Seattle @ Home: A guide to better living spaces

Seattle @ Home

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2008
Getting burned by poor product design
Badly designed everyday products can cause a mounting frustration around the home.

Smart Homes: Whole-house fan a cool sub for A.C.
Smart Homes columnist Jim Dulley discusses the advantages in comfort and energy savings of using a whole-house fan instead of air conditioning.

SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2008
Smart Homes: Window awnings are a big help if you're trying to keep your cool
Smart Homes columnist Jim Dulley discusses the advantages of using window awnings, and the various options for types, depending on individual home circumstances.

Get Organized: Dealing with kids' clothes
Organizing expert Laura Leist offers tips for dealing with children's clothing as school approaches.

Living Green: High-efficiency showerheads
These types of showerheads can save up to 3,000 gallons of water per person per year.

Home Calendar
A look at the week's home calendar events.

SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008
Designers cozy up to stones and bring nature's beauty indoors
Today's rocks -- or close facsimiles -- are getting all warm and fuzzy. Accessories, rugs, wallcoverings, even lamps are fashioned from the real thing, or so cleverly imitative that you have to touch them to know the difference.

Smart Homes: How to keep room temperatures balanced
Smart Homes columnist Jim Dulley offers suggestions on how to correct for certain rooms in a home that are too chilly in winter or too warm in summer.

Home Calendar
A look at the week's home calendar events.

Get Organized: Tips for washing your car

Living Green: Go with compact fluorescents

THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2008
From dark and dry to a plant heaven
Try out our new online help feature with gardening expert Marianne Binetti.

SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2008
Smart Homessmart Homes: Pressure washer can save time and water
Smart Homes columnist Jim Dulley discusses using a pressure washer for tasks around the home.

Get Organized
Organizing expert Laura Leist says now is a great time to start organizing your garage, before the return of those cold, wet winter days, when this can be a miserable project.

Good Housekeeping Reports: See clearly now with freshly cleaned windows
Time-saving tricks from Good Housekeeping for cleaning blinds and windows.

Home Calendar
A look at the week's home calendar events.

Previous headlines

Nutcase bicycle helmets are tough to crack -- and (surprise!) they look great

Protecting your noggin is no longer a fashion disaster with these cool, colorful domes.

Edie's August Sale

Save 20 to 60 percent on select spring and summer shoes for men and women.

Save 50 percent on all in-stock Bella Notte linens.

More summer sales and events

INSIDE SEATTLEPI.COM

Day in Pictures
Duchess on a green elephant and more

David Horsey
The yin and yang Olympics

'Shrek' sings?
Musical opens next week amid much secrecy

HELPFUL INFO

Tax breaks
Remodeling your home? State law allows a home improvement exemption on property taxes. Click here for details. In King County, call 206-205-0656.
· Download a form

Local resources
Housing repair
Housing repair and weatherization for qualifying households in King County outside of Seattle.

Loans, grants
Info on grants and services for seniors and low-income and/or disabled residents in Seattle.

Energy conservation
Seattle Office of Housing energy conservation programs, including:
· REACH Weatherization Grants
· Multifamily Weatherization Program
· Multifamily Common Area Lighting
· Water Heater Rebate Program
· Energy Conservation Hotline

Utility assistance
Seattle Office of Housing utility assistance programs, including:
· Project SHARE
· Seasonal Energy Assistance Program
· Emergency Low Income Assistance
· Rate Assistance for Low Income Households
· Rate Assistance for Seniors & Adults with Disabilities

Puget Sound Energy
Community assistance programs

Snohomish County PUD
Energy cost calculator, resources

Tacoma Power
Energy info, resources

Master Builders
Find a contractor, Pierce County

Master Builders
Find a contractor, King and Snohomish County

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