Scattering Urns | Cremation Solutions

Covid Drives Creative Cremation Memorials

Planning funerals and memorials has been difficult during the year of COVID-19. Restrictions placed on gatherings has limited traditional ways to grieve, while technology has opened new pathways. Take a look at some of the ways memorials have changed in the past year — and some creative solutions.

Funeral Changes During Covid

You want to memorialize your loved ones and gather to celebrate their lives — but that’s hard when your state makes it impossible to gather in large groups. As a result, many funeral directors have had to pivot and learn how to live stream funerals. You can expect to attend more live-streamed memorial services in the future, as many people appreciate the ability to pay their respects without having to incur travel time and costs.

Another big change? Cremations have more than increased dramatically during the past year. This occurred for many reasons. Funeral homes often didn’t have the capacity to store remains until families could gather for funerals, and some people feared that they would be exposed to COVID-19 through their deceased loved ones or those in attendance. In addition, as people counted their pennies through the pandemic, they began to realize the considerable cost advantages of commemorating a loved one’s life through cremation rather than burial. So many have simply put the memorial gathering on hold until it is ok to travel and gather. The lack of ritual has caused survivors to yearn for a connection and reach for physical ways to memorialize the lost loved one. Cremation memorials are a solution to this gap in tradition.

Cremation Solutions Bring Creativity to Your Memorials

Cremation allows so many creative ways to memorialize a loved one. That’s where we come in. At Cremation Solutions, we create innovative art and jewelry that provides you with a unique way to remember and treasure your loved one. Our personalized cremation urns are designed to preserve special memories. Take a look at some of the on trendy ways to commemorate your loved one.

Glass Keepsakes And Jewelry

Cremation Glass Glass has a sense of the eternal to it because of the way we see through it or see ourselves reflected in it. And glass shares something with cremation — both involve extremely high temperatures. Our artisans take this opportunity to turn grief into something truly beautiful.

Glass Sculpture with Cremation Ashes Because molten glass requires temperatures over 2000°F, far hotter than most cremations, our artists are able to incorporate cremation ashes into the molten glass as an artwork is in progress. The carbon from the ashes burns off at this ultra high temperature, leaving behind brilliant white ashes incorporated right into the glass keepsakes and jewelry with infused ashes. Crystalized glass can even be cut into brilliant gem style of high end jewelry!

Click Here For Our Full Selection of Crystals Made From Ashes — Crystal Gems Made From Ashes

Choose tributes in an array of natural colors emerald green to blue like “His Eyes”. We offer a wide variety of glass sculptures and keepsakes to memorialize your loved one in a unique, one-of-a-kind way.

Fingerprint Jewelry

Thumbies Keepsakes What’s more unique than your fingerprint? Drawing on this, we create absolutely one-of-a-kind necklaces, charms, and pendants that feature your loved one’s fingerprint, so you can hold their identity close to your heart. Of course we keep all fingerprints completely secure.

These unusual keepsakes are also ideal to capture special moments such as the birth of a baby, a wedding, or a special bond between two people. We can incorporate birthstones into the finger jewelry and offer a range of designs to help you begin your own family tradition. And yes, we can make this unique jewelry using the paw print or even the nose print of your cherished pet.

Pandora-style Cremation Jewelry

Beads made with ashes If you already love your Pandora bracelet or necklace with its delightful charms that show off who you are and what you love, now you can add your loved ones to the mix. At Cremation Solutions, we make Pandora-style beads that you can add to your existing jewelry to include your loved ones as part of the story of your life.

Choose from a gold or sterling silver beat that holds a small amount of your loved one’s ashes, discreetly sealed with a tungsten/stainless steel countersunk screw. Or add some colorful beauty with a custom-made glass bead that holds a tiny amount of your loved one’s ashes, seamlessly infused into the glass during its creation. Either way, you can carry your loved one with you everywhere you go.

Cremation Monuments

Monuments For Cremation — Examples of cremation monuments for the yard or garden. These rock solid memorials will keep your loved one’s ashes safe and secure from the elements.

If you want to honor your loved one in a more traditional way, perhaps as part of a family memorial at your local cemetery, you may want to consider our cremation headstones, niches, columbaria, and other memorials. These customized monuments hold your loved one’s cremated ashes or urns inside with a sense of dignity and permanence. Choose handsome monuments with plenty of space for you to write a special commemorative message, or opt for hollowed out boulders that return your loved one to nature in a beautiful, organic way.

The Loved One Launcher Ash-Scattering Cannon

If the loved one you’re celebrating went through life making a strong impression, say farewell with the same kind of zest they showed throughout their life. The Loved One Launcher is a powerful and joyous way to express the impact someone had on your life, and it’s ideal for life celebration parties surrounding someone who evoked love and laughter in your circle of friends.

With the Loved One Launcher, instead of passively scattering ashes on the ground, you can shoot them 70′ into the air — accompanied by confetti and streamers, if you like. This robust ash-scattering cannon creates a beautiful spectacle that can only make you smile even as you mourn your loss.

Scattering Urns

Turn your ash-scattering ceremony into something very special with an urn that fits the personality of your loved one and that you can leave behind. If you’re scattering ashes at sea or in a body of water, we have special urns that float beautifully and then biodegrade with no harm to the environment.

Biodegradable Urns For Water — Some Urns Are Biodegradable and Float Before They Descend and Dissolve Releasing The Ashes

Scattering At Sea — Biodegradable Turtle Urn

If you choose to scatter ashes on the land, choose from urns made of salt, sand, gelatin, and other biodegradable urn materials, including urns that you can bury. We also have beautiful urns available to hold ashes on display and following the scattering the urn converts into a memorial birdhouse!

