UGA

  • ceramic heater

    It’s interesting what you can learn from the past. Last year when I was in Austria I saw a very interesting way to heat a room.  We were staying in Mariastern Abbey in Hohenweiler, which is in western Austria, near Bregenz (on Lake Constance).  The abbey was built around the 16th or 17th century and was once a castle.…

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  • Hazardous products

    In 2013 there were 16,655 reports of children under 6 exposed to poisons that are easily found in our homes. In most homes you can find batteries, laundry detergent, medications, household cleaners, pesticides, gasoline, and paint, along with other household products. Many of these products, especially those that look like candy, can poison children. In…

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  • Greenway Logo

    You could be adding to the pollutants in your home with the cleaning products you use. Studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency show levels of several common organic pollutants are two to five times higher inside homes than outside. These indoor pollutants come from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from a variety of…

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  • Window: flaking paint

    Lead is a highly poisonous metal that can have serious health effects, especially for children under the age of 6. It only takes a small amount of lead to severely affect their mental and physical development. Lead-based paint and lead contaminated soil are the most common sources of exposure. House paint in the U.S. no…

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  • Mold on wall

    Mold is all around us. It grows on any organic substance, as long as there is moisture and oxygen.  You can’t eliminate all of the mold and mold spores in your home, but you can reduce mold by controlling moisture. Mold can trigger allergies or asthma attacks in children and adults, so it is important…

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  • Kid

    We spend close to 90% of our time indoors, much of which is spent in our homes where we are exposed to a variety of contaminants and allergens that can trigger asthma attacks.  In the U.S. almost 25 million people are affected by asthma. This includes about 7 million children.  The asthma triggers in your…

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  • Sign: Please remove your shoes

    Where did you walk today? Think about all the places your feet have been in the last 24 hours and then imagine the contaminants found in those places. Every time you walk into your home with your shoes on you are tracking in the contaminants you encountered throughout the day. About 30 to 40 percent…

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  • UGA radon

    Compared to adults, babies and children have a higher breathing rate and less developed lungs. This means babies and children can be more susceptible to environmental damage to the lungs than adults, like in the case of radon. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. It’s a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that…

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  • soap pods

    Injuries in the home are the number one killer of children in the U.S. Most of these home injuries could have been prevented. An example is single-use laundry detergent, also known as Laundry pods. They are convenient to use, but can be very dangerous to children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFbPnYXeBGk What can you do to make your home…

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  • Kid stacking cans

    Children are more likely than adults to fall victim to hazards in your home. Relative to their body size, children breathe in more air and consume more food than adults. They also spend more time close to the ground where contaminants lurk and there are lots of things to chew on. This means they are…

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  • faucet on granite countertop

    Oh, to have granite countertops adorn your kitchen!  They are the dream countertops for many people who are building a new home or remodeling their current home. The quality, appearance, and even status, attracts many people; however, another element of granite countertops has come to the forefront in recent years – radon. When concerns about…

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  • Radon artwork

    Having fun in Jacksonville, Florida while learning more about radon. You may not think that’s something you need to know about. Not true!  You need to pay attention and take action. Radon is a radioactive gas that is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is found in EVERY home regardless of type…

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  • Wisteria….

    Wisteria

    Springtime in Georgia is magical. The wisteria winds through the trees along the roads and in wooded areas. It looks like a ribbon of purple intertwined among the trees. The sweet heady scent floats through the air. A thing of beauty to all but those with allergies and those who know how that wisteria is…

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  • It’s Spring!

    flowers in springtime

    Everywhere I look it is says Spring!  The trees are blooming, there are daffodils everywhere and almost everyone is sneezing.  This time of year always reminds me how important it is to treat nature well.  Earth Day is almost here. Over the next several weeks we will be posting reminders about the importance of enjoying…

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  • Green River

    Guest blogger:  Gabrielle Walters, CHES, MPH and Radon Educator with The University of Georgia Department of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics. ♣   ♣   ♣   ♣   ♣   ♣   ♣ St. Patrick’s Day is a day that began as a way to celebrate the work of  St. Patrick in Ireland and has now turned into a…

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  • People at conference

    I recently attended a great conference at Fort Valley State University (FVSU).  The theme of the Under One Roof Housing Conference was “Seniors: The New Majority.”  Did you know that by 2020 almost 20% of our population will be over-65?  It’s those famous “Baby Boomers” who are increasing the numbers at such a rapid rate. …

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  • valentine crica 1950

    What can you do this year to show your love for both your “Valentine” and the earth? The first thing I think of is to REDUCE consumption. Just don’t give anyone anything this Valentine’s Day.  Of course, if you choose this way to green your Valentine’s Day you may end up celebrating by yourself in…

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  • Okay I have made it to February without announcing my New Years Resolutions. I guess it is time. We never make a big deal big out of new years. We have always stayed at home. We have a simple meal, watch a movie, have a nice bottle of wine and count down the year with…

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  • Re-think waste house

    Every year over 1 million people are accidentally poisoned. Many poisonings can be prevented by using and storing household products safely.   For more information on ways you can reduce chemicals in your home and make your home safer check out the UGA Extension website, where you will find helpful tips and green cleaning recipes.

