Publications

Making your home more energy efficient can help save you money, enhance its comfort level, and contribute to a healthier environment.

Learn how you can assess energy use in your home and implement low-cost steps to reduce your energy consumption in this practical step-by-step guide. With illustrations, information, and practical tips, this publication from the U.S. Department of Energy covers insulation and home air leaks, heating and cooling, water heating, windows, lighting, appliances, home office and home electronics

Format: 36 pages, 5 ½ x 8 3/8 inches

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SPANISH VERSION

Making your home more energy efficient can help save you money, enhance its comfort level, and contribute to a healthier environment.

Learn how you can assess energy use in your home and implement low-cost steps to reduce your energy consumption in this practical step-by-step guide. With illustrations, information, and practical tips, this publication from the U.S. Department of Energy covers insulation and home air leaks, heating and cooling, water heating, windows, lighting, appliances, home office and home electronics

Format: 36 pages, 5 ½ x 8 3/8 inches

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Moisture and Mold to Healthy Homes - Basics for Consumers was created for consumers interested in solving moisture and mold problems.

Learn about basics in moisture reduction in residential homes to prevent mold occurrences and to manage mold.

Topics covered include:

• Inspection of the home for moisture and mold
• Exterior and interior inspection
• Cleaning up mold and moisture problems  

Run time: 26 minutes

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From Moisture and Mold to Healthy Homes - Basics for Housing Professionals was created for professionals involved in many aspects of housing from managing, selling, to maintenance and inspection.

Learn about basics in moisture reduction in residential homes to prevent mold occurrences and to manage mold.

Topics covered include:

• Inspection of the home for moisture and mold
• Exterior and interior inspection
• Cleaning up mold and moisture problems

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This 24-page booklet, published through a partnership of Montana State University, EPA, and USDA, addresses consumer questions on biological pollutants like molds and dust mites, construction and remodeling by-products, combustion pollutants, lead dust, secondhand smoke, radon, problem household products, and asthma triggers.

It also offers a room-by-room home checklist of possible problem areas.

Format: 24 pages, 51/2 x 8 ½ inches

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Rain gardens are a functional and aesthetically pleasing way to reduce stormwater runoff in urban areas. This three-part NebGuide series takes you from how to successfully design and build a rain garden for your landscape to selecting plants and creating the look you desire.

• Rain Garden Design for Homeowners, G1758, covers basic benefits of rain gardens and is a step-by-step guide to soil assessment, rain garden shaping and design, site location and how to add enhancements.
• Plant Selection for Rain Gardens in Nebraska, G1759, covers how to incorporate a variety of plants in rain gardens, based on season of bloom, color, height, and plant interest and provides a table of recommended plants and their attributes.
• Installing Rain Gardens in Your Yard, G1760, covers site preparation, alternatives for heavy, clay soil, deep aeration, soil amendment, rain barrels, and drainage systems.

Format: (3) Four-page Nebguides

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Stormwater runoff from individual lawns and gardens can lead to non-point pollution of surface waters. This group of publications provides information on how you can reduce unintended pollution, maintain a safer environment, and use the water you apply more efficiently.   This selection includes four UNL Extension NebGuides:

• Pesticide Use in the Lawn and Garden, G1844, covers proper use and application of lawn and garden pesticides to prevent potential water contamination from stormwater runoff.
• Water Pollution and Our Own Yards, G1848, describes how pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, pesticides, bacteria, and heavy metals often move from yards to surface water via stormwater runoff. This publication outlines practices to reduce water pollution by reducing the amount of pollutants and runoff water that leave a property.
• Landscape Water Conservation, G1859, looks at how much water your yard needs and what steps you can take to assure more efficient application and water conservation.
• Yard Waste Management, G1855, explains how to manage landscape waste, create a compost pile, and use landscape waste as mulch.

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When water from rain or melting snow can’t soak into the ground, it flows over lawns, structures, pavement, and bare soil, collecting contaminants and soil particles which are carried to local lakes and rivers. This publication looks at how stormwater runoff develops and describes basic low-cost, low-maintenance steps that landowners can take to reduce unintended pollution. 8 pages. Learn More