When buying windows, make a list of your choices and preferences and pay attention to value for money. These should help make your window price comparisons organized and fruitful.

- Keith Sully

A kitchen remodel average cost is about $14-26,000 for normal jobs and $80-100,000 for big ones. The price depends on a few factors like room’s size plus the materials and products you want put in. What you can do is consult contractors and neighbors before moving on with this improvement.

- Keith Sully

For those who are looking to replace their windows, a great investment can be made. Thanks to the American Reinvestment Act of 2009, you can now replace your windows and receive tax credit. To receive your Replacement Windows Tax Credit, you need to purchase pieces which are made with materials that are environmentally friendly and can conserve energy. Ask your local dealer today!

- Keith Sully

Here are some guidelines to help you with choices about laptop ergonomics while you are traveling or don’t have access to your normal work space.

• Find a good place to sit! Your chair is the most important tool for good posture and comfort. Find a good chair that is comfortable and, hopefully, adjustable. Make sure you have good support for your lower back. For a quick fix you can try a rolled towel or sweatshirt behind your lower back, or better yet, bring your own lumbar support cushion. Lean the chair back slightly to relax the large muscles in your back and shoulders.
• Use your laptop on your lap. This may seem a poor ergonomic choice, but it is important to protect your wrists and hands. At this angle you can maintain a neutral wrist posture; find a good position where you can keep your wrists straight and your hands and arms relaxed.
• Angle your laptop screen up as much as possible to minimize the strain on your neck. This is where you have to make a choice in your laptop ergonomics between your neck and your wrists. Because your neck is controlled by the large muscles in your back and shoulders, it is normally better to compromise neck posture than wrists posture. Just remember that in this position, it is vital that you take frequent breaks, and stretch the muscles in your neck, shoulders and back.
• Bring your own keyboard. When traveling, this is probably your best option. A wireless, mini keyboard is light, compact and portable, with no cables to worry about. With a separate keyboard, place the laptop on a table or desk and use the keyboard directly on your lap or slightly elevated on a pillow. This will allow you to keep your hands in good position without having to look down at your laptop screen.

Laptops are compact and allow you to travel with your computer, but they also raise concerns about ergonomics and comfort. Bring your own mini keyboard for better comfort and faster typing. And be prepared for any sitting options with your own portable lumbar support. These guidelines can help you make good ergonomic choices while enjoying the portability of your laptop.

There are two general situations to address; your primary work space and when you are on the road. We’ll talk about some great travel tips next time. This article is concerned with your comfort at home – whether that is in your living room, or in an office space at a place of business. The best scenario would be to have a docking station that allows you to use your laptop with a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse while you are at work, but sometimes that is not an option.

Here are some guidelines to help you make good choices about your laptop use and desk space.

• Keyboard: The best position for your keyboard is an inch or two above your lap, slanting away from your body. This relaxes your hand and helps you keep your wrists straight. To achieve this with a laptop, you are best off installing a simple, keyboard tray below your desk and adding a separate ergonomic keyboard. A wireless, mini keyboard would be a good choice, with a compact, portable design and no wires to worry about.
• Mouse: You mouse should be in about the same place as you keyboard, but this is less vital depending on your mouse usage. If you are primarily entering data or typing, you tend to use the quick keys instead of reaching for your mouse; find a keyboard with a built-in touchpad would serve you well. But if you are designing or arranging page elements, you will use your mouse more significantly and should consider using a separate ergonomic mouse that fits and supports your hand.
• Screen: With a laptop, your viewing options are limited; you are either looking down, or hurting your wrists while looking straight ahead. Your best option for your primary work space it to elevate your laptop screen and use a separate keyboard. Place your laptop monitor at eye level where you are most comfortable reading the screen. You may need to add a monitor shelf to achieve the necessary height.

The compact design of laptops has left many people uncomfortable while working. If you don’t have the options of a full docking station, at least add an ergonomic keyboard and adjustable keyboard tray to help restore good posture and relieve the pain. Enjoy the flexibility and portability of your laptop, but be careful about any pain and guard yourself against possible injury.