Scattering Urn into Birdhouse — Grandpa’s Memorial Birdhouse

However you choose to commemorate your loved one, at Cremation Memorials, we are ready to help you find the right way. Contact us today to plan a beautifully creative memorial that will help you treasure your loved one’s memory forever.

When Your Earthly Remains Ride The Wind Into Eternity….

Scattering Ashes in Alaska — Places of Natural Beauty Are Often Selected

Scattering the ashes of a loved one following cremation provides a loving way to say good-bye that Americans and people worldwide are preferring as a final exit. Losing someone we care about is a right of passage, which everyone encounters at some point in life, but celebrating that life eases the transition between past and the present. When people are confronted with death many are drawn to nature and the innate instincts that we are born with. This feeling of wanting to once again “become one with the Earth” is one of the driving forces that naturally draws todays inhabitants to have their earthly remains scattered in beautiful and meaningful settings that connect us with our existence. Choosing a method for scattering ashes reflective of your loved one’s personality and the way they lived is the perfect way to pay homage and honor their memory. When survivors get together to set their loved ones ashes free, it can be a memorable experience that connects us with each others woven tapestry of life.

Ashes Mixed With Flower Petals The scattering experience compels many to choose cremation in the first place. And continues to become increasingly popular, with the majority of the U.S. population are NOW choosing this option, a number that has doubled during the past 15 years. The term to “Scatter Ashes” doesn’t always mean the same thing to all people. As they say There’s more then one way to skin a cat!) And today scattering comes in many new forms as well as traditional forms. Following cremation, human ashes are composed primarily of minerals that have been purified by fire and are ready to return to the earth. Although ashes are environmentally friendly, there are laws and some common sense that should be considered.

Traditionally, cremation ashes have been kept in an urn at home or are buried in a cemetery, sometimes divided and shared with family and friends in smaller urns called keepsake urns. At some point, descendants are left with the question of moving the urns and passing them down to new generations.

Scattering In Ocean — Surfer Scattering Ceremony

Today, scattering ashes as a part of a memorial service is becoming overwhelming choice for many. For some the scattering ceremony is the only gathering of friends and family at all! And in these cases may be the only time to join together in honor of a life lived. Planning a unique celebration reflective of your loved one, and those who remain, will create a memorable event. Gatherings along a riverbank, shoreline, the country club or in the home garden with a backyard barbecue packed with family and friends are typical. The location or locations are carefully thought out. Scattering ashes may be planned at the beginning, middle or end of the event, providing the opportunity to say good-bye while accompanied and supported by loved ones. It may also be planned as a private family affair at a different time or location.

Personalized and Meaningful Methods to Scatter Ashes

The location you plan to scatter in will often determine the method used to scatter the ashes, a scattering urn designed for each method is available (Here) and can add function as well dignity to the scattering ceremony. I personally like when multiple people are involved and allowed to be a part of the scattering. Jeff Staab, the owner of Cremation Solutions, has gathered information and methods to help family members scatter the ashes of loved ones in a manner that is meaningful and more personalized for their needs.

Some Methods of Scattering Ashes

It is important to know the laws where you plan to scatter the ashes of a loved one, as they vary state to state. In most areas, you are allowed to disperse them on private property, but may have to get permits when planning to do so elsewhere.

Burial of an biodegradable urn is considered a style of scattering ashes and is allowed in most cemeteries for people who want to have a headstone and wish to lay the remains with other family members. Some cemetery’s have “scattering gardens” and offer memorials on site.
Scattering ashes from an airplane over land or water as friends and family watch from the ground is another option. If you choose this method, and plan to help yourself, it is important to ask the pilot for instructions, as more than one including me, has encountered a plane filled with ashes as the bag is opened.
Scattering urns are designed to easily disperse the ashes in any desired location and can be taken to different places. Birdhouse urns and scattering tubes are a popular choice for this method, as they replicate nature and add more dignity and ease. The birdhouse urns convert to an actual birdhouse and true living memorial!
There are many ways to scatter ashes in a body of water, including placing a biodegradable shell urn or an urn made out of solid Him
Ringing a Tree is One Way!

alayan salt melt into the sea. These urns will dissolve within hours, releasing the ashes back to the earth.
Loved One Launcher !

A hand held scattering urn canon dubbed “The Loved One Launcher” provides a celebratory launch into the air and lets you “Go Out With a Bang” Blasting you on your final journey to the four winds.
Trenching, ringing, and raking ashes return them directly back to the earth. Each of these methods can be personalized in location and by the ceremony you choose.

Regardless of the method you choose for scattering ashes of a loved one, it is important to reflect not only their life, but your own. Consider being able to visit the location in the future.

You may wish to consider what your loved one would have wanted for their final resting place. Ranchers and farmers often ask family to scatter ashes over their land, people who enjoy hunting and fishing may prefer to be launched over a favorite lake, and gardeners may appreciate their ashes being worked into their soil. And its okay to scatter in multiple locations for when that is desired.

Whatever you choose to do with the earthly remains of a loved one when scattering ashes, do what makes you the most comfortable. If you plan on throwing a celebration of life memorial including a joyful send-off using a Loved One Launcher, make it a full-fledged event. Invite family and friends and seize the day!

