Green construction is not a new concept. Despite the widespread understanding of eco-friendly concepts, sustainable efforts in the commercial sector have been varied and inconsistent for many years.

However, 2016 and 2017 have shown a distinct trend toward green building of all types, especially in commercial properties. In this blog, we discuss some of the methods companies use to make their buildings more sustainable, as well as the reasons for this shift in construction priorities.

Childproofing a home can be a complex process. Not only do you, the parent, have to account for the general risks in your home, but to be able to anticipate potential hazards to someone of your child’s stature, you must also picture the world through his or her eyes.

One of the most common but often dangerous elements in any home with a young child is the windows. Virtually every home has windows in most rooms, and many of these windows are high enough off the ground to be dangerous for small children.

Luckily, proactive window safety measures can keep your child safe and your mind at ease. Start with the following seven fundamental window safety tips.

According to the Energy Information Administration, the windows and doors in the average residence are responsible for up to one third of its total heating and cooling losses. In commercial buildings, the numbers are even worse. Up to 40 percent of your heating and cooling energy escapes through the windows in a commercial facility. This increased loss is often due to the abundance of windows installed in businesses including storefronts, restaurants and offices.

If possible, replacing all of your windows with energy-efficient insulated windows will certainly help reduce your overall HVAC expenses due to heating and cooling loss. However, if your home- or building-improvement budget is stretched thin, there’s a more cost-effective solution to curb your structure’s window-related energy losses.

Consider having low-emissivity (low-e) window film installed on the windows of your house, condo or commercial facility. Insulated window film will increase your interior comfort while lowering your overall energy costs. Read on to learn more about the installation and performance of low-e window films.

A glass storefront provides your business with numerous benefits, from a sleek look that appeals to customers to a built-in space for advertising. However, glass storefronts can also make your business premises more vulnerable.

As with any large glass window, your storefront could become broken due to a storm, accident, or attempt at burglary. Choosing the correct commercial glass type and leaving installation to an experienced glass expert can reduce the risk of breakage but may not prevent all storefront glass damage.

Employers on the cutting edge of creating successful workplace environments are experimenting with the positive benefits of nature. By bringing outdoor plants indoors, bosses hope to benefit their employees’ health and productivity. If your company headquarters is a morale-busting stack of cubicles, adding more glass and plant life is the secret to turn your workers into engaged and happy team members.

Amazon is one of the bigger businesses currently investing heavily in the workplace-plant trend. Employees in the company’s Seattle area will soon be able to experience the Spheres, which are a special set of geodesic greenhouses full of exotic plants collected from around the world.

Whether you lease a spacious home or a studio apartment, you probably have to make compromises to create a space that feels like home without impacting your security deposit. One of the most difficult decisions to make when you rent is how you’ll cover your windows.

Many rental properties come with basic blinds, but sometimes you need window treatments with a little more functionality or flair. In this blog, we list five options that can enhance your privacy, energy efficiency, and sense of ownership without damaging the walls.

If you constantly feel tired and depressed, you may not be getting enough natural light. Research shows that natural light is important for your physical and emotional health.

It can be hard to get enough natural light when you work indoors for most of the day. But taking a few key steps can increase the natural light you experience each day.

Let’s delve deeper into the benefits of natural light and how you can increase your exposure at home and work.

Kitchens that open into a dining area are common in homes of any size. Ideally, this arrangement makes serving food, hosting get-togethers, and having dinner as a family feel simpler and more natural.

Unfortunately, in order to accommodate a connected kitchen and dining room, some floor plans skimp on square footage in both areas. In these homes, instead of a large kitchen or spacious formal dining room, you get a smaller version of both.

If your kitchen and dining room combo often feel cramped, here are 10 strategies for making the space feel bigger on any budget.

As a landlord, rental-property owner, or property manager, you have a number of responsibilities under the law. You’re responsible for certain repairs and upgrades to ensure that your property is safe and habitable for your current and future tenants.

The best decor and building choices you can make as a rental-property owner or manager will appeal to prospective tenants and make your job easier overall. In this blog, we discuss five glass upgrades that can make your rental property more competitive in your local market and more profitable in the future.

Minimalist design has become incredibly popular over the last few decades. It’s an architectural movement focused on simplicity and the elimination of clutter. Rooms are stripped down to just their key elements, lines are made as clean and concise as possible, and colors are kept to a minimum. Though minimalist design can certainly be employed in any room, it’s especially popular in bathrooms where homeowners really want that fresh, crisp feeling. 

If you’re thinking of designing a minimalist bathroom in your home, here are six key elements to include.