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.

Californians can also use Cash for Appliances in conjunction with other offers, like those from utility companies and organizations that offer additional savings. For example, the Sacramento Utility Company offers $100 rebates on energy efficient refrigerator purchases, and NV Energy in Nevada will actually come to your house, pick up your old working refrigerator, and pay you $30. Together with the Cash for Appliances reimbursement, your appliance may end up being the least expensive you’ll ever purchase while picking up the biggest savings on utilities.The CEC determined that three household appliances are eligible for the state’s rebates: refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners. The refrigerator topped the list since it’s one of your home’s biggest energy sappers, running energetically 24 hours a day throughout the year. The other two are also large energy users and Californians are being encouraged to do their part in the changeover to energy-saving appliances.

California Rebate Amounts:

• $100 for washers
• $75 for refrigerators
• $50 for air conditioners

Each state is allowed to set their own rules and rebates, so check out your state’s guidelines for more information.

Sources: Treehugger, Four Pillars, & This Old House

Photo Credit: PsychoLoans

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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

2) Wikipedia Commons

3) James Muzza

4) BHCC

5) Integrity Studio

6) Digital Photography School

7) Cloud Files

Integrity Studio

9) Integrity Studio

10) Tiny-Vessels

11) Apple Store

12) Gallery Photo

13) Gallery Photo

14) Digital Photography School

15) Integrity Studio

16) Integrity Studio

17) Digital Photography School

18) Integrity Studio

19) Digital Photography School

20) api.ning

21) Tickled By Life

22) Red Bubble

23) Window To Her Soul

24) Red Bubble

25) Ferenc

26) Xavier Ho

27) Frida Kahlo with Fawn

28) Photo Credit

29) Aaron Brown Photo

30) Photo Credit

31) Abandoned Factory Window

32) From the Hubble Repair Mission

33) http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/cool_pictures/

34) http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/cool_pictures/

35) http://s3.images.com/huge.24.123398.JPG

36) http://s3.images.com/huge.24.123398.JPG

37) http://s3.images.com/huge.24.123398.JPG

38) http://sowmyashistory.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!7EF8880BAEC84E87!322.entry

39) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3512792862_c56eacf048.jpg

40) http://blog.magnumphotos.com/images/NYC8019.jpg

41) http://www2.hawaii.edu/~omalley/Window.jpg

42) http://lizzyc.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/hmoon_1208_458.jpg

43) http://vi.sualize.us/tag/translucent/

44) http://www.20×200.com/blog/blogimages/keith_taylor_at_mpls_photo_center/windows-chelsea.jpg

45) http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SOhsPwLta-I/AAAAAAAAgeo/FRKgNRC6moQ/s640/w45yerhdfnbcv.jpg

46) http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/.a/6a00d8341c2c7653ef0115710a9ade970b-800wi

47) http://carolsmojo.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Goodtimes2007_042.112105738_std.jpg

48) http://www.hanger43.com/images/photo/urban/16.jpg

49) http://www.loupiote.com/photos_m/18323082-graffiti-shadow-broken-window-abandoned-hospital-presidio-san-francisco-phsh.jpg

50) http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2620/3858209639_db966eb6a5.jpg

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#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.”

#2 – Playful Cook Systems

Hungry? Don’t forget to preheat your neon-technicolor oven. Designed by Marc Newson, the Smeg oven is as bright and playful as an iPod cover. The beautiful hues may actually inspire you to clean the appliance once in a while, too.

#3 – Sweet Treats

Well, I could really go for some chocolate cake. Joseph Joseph’s sunshiny bowls and measuring cups, appropriately called “Nest,” fit inside each other for compact storage. The non-slip set may easily make cooking the brightest part of your day.

#4 – Apples and Oranges

Now this is a really great bowl. Made from a single piece of twisted chrome wire, the Fruit Loop bowl by Black & Blum doesn’t need any color to look stunning – your fresh fruit and veggies will take care of that.

#5 – Vibrant Baths

Since bathrooms aren’t exactly the most accessorized room in the house, flush some color between their walls with a Saint Patrick’s Day green chair and rug, tangerine countertops and fresh paint drippings.

Photo Credits: FurnitureStore & 8rd

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Deb Leblanc lives in a renovated 1970 Airstream travel trailer she bought on Craigslist for $3,700. Purchasing a “home” for under $4,000 is unusual in itself, sort of like living full-time in an Airstream. But what truly delights me is how Deb seemed to say, “Screw it! I’m doing whatever I want to this monster bus!” The woman has transformed her living quarters into an adorable girly paradise.