Obama Scattering Ashes — Mr & Mrs Obama Scatter Grandmothers Ashes in Hawaii

Scattering Tubes to Scatter Ashes — Scattering Tubes Make it Easy

Cremation And The Scattering of Ashes

Scattering ashes outdoors on a piece of land with significance to the deceased is often selected by their families.

Nearly half of Americans are now choosing cremation over burial at the end of their life. It’s easy to see why. Cremation offers a number of benefits over a traditional cemetery burial. However, with cremation comes the decision over what to do with the ashes that remain. Far from being a chore, this task can be an opportunity to further honor the deceased and to leave his or her earthly remains in a place and in a vessel that has meaning, both to the deceased and to the friends and family who remain.

Why cremation makes sense today

The chief reason for choosing cremation today is cost. The average cost of end-of-life arrangements with cremation is around $6,078, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. That compares to an average cost of more than $8,500 for a funeral with a cemetery burial and vault. However, that price can be even less then $1000 if you opt not to have a viewing and you choose a simple, pine casket.

With cremation, you can skip many of the costs associated with a traditional funeral, things like an expensive casket, a vault, embalming services and, of course, the cost of the cemetery plot and headstone. However, cost is just one of many good reasons to consider cremation. Among reasons for choosing cremation for yourself or your loved ones include:

It’s kind to the environment. When you opt for cremation, you’re not tying up a piece of land for generations to come, land that potentially can be used for housing or to grow crops. Embalming chemicals can be cancerous and harm our water supply
It can make it easier on the family. Cremation can also make it easier on friends and family, especially if they live far away from where the funeral will be held. With cremation, there is no reason to have the service immediately, allowing friends and family to plan around work, community and other family obligations and shop for more economic travel arrangements.
It’s simpler. Having to make a lot of decisions in a short period of time can be stressful, especially when family and friends are grieving. Opting for cremation give us more time to carefully consider number of choices the family has to make and many of those decisions can be postponed for a few weeks or months.
It’s portable. When you choose cremation, you have a myriad of options about how to scatter or display your loved one’s ashes, many more options than if you had to purchase a cemetery plot.

A little bit about how cremation works

When you opt for cremation after a person dies, their body is transferred to the funeral home or crematorium. The person’s body is placed in a lightweight coffin and sent to a cremation chamber where it is heated to temperatures of 1,500 to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit. This vaporizes the body and reduces it to ashes and bone fragments. These ashes are then transferred to a cremation vessel and given to the family. The average remains weight between three and six pounds, depending on the size of the person. Most states require a brief waiting period (of 24 to 48 hours) before a person’s remains can be cremated.

There are a number of ways to handle the ashes. Some people out for a decorative urn to hold the ashes and display them in their home. Others opt to house the ashes in a columbarium or cemetery. Still others have a piece of jewelry made from a portion of the ashes. However, scattering ashes is the most popular disposition of cremation ashes.

Creative ways to scatter ashes

30airAshesScattering Since scattering ashes is now the #1 disposition for cremation ashes, people are getting more and more creative with scattering locations and techniques. Using some type of scattering urns or vessel helps to make the occasion more solemn and dignified as well as making it easier to do. Below are just a few suggestions about what is available to help you be creative.

Use a scattering urn. Scattering urns are vessels that make it easier to return cremated remains to nature. With a scattering urn, you don’t have to worry about an untimely gust of wind or inclement weather marring your tribute. Scattering urns are designed to gradually release the ashes into the environment. Just a few of these urns include:

Birdhouse scattering urn. Wooden birdhouses can also be designed to hold cremated remains until they can be scattered in a favorite spot. After the scattering is complete, the birdhouse helps provide shelter for wildlife and acts as a memorial to the person who has died.
Birdhouse Urns

Birdhouse urns come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are usually made from fast-growing, sustainable woods.
Sand urn. A sand urn, as the name implies, are made of sand with a little gelatin added. They contain a biodegradeable pouch that contains the ashes and have holes drilled into the bottom of the vessel. These urns are designed to place on a favorite beach, where the rising and falling tides will quickly scatter the ashes.
Sand and gelatin urns. Sand and gelatin urns are not just for beaches. They come in a variety of shapes , colors and sizes. Like the birdhouse and sand urns, these vessels are designed to let the ashes disperse gradually as the urn dissolves over time. They can even be buried. In the ground, they will dissolve in about three months. In water, the process takes about three days.

Use a biodegradable pouch. Using a biodegradable pouch alone is another way to aid in scattering a loved one’s ashes. This decorative pouches can be buried, released at sea or kept closer to home.
Plant a tree with the ashes. Another good use of a biodegradable pouch is to combine it with a new sapling. By planting them together, the cremated remains of your loved one help to nurture the new tree for years to come. Plus, you’ll have a visual tribute to the person who died that will last for generations.
Use an ash scattering cannon.
Loved One Launcher!

This device makes it easy to launch cremated remains into the sea or the air at a site that was meaningful to the deceased, even in windy weather. The cannon creates velocity that sends the ashes more than 70 feet into the air. You can even load the cannon with biodegradable confetti and/or streamers for a more festive effect.

