an impact. A Zillow survey found that painting your door black could increase your home's value by 2.9%.

Image source: Getty Images.

Although some garages have been converted into living spaces as accessory dwelling units (ADUs), most are used for storage, and therefore, homeowners tend to care more about what's behind the door than the actual door itself. However, a new garage door tops Remodeling's list of value-added home improvements with a whopping 93.8% return on investment (ROI).

Do a walk-through of your home and make notes of any repairs that you've been putting off over the months and years. Is there a loose door handle? Tighten it. Does the junk drawer in the kitchen stick every time? Unstick it.

If you're handy, these repairs will take no time; if not, they are worth hiring a handyperson to do them for you. HomeAdvisor (owned by Angi) reports that an independent handyperson will run you between $55 and $75 an hour. Buyers like seeing a well-maintained home, so making small fixes can go a long way.

Homeowners often get chills up their backs, whether it's because of drafty windows or the thought of spending money on replacing them. At an average cost of $850 (per HomeAdvisor), they can definitely add up. While replacing all the windows would certainly add value to the house, it does result in a large chunk of change that you don't want to lay out, especially if you're leaving the home.

However, you can replace some windows, such as the ones on the bottom floor or only the front-facing windows. Buyers like to know that new things are not only installed but also can save them money, and new energy-conserving windows can cut down on heating and cooling costs.

Without a doubt, homebuyers desire and even expect an updated kitchen and bath. However, you don't have to go high-end with a renovation unless you're in a market that calls for it. According to Remodeling's Cost vs. Value Report, a minor kitchen remodel will recoup 72.2%, and a midrange bath remodel will get back 60.1%. You'll actually score less at resale if you go high-end with either remodel; the data says ROI for upscale kitchen and bath redos are 53.9% and 52.8%, respectively.

A smart move would be to install smart devices that save money. If there's one thing buyers love more than new appliances, it's new appliances that can save them money. A smart thermostat, for example, doesn't cost much to install but goes a long way with the ability to control heating and cooling remotely. The same goes for doorbell cameras that can be viewed via smartphone or tablet, providing much-needed peace of mind when homeowners are away.

Any opportunity to create more living space in a home is a win for buyers, and that includes subterranean space. That doesn't mean you have to convert your basement into a basement apartment, gym, home theater, or (wo)man cave. You could just do a bit of work to remove any of the darkness and dampness inherent to basements so that yours can be used as storage.

Unless buyers have a green thumb, they probably like the idea of a beautiful yard on principle but aren't as enthused when it comes to maintaining it. Do some yard work to clean up flower beds and tidy the lawn but also consider adding low-maintenance features like drought-tolerant plants or hardscaping, such as a concrete or paver patio.

Completely paving over the yard is neither necessary nor as low-maintenance as people think -- you do have to pressure wash it from time to time, as well as fix any cracked pavers. But unless you have a sprinkler system installed, buyers typically don't want to inherit extensive lawn-and-garden maintenance duties.

Homebuyers like a blank canvas, so they can envision themselves living in the space. That's kind of hard to do when there's a crimson accent wall in the living room or floral wallpaper in another. You might have enjoyed this look while you lived there, and there could very well be a buyer who shares your taste in decor. However, buyers would much prefer the chance to place their own mark on the space. This would be a good time to remove any wallpaper and paint over walls in neutral colors.

With such high demand for limited inventory, it's tempting to leave your space status quo. But as a savvy real estate investor, you'll want to profit as much as you can. This list of fixes won't break the bank or take a lot of time, but they could pay off with higher offers and a quicker sale.

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9 Surefire Ways to Add Value to Your Home - The Motley Fool

by Meg Hansen One signature and one vote thwarted the attempt to upend heating in Vermont's built environment. Governor Phil Scott won the game of political ping pong against the Legislature, when the latter failed to override his veto of the Clean Heat Standard (CHS)bill by one vote.