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  • cartoon

    Lighting choices are changing. We all have to switch our thinking from WATTS to LUMENS. Your 60 Watt bulb produces 800 Lumens of light. Watts are a measure of energy consumed, not light produced. For more info on choosing lighting go to: https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_lumens

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  • ugg slippers for women

    Some people are so hard to buy gifts for that you end up giving them something they won’t ever use or that they don’t really want.  Sometimes a practical gift added to something fun is the way to go.  This year think of ways to give something that will keep those you love safe. Bicycle…

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  • different poison items

    This past week was Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.  It was good to have a week focused on lead poisoning, but we really need to pay attention to the dangers of lead year around.  Lead poisoning is often preventable.  The most common sources of lead poisoning are lead paint chips and dust.  In 1978 lead was…

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  • Halloween kids

    Some fun Halloween facts. In 2012 there were 41 million potential trick-or-treaters across the U.S. In 2012 47,800 acres of pumpkins were harvested The top 6 pumpkin-producing states are Illinois, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan. The self-proclaimed “Halloween Capital of the World” is Anoka, Minnesota. It was one of the first cities in…

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  • Mr Yuk logo

    Your children are at a greater risk of exposure to environmental hazards than you.  These hazards exist where they live, learn and play.  Children engage in “riskier behaviors” than most adults.  Two big “environmental risky behaviors” children engage in are: Crawling across floors that can have a number of different contaminants on them Putting toys…

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  • guineas

    Have the grasshoppers, beetles, ticks and other insects taken over your yard and garden?  Get rid of them using a natural way – get Guineas!  Back home on the ranch there are several Guineas that wander freely around the house and farm buildings and there are few, if any, grasshoppers.  To keep the Guineas from…

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  • geo desic

    Several cultures continue to build houses as they did in the past.  These traditional building techniques take advantage of local materials and work with the wind and sun to create houses that to build workable houses.  An  exhibit in Weil Am Rhein, Germany, at the Vitra Design Museum shows traditional houses and new construction that was inspired…

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  • Green Roofs

    This past week I saw a cool green roof on the Pittsburgh Convention Center.  I was in Pittsburgh for the Galaxy IV conference, which is a joint meeting of Extension Professionals. I was impressed with Pittsburgh. It is a nice city to visit and the green roof on the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC)…

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  • Today, September 1st is my parents’ wedding anniversary. This year they would have celebrated 60 years of marriage. Sadly, my Dad passed away earlier this year during the cold winter months. He is missed, but we do have lots of wonderful memories. One of my fondest memories is of Dad planting trees, just like his…

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  • Waste bottles

    In the U.S. we are increasing our recycling rate. What do we do with all those plastic bottles? We have been exporting a lot of them to China. Now China is saying “no more.” What will happen to all those “recycled bottles?” Article: US states banned from exporting their trash to China are drowning in plastic

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  • Got Mold?

    mold on ceiling

    Rain rain go away, come again another day. Better yet, go west to where the wildfires are burning. We have enough rain here in the southeast!  As of August 18, Atlanta had received 46 inches of rain. Compare that to 25 inches at the same time last year. With all that rain comes mold. The most…

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  • Jamaica bay unit map

    Get ready to feel really good about young people. This video is a snapshot of Teens As Planners (TAP) a service-learning and dropout prevention programing developed and implemented by UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Through TAP youth have the opportunity to grow and become caring contributing members of society. The teens in this…

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  • solar houses

    Driving through small villages in Austria and Germany I noticed that the farm houses are often attached to the barn where the cows, pigs, sheep and assorted other animals live.  I grew up on a ranch, but our barn and the fragrances associated with it were a good distance from the house.  I am not…

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  • asthma triggers

    Here comes company… It is a given fact that every one of us has visitors in our home throughout the year.  Sure, some of us entertain more than others, but whether we like it or not we all have the occasional house guest. If it’s not family visiting during the holidays, then it’s the delivery…