Where to scatter ashes

The number of places where you can scatter cremated ashes is limited largely by your imagination. While it’s important to seek permission to scatter ashes on property that you don’t own, a surprising number of public and private venues, including many national parks and sports fields, are open to the practice. CLICK HERE for Ceremonies For Scattering Ashes

National parks. Most of America’s natural parks, including Grand Canyon National Park, allow cremated remains to be “scattered” on park land with written permission from the head park ranger. Most parks require that the ashes be contained, as in a sand urn or a biodegradable pouch, so that they don’t pose a threat to wildlife in the park. They also require that you stay away from roads, any archeological digs and bodies of water.
Your own garden. Sometimes the best solution to where to scatter a loved one’s ashes is in your own back yard. If family members intend to stay in the house or other property that was important to the deceased, there are few better ways of honoring that person than by creating a memorable garden and scattering all or a portion of the ashes among the flowers, bushes and trees.
The beach and the ocean. Like parks, public beaches require permission before cremated ashes can be scattered on their property. However, if your family is lucky enough to own your own stretch of sand, you can use this property for scattering. In the United States, you are required to travel three nautical miles from land before you can scatter cremated remains.
A sports field. While most major stadiums prohibit the scattering of ashes (citing too much demand), many minor league ball parks or private sports fields are more amenable.
From the air. The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) has no restrictions on scattering cremated remains from the air, although most states have minimum altitude requirements. The wind at high altitudes can make scattering ashes from the air a challenge without some kind of assistance. (Ashes can, and have, blown back into the planes.) The scattering cannon can help make this process easier and more successful.

Cremation is a cost-effective, eco-friendly end of life decision. Honor the deceased life and memory by scattering his or her ashes in a place that had meaning in life. Using one of the newer scattering vessels and products can help make that process easier and more elegant.

To Learn About Techniques To Scatter Ashes CLICK HERE

Man Dies and Birds Get a New Home!

In the past few weeks, I learned a lot about death and cremation. I was close with my Grandpa, but was shocked to see him pass. Afterwards, I had to help my family find the best ways to honor him at the funeral. This meant arranging the burial and making the decision to cremate. We wanted to find something beautiful that accurately depicted the type of person Grandpa was.
One of the things I will always remember about Grandpa is that he loved to watch the birds. He would wake up at 5:00 AM, brew his coffee and listen to the birds sing. Before he got sick, he built a stunning bird feeder that would attract some of the prettiest birds in the neighborhood.

Monument memorial — He Would Not Want to be Here

After he passed, we weren’t sure what to do. We knew that whatever we did to remember him by had to be ecofriendly and it needed to incorporate our fondest memories of him. I did some research, since I knew he wanted to be cremated, and found perfect solution. He loved working in his garden and we all thought it would be appropriate to scatter his ashes there. We learned that special cremation urns are now available to scatter the ashes. We picked one that after the scattering the urn converts into a memorial birdhouse. Perfect to place in his garden! He would have loved it.

Cremation is a becoming more popular in the death care industry. I always thought that when a body is cremated, they had to be put in a jar and placed in the home. After talking with the funeral director, I learned that I couldn’t be more wrong. There are dozens of options available for people after they have been cremated. These options have made it possible to get a more custom funeral. Family members can also have peace of mind knowing that they gave their loved one the funeral they deserved and wanted.

Scattering ashes has become much more popular over the past few years, and it is easy to see why. The funeral director I spoke with said it is now the top choice among family members. More than half of the people cremated in the United States have their ashes scattered. It cuts down funeral costs significantly and allows us to conserve our resources.
We put together a memorial service in his favorite spot in the backyard. It didn’t take much to move his bird feeder to the side. The funeral director was happy to help us make arrangements. I was actually really surprised when he suggested a Birdhouse Memorial Urn.

I was also shocked at the quality. When I picture an urn in my head, I always think of black and gray metal urns with some decoration. The urns that I was shown were nothing like that. Birdhouse urns are beautiful, allowing them to serve as a peaceful reminder of the person. We selected a beautiful wooden urn made from a mango tree.

Birdhouse Urn — Urn That Coverts To Birdhouse!

When the idea was first brought up to our family members, not everyone was receptive to the idea of scattering. Uncle Robbie knew that while Grandpa wanted to be eco-friendly, he was also a very traditional man. We discussed the idea as a family before deciding to have an open casket service in addition to the scattering ceremony. This helped keep our family traditions alive and allowed us to pay our final respects to Grandpa before his ashes were scattered.

Our Grandpa was placed in a Birdhouse Memorial Urn for a lot of reasons. Not only was it decorative, we thought we could place it close to the feeder in the yard, keeping all the birds in the neighborhood happy. We know that he wanted to share his knowledge and love for birds with everyone, so why not create a beautiful home for them?
The memorial urn that we got was specially designed to scatter his ashes safely and effectively. The ceremony we had was very lovely, and we are happy that we didn’t have to travel far. While it wasn’t a traditional funeral, the service helped us to remember Grandpa. I still remember all of his friends and family showing up. People stayed after the scattering and shared in a social reception. It was great to hear the stories of a younger grandpa. I had no idea he raced motorcycles!

Scattering ceremonies may seem like they are difficult to plan, but they are quite easy. For us, we knew right away that Grandpa would feel most at home in the backyard watching over us, his spirit soaring with the birds. I know a friend who said they wanted to have a similar ceremony in a park. We talked to the funeral director first, who helped us make some arrangements. Honestly, we had no idea how to plan a funeral on our own.
One thing that I noticed is that people like to see living memorials and are proud to be a part of the ceremony. Even in life we supported Grandpa’s ecofriendly practices, and everyone was happy to be able to fulfill his final wishes in a way that would support his ideals. Even the birds in our yard seem happier.