The CHS was touted as the most impactful plan to meet the carbon reduction goals mandated by the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA). But Scott asked for the invoice upfront. Politicians who buy today with the promise of paying tomorrow (when they'llbe gone) were then forced to defang the bill.

The new version still lacked details on costs and impacts and delegated outsized policymaking authority to the three-member Public Utilities Commission. So, Scott rejected it.

This scheme may be dead but the ideology at its core climate catastrophism will return wearing a new pair of pants.

Scott nonetheless acknowledged the importance of reducing GHG emissions. One doesn't riseto the top of a system by denying its dogmas.

Not everyone though is fated to live as Havel's greengrocer. The few amongst us, whose breads arent buttered by the prevailing system, can ask questions, challenge climate catastrophism, and otherwise flirt with heresy.

Since1900, the average global temperature hasincreased by 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degree Fahrenheit). CO2 and other GHG emissions from fossilfuel combustion have warmed the planet by 1.5 degrees Celsius, whilesulfate aerosolsreleased by burning coal and oil have exerted a coolingeffect of 0.6 degrees Celsius.

The planet cooled from 1940 till 1975, after which thetemperature has been rising.Anthropogenic warming has thuslargely occurred since themid-1970s.

Serious critics acknowledge these facts.But they believe that Earth'scomplex dynamical system of temperature is influenced by multiple factors rather thancontrolled by CO2 alone.

Further, they disagreewith the claims of imminentapocalypse,whichoriginate from faulty computer models thathave never accurately predictedanycatastrophic occurrence.

Climate catastrophists assert that Earth will perish unless civilization drastically de-industrializes andeliminates fossil fuels. They blame GHG emissions forrising sea levels and worsening hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires. Arethey right? According to the assessment reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) no.

Such claims, conflating the weatherwith Earths climate, have becomeubiquitous because of the systemiccorruption of climate science communication. Actual scientific results are rarely, if ever, found in the briefs for the press and policymakers.

Instead, clickbait stories win television ratings, votes, and the day. For example, the latest 4000-page IPCC report expresses lowconfidence that humans have impacted the long-term trends in meteorologicaldroughts, the frequency or intensity of hurricanes, and the probability or magnitude of floods.

Yet, the public was told that the study signaled a code red for humanity.

Climate catastrophizing makes for sound practical politics, but leads to unsound policies like the CHS and the GWSA. An energygrid is notoriously intractable. It can tolerate slow, deliberate modifications.

In contrast, abrupt and sweeping changes to large sectors, such as heating and transportation, will make energy unreliable and its costs prohibitive.

Moreover, renewableenergy technologies arenowhere near ready. Deploying immature technologies would add to the societal disruption.

The CHS planned to force Vermonters to install electric heat pumps thatbecome inefficient or fail in frigid weather. Vermont legislators did not pay heed to the public backlash in the UK last year, which paused the Britishgovernments effort to grow the heat pumpmarket by banning gas boilers.

The GWSAs targets are, in sum, unachievable.Future proposals to meet them could at best realize an immeasurable change to the atmosphere, but not without destabilizing society to the detriment of the non-wealthy. So, how do we make good climate policy?

1) Be honest about values. Increased economicactivity leads to higherGHG emissions but also poverty alleviation and greater life expectancy. The total population grew from 2 billion in 1900 to 7.9 billion today. During this period, the percentage of people living in extreme poverty dropped from82.5 percentto 9.2 percent.

WilliamNordhaus, co-recipientof the 2018 Nobel Prize in Economics,arguesthat requiring deep reductions in living standards to chase climate goals would amount to burning down the village to save it.

Would most Vermont lawmakers agree? Does theGWSA prioritize human flourishing or aim to altogether end human influence on the environment?

2) Be honest about the pros and cons of energy sources. As abundant, reliable, scalable, versatile, and energy dense sources, fossil fuels have founded modern civilization.

Eco-activist Annette Smith, who has lived with a renewable energy system for decades,testifiedabout the CHS before the Vermont Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee, I have made investments. I have weatherized myhouse. I have replaced thewindows. I do not have alternativesfor propane. There is nothing else.