1. Use it as a great media tool, not a computer. The iPad was designed to provide flexible media consumption – movies, pictures, books, music – for short periods of time, but it was not intended to be used for eight hours a day.
2. Try an external keyboard if you are going to spend much time typing emails or even word processing. This can be a great space saver while traveling or commuting, but was not ergonomically designed for long-term repetitive movements. Check out this Flex Bluetooth Mini Keyboard for use with your iPad. The keyboard easily rolls up for portability and can help with typing strain.
3. Take advantage of its flexibility. One of the best things about the iPad is the flexibility. You can now view media anywhere, and from any position. Use this feature to your advantage. Muscle strain happens with repetitive motion or positions, so change your position frequently. Don’t to sit at a desk; instead lie down for a while or lean back on the couch.
4. Add an iPad stand for more comfortable viewing. The position of the screen is often one of the biggest challenges for the iPad. Don’t lay it on a flat surface like your lap or a table top; this will strain your neck in a matter of minutes. If you are watching a movie, or browsing the web for more than a few minutes, you will significantly benefit from an iPad stand. I love this iPad Bundle that comes with a case that also functions as a stand.  The bundle also comes with a portable mini keyboard.

Enjoy the flexibility and portability of your iPad, without falling victim to poor ergonomics. Try using a mini keyboard for emails and other typing. And for movies or long-term use, add a portable iPad stand. The iPad Bundle combines both these features into one package, and provides a case to protect your investment.  A little thought and preparation can help you appreciate the benefits and avoid the challenges of your iPad use.

Clever designs for small spaces: Ergonomic desks are often designed with small spaces in mind. There are great desks that can be used in tight quarters at home, or in a small office.

• The Smart Desk – This ergonomic desk is a great option for a small office or a home office. This desk as a higher surface with good placement for your monitor and printer; it also includes a lower, adjustable surface for your keyboard. This can be moved to the optimum, ergonomic height for typing. All this, with a very compact design to fit the smallest space.
• Z Ergonomic Work Center- This is another compact, ergonomic design that fits into small spaces. The best feature about this desk is the fully, articulated keyboard and mouse platform. It also has a good size surface for you monitor, or to provide additional work space.

Ergonomic placement for keyboards and monitors: While you can add a keyboard tray or monitor lift to your current workspace, ergonomic desks normally have these conveniences built in. These trays and flexible work surfaces make ergonomics easy for anyone.

• HiLo Ergo Work Station- This compact ergonomic desk is perfectly designed to provide the perfect placement of your computer tools. The desk can be adjusted to the perfect height. It also includes a movable, keyboard tray for optimum keyboard and mouse placement. These features make it a great option when you are sharing a work station with other users; everything quickly adjusts to fit whoever is using the desk.

• Sit or Stand Work Station – This is one of the most flexible ergonomic desks. There are numerous arrangements for the work surfaces and the keyboard tray. You can set it up for a standing work station in a hall, or corner of a room. Or it can be used as a standard sitting desk in a small space. It takes advantage of available vertical space and is on wheels to allow for flexible placement in a room.

Flexible, adjustable, convenient: Best of all, ergonomic desks can be found for every need. These desks are frequently flexible in their setup and use, providing for unique work situations, such as standing while working, or taking your ergonomics with you on the road.

• The Hercules Ergonomic Desk – This is a great adjustable height desk unit that holds your monitor, keyboard and mouse. The entire unit rises to provide an ergonomic surface for standing while typing. Standing occasionally while working can be especially beneficial for back pain or just to change position.
• Close and Go – If you often have to set up a make-shift office on the go, or at home, this portable, ergonomic desk is perfect. It has a separate keyboard tray for ergonomic typing, or the surface can be used for additional work space.

There are so many great, ergonomic desks available to fit any space and to meet any specific needs. Look around to find the perfect desk to work for you. With flexible keyboard trays and adjustable heights, you can easily enjoy the benefits of a pain-free, productive, ergonomic work station.

Ergonomic wrist rests provide many benefits for a keyboard user.  They

- prevent extension of the wrist by keeping them straight during keyboard use.
- provide padding for the hands, making the desk more comfortable.
- keep hands from dropping off the edge of the keyboard.
- relieve tension and soreness in the shoulders by removing arm weight from the shoulders and neck.
- alleviate pressure and irritation of the tendons.