Learn More (Click Here)

After the ceremony, we moved Grandpa’s bird feeder closer to his urn. We know that he would want to be able to see the birds, no matter where he was. It didn’t take long before a small pair of chickadees moved in. As the seasons changed, we saw a wide range of birds come and go, knowing that each one put a smile on Grandpa’s face.
I am glad that I don’t need to go very far to visit Grandpa. His birdhouse is a living memorial that I can see from my kitchen window. We are keeping his memory alive with a functional urn that allowed him to have a dignified funeral. It shows us that life goes on and that we can still thrive while remembering our dear Grandpa.

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Why is Scattering Ashes So Popular

The scattering of ashes is now the most popular thing to do with cremation ashes. Keeping ashes home in a cremation urn is still common, however the burial of the urn in a cemetery is being bypassed by the faster and more glamorous method of scattering the ashes to the four winds and becoming one with nature. In fact, research indicates that almost half of all Americans choose cremation over a ground burial or mausoleum. Of those being cremated I estimate that more then 60% are choosing to scatter. Why have scattering ashes become such an acceptable and apparently desirable aspect of the funeral process? I would say that one reason is that survivors can choose locations of natural beauty that are both meaningful to the deceased as well as those who live on. People are drawn towards nature when faced with a death, they want to do what’s natural and like the idea of returning to the earth ASAP! Sociologists suggest that it may have something to do with the fact that people are highly mobile now and generations of families rarely remain in the same area as they did 50+ years ago. Moreover, because the economy and job market are consistently unstable, it is less likely that a family member would remain living close enough to visit another family member’s grave for an extended period.

It Makes People Feel Good

People who have participated in scattering the ashes of a loved one say it is a deeply emotional experience that makes them feel closer to the deceased because they are doing something so personal and meaningful on behalf of the person’s remains. In addition, knowing they are fulfilling their loved one’s last wish helps them deal with the loss of that person by creating a sense of oneness with his or her spirit. For some, scattering ashes strengthens the emotional bond they had with the deceased by renewing a special spiritual bond that cannot be experienced while alive. When we allow the wind or water to embrace a loved one’s ashes, we feel deep within ourselves that they are experiencing a rapturous sensation of freedom, vibrant energy and serenity. Scattering ashes because the deceased wanted you to scatter their ashes over the sea, a beach at sunset, into the clouds or over mountains from an airplane can relieve the anger, sadness, guilt and pain of losing that person to the natural processes of birth, maturation and death.

More Affordable Than an Expensive Traditional Burial

Unless the deceased had the means to maintain a life insurance policy for 20 or more years, purchasing a traditional funeral is often left up to his or her family members. Caskets are expensive and require you to buy a cemetery plot. Essentially, people just do not have the money for a traditional burial anymore so they are choosing different and less conventional perspectives regarding funeral preparations and the location of a loved one’s final resting place. Today’s society is more concerned with the spiritual and ceremonial aspect of the funeral process and less concerned about the physical disposition of the traditional handling and viewing of the body.

The Going “Green” Movement

Green Ashes — Scattering = Green Footprint

Since the 1990s, “going green” has slowly but steadily improved all aspects of our lives; from recycling items at home, using natural ingredients in cleaning products and taking part in preserving the environment by establishing more animal reserves and protected wildlife areas. This concern over excessive land use and the destruction of forests for commercial purposes has also contributed to the popularity of cremation and scattering a loved one’s ashes. Injecting a body with harmful chemicals and putting it in a man manufactured casket then sealing it in a concrete vault, all to take up space, just isn’t cool anymore.

People are Living Longer and Making Their Own Burial Decisions

In 1900, the average lifespan for U.S. citizens was 46 for men and 48 for women. Today, it is 73 for men and 76 for women. This means that people are living long enough to make their own decisions about their final wishes instead of their relatives making funeral plans. According to surveys asking men and women why they opt for having their ashes scattered, the four main reasons for electing to be cremated are: 1) it is more affordable; 2) greener; 3) simpler to arrange and 4) personal preference. They love the idea of using a bunch of the money they saved on cremation and putting it into a grand celebration of their life in a more party like atmosphere.

Water and Earth Scattering

Specially made urns are used to scatter ashes over a body of water or landscape that come in a variety of colors, shapes and styles. They are functional in a way to prevent accidental dispersion of ashes until the scattering ceremony takes place or are tube-like and come with a cap to keep ashes safe until the scattering ceremony. Some scattering urns even convert into a birdhouse following the scattering. Ashes get spread and birds get a new home in which they may continue the cycle of life. Scattering at sea can get a bit messy because of the wind and the waves. Using an urn that’s made to scatter ashes at sea can add ease and dignity to the scattering ceremony itself. Biodegradable urns that float a few minutes allowing people to toss flower petals as the urn drifts, then eventually sinks and dissolves in the water. Ashes are held safely in biodegradable urns until they are buried in the ground or placed in water, where the urn slowly disintegrates and returns to the elements from which it came.

Where and Why Do People Scatter Their Loved One’s Ashes?

The most popular places to scatter cremated remains are naturally meaningful places that the deceased loved and revered. Beaches, lakes, parks, a favorite vacation spot or even the Minneapolis Mall of America are places where “ashes” have been scattered. Over water and in the garden are the two most popular locations. Scattering ashes from a helicopter or small plane while flying above a place that was special to the deceased is also becoming more common.

Spiritual concepts surrounding the act of scattering a person’s ashes originally come from Hindu and Buddhist beliefs regarding physical, or bodily life. The belief is that the life one lives on Earth is ephemeral and the soul experiences many transmigrations as an eternal but ever-evolving spirit. Over thousands of years, Hindu and Buddhist beliefs concerning cremation were eventually adopted by mystical philosophers, spiritual individuals searching for an alternative to traditional religions and naturalists who wanted to symbolically return themselves to the place from which they came–the Earth.

