On the heels of the successful Cash for Clunkers trade-in program, the government has now allotted $300 million to encourage consumers to buy Energy Star appliances. $35.2 million of that funding has been allocated to the California Energy Commission, which will in turn pay substantial dividends to appliance buyers as early as spring 2010.

The main difference between the clunker and appliance program is that the appliances do not have to be traded in to receive the rebates. You can keep the old refrigerator and still get the discount on a new energy efficient model. The only stipulation is the updated appliance must have the Energy Star seal and be approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC). However, many Californians will most likely want to recycle their old inefficient appliances to reduce their power bills. Recycling old appliances gives others the chance to upgrade their even older equipment while giving the environment a much-needed break. …continue reading California Will Pay for Your New Appliances

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By Brittany Mauriss and Arron Goodin

Windows play a much larger role in our lives than we ever truly think about. They provide everything from natural light for our homes, to views of fantastic environments safe from the elements, to perfect analogies and perspectives. The word window has come to mean so much more than just a piece of glass to fill a hole in the wall.

And photography is yet another way to capture the world through glass. Window photography is used to inspire people, much in the way the very concept of a window does – the eyes of the home that have come to symbolize so much more. Some window images are so beautiful or unique that you can’t help but admire the eye and miniature lens that imagined such a creative way to show a piece of glass. So here is a list of 50 beautiful window images and their sources in case you want to check out more like them!

1) At Twilight

…continue reading 50 Fantastic Window Images

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Brilliant design choices for every room in the house begin with color. Here are some designers’ ideas for livening up your cooking, living and bath spaces.

#1 – Pixilated Naptime

We know more than a few twenty-something year-olds that would barter a limb on the black market to obtain this couch. Designed by Cristian Zuzunaga, this is furniture with a creative purpose. According to the website, Zuzunaga’s infusion of color into daily life aims to “counterbalance present dark and negative ways of seeing and therefore of thinking.” …continue reading In Living Color: Sweet Home Décor Items

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