The Joycescape Network

Air quality during winter is a cause for worry because the home is sealed up during that period in order to preserve heat. The flow of air from the exterior to the interior is thus interrupted. Hence, any chemical build-up inside the home during that period cannot be evacuated. They can easily reach toxic levels. The worst of it all is that most of these toxic substances bear no smell and the air quality could have fallen dramatically without anyone even noticing. Given that most North Americans spend at least 90% of their time indoors during winter, the effect of poor air quality on their health could be considerable.

Symptoms of decreasing air quality
If there are more chemicals in the atmosphere of the home, then there is likely to be some impact on the health of the occupants. Some symptoms include: frequent headaches, nausea, drowsiness or other problems that disappear once you leave the house.

Sources of Emissions in the home
The first source of toxic substances is furniture, carpets and upholstery that give off volatile substances. These substances are thought to cause irritations of the eyes, nose and throat as well as breathing difficulties. They are also suspected to cause cancer in humans. A second source of toxic chemicals is the wood stove or fireplace. These can give off poisons such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.
How to reduce chemical build-up in the home

There are many steps that can be taken to reduce toxic substances in the indoor atmosphere:

(i) Avoid purchasing new carpets or furniture during winter unless they bear Air Quality labels
(ii) Clean wood stoves and fireplaces regularly so that they do not emit smoke. Consider professional help every now and then to ensure that they are working properly.
(iii) Install High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters in the vacuum cleaner or the air cleaner. HEPA filters will effectively capture particulate matter in the air.
(iv) Consider installing mechanical ventilation systems.
(v) Open the windows regularly, even if it is for a limited tiME

CLICK HERE to check some HEPA products

by : Jocelyn Iyog

One of the least expensive ways you can give a room a whole new look is to change the room’s lighting. This can mean anything from swapping out a dated looking chandelier for something new and different, to putting a new lampshade on an old lamp. There are so many options for lighting, you could spend all day browsing lighting websites or dreaming about a new way to light your existing rooms.

An option that people don’t think of often enough is “up lighting.” This simply means light that is directed upward rather than being directed downward (like a lamp with a lampshade), or omnidirectional (like ceiling light fixtures). These often look like “cans” of light that you set onto the floor or on a shelf to direct the light upward, giving the room a more indirect “wash” of light than traditional fixtures. If you have small children in the house you must place these very carefully, because they do get hot.

Task lighting under cabinets and on bookshelves can range from the simple “hockey puck” stick-on lights to adjustable track lighting. Using mirrors strategically to reflect light is another way to “wash” a room in light. A mirror opposite a window can be just the thing to maximize the natural lighting in a room. Light is a very important player in the decorating and design game – it can be almost as room-changing as rearranging the furniture.

Insulation is the key to a cozy and warm winter. An un-insulated home loses heat very rapidly to the cold surroundings since heat flows naturally from a warmer area to a cooler area. In winter, all heated surfaces of the living space will lose heat to the exterior and other nearby unheated spaces (attics, basements and non-living areas). Thus, choosing the right insulation should be a priority among homeowners when preparing for the arrival of winter. Without insulation, a lot of energy is expended in maintaining the home’s temperature at a bearable level. Insulation refers to any material that resists the movement of heat from a hot area to a cold area.
There are basically two categories of insulators:
(i) Insulators that prevent air flow—air movement is an excellent conduit for dispersion of heat through convection and conduction. Still air, however, is a very poor conductor of heat and eliminates convection altogether. Insulators such as batts, blankets, loose-fills and low-density foams trap air between the wall and the insulation material. Certain types of foams exude special gases that increase the resistance to heat flow.
(ii) Reflective insulation—this prevents heat loss by reducing the amount of heat that travels by radiation.
Comparison of insulating materials is made on the basis of the R-Value. This is a measure of the thermal resistance of the material. The higher the R-value, the greater the effectiveness of the material at preserving heat. The type of insulation depends on the nature of the area that you wish to insulate. For example, blankets would not work well in filling the open cavities of the wall of a new house. Instead, fiberglass fibers can be sprayed or foam insulation applied. For foundations, rigid reflective boards may be more suitable. Other reflective systems are suitable for the roof or other areas where there is a risk of downward flow of heat. CLICK HERE to find out more!

While not as many people use fireplaces to heat their homes these days, a fireplace does make a welcoming sight when the weather turns cold. If you have a non-functioning (sealed) fireplace, or even if you don’t have a fireplace at all, a gel fireplace can make your home look much more warm and welcoming.

Gel fireplaces don’t require wood, gas, or any other traditional fuel. They use small cans of alcohol, which burns cleanly, leaving no smoke or fumes. A chimney is not required, and gel fireplaces can be moved from place to place if you rearrange your furniture. But if you want one to stay in one place, there are wall-mounted gel fireplaces.

You can’t use a gel fireplace for heat. They give off a little warmth, but their purpose is mostly to give your room a certain coziness. As for price, they start around $200 and can be ordered online. The cans of fuel run about $65 for a 24-pack. The cans of fuel burn for about three hours – perfect for an evening’s worth of ambiance. And you can blow out the flames if you want or need to.

Even if your house doesn’t have a fireplace, you can get the cozy feeling of having one by using one of the new gel fireplaces.