However, most people never learn how to correctly use a wrist rest.  To make the most of your wrist rest, follow these important tips:

1. Never place your wrists directly on the wrist rests (or any other surface). Instead, place the palm or the ball of your hand on the rest.
2. Only use the rest between periods of typing, not all the time.
3. While typing, keep your wrists straight with your hands floating freely over the keyboard.

Most computer users can benefit from using a wrist rest. If you take the time to learn how to use your wrist rest properly, you can prevent wrist injury and alleviate pressure and soreness in your arms and shoulders.

Compact Design

The compact design of mini keyboards reduces the amount of effort and muscle use required for each key stroke. The keys themselves are closer together, thus eliminating the stretching and straining to reach the higher keys. The mini keyboard’s ergonomic design also allows the wrist and the hand to rest on the same surface, minimizing pressure on the wrist.

Built-in Mouse

The mini keyboard’s built-in touchpad eliminates the arm and wrist movement between the keyboard and mouse; that movement is a significant cause of strain on the shoulder and arm.  Removing the external mouse also lowers the pressure on the wrist and hand often caused by a standard mouse.

Flexible Positioning

The compact design and wireless flexibility of the mini keyboard allows the user to easily position the keyboard on any work surface and at any angle that will provide for the most comfort. Proper use can encourage a neutral arm and wrist position, thus lowering muscle strain.

Portable Design

With a separate keyboard, laptop user can also find a neutral hand position, and they can eliminate the stress on the upper body resulting from looking down at a laptop screen. This small keyboard is as easily portable as a laptop and its design allows for proper keyboard placement while not compromising screen height.

Ergonomically designed, mini keyboards can encourage neutral arm position and reduce wear on the muscles caused by poor posture. Through their flexible and portable design, everyone can benefit from the good posture and lower muscle effort encouraged by the proper positioning of a compact, mini keyboard.

1. 1. Rest and Stretch: Give the tired muscles a break and stretch the tight muscle area. A significant break like 24 to 48 hours provides the most effective relief, but even taking a three minute break from your computer every hour can help significantly. The National Institute of Health recommends these shoulder stretches.
2. 2. Apply Heat or Cold: Hot compresses increase blood flow and relax tense muscles; however, do not apply heat to an inflamed area. The application of cold packs can reduce inflammation and numb the pain; just remember not to place ice directly on the skin. Use hot or cold for about 20 minutes at a time and wait at least an hour before repeating treatment.
3. 3. Restore Proper Sitting Posture: The ultimate goal is to maintain a neutral typing posture to prevent shoulder, neck and back pain. Your chair, as the basis for good posture, should be adjusted specifically to fit you. First, evaluate the back rest. Does the shape of the chair properly support the curvature of your lower back? A rolled towel or additional lumbar support can encourage proper posture and relieve muscle strain. Next, adjust the chair height to ensure that your feet rest flat on the floor. The back of your knees should also not touch the edge of the chair seat or pan. Finally, the armrests should be placed low enough that you can relax both arms and shoulders freely at your side during computer use.
4. 4. Adjust the Work Space: A significant contributor to shoulder pain is the improper height and placement of your keyboard and mouse. When a keyboard is high, the user raises the shoulder keeping the muscles tensed. When it is too low, muscle strain is cause by reaching for keys or the mouse. An adjustable keyboard tray allows the freedom to properly position they keyboard one or two inches above your legs, just below your elbow height. A slight angle away from your body will help you relax your hands as well. Your computer mouse should be tight against the keyboard, at the same height and angle. A mini keyboard, that does not have the number pad, would bring the mouse in closer, reducing muscle strain.
5. 5. Reposition the Computer Screen: To reduce bending and strain on your neck and shoulders, your monitor should be at eye-level. Consider a shelf to elevate your screen above the top of your desk or work surface.

Most of the shoulder and neck pain experience by computer users is caused by poor posture and overuse of these muscles. Resting and stretching the tense muscles can bring immediate relief, and if done regularly, can decrease future pain. But the best long-term solution is to restore and maintain good posture. Adjusting your chair and work space can bring quick relief and provide posture habits of that will benefit you for years to come.