Despite what skeptics may say, solar energy is a very good thing—for efficient home designs, for the environment, and for your checkbook. It’s one of the only self-sustaining processes for creating and storing energy, rather than buying it. Let’s take a closer look at some of the home trends that are being impacted by solar.

Flooding is one of the most traumatic and dangerous natural disasters in the United States. In general, flooding is the number one natural disaster in the entire country, while flash flooding is responsible for approximately 200 deaths each year. From 2005 to 2014, the average flood claim was $42,000, and total flood insurance claims averaged more than $3.5 million per year.

A wide variety of sources can cause a house to smell poorly, from the trash that’s overdue for the dumpster to a teenager’s body odor.

The attic is a part of the house that is typically under-appreciated and is known as an awkward space for storing junk.  Surprisingly for most homeowners, the attic plays a big role in controlling the entire house temperature, acting as a ventilation system where the excess heat within the house rises into the attic.

Natural disasters happen. Power outages happen. The U.S. experiences 3,000 power outages per year, affecting at least 41 million people. And while natural disasters are out of your realm of control, you can control the severity of a power outage – to a certain extent.