Goal For The Green

Conventional wisdom would have us all believe that pressure washing is one of the most efficient cleaning methods for any kind of surface. By literally blasting away dirt and grime, pressure washing should be able to leave your decks, patios and exterior walls looking spotless and good as new. That’s what many people believe anyway, but the truth is that while pressure cleaning can be effective, many situations call for a little bit more.

A Brick walkway after pressure washing (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pressure cleaning may be able to get rid of the dirt on a solid surface, but it may also leave deeply embedded dirt untouched. At first, most of the dirt and grime that gets embedded into patios and decks may be unnoticeable, but it will build up in time, and if you go years without a thorough cleaning it will look like almost nothing will get rid of it. Fortunately, there are solutions available from Renew Crew. Renew Crew combines pressure washing with its own exclusive solvents that can penetrate deep into the pores of a surface. These solvents loosen embedded dirt that can then be removed with pressure washing.

An Environmentally-Friendly Solution

Those who are worried about the potentially harmful chemicals found in many deep cleaning solvents need not worry when they hire Renew Crew to clean their surfaces. Renew Crew’s solvents utilize environmentally-friendly enzymes that can kill mold and mildew without killing your plants, bleaching your wood or endangering your family or pets. Our solvents also contain special polymers that can seal your surfaces and protect them against the elements. This will extend the life of your concrete patio or wooden deck so that it can be enjoyed by you and your family for years.

Most commercial pressure washing services cannot provide the kind of thorough and superior concrete cleaning and deck sealing that you will get from Renew Crew. Our exclusive solvents and sealants aren’t available in any store, but a simple pressure washing appointment will give you access to products that were developed and refined specifically for Renew Crew.

For more information about the services offered by Renew Crew or to schedule a cleaning, contact us online at www.renewcrewclean.com today.

Landscaping can be a lot of work and a lot of expense. Mowing the lawn, trimming trees and shrubs, planting flowers, and pulling weeds adds up quickly. But what if the landscape around your house saved you money?

The EPA reports that well-planned, energy-efficient landscaping does just that by lowering heating and cooling expenses. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that energy-efficient landscaping saves 30 to 50 percent on heating and air conditioning bills. Landscaping for energy savings, or enviroscaping, can be part of the overall construction of a site, but is also beneficial for landscape enhancement or rehabilitation.

Landscaping Techniques for Energy Savings

Various landscape techniques create energy savings. Deciduous trees planted on the south side of buildings produce shade and keep heat off the roof and sides of buildings during the summer. Bare trees allow the winter sun through. Hardscaping on the north and west sides of buildings with rocks, fences, walls, shrubs and trees shields buildings from harsh winter winds and controls snowdrifts. Landscaping for energy savings can require digging and moving earth. Do-it-yourself homeowners may need special equipment such as backhoe rental or the assistance of landscaping professionals.

Using the Right Plants

An important part of landscaping for energy savings is choosing the right plants for the right purposes. Native plants will do best with little maintenance or water because they are adapted to the local environment. For extreme environments such as parking areas and urban streetscapes, it’s important to use plants that are very hardy and tolerant of the environment they’ll be in. Tough growing conditions include compacted soil, drought conditions, high temperatures, and air pollution.

Deciduous trees and shrubs are best for shade in summer and let winter sun through to warm building roofs and sides. Evergreens are best for windbreaks and screening undesirable views and utility areas.

If you don’t want to plant trees, but still want to provide some shade for your home or building, use vines. They’ll keep a building’s walls cooler than bare walls and block sunlight (and the resulting heat) from hitting walls and raising indoor temperatures.

Water in the Landscape

Using water in the landscape helps reduce water usage and conserve energy. Installing a small pond or other water feature tempers heat in outdoor areas around buildings. Planting drought-resistant plant varieties reduces water consumption. Planting shrubs and plants with similar water needs together in the landscape cuts down on water usage during the hottest parts of the year.

Windbreaks

The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse reports that windbreaks on north, west, and east sides of a house cut energy consumption on average by 40 percent. Buildings in windy climates especially benefit from well-placed landscaping windbreaks. Evergreens and shrubs are commonly used windbreaks, but can be combined with physical structures like walls, fences, or berms to keep strong winds from hitting buildings. Windbreak plantings should be planted about fifteen feet from the building and 50 feet further than each side of the area being protected to be most effective.