This April marks the 47th anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act. Officially known as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability. This includes renting, selling or financing a property. It all started when Andrew […]
2016 will mark the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act and the subsequent National Register of Historic Places. The goal of the act was to preserve buildings and places that were significant historically or culturally. Places must meet certain criteria in order to be added to the National Register. Recently, historic preservation has […]
Just a friendly reminder that daylight saving time begins at 2:00am this Sunday, March 8, so don’t forget to set your clocks one hour forward! Even if you use phones and other technical devices that update automatically, it can be off-putting when your alarm goes off on Monday morning and it feels like it’s an hour later. […]
Don’t worry folks, winter is almost over! But there are still plenty of chilly days ahead that will no doubt require your home to be heated. Space heaters are a great alternative to using residential furnaces because they are energy efficient and can quickly and evenly heat a room. However, they aren’t without risks, so it’s […]
The schools in Kenton County, Kentucky have started going green. In 2003, the Kenton School District Sustainability Program launched a major overall of the school buildings, with the goal of drastically reducing energy use and cost. So far, it has been incredibly effective. Since 2005, the total cost avoidance in the district (which includes water, […]
New developments can have a lot of effect on the surrounding neighborhood, both positive and negative. New stores can provide employment opportunities and a trendy new restaurant or shopping center can bring in outside visitors, but a meat packing plant or dilapidated storage units can bring down property values. The development firm of Underhill Associates is […]
Perhaps you’ve heard of the mysterious “tiny house” trend which is gathering a small but forceful following. A Tiny house is exactly what it sounds like – a small dwelling, built on a trailer platform with an area usually less than three hundred square feet. Inside are all the usual house amenities – bathroom, kitchen, bed, living […]
Developing a sense of “place” and identity is an important aspect of strengthening, promoting, and establishing a sense of community. Many towns and cities have unique historic architecture and landmarks that help establish the community character and history, so it’s important to preserve these buildings whenever possible. Preserving old buildings does not necessarily mean they […]
In housing, there is currently a big focus on “green” building, which means the developments or structures meet certain standards involving energy efficiency, design, and materials. Residents’ demand for lower energy bills and a smaller footprint (as far as waste, and even space) has made propelled the green building market. When a building is LEED certified, it means it has […]
The time has come to hunker down and wait out the winter, and with those dropping temps often come rising utility bills. Here are some tips to winterize your home, which will increase efficiency, save energy, and lower costs! 1. Prevent drafts. Many people purchase or make “door snakes” to block icy drafts from creeping […]