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  • flowers

    Back home in Athens I ventured out to the UGA Trial Gardens Open House. As always, the gardens were amazing and retiring professor Dr. Allan Armitage leading the garden tours was entertaining. The UGA Trial Gardens are essentially a giant research lab located on the Athens campus and open to the public. They were started…

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  • cows with hats

    Back home now after a fantastic trip to Europe!  I learned so many things about housing, energy and sustainability at the conference and during my travels through France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.  Over the next several months I will continue to share with you the innovative and interesting things I saw and learned during my…

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  • windmill energy

    I was surprised that I saw few alternative sources of energy during my visit to Barcelona and Tarragona. I began to see wind turbines and solar panels when I crossed the border into France and even more as I traveled into Germany and Austria. I did some research to see how much of Spain’s energy…

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  • Recycling seems to be a part of everyday life for most Europeans.  I saw large recycling bins along the roads in Spain, France, Germany and Austria.  All of the containers I saw required people to separate their trash (i.e.  glass, paper, cans, etc.). Interestingly the university in Spain where the conference I attended was held did…

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  • Walking and visiting Europe seem to go hand-in-hand. It is a wonderful exercise, especially when you get to wander through Park Güell in Barcelona. I am sure I walked more in one afternoon at the park then I do in a week back home in Athens, Georgia. From the metro, or underground, I walked up…

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  • Are you an “energy vampire?”   If you live in an apartment in the central part of the building you may be sucking energy from neighboring flats.  In Hungary people who live in the central apartments are referred to as energy vampires.  (In the U.S. this term has a slightly different meaning.) The European Union…

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  • cooking catalan food

    Why is it that when we travel foods we normally do not eat taste so much better?  While in Tarragona I tried several local and traditional foods. One day for lunch I enjoyed Andalusian Gazpacho and Paella. Back home I would never eat gazpacho, because it always seems to have green bell peppers in it…

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  • humans tower

    Building a tower of humans is an old Catalan tradition. The “castellers” form these human pyramids, which are called castells (Catalan word for castles). They can be up to 10 persons tall, which the lightest and youngest members of the team (colla) at the top. this is both a cultural and sporting event. it represents…

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  • Catalonia is an autonomous region within Spain that is home to the beautiful cities of Barcelona and Tarragona.  As I walked around these cities, I was fascinated by the windows and the coverings over them that help keep the sun out.  It is an old idea, but one that is obviously still used. I saw…

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  • Tarragona

    I am leaving the family behind and flying off to Spain in a few days to participate in the European Network for Housing Research conference.  I have attended this conference one other time – in Prague – and it was fantastic! I am looking forward to learning and sharing what I learn about housing and…

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  • This week I participated in an informative blogging workshop taught by Tara Dunn for the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences Cooperative Extension.  She did a fantastic job of helping all of the participants develop blogs and better understand and use online communication. Blogs are a great way to share research and…

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  • wind turbine in Montana

    Is it supposed to snow on May Day? I just returned from a conference on energy in Fort Collins, Colorado. The hosts did a wonderful job showcasing all four seasons.  The first few days were close to 80 (great for solar power).  Then there was rain, which provided some relief from the drought. Finally, over…

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  • Have you ever considered how resilient your house is to damage from natural disasters? I am talking about things like flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, hail, straight-line winds, and even droughts.  I am attending a workshop put together by LSU Extension that focuses on how we can create homes that are more resilient to the disasters that…

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  • candles

    Guest Blogger……Morgan Barnett, Master of Public Health Degree Candidate at The University of Georgia Many of us burn candles to make a room smell good, or just for decorative use. While candles create a calming effect, the allure of candlelight can quickly turn into a disaster if proper safety measures are not followed.  Keep yourself,…

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  • tiles in bathroom

    I saw the first burst of pine pollen on my car window this morning. That is my sign that it is time for Spring Cleaning. Spring Cleaning is a good time to go through your cleaning supplies and make a decision on whether you want to continue using a product. We have tried to go…

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  • taos house

    When we think of a “green roof” most of us conjure up images of trees and vegetables on top of a tall building in a city or maybe a sod roof with a goat grazing on it. Green roofs are much more than that. I learned a lot about green roofs on a webinar taught…

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  • Recently I was teaching an online class about keeping your home healthy and reducing the asthma triggers in your home.  I talked about some of the main asthma triggers in your home – dust mites, pet dander, secondhand smoke, mold, cockroaches, and mice.  The training included action steps to take to reduce or eliminate these…

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