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Think of your car as a home power supply on wheels. Tesson/Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Seth Blumsack , Penn State As manufacturers introduce new models of electric vehicles, demand for them is growing steadily. New EV sales in the U.S. roughly doubled in 2021 and could double again in 2022, from 600,000 to 1.2 million . Auto industry leaders expect that EVs could account for at least half of all new U.S. car sales by the end of the decade. EVs appeal to different customers in different ways. Many buyers want to help protect the environment ; others want to save money on gasoline or try out the latest, coolest technology . In areas like California and Texas that have suffered large weather-related power failures in recent years, consumers are starting to consider EVs in a new way: as a potential electricity source when the lights go out. Ford has made backup power a selling point of its electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck, which...

Apollo Beach, Fla., averages 3 feet above sea level, with many homes directly on the water. Google Earth Risa Palm , Georgia State University and Toby W. Bolsen , Georgia State University Apollo Beach, Florida, is a maze of canals lined with hundreds of houses perched right near the water’s edge. The whole community, just south of Tampa, is only about 3 feet above sea level, meaning it’s at risk from storm surge as sea levels rise. Homebuyers along the U.S. coasts can check each property’s flood risk as easily as they check the size of the bedrooms – most coastal real estate listings now include future flood risk details that take climate change into account. In Apollo Beach, for example, many of the properties are at least 9 out of 10 on the flood risk scale. That knowledge isn’t stopping homebuyers, though. Waterfront homes are selling within days of going on the market, and the same story is playing out all along the South Florida coast at a ...

Does being told that a veggie burger, like the one on the right, is better for the environment make you more likely to choose it over beef? AP Photo/Nati Harnik Anna Mattila , Penn State The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Consumers are more likely to choose a plant-based meat substitute when the restaurant’s advertising highlights the social benefits of doing so rather than its taste, according to recently published research I conducted with a colleague. We also found that showcasing the social costs of meat consumption also leads to a preference for plant-based “meats.” To reach this conclusion, we conducted two online experiments to examine the advertising of plant-based burgers and meatballs. Participants were recruited via the crowdsourcing website Amazon Mechanical Turk. In the first one, 156 participants were shown one of three commercials for a plant-based burger. They saw either a social appe...

Because of its beauty and durability, vinyl siding is very popular. The average homeowner can install vinyl siding themselves with a little guidance. To learn how to replace your home's old exterior siding with new vinyl siding, keep reading this text. Prepare the exterior of your house. You must remove your old siding before starting a vinyl siding project. If your old siding has any damage or rot, this is especially important. It's critical to remove every nail from your home's exterior when removing old siding. When you're installing your new vinyl siding, this will help protect it from damage.  Installation of Vinyl Siding It's time to start installing your vinyl siding after you've removed the old siding and nails. To begin, you'll need to put in the starter trim and corner molding. To get the best results, leave two inches between your corner molding and starter trim when installing. You'll also need to trim around your doors and windows, as well a...

  Gas station in Seattle on March 11, 2022. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren Jay L. Zagorsky , Boston University ; Erich Muehlegger , University of California, Davis ; Sanya Carley , Indiana University , and Theodore J. Kury , University of Florida With gasoline prices trending over US$4 per gallon nationwide , politicians are feeling the heat. In response, Maryland and Georgia have temporarily waived their state gasoline taxes to reduce the burden on consumers. Other states are considering similar actions, and some members of Congress have called for suspending the federal gas tax . The Conversation asked four experts whether gas tax waivers are an effective way to provide economic relief to U.S. households, and what other impacts these measures could have. Not a windfall Jay Zagorsky, Senior Lecturer in Markets, Public Policy and Law, Boston University As an economist who has studied gasoline prices , I doubt that waiving gas taxes will meaningfully...