Fossil fuel powered technology has built resilient infrastructure and early warning systems, which have lowered the annual worldwide deaths due to extreme weather fromhalf a million a century ago to14,000 in 2020. Ithas also minimized air, soil, and water pollution, making the world cleaner and more livable.

Despite $2.6 trillioninglobal investments by the end of 2019, wind and solar energy produce amere 3 percent ofthe world's electricity and do not contributeto the thermal, industrial, and heavy-duty transportation sectors.

Finally, nuclear power is safe, cost-effective, carbon-free, and should be decriminalized.

3) Be humble.Grandiose plans that imposeuncertain and likely devastating outcomes on middle-income workers and families should go nowhere.

Humility will be required to admit that the Global Warming Solutions Act is a failure; courage will be required to repeal it. Neither animates Montpelier.

Meg Hansen is president of the Ethan Allen Institute, a policy research and educational nonprofit organization in Vermont.

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Hansen: Bad policy begets worse, repealing the GWSA is the solution - Vermont Biz

Outdoor seating areas can provide your home with an extra comfort level and ensure that you feel satisfied with your house. However, you may neglect these areas or simply feel uncertain about how to upgrade them for maximum quality. The following steps can give you the best outdoor seating area and ensure that your house is worth more on the market if you try to sell it later.

Patios add a certain touch of class and style to your house, which is probably why over 20% of new houses add a patio to their outdoor areas every year. Thankfully, you can add a patio to your outdoor area with little difficulty by working with a professional who understands these steps.

For instance, you can hire a carpenter who can install a new patio and make sure that it's properly structured and safely built. You can then work with a hardscaping professional who can make sure that the rest of your seating area matches it, such as adding new bricks or even a fireplace to this area.

Does your home have limited outdoor landscaping, and you aren't sure what to do? It is important to talk to a landscaping expert who can help expand your landscaping properly, causing no serious issues. For instance, they can put in new trees, flowers, and other items that make your landscaping appealing.

For example, you can add new hills throughout your landscape, put in new bushes, add decorative touches, and even add small and fun structures to your yard. Touching it up just a little will make your outdoor seating area a little more comfortable and relaxing to visit.

Your seating area's doors and windows not only add style to this area but can improve your house's heating and cooling efficiency. Perhaps that's why the windows and door market had a $153 billion value in 2020. Putting in new windows and doors can help you enjoy sitting outside even more.

Even though these fixes mostly affect your house, they can also improve your seating area. For instance, if you have an outdoor sunroom with doors and windows protecting you from bugs, adding new items can improve this room's comfort, style, and heating efficiency.

Did you know that mosquitoes can and will lay eggs in standing water as small as a bucket or mud puddle? There's nothing worse than letting this standing water stay, hatching thousands of mosquitoes, and dealing with them all summer. Instead, get rid of this standing water to improve your outdoor seating.

A mosquito treatment specialist can come to your yard and inspect potential egg-laying spots throughout the area. These zones may include shallow areas that collect water every year. You may even need to get upgraded yard sloping to minimize water spread throughout your grass.

Is your seating area comfortable but seems framed in an unattractive exterior look? Try to improve your house's style by adding new siding and other elements. Doing so not only improves your overall style but boosts your seating area comfort and enhances your house's value at the same time.

What material should you use? Well, the Census Bureau's Survey of Construction found the most popular options were: vinyl or stucco (26%), brick or brick veneer (21%), and fiber cement siding (20%). Pick an option that meets your house's style and your budgeting needs.

As you can see, you can add a great new outdoor seating area for your home if you have the time, patience, and budget to improve these areas. Pay attention to these steps, identify other potentially useful options to consider, and work with a house improvement specialist to get the help that you need. Doing so can improve your house's appearance and let you relax outdoors with ease.

Read more from the original source:
How to Create the Perfect Outdoor Space at Home This Summer - Shared