I was pleased to have the chance to interview Chris Grundy from the DIY Network’s show Cool Tools. Here’s the Q&A session:

1. What are the newest trends in tool design?

It seems a lot of companies are coming out with smaller 12-volt lithium-ion cordless tools.  These little babies are really practical & easy to put in your tool bag for grabbing whenever you need it.

2. What is important to look for when buying tools? How do you tell what is good quality and what is junk?

Anytime you’re spending money it’s all about the research. And the Internet lets you ask the world how well a tool works so you’re not just relying on your buddies.  After all, they might get their info from their cousin’s brother-in-law who once knew this guy. Either it broke the first time he used it or it’s the coolest thing since the trigger on a drill - but can you trust the source?!  Yeah, you need to be wary of hidden agendas in anonymous reviews on the net, but at least the volume available helps temper that. In the end, your own experience is the best guide….and don’t forget to watch my show, too!

3. What are the five most important tools to buy when first starting your tool collection?

A good hammer, a versatile set of screwdrivers, a utility knife (careful - probably the least respected and most dangerous weapon in the shop), a set of wrenches  (slip joint, groove joint, adjustable and needle nose) and a quality paintbrush  (it really does make a difference, just remember to take care of it and it will take care of you).

4. What do you think is the most important tool innovation in the last 50 years?

Cutting the cord! Cordless tools have freed workers from being chained to the outlet and reduce tool sizes that allow them to get tasks done in situations that our granddads couldn’t even imagine possible.

5. What is your favorite gadget of all time?

Of all time?  The bottle opener is really good, the fork (can’t imagine life with one), but another of my favorites is the pocket screw jig. I really like the way Kreg Jig has simplified pocket screws making a fantastic, strong joint quick and easy.

DIY Network will be airing a special "Holiday Blitz" of Cool Tools episodes for the Thanksgiving weekend (starting 11/27 through 11/30) to get you geared up for the holiday season and ready to tackle some of your own DIY projects with the "coolest" tools.

The new season of Cool Tools will air immediately after the Holiday Blitz on Thursdays at 9pm. For more info, check the official site.

When my mom was talking to the builder about building her new house, one of the things she insisted on was a secret, hidden room. The builder looked at her like she was nuts, but since she was paying the bills, she got her secret room, which looks much like the one on top of the picture.

Web Urbanist has a great post that has tons of info and pictures on secret rooms. Some of them are truly amazing. Go check it out.

I love looking at the Abandoned Places community on Livejournal. So many interesting buildings, lost to the ravages of time.

But I have a really hard time imagining why someone could abandon a place like this. It’s a castle in the Belgian woods. It’s simply stunning. I have no idea how someone could let something like this go.

Need to repair a crack in your blacktop driveway? Ask the Builder will show you how!

That’s right, a marathon on the DIY Network of Cool Tools! It starts next Thursday (Thanksgiving) and runs all weekend. It’s a must-watch if you’re wondering what to get the DIYers you love for Christmas. I can hardly wait!

(Check your local listings for times and channels)

Photo: Paul Nicholson on Flickr

Thanks to our guest blogger Sara Shragal for this timely and informative post!

In designing your dream home, let’s be honest, how to save energy and reduce your heating, electricity and other costs probably isn’t the first thing that crosses your mind. Yet the times dictate making it a priority, both from a financial standpoint and an environmental one. Going greener may be trendy, but the fact of the matter is it can save you some of the other kind of green and that is important factors in designing and maintaining your dream house.

So, where do you start? When it comes to saving energy, many of the best tips out there are the simplest. For example:

●        Dressing in layers – why turn up the thermostat when you can just put on a sweater or sweatshirt?
●        Run a humidifier in your house – again, common sense. What feels warmer in the summer, a muggy 70-degree day or a dry 80-degree day?
●        Programmable thermostats – this way you can maintain a consistent temperature in your home. Most experts recommend 68 degrees during the day, 64 while you sleep.
●        Shading your windows – let the sun shine in during the winter and pull down the shades in the summer to keep out the heat.
●        Change the settings in your refrigerator – several resources recommend setting your refrigerator to 36 to 38 degrees and your freezer to zero to five degrees; in addition, when cooking, look through the glass window rather than opening the oven. Your sneak peek could cost you up to 25 degrees in heat, making your oven work harder and driving up your energy costs.
●        Close up any rooms you’re not using – close the doors and vents in any spare rooms (e.g. if you have a child away at college); by closing the vents and door to one spare room in the house, the Department of Energy estimates you’ll cut your heating and cooling bills up to 20 percent.

Beyond the average, common sense solutions above, you can also take some more definitive steps, like replacing your windows with multi-pane windows. Or if new windows aren’t in the budget, you can install window plastic around your windows and reduce heat loss up to 50 percent. You can reduce heat loss another 10 percent savings by stopping drafts around your windows and doors with caulking, sealant, and weather stripping.

Some other more bang-for-less-of your buck energy-saving measures include:
●        Changing furnace filters regularly; at least once a year.
●        Installing a glass door fireplace to keep heat from escaping up the chimney—especially if you forget to close the damper or have difficulty closing it tightly.
●        Install low-flow showerheads and faucets, you’ll not only decrease the use of your hot water (therefore lessening the amount of work your hot water heater must do every day), but also your water use overall.

While these measures individually might seem rather small, cumulatively they can make quite a difference in how much energy you use. And that can have a very positive impact on your bottom line. The last thing you want this winter is for your dream house to become a nightmare due to high power and heating bills.

Sara Shragal is a staff writer for DirectBuy. For more information or other helpful tips for your home, visit www.directbuycares.com. You can send suggestions for future columns to questions@directbuycares.com.

We had a power outage on Friday night that went on for many hours. We never did hear why it happened, but I suspect it has something to do with our power lines being the way they are. This picture illustrates what a mess it is. I’ve lived in areas that had above ground wires and areas that had underground wires, and power outages were far less frequent when the wires were underground.

My question is this: who decides how the wires will be? Is it the city, the developer, or the electric company?

Simply amazing. Photo by Chris Wage on Flickr