It is possible that homeowners with less than stellar credit will have more difficulty qualifying for a home equity line of credit. It is possible to have a low credit score due to a history of financial difficulties.  What exactly is a credit score, and how does it affect my financial situation?  It is possible to have a credit score between 300 and 850. The credit score was invented by the Fair Isaac Corporation. Using the homeowner's credit score, home equity line of credit lenders determine the interest rate that will be charged. Mortgage interest rates will be higher for those whose credit is less than outstanding.  A credit score above 700 is a sure bet when it comes to getting low interest rates on a loan. Lenders also consider a homeowner's credit score when deciding whether or not to give them a loan. Decisions on homeowners' credit limits are also made based on their credit score. In order to calculate an individual's credit score, the amount of credit he or s...

As a means of making home improvements, we were able to raise the market value of our house and, thus, our personal financial position. In the short time we've lived there, my wife and I have been able to significantly increase the value of our home. Our $400,000 home underwent a $20,000 renovation. After completing all of our renovations, our home was only recently reassessed. As a result of this, an accurate appraisal of $480,000 was provided. As a result of our first year of home ownership, we now have an increased sense of self-worth and equity worth $60,000 more. We finished what we said. We took great care in narrowing down our list of potential home improvement projects. Our goal was to make every dollar invested in the company pay for itself in profit. Only by doing so will we be able to increase our equity. Upgrades that were surefire ways to increase the value of our home were chosen. Winterizing Your House My family and I recently purchased a house built in the 1940s. T...

It makes no difference how much time you spend in bed. You understand how important it is to keep your private haven in order. You don't have to get rid of your furniture or remodel your entire bedroom to get organized. Some of the ideas below can help you organize your bedroom. If you have a lot of shoes but not enough closet space, install a rail molding in your wall to organize them. Make sure to purchase pieces that have been pre-primed and have them cut to your desired lengths at the store. Attach them to your wall with construction adhesive and space them about one foot apart. A shadow box jewelry cabinet can transform your bedroom into a focal point. Some costume jewelry is simply too lovely to be tucked away in a forgotten drawer. Select a few of your favorite pieces to showcase in the shadow box jewelry cabinet.  Make a closet out of the space beneath your bed. Attach four casters to the bottom of wooden crates, boxes, or bins. Ascertain that your boxes can be slid under y...

When it comes to performing a wide range of do-it-yourself home improvement tasks, success takes more than just a little practice.   To become a master of all trades, you'll need to make a significant financial commitment, as well as devote a significant amount of time and energy. If you put in the time and effort, you'll find that you're capable of doing a good deal of the work around the house and saving some good money. Your toolkit will expand over time as you learn how to use each one effectively. You'll also learn the fundamentals and how to use each tool, which will save you money in the long run by avoiding the need to hire professionals. The most popular guy in the neighborhood is often the handyman because he knows exactly what to do to fix almost any problem. Having the right tools can make a difference Do-it-yourself projects can be done with some basic tools that every homeowner should have on hand. A screwdriver, or pliers, and an adjustable wrench are inc...

You probably don't want to spend too much money when you need an emergency plumber. In an emergency, there is no time to waste because plumbers charge by the hour. In an emergency, there are a few things you can do to get a good deal on service right away. You should ask these questions before you hire an emergency plumber: Is the price reasonable? Do they have a good rapport with their clients? If so, what are people saying? A quick response time is one of the hallmarks of a reputable emergency plumbing service. After all, a leaky faucet or clogged drain won't go away on their own. There are times when waiting for a plumber to arrive can actually cause more damage. Furthermore, emergency plumbers understand the value of responding quickly to a problem. They can help you save a lot of money this way. In the event of a plumbing crisis, call an emergency plumber immediately. A plumber is the best person to call if you need immediate assistance. An emergency plumber will be able t...

Bathtub valves, like any other home plumbing parts, can wear out over time. When not properly taking care in a timely manner, this often results in expensive repairs. A leaking faucet can cause a lot of damage behind the walls, and an inoperable drain could be the result of a much more serious problem than clogged hair. Typically, the most common problems involving bathtub plumbing are clogged drains or non-functional valves. Minor repairs can be done by a do-it-yourself homeowner with basic plumbing knowledge and a few tools. Many of the parts required to repair the bathtub plumbing can be bought at your local home improvement store or any plumbing supply store. More complex plumbing issues may necessitate extensive technical repairs by a professional plumber. Repairing Faucets It is critical to ensure that the water supply has been turned off before beginning any bathroom plumbing repair. The water supply to the bathtub is usually hidden behind the bathtub's faucet wall. If that ...

