Betting Against the (US) House - by Charles Homans

Sometime before Tuesday, Aug. 2, the U.S. government has to decide whether it wants the United States to maintain its standing as the bedrock of the global economy, or pull what amounts to the largest dine and dash in history. After weeks of deadlock, the U.S. House of Representatives passed 11th hour legislation on Friday evening to raise the federal government's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling that also met House Republican demands for steep budget cuts and no new taxes. But the Democratic-controlled Senate almost immediately voted to set aside the House plan -- and without some agreement soon between Congress and the White House, the United States risks the mother of all defaults.

That's the bad news. The good news is that we live in the 21st-century global marketplace -- and if it was possible to make a cool $800 million betting on the housing crash that produced the 2008 economic crisis, surely someone can turn a profit on an ailing superpower's inability to pay off its loans, right? So where do you start?

First, take a deep breath. An actual default would be an epic disaster -- but it's enormously unlikely, even if Congress technically hasn't reached a deal. As Slate 's Annie Lowrey notes , several deeply unpleasant scenarios are plausible, but none involve the United States tearing up its IOUs. The stakes are simply too big.

Nevertheless, Washington may have already administered a remarkable self-inflicted wound to the United States' financial standing. The chances of at least one if not more of the ratings agencies downgrading American debt are now quite good . And in fact, congressional Republicans' handling of the debt ceiling -- a procedural matter that had occurred without much incident more than 70 times in previous years -- has so alarmed Wall Street that an actual downgrade is almost beside the point: The markets' faith in the U.S. government's ability to take care of its business has already been badly shaken, and they are already behaving as if U.S. Treasuries are damaged goods. "In our view," J.P. Morgan's North American equity research department wrote in a note to investors on July 29, "the ultimate legacy from U.S. debt ceiling and sovereign Europe [debt crises] is a loss of credibility of policy makers as voters lose faith in governments to protect them.

7 Eco Friendly House Plans Design Tips | Cool House

Whether it’s buying a car, the clothes that you wear, or the house that you live in the buzz today is all about going green and living eco friendly lives. There are some obvious benefits to going green, such as being less wasteful, saving money, saving energy, and health benefits, not to mention that it can just make you feel good knowing that you are doing something good for the earth. One of the problems that people who are looking for eco friendly house plans face is that it’s hard to know what really counts as being eco friendly when looking at various house plans. Here are some things to watch for so that you can find the real deal in green house plans:

Look for smaller house plans. The larger the home the more energy it will consume. Even with all the possible energy saving techniques in place a bigger home just uses more energy than a smaller home. To have a home that is the most efficient build a home that is just as big as necessary for your family. Custom home plans can be created to fit the needs of your family and not waste space.

Consider where you build the home. Building a home on the side of a mountain or in an open field is a lovely idea however, it is probably not the most eco friendly idea. Instead build your home near other already existing homes and developed areas. This is the least harmful to the environment surrounding the home. Less trees will need to be cut down and less ground will need to be torn away. Also, if you live closer to others it will be easier to carpool, bike, or take public transportation saving even more money.

Look for the natural light. The home should be placed strategically so that it can capitalize on natural light. During the daylight hours the majority of the light should come from the natural daylight instead of lamps and light bulbs. Windows and skylights can help to lower energy costs. Insulated dual glazed windows will reduce the heat gain in the summer and the heat loss in the winter months. Overhangs on the facades of the house facing south and west will help to prevent too much heat in the summer months.

The roof. A light colored roof will reflect the sun’s heat instead of absorbing it, helping to keep the house cooler. This is a good green option for new as well as already existing homes. Another roofing idea is a green roof which is partially or entirely covered by a layer of soil and vegetation. This type of roof protects from direct sunlight and acts as an added insulation.

Popular Science

Warm house cool house, inspirational designs for low-energy housing

Journal of horticulture, cottage gardener and home farmer

Popular science

Popular Science