Scattering Ashes Helps People Through the Grieving Process

After the death of a loved one, people experience five stages of grief–numbness, yearning, guilt, anger and acceptance–in varying intensities. Some may feel more anger than others while some miss the deceased so much they cannot move past the stage of “yearning” towards the final stage of acceptance. Reality may not hit a person until the memorial service is actually underway and they see the body of the deceased resting in

an open casket.

Following the strange sensation of disassociation after realizing that a loved one has passed away, most people have feelings of numbness replaced by a yearning for the loved one, an almost agitated state that causes moments of extreme anxiety, panic and hopelessness. Watching the burial of a loved one–the whole process of lowering the casket into the grave and later, visiting the grave after it has been filled in with mounds of dirt–can be more upsetting than the actual passing away of the deceased. Although the belief that a person’s soul leaves the body at death dominates most Western religions, it is still hard to think about someone you loved very much as a body buried underground.

Cremation Jewelry and Keepsake Urns
–Another Way to Always Feel Close to a Loved One

In addition to scattering ashes, you can keep some of the loved one’s ashes always with you by placing a small amount of the ashes in cremation keepsake urns or jewelry pieces. Cremation jewelry comes in three different styles: the kind filled by the customer, jewelry made with cremation ashes integrated into glass beads and jewelry made from the actual ashes. After a scattering ceremony, cremation jewelry keepsakes are beautiful mementos that can help those having a difficult time with the grieving process hold onto their loved one in a symbolic way for as long as they want without needing to make an emotionally difficult visit to a grave site. This is why it’s always a good idea to retain a portion of ashes to be shared with surviving family and friends.

Jeff Staab is a funeral director in southern Vermont. A certified Life Cycle Celebrant. He owns and operates www.cremationsolutions.com and is a cremation memorial and ash scattering specialist. When he’ not dreaming up the next cool cremation product he enjoys adventure in the mountains and on the sea, cooking for friends, social responsibility and green living. He can be reached at jeff@cremationsolutions.com

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Cremation Solutions on TV to Help Joan Rivers with her Dog’s Funeral

Sometimes life–and death–surprises you. I certainly wasn’t expecting to hear from the producers of the “Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best?” reality TV show when they called me. It turns out that comedian, Joan Rivers is aware of our pet funerals and the urns, cremation jewelry and keepsakes we offer for people who have lost a beloved pet. Joan’s 12-year-old rescue Pekingese, Max had died and she wanted to do a show about a funeral for the dog. Of course, I said we would help, although I had no idea what to expect.

Planning a dog’s funeral

We started the funeral for Max by finding a location that worked well for Joan as well as hiring a New York celebrant to write and officiate at the service, Chris Shelly rose to the occasion. My friend Nancy Burban help us search for a location in New York City. One of the things Joan was most concerned about, and one of the reasons she called us, was the many options we have for displaying Max’s ashes. One of the scenes in the show takes place in Joan’s New York City apartment, where I’ve brought several of our urns, cremation jewelry and pet keepsakes to show her. Of course, with Joan, even funerals can be funny and she makes jokes about the different options. It was perfect blend of fun and serious.

Farewell to Max

Joan decided on an urn during the segment and also wanted to get some jewelry to hold a few of Max’s ashes. She choose one of our Pandora-style cremation beads that matches the colors of Max’s coat, a charcoal, almost black hue.

She also decided to use our new “Loved One Launcher” to blast Max’s ashes all over his favorite stomping grounds. This piece of equipment can blast your loved one’s ashes up to 70 feet. The ashes can be mixed with confetti to give the launch a festive, party-like atmosphere. It’s a perfect salute to a being, like Max, who loved life.

We ended the show with Max’s funeral.

Admittedly, the funeral was a little bizarre, but the grief was real. As the owner of a rescue dog myself, I can relate.

You never know what you’re going to encounter in this business. I had fun doing the show. I think Joan and I had a little chemistry and the spontaneous jokes were streaming. This really was reality TV; nothing was rehearsed.

About “Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best”

“Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best” is a reality

series on WEtv, featuring comedian, Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa as they try to keep the peace while living under one roof. The 30-minute show debuted in 2011 when Rivers moved from Los Angeles to New York City and moved in with her grown daughter, Melissa. The show is just beginning its fourth season.

About Cremation Solutions

Although all of the attention and excitement of doing a TV show is nice (and kind of rare in our business), Cremation Solutions doesn’t just cater to celebrity dogs. We

Dod Funerals — Jeff Staab, Joan, Melissa and Padfoot

have a whole range of affordable pet funeral services as well as cremation urns, jewelry, keepsakes and art to help you remember all of your loved ones and keep them close to you even when they have passed. Check out the beautiful tapestry behind Joan and Melissa. It was a gift from Funeral Home Gifts.

Our episode on the “Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best” show airs on WEtv on April 12, 10 PM EST on the WE TV network. We hope you’ll tune in.
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Today is Tomb Sweeping Day in China And Burning Iphones and I Pads is “The Latest Tradition”!

In China, the traditional belief is that a person’s soul can only rest in peace if their body is buried underground in a coffin. Those that were cremated or opted for another method would have restless souls. However, as time moves on, more and more Chinese are finding this belief to be antiquated. The younger generation in particular believes that a soul may rest in peace regardless of what happens to their body, and that it’s more important to respect the wishes of the deceased than it is to follow tradition. This has lead to an increase in the amount of people who choose to have cremation services, followed by their friends and family scattering ashes.