With only $2,000 put into the redo, she turned the 22’ Land Yacht from “nothing much to look at” to “hey, a really interesting woman lives here.” Nicknamed Jewels, the Airstream’s original neutral pallet is punched up with bright colors, lots of texture and interesting shapes. Though there are some 70s touches, like funky daisy shades, echoing flower motifs, a satiny papasan chair and hanging shell strands, the overall mood is modern and curvy, from the artwork to the built-in work desk.

Before

After

Skillful use of layering makes this space stunning and unique. Mirrors, strategically placed lighting, sunlit hues and bright décor, such as colored glass vases, make the trailer seem lighter, brighter and bigger, as does keeping the countertop and floor accoutrements to a minimum. The focal point living room appears deeper with a tiny table placed in front of the couch and large framing objects behind it so that it all steps back instead of looming at the end of the hall.

Deb’s stylish digs were originally meant to be used as an office, but turned out to be comfortable enough to live in year-round. After adding insulation underneath the Airstream and restoring the original furnace, Jewels is a gem even in the colder months.

About Deb

Deb is a fitness guru based in Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada. You can check her out here!

Photo Credits: This Tiny House

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Big Chill Retro Fridges

Take a good look at my place. You see the style looks out of place. If you look closer, it’s easy to trace the tracks of the years.

Two sizes, 12 colors, $2,495 and up. I can’t decide if these look more like Bic lighters or popsicles, but they’re yummy enough to make me want to redecorate 50s style.

Big Chill Stoves

Shown here in Beach Blue, Pink Lemonade, Buttercup Yellow, Jadite Green and Black, these cookers will inspire you to don an apron and cook in high heels. Almost.

Retro Seating

Fonzie says, pull up a stool or booth… and sit on it. These laminated vinyl pieces are luscious.

Throwback Lighting

The perfect mid-century light by which to dine. Tuna casserole, anyone?

Fifties Flooring

If the floor pattern doesn’t make you dizzy, you can do the sock hop on it.

Counter-Culture Countertop

Bah, Uba Tuba granite… Formica laminate makes a comeback!

And finally, might I suggest an accessory for your new retro kitchen:

This treasure by James Lileks adorns my own kitchen. (Note the cover’s same boomerang pattern as the above Formica). Every page is as funny as the chapter of my 60s cookbook that deals with the “blind munchies.”

Just as you would never actually cook a meal from Lilek’s book, if you wish to have house guests, refrain from overindulging in the glorious mix of colors to be found in new retro kitchens. Aqua boomerang Formica, black-and-white checkered flooring, purple laminate stools and a pink fridge may be overdoing it. Keep a balance with these gorgeous classics… or you’ll have some ‘splaining to do.

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Ultra minimalism, solid materials and full functionality are all evident here in the Latis Bathroom Collection. Set to debut globally this December by designer Thomas Coward of Omvivo, the collection features luxury dual-function bathtubs, sleek trestle vanities and unique basins. All made from earthly elements of natural stone and timber.

Latis, whose name was cleverly inspired by the Celtic Goddess of Water, includes a range of bathroom furniture designed for all lifestyles. Their back-to-basics approach is apparent throughout the collection with simple lines and flexible design. Efficient, uniform and elegant, the simplistic pieces are reminiscent of Old World with a contemporary twist.

The sculptured natural stone basins are offered in rectangular and round shapes and come in various finishes. They sit atop oak tables with your choice of stone or wooden lower shelves. The deep rectangular stand-alone tub is sleek with clean and simple lines. The bathtub is undercut at one end to allow for the optional wooden open-shelf unit – convenient for a dish of pretty bath soap or an owl collection.

Omvivo also offers lighting, accessories and other lines featuring basins and wash planes. With the highest quality materials, attention to detail and traditional craftsmanship, the Australian company offers you the uncomplicated bathroom.

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If you want a truly unique landscape wall, then you’ll love straw bale walls – a style that oozes with the charm of yesteryear and offers a remarkable amount of design flexibility. Made from bales of hay, the straw bale wall offers a rich texture and adobe-like sculptural facade. It’s easy to shape, mold, and design, giving you complete artistic control. Rounded edges, sweeping curves, open windows and built-in benches are but a few ideas you can use to create your wall.

Why Build a Landscape Wall?

