| Universal Design for Aging in Place
Universal Design is a term that applies to design that accommodates people with disabilities in their own home or in a public building. As the population of California grows, more people are bringing their aging parents into their homes to live with them. In addition, more people are opting to "age in place" in their home rather than move to assisted living facilities or nursing homes.
How does one plan such a design for the future? Ask yourself what could possibly be required as you or a family member gets older; this is a good place to begin. Features may include: Space for wheelchair or walker access into and throughout the house; wheelchair ramps; sitting area in the kitchen to prepare meals; lower than standard counters; easy access into a bathtub or shower; and grab bars in the bathroom. There are many ways to make a home more universally maneuverable. The key is to look at the "universally
designed" products and match them to your home, your capabilities and your
anticipated future needs.
There
are a number of universal products available on the market that blend seamlessly
with other popular products. There are also a variety of design ideas that can
make the home easier to live in for everyone, including the new trend toward
open living spaces and the great room.
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How Green Is My Dishwasher?
One of the best ways to go green is in the kitchen, and the energy-hungry dishwasher with its gallons of heated water is a good place to start. The typical dishwasher uses less water than hand washing, and now that California is officially having a drought year, this is of considerable importance.
By using an Energy Star dishwasher instead of hand washing, you save 5,000 gallons of water and $40 in utility costs.
Still, energy efficiency and water conservation can be improved, but will you have clean dishes at the end of the cycle? Manufacturers must balance efficacy, conservation and price.
Currently, 695 dishwasher models across 52 brands qualify for the Energy
Star label. Dishwasher manufacturers are getting so efficient that the
government is raising the thresholds for both the minimum federal standard and
the Energy Star program. As part of that process, a metric for water
consumption likely will factor into qualification requirements for the first
time, to be implemented in 2009 or early 2010.
Peeking over the horizon are totally waterless dishwashers that utilize an ionization technology to clean. Prototypes exist in Europe now that may hold the key to future dishwashers on the market.
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