Neat Features

I never thought I’d be using the words “pet” and “neat” in the same sentence.  Yet here I am looking at a Wall-mounted Pet Organizer, thinking that it’s definitely one Neat Feature.  One that I might try and find a way to adapt to cats as opposed to dogs.

I don’t know about anyone else, but it seems to me that the moment I walk into my house I lose stuff.  And while my current theory involves black holes (or possibly garden gnomes), there’s a very small chance it’s because I don’t put things away when I’m done using them.

This is especially the case for things that don’t have a “landing zone” of their own.  So how about it?  Would you use a pet organizer?

image from This Old House

Sometimes the Neat Features don’t have to be inside your home – they can be on the outside.  Or maybe even on the curb.  That’s what it is with today’s Neat Feature: plants.

One of the great things about modern city living is how effective the roads are at draining off rain water so we don’t get standing pools of water on the road – or worse – around the foundations of our homes.

The problem is that all of this rushing water can carry with it quite a few toxic chemicals.  Everything from that cleaner you spilled on your deck to the pesticide you used in your yard, become fair game for rainwater to pick up.

In small quantities these aren’t much of an issue.  But the more the rain water gathers in one spot, the higher the concentrations become.  That’s why some homes, and now some cities, are taking steps to use plants along the curb to “clean” the toxic chemicals by absorbing a lot of the rain water before it hits the city’s sewage system.  (As you can see in the picture above.)

image from This Old House

I am forever turning off power strips.  This drives my wife nuts.  But I can’t help it.  I’m one of those people who hates wasting electricity.  Not because of the environmental impact, although if you can do something nice for the environment, why not?  But because I just hate paying for things I’m not using.  And thanks to Phantom Power (the electricity our TV’s and Xbox’s use when turned “off”) it pays to pull the plug.

Some people extreme coupon.  I extreme power save.

Or at least that’s what I tell myself.

But admittedly there’s a problem with that strategy.  Every time I turn off the power strip to the TV, it means the cable box, VCR (yes I still have one of those) and several other things all lose their programming.  It’s a pain to have to let modern cable boxes boot up.  And it’s annoying to have to reset the flashing 12:00 on the VCR.

Enter the plug that has its own switch.

Now I can turn off the individual device (like at TV or a lamp) and let everything else stay on.  No more reprogramming for me!  Although since this is only a proof of concept device, I may have to continue turning off the power strips, and hope my wife forgives me!

(Of course I could just buy separate power strips, but if I do that, it kind of defeats the purpose of saving money through unplugging.  It takes a lot of phantom power to pay for a $50 power strip!)

They lurk, in unassuming innocence.  They seem peaceful and tranquil until, when you least expect it, they attack!

What are these hidden menaces?

Stairs, of course.

But then you probably figured that out from the giant picture of stairs right next to this post.

It seems that everything gets a chance to be “re-imagined.”  If it’s not the A-team, or GI Joe, it’s Rapunzel or Planet of the Apes or Hawaii 5-O.  Well stairs are no different.

Now I’ll admit, I’m not really the target audience when it comes to “modern” architecture or design.  So I’m not the target market for stairs like these (made by HSH architects).

But they do bring up two immediate questions.

1.  What happens if you miss a step?

2. Do they give you vertigo when you’re looking at them?

Okay, they also make me want to ask a 3rd question: am I the only one who wants to play Q*bert after looking at these stairs?  Yeah.  I went there.

So what say you?  Are these the type of stairs you’d want in your home?  Do they intimidate you?

image from design-milk.com, stairs designed by HSH architects

I don’t consider myself claustrophobic.  Around my own home I’ve squeezed myself into some pretty nasty and pretty small spaces.  (Hello basement crawl space!)

But this house, located in Warsaw Poland, is only 4 feet wide.  I’m not even sure a 4 foot wide house would hold my DVD collection, let alone allow me to stretch in the morning after rolling (wedging?) myself out of bed.

For comparison here are a few things that are wider than this house: your car, a broom, your desk at work, a 10 year old boy (if laying down).

Certainly it takes a special type of person to be able to live in such a confined space.  What do you think?  Do you have what it takes?

image provided by flickr user chefranden

Watching the news it’s easy to get the impression that the weather has turned against humanity.  Whether it’s tornadoes, earthquakes, or floods, it seems there’s some major disaster in the news on a weekly basis.