Like In The USA Traditions Are Changing

Tomb Sweeping Day

Every April 4^th, the Chinese participate in the Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day. During this festival, the relatives of the deceased gather around their grave and celebrate the life of the departed by leaving offerings of liquor, food, and burning fake money. The Chinese government made Tomb Sweeping Day an official holiday in 2008.

Tradition encourages them to remember their ancestors by laying out food at their grave sites, and burning paper replicas of daily necessities, such as clothes, money, cars, and houses. This year a few new items have been added to that list of necessities: the iPad and the iPhone.

IpaCremation Service — Dead Ancestors Catch Up With The Death Ap!

The tradition – which dates back thousands of years – dictates that the paper goods can be used by their ancestors in the afterlife, and the offerings have evolved to fit in with modern life. As such, paper replicas of iPhones and iPads – which are hugely popular in China – have become all the rage.

British broadsheet The Telegraph reports that paper replicas of Apple’s hugely popular iOS devices are selling “like hot cakes” in China, as millions of people prepare to honor their ancestors by burning paper goods that they believe can be used in the afterlife

Culture Shift

Cremations are becoming more popular in China as the culture changes. While traditionalists still hold to their desire for a more traditional coffin and burial, others see cremation as a way to help out future generations. Cemetery overcrowding is a growing concern, especially among the more developed areas near the coast. By holding cremation services and scattering ashes, the surviving relatives save money. Another benefit of cremation is that it’s much more environmentally friendly, as ashes are nothing more than minerals purified by the heat of fire. Regular caskets are left in the ground to erode over time and can potentially pose a health hazard if not cared for properly. Cremation has none of these risks.

The Chinese government encourages cremation in the form of subsidies offered to those who opt for cremation services. As cremation is an eco-friendly option, the government wants people – traditionalists and otherwise – to seriously consider it as a viable alternative to burial. While traditional burial has the potential to hurt others in the future, cremation leaves no impact.

The Decision

People are chooseing cremation over traditional burial for many reasons. The most common reason is that it’s the request the deceased left in their will – and no one wants to risk being haunted by an angry loved one. New trends like biodegradable urns make cremation more and more to the environmentally friendly, those concerned about the future of the planet like the low impact cremation has on the environment as compared to traditional burial. A third reason is the expense. By the time all is said and done in China, a traditional burial can cost a small fortune, leaving the surviving relatives with a hefty bill that they may struggle to pay off. Cremation costs much less, and in some places – like China – governments may even subsidize the cost of the both the urn and the cremation services.

New Traditions

Scattering Ceremony

A scattering ceremony has a lot in common with a traditional burial, but a lot of differences as well. As with a traditional funeral, loved ones will gather at a central location and share their memories of the deceased. A priest may or may not be in attendance, depending on the beliefs of the family and the deceased.

A location is chosen early in the process. This place may be requested in the will of the deceased, or it may hold some significance in their life. For example, someone who spent their entire life on a farm may choose to have their ashes scattered over their wheat field. A golfer may opt to have their ashes spread at their favorite golf course. Note that in certain circumstances (like the golf course), a permit will be required to hold the scattering ceremony.

After the ceremony is conducted, the ashes are released. A few final words may be spoken, then those gathered watch as the ashes fly into the breeze. Unfortunately, for those not prepared, the process can be quite messy. That’s where a scattering urn comes in.

Scattering Urns

Traditionally, those wanting to spread the ashes of a deceased loved one were forced to carry the ashes in a plastic box or a bag not too different from a garbage bag with a twist tie. Naturally, this removed some of the beauty from what should be a beautiful process. A scattering urn isn’t designed just to hold ashes, but to help spread them as well. Scattering urns can be symbolic – an avid bird watcher could find themselves with an urn for scattering ashes that converts into a bird house. Some urns are biodegradable and can be set out to sea or buried in one of the deceased’s favorite spots.

Scattering Services

There was nothing the deceased liked more than waking up before the sun did then heading out for a long day of sailing on the ocean. In their will, they’ve requested that their ashes be spread over the rolling waves of the Pacific. Unfortunately, their loved ones don’t have access to a boat. That’s where a scattering service comes into play. A scattering service will help the loved ones fulfill the wishes of the dearly departed. If the family of the deceased doesn’t have the means to complete the scattering request, they can hire a scattering service.They can do anything from helping with the whole ceremony to hiring a small plane to spread the ashes over a forest while loved ones watch from the ground.

Tomb sweeping day remains popular in China as a way of respecting and honoring the dead. It is much like Memorial Day in the U.S.A. Cremation services followed by a scattering of ashes continues to grow both in China and the United States as it becomes an increasingly popular method of memorializing the deceased. Join The Author Jeff Staab On Google Plus

Wild Birds Urn a New Home!

Cremation is the fastest growing disposition in the death care industry, not only in the USA, but worldwide. 44% of the population in the USA is now being cremated and over 60% in Canada.

Scattering is the fastest growing disposition of cremated remains. It is now the #1 choice compared to other options. Those that choose to scatter are having a higher satisfaction rate than those that choose other options. We estimate that more than 60% of those being cremated are now scattering. According to the Wirthlin Report up to 59% of interviewed in a recent poll said they prefer scattering to all other options.

In the past marketing cremation scattering urns has been challenging. The beautiful selection of urns for scattering now available at Cremation Solutions fill this need for products that allow people to fulfill their desire to scatter and also ad dignity to the scattering ceremony itself.

