Danny Lipford, DIY expert and TV personality, writes about the joys of composite wood decking. The beautiful summer weather means barbecues, grilling and outdoor fun. A great way to make your home an entertaining mecca for family and friends is to have a well-built deck. Besides adding to the atmosphere of your backyard, a deck…
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Outdoor areas such as backyard decks and patios can add square footage (and value!) to your home and are great places to relax and to entertain. Whether building or renovating a deck, look for plastic composite lumber, some of which is made from recycled plastics from grocery bags and plastic containers. Why plastic? Plastic composite…
Read More…Many homeowners are looking for do-it-yourself (DIY) projects that help increase energy efficiency and save money. Installing a programmable thermostat and switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs can help, but homeowners interested in even more energy and money savings should start with the windows. Here are a few ways that plastics can help: Stop the…
Read More…Feeling any drafts or hot/cold spots in your home? Concerned about your monthly energy bill? You might be losing heat and air conditioning through drafty windows and doors without even knowing it. Using plastic-based caulks is an easy, simple solution to this problem, and the good news is that just about anyone can apply them!…
Read More…Plastics can live again…underfoot Any idea what happens to all that plastic we recycle? Sure, plastic bags can be made into new bags and plastic bottles into new bottles. But plastics also can be recycled into long-lasting products. For example, your feet may be resting on former plastic water or soda bottles. Most carpeting is…
Read More…This year a quarter of Americans plan to make outdoor home improvements to get ready for springtime and warmer weather. So as barbeque season approaches, it’s a good time to take stock of your outdoor deck, furniture and dishware and consider how plastics can help ease time-consuming maintenance chores. If you’re thinking about adding a…
Read More…We all know that wearing white or “cooler” colors during sunny summer days can help keep us cool because light colors reflect the sun’s rays rather than absorbing them like dark colors. Scientists today are applying this phenomenon to new technologies in building and construction, using white and light-colored roofing materials to create “cool roofs”…
Read More…According to a survey of 1,000 Americans, 9 out of 10 admitted they sniff food from the fridge to make sure it’s good to eat! This is just one of the findings from a survey conducted on behalf of Plastics Make it PossibleSM, an initiative sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council.…
Read More…Chicken Tortilla Soup Try this short-cut version of one of our favorites—pick up rotisserie chicken for time saver. Serve with tortilla strips, chopped avocado, and shredded reduced fat Mexican blend cheese, if desired. Makes 6 servings 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch slices 1 onion, chopped 1 teaspoon minced garlic 6…
Read More…Creating and maintaining an energy efficient home can help you save on heating and cooling costs. It also allows you to feel good about your contribution to the environment by reducing energy output. According to ENERGY STAR, an average-size household spends about $1,500 a year on energy bills, spending the most in the colder winter months and the heat of mid-summer.
Read More…From residential homes to commercial buildings, hospitals and schools, architects and designers rely on plastics to help maximize durability and improve energy efficiency and performance. Properly installed plastic building products can help reduce energy and maintenance costs and potentially reduce a homeowner’s carbon footprint. In fact, a one-year study found that the use of plastic building materials saved 467.2 trillion Btu of energy over alternative construction materials. That’s enough energy saved over the course of a year to meet the average energy needs of 4.6 million U.S. households!
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