Landscape walls add detail and depth and serve as privacy barriers. They can be simple or elaborate and made from almost any type of building material, including stone, brick and wood. Design possibilities are limited only by one’s imagination and budget. The storybook Carmel-meets-Hobbit straw bale landscape wall featured above is a perfect example of the various possibilities available today.

Darling garden shed built from straw bale

The Beauty of Straw Bale

Straw is organic, abundant, renewable and sustainable. It’s affordable and easy to work with. Once covered with earthen or cement-lime plasters, the wall is fireproof and it’s a natural when it comes to blocking out street noise. The architectural beauty of straw bale easily blends with any style of home.

Other creative uses for straw bale include home construction and sheds. The insulating performance on a straw bale home is between R35 and R50, which is about two to three times the insulation of a frame and wall home. Because the straw doubles as structure and insulation, the cost of materials is significantly lower. They’ve been building straw bale homes for hundreds of years because of the insulation aspects and natural beauty.

The landscape wall featured below was built with straw bale. Notice the deep window sills – that’s creative flexibility!

Landscape Wall Height

The walls can be as short as 3 feet tall and used to create a meandering wall or accent in the garden. Any wall over 3 feet will need buttress walls to support the landscaping wall from blowing over in high winds. A common height for a straw bale privacy wall is 6 feet, 8 inches. Because the material is flexible, you can effortlessly curve the wall around existing trees, shrubs and structures.

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The latest trend in appliances is the small multiple-purpose cooking device. Finally, some gadgets designed to keep up with our propensity toward multi-tasking! Here are a few of the newest, hottest small appliances for the kitchen that are seriously awesome and might make you the envy of all of your neighbors…

#1 – BAM! Don’t forget about Emeril – he didn’t forget about you. The master chef has designed a multiuse appliance to help you churn out gourmet meals in no time with a smaller amount of cleanup. The BAM! Machine is a 12-cup food processor, juicer and blender that comes with several attachments to expand its functions, as well as a few hand-picked Emeril-original recipes.

#2 – 3-in-1 Hand Blender: Oster designed a hand blender that does all sorts of handy tasks. You can mix your drinks with the hand-blender setup, cut and grate solids with the chopper attachment and carve your turkey with the electric knife. It may be because the holidays are so close, but this small appliance has me thinking it can help me with the entire Thanksgiving feast, from carving the bird to mixing the drink I know I’m going to need by the end of the night!

#3 – MultiCooker: Fagor designed one appliance for all of your cooking needs, from the six-minute rush to the 9.5 hour steep. The MultiCooker is a rice steamer, pressure cooker and slow cooker all in one. The downside, however, is that you have to choose one function at a time. But still, it’s very handy and the best part of all? You no longer need an entire cabinet to store these three appliances since they’re all part of this sleek and compact all-in-1 gadget.

#4 – Microwave Drawer: This idea is so simple and genius. Give yourself some extra countertop space with a lowered microwave drawer. The drawer can be set under the countertop and pulls out just like any other drawer. It’s great for shorter people and kids that want to heat up some nuggets for themselves.

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If you want to build a dirt cheap house, what better way than to start with the dirt? An EarthBag home is an economic choice since most of what you need is under your feet.

What impresses me most about building with bags is the limitless variety of shapes. No more standard square and rectangular confines. Domed living areas, curved walls and rounded edges are just a few of the possibilities. And while you’re forming the place you’ll call home, windows can be a creative accent, made from wagon wheels, tires and barrels to finish off the EarthBag’s unique look.

Before and After

Best of all for our environment, Earthbag homes support sustainable building (not to mention human health) by using natural, nontoxic materials. And the energy efficiency benefits are outstanding. Because the interior of EarthBags are naturally insulated, they keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It seems that after a few centuries of relying on toxic, cheaply manufactured building materials, westerners are finally coming back to their senses and building from the time-tested lime plaster and adobe of our ancestors. Better late than never.

How Does an Earthbag Work?

After determining if you have good fill-dirt on your property, the next most important resource is sweat equity. There are three easy steps for getting started on your sandbag structure: fill polypropylene bags with moist soil, stack them in rows and tamp them down tightly. Placed in between the rows, barbed wire acts like Velcro to hold the bags together and strengthen the construction. The wire is used for shaping also. Finally, apply plaster inside and out with any color finishes you like. Domes can be built quite tall, but for extra space, they’re best built side-by-side and interconnected with hallways. These homes are something of a grown-up playground – the sky’s the limit.

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