 Floor tile installation is a worthwhile home improvement project that can add substantial monetary value to your house. Porcelain and ceramic floor tiles can last for decades if properly cared for, making them ideal for high-traffic areas. Tiles can be installed at home as an additional perk for the homeowner. Renting specialized tools from your local home improvement store is an option, so the only things you'll need to complete the project are a lot of time and effort. To begin with To begin, the homeowner will need to remove any existing flooring, such as carpet, old tile, linoleum, or hardwood, before laying down new flooring. The baseboards and doorjamb moldings around the room to be tiled must be removed first. The subfloor (the surface directly beneath the floor covering) must be solid and well-maintained. Despite their hardness, the floor tiles are brittle. They are easily broken if the substrate beneath them is not stable or stable at all. On a wooden floor, you'll ne...

If you're fed up with the looks of your yard's landscape but don't have the money to make major improvements, there are other solutions available. If you follow a few simple guidelines, you may easily and affordably improve the outside landscaping of your home. Planting perennials is a good idea Choosing the right plants is the most crucial part of any landscaping job. Flowers that only bloom once a year and don't return the following season are common among homeowners. Perennials should be planted in the front and back yards instead. They'll return each spring and create flowers on their own. Take cuttings or samples of perennial plants from a friend's garden and transplant them into your own. To avoid wasting time and money, use annual seeds Visiting a home improvement store is all it takes to see how expensive annuals can be. Their blooms are plentiful, but they only survive one season before they die off. For the most part, planting an annual is a waste of m...

When it comes to applying paint to your walls there are many things to get your walls looking their best. Some of the most important things to consider when painting your walls include: where the paint is going to go, what kind of paint to use, what kind of paint to avoid, and how often you’ll be painting your walls. Let’s take a closer look at each of these topics so you can get started on your next home improvement project! Getting your walls ready for a new coat of paint is a crucial part of any paint project. There are things you can do to get your walls looking their best before you even start. Here are a few things to keep in mind so you can get the best results possible in the short term: Make sure to remove all nails from your walls so the paint won’t hang up on them. If you’re painting over existing paint, you’ll need to remove all nails from the old paint so you don’t get paint everywhere while you’re working. For fresh paint, you can use a utility knife to cut away at the na...

Organic beauty is not just about applying natural products to your skin. It as well implies looking after your health utilizing different natural means in order to insure you look your absolute best. These 3 natural ingredients will work wonders and show you exactly what I am talking about… Mushrooms – For Anti-Aging Mushrooms incorporate vitamin D. Vitamin D has the effect of lengthening what are also known as 'telomeres' discovered on the ends of your cells. These act as 'caps' on either end of the DNA and are there so that we will be able to lose a few of the ends of our DNA without it effecting our health. This is often why we don't begin deteriorating till we progress to a definite age and by employing vitamin D to lengthen these, we may be capable of steal ourselves a bit more time on the clock! Vitamin D is but even so rattling crucial for regulating hormones and can serve to guarantee that you've the right balance of anabolic hormones to assist rebuild a...

  Introduction: Someone has rightly said that it is not enough to have the best home. The beauty and importance of owing it are only visible when the owner maintains it or rather keeps it clean. The same goes for floors. Floor maintenance is best done when it is cleaned in the required and technical manner. Basic tips: Because floors are so impenetrable, they are easy to keep clean. Most, if not all, polishes will not stick to your surface. All that's really required is vacuuming, dust mopping, and maybe a damp towel at times. Most floor brands carry a 10-25 year case warranty against stains, wear and discoloration. They are planned to look great for many years with a minimum of effort. The action of cleaning: While floors of a specific type are meant to resist wear and tear, they retain a new look if you follow these simple behaviors: * Vacuum or mop to remove loose dirt or grit. * Damp mop with hot water; do not flood the floor. * Change the water as needed to stay clean. * Do no...