This brings up the question of whether you can build structures to withstand these forces of nature.

Fortunately, when designed properly, buildings can withstand even a 9.0 earthquake like the one Japan experienced a few months ago.  Despite the fact that its exterior is made almost entirely of glass, the Mediatheque in Sendai, Japan, was able to do just that.

And because we’re in the internet age, you can even experience what it was like to be inside that building as an earthquake struck.

Personally I can’t imagine what that would have been like.  If you’re interested in learning more about the Mediatheque or earthquake construction, the Wall Street Journal has a great article exploring that topic.

There’s a great story on the internet called “the Dionaea House.”  It’s a story about a house that is alive, and well, acts more like a venus fly trap than a place you’d want to vacation.

When I read that story a few years ago it really captured my imagination.  (Which, the story says, is the first sign that the house is hunting you.)  So while I might eventually be eaten by a house, it has really given me an appreciation for great “monster” houses.

And that was the first thing I thought when I saw this house.  What an great building to film a movie!  Or stage an Agatha Christie mystery dinner.  Or even just an awesome place to trick or treat.

Now obviously this house isn’t haunted.  But in an age where housing architecture can be so cookie cutter, it’s thrilling to just see something different.  It’s fun to let your imagination run wild.  (Or if you’re not a fan of monster movies, just picture Jane Eyre or Sherlock Holmes.  It gives the same effect.)

So if anyone has a spare $1.5 million laying around, let me know, because I’m totally going to buy this house.  And I’ll invite you over for Trick or Treat.

If you live in Cincinnati, and you’ve want to know a bit more about building a green home (or maybe just making your own home a bit greener), this is a great way to check it out.

While my own 100 year old home will never be carbon neutral or even energy efficient, I do love the idea of saving money on energy costs.  Plus if it can help the environment at the same time, what’s not to like about that kind of solution?

So if you’ve got some spare time this weekend, you might want to check out Greenarama.  In the meantime here’s a Greenarama video showing how to seal your house to make it more energy efficient.

Some neat features on this blog are inspired by dreams.  Others are inspired by necessity.  And still others are inspired by the cold hard reality of a leaking roof.  That’s where I found myself recently – with an unexpected expense and an unexpected series of decisions to make.

Now living in Cincinnati we live in a weird temperature climate for making certain technical housing decisions such as insulation, moisture barrier, and roof color.  As we all know, darker color absorbs more heat, while lighter colors reflect heat.

Since I live in a 100 year old house, without any insulation in the ceiling of the finished attic, my house really feels the swings from the brutal Cincinnati summers and the bitter Cincinnati winters.  And whether I like it or not, the color of my roof makes a difference.  If I go with a dark shingle, I will save on heating costs – but at the price of not being able to use my third floor in the summer.  The flip side is a more live-able attic during the summer, but higher heating prices in the winter.

Not exactly a winning selection of choices!

Fortunately for some (although not for me) scientists may be coming to the rescue with heat-responsive color-changing shingles.  Say that three times fast!

These tiles will reflect about 80% of the sunlight in the summer (and only 30% during the winter.)  Meaning your cooling bills might be reduced by about 20%.

While these tiles are probably a few years from market, they still represent a great blend of technology and functionality.  Plus, who doesn’t like the idea of spending less on heating and cooling costs?

Now if only my roof could change colors….

I have cats. And while most people think that sounds “fun” or “cute”, I see it in a different light. Because my cats are certified plant assassins.  Every plant I’ve ever brought home, whether potted or a dozen roses for my wife, end up with hundreds of tiny teeth marks in them by morning.

Some end up far, far worse.

Personally I’d love to have some plants.  Not only can they really add a sense of style, but they can actually improve the air quality of your house.  Considering we’re heading into allergy season here in Cincinnati, I’m willing to try just about anything to stop sneezing.

That’s why I am so intrigued by the Wally Pocket system.  (Not to be confused with the Disney flick.)  I think it might stop my cats from being vegetarians and maybe even get rid of a bit of house air pollution.  Plus it’s a pretty simple DIY project.

What do you think?