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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (June 24, 2015)
wallowa.com R June 24, 2015 Wallowa County Chieftain GROW egardless of your beliefs about global warm- ing and climate change, making your new home eco-friendly PDNHV VHQVH ¿QDQFLDOO\ ² and it may be easier than you think. Whether your motiva- Build it green tion is to save money or save One way to build an the planet, homeowners today have many options for “going Earth-friendly home starts with the construction process green.” GOING GREEN itself. Advanced framing tech- niques, for example, take less time to construct, increase HQHUJ\ HI¿FLHQF\ DQG UHGXFH your lumber costs by up to 30 percent. Other green solutions in- clude wool insulation, which regulates home temperature better than other insulation W\SHV DQG LV PRUH ¿UH UHVLV- WDQW (QHUJ\ HI¿FLHQW DSSOL- ances cost less to operate, offsetting their higher upfront costs, and locating the water heater near the highest point of use will reduce pipeline en- ergy loss. Utilizing alternative ma- terials such as plastic lumber and engineered wood is a great way to conserve natural cess materials from other jobs resources. Look for a builder and who will also post a job- who can use reclaimed or ex- site recycling plan to reduce wasted materials. IF YOU CAN DREAM IT WE CAN BUILD IT! Custom Homes & Furniture • Cabinetry Home Renovations & Remodels 1RMREWRRODUJHRUWRRVPDOO &DOORUFRPHE\WRGD\ BLH Construction, Inc. 704 Depot St, Enterprise, OR www.bronsonloghomes.com Green energy systems Upfront costs of solar and wind power features may seem formidable, but renew- able energy systems provide Your Professional Arborists • Free Estimate & Consultation Service • Senior Citizen Discount STANDARDIZED ENERGY SCORES Every new car comes with a window sticker that clearly explains what kind of gas mileage you can expect to get. What if your new home came with that same kind of sticker? That’s the concept behind home energy ratings. The De- partment of Energy is promoting a standard home energy score that home buyers can use to compare different proper- ties they’re thinking about purchasing. ,W¶V D JUHDW ZD\ WR VKRS DPRQJ VLPLODU KRPHV WR VHH ZKLFK RQHV DUH UHDOO\ WKH PRVW HI¿FLHQW EHFDXVH EXLOGHUV¶ FODLPVDERXWKRPHHI¿FLHQF\DUHQRWDOZD\VWUDQVSDUHQWRU easy to understand. long-term savings while con- VHUYLQJ¿QLWHQDWXUDOUHVRXUF- es. Solar irradiation levels vary across the U.S., but homeowners everywhere can VXSSOHPHQW D VLJQL¿FDQW SRU- tion of their electrical needs by utilizing solar panels on their home’s roof space. The cost of solar panels, per watt, has continued to decrease in recent years, as well as in- stallation costs. Furthermore, the energy produced by these panels can offset their initial production costs in as little as one to four years. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory claims that land-based wind farms alone could potentially sup- ply America’s energy needs 10 times over. Unfortunately, residential applications aren’t as reliable yet. Many factors determine how much energy a resi- dential turbine can produce. Experts advise homeowners WR UHVHDUFK D VSHFL¿F VLWH¶V potential for producing sig- QL¿FDQW ZLQG HQHUJ\ ,I \RX live in an area with consistent wind patterns, the rewards of installing a wind turbine could far outweigh the initial investment. The great outdoors When considering ways to make your home eco-friendly, don’t forget to look outdoors. Solar ovens harness the sun’s energy to cook outside, while solar lighting features keep driveways and sidewalks lit at night. Families can have fun working together to grow their own produce and herbs in organic gardens. Learn to feed your garden year-round with kitchen compost. ,QDGGLWLRQUDLQZDWHU FRO- lection systems capture and store water, which can be used to keep lawns and gardens beautiful, without adding to the utility bill. 5 common mistakes gardeners make tions not suitable for growth. When buying a plant, people should read the label saying :KHWKHUJURZLQJDÀRZHU which conditions are neces- garden or vegetable garden, sary for growth. Partial sun- OSU Master Gardener Bill light, he said, means mostly Dochnahl said people can go shady. wrong in a number of areas. By Jessica Keller EO Media Group 1. Watering Specializing in: • Hazardous Tree Removal • Stump Grinding • Safety Trimming • Disease Diagnosis • Systemic Implants • Tree Spraying e Care Nor th e Tr B6 Your Professional Arborists Martin Hamilton since 1977 Licensed • Insured • Bonded • #92910 541-432-4605 Cell # 541-398-1925 Dochnahl said one of the most common mistakes is gardeners either over-water or under-water their plants or lawn. Over-watering may wash away necessary plant nutrients. Too little water, however, will dry out the plant and kill it. 2. Amendments Dochnahl said another mistake he sees among other gardeners is improper use of amendments, such as fertiliz- er and plant foods. Frequent- ly, he said, people purchase fertilizer of plant food with- out knowing when it should be used or how. “They need to read the labels on any of the amend- ments that they buy,” he said, adding understanding the product they intend to use and what it does is important for plant health. 3. Right plant, right place FREE DELIVE RY to Wallowa County! The third biggest mistake, Dochnahl said is people plant ÀRZHUVRUYHJHWDEOHVLQORFD- 4. Pruning Dochnahl said improper pruning is another mistake. “Some people will prune too far,” he said, such as when people decide a tree has grown too much so they “top” it by cutting off the uppermost branches and stem, leaving stubs at one height. That, 'RFKQDKOVDLGLVDPLVWDNH,I too much a tree is topped, it may die or weaken it to such DQ H[WHQW LW FDQQRW ¿JKW RII an insect infestation. Also, to survive, trees will reproduce branches that grow quickly but are weak, making them susceptible to breaking, espe- cially in high winds. “Proper pruning is import- ant,” Dochnahl said. 5. Plant health Dochnahl said the last ma- jor mistake is gardeners do not regularly check to make sure their plants are healthy ² HYHQ WKRVH WKDW DUH GLV- ease-resistant. “Whether it’s a tree, whether it’s a plant or a lawn, you need to make sure they’re KHDOWK\´ KH VDLG ³,W¶V OLNH LI you have children or domestic dogs and cats.” Wallowa County Your one-stop shop for all your outdoor needs. Stop in to see our RED HOT BUYS in Lawn & Garden! 107 NW 2nd St. • Enterprise • 541-426-3622 • acehardware.com