Our brand new line of Birdhouse Memorial Scattering Urns are both functional and provide a beautiful memorial that provides a new home for our fine feathered friends. We have had nothing but praise from families who have already scattered with our birdhouse urns. Even the birds that move in are looked upon with appreciation as they are now connected to the life of the person we love.

People that scatter are encouraged by grief experts to provide a lasting memorial for their loved one. Our scattering urns are the only urns that convert into a memorial.

In a recent funeral industry poll, when asked what type of memorial people would choose, the #1 answer was a Living Memorial. Our patented line of Birdhouse Memorial Urns are the only urns in the world that convert into a living memorial.

People choose to scatter because they consider it to be a more natural way to return to the earth. Our products address this desire to be in harmony with nature at the time of death more than any others.

The second most popular place to scatter cremated remains is on the family property, especially in the garden. The most popular spot to place a birdhouse is in the garden, so you see using a birdhouse memorial urn to scatter and then install as a memorial in the garden just makes sense.

Cremation Solutions is owned and operated by Jeff Staab, a funeral director with over twenty years experience. Being a bit of a tree huger himself, Jeff is excited knowing that every time someone uses one of these new urns, that another family of birds will soon move into a new deluxe home that will last for generations.

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Cremation Business is For The Birds

Scattering ashes is now the preferred choice disposition for the majority of people who choose cremation. Places of natural beauty and special meaning are often selected as the final resting place for those scattered near and far. Locations are limitless but two popular choices stand out. Into the sea is very popular throughout the world. Closer to home, scattering into the garden is the preferred choice. If you think about it the garden is a micro world where the full cycle of life continues year after year. It is hard to feel more connected to the earth then when we work with nature in our gardens. Working the soil is a deep rooted and natural cycle that humans have benefited from since ancient times. As we reap the harvest and admire the beauty of the garden, a spiritual connection is ever present. Its no wonder why so many choose the garden as their final place of rest.

Just like when the funeral industry created biodegradable scattering urns for those who scatter at sea, a new way to scatter in the garden will now harmonize with nature to memorialize the dead. Introducing Birdhouse Memorial Urns!

These urns serve as beautiful and functional scattering urns, that following the scattering ceremony, convert into a memorial birdhouse, providing a true “Living Memorial”

Birdhouse Urns Provide:

• A dignified vessel to hold the ashes and display at funeral ceremonies.

• A functional scattering urn that will easily disperse our loved one’s remains back to the earth.

• A lasting living memorial that will give survivors a necessary place to visit, remember and heal for years to come.

Birdhouse Memorial Urns are the natural choice for many:

They are a natural way to go back to the earth and continue the cycle of life. As birds come and go with the seasons to build their nest and raise their young, the cycle of life continues. These memorial not only provide shelter to our winged friends, but also give comfort to the survivors when they come to these places of rest. Birds often remind us of a sense of freedom and oneness with nature that many of us yearn for. Watching the birds provides us with tranquil moments in time that help us reflect on the lives of our loved one’s for generations to come.

Birdhouse Memorial Urns Are:

•   A memorial that will live on
•   Earth Friendly
•    Creates Wildlife Habitat
•   A place to come where spirits will soar and memories will fly
•   A place where life goes on
Birdhouse Memorial Urns come with everything you need to convert them into a memorial birdhouse. They also come with a handmade cast paper heart that is embedded with seeds. You may plant this heart in memory and beautiful forget me-not flowers will grow year after year.

Jeff Staab, a funeral director and owner of Cremation Solutions got the idea a few years ago when he was selling a traditional scattering urn to a client family in rural Vermont. The family wanted to scatter the ashes of their father in his favorite meadow on their property. They like the idea of the scattering urn and the way it functioned, but asked what would they do with it after the scattering. Jeff suggested that they screw it to a tree and drill a hole in the side so that the birds that lived in the meadow could use it for a home. The family love the idea. A year later the mother died and they requested the same scattering urn so that mom could also have her own memorial birdhouse. These were the first birdhouse memorial urns. Now their are several unique styles to reflect on one’s individual taste and style. Please don’t tell the birds why they are getting such classy new homes, we wouldn’t want them to fell guilty about their new dwellings.

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What Really Makes A Funeral Home Green

I have been hearing a lot lately about the greening of the funeral industry. It’s usually some new product that someone has that will shine a bright green light on your funeral home. Green stationary, green caskets, biodegradable urns and scattering urns that turn into a birdhouse! ect.

natural birdhouse urn — Birdhouse Scattering Urn

These are all nice green funeral products and some of your customers will definitely buy into green alternatives. Innovative funeral homes are riding the green wave, but what really makes a funeral home more green. What is the most important thing a funeral business can do to be more green. The answer is decrease the size of it’s carbon footprint. Translation, burn less fuel and use less electric.
No matter how old your funeral home is, there is room for improvement when it comes to efficiency and reducing the energy that your funeral home consumes.

funeralhome1 — Big Energy Sucking Funeral Home

Many funeral homes are older stately styled buildings that can really be a drain on the budget. In these challenging times many are looking for way to reduce their overhead. With energy costs being what they are now, and just going higher, funeral home owners should take action to increase the efficiency of their buildings. Most of us can not afford to keep our heads in the sand and just keep paying higher and higher utility bills!

Turning down the thermostat helps, but giving up comfort to save fuel is not the solution.

The good news is that there is something you can do about it. Today’s home energy solutions bring today’s energy technology to yesteryear’s homes and is paid for by reducing tomorrow’s utility bills. On Average you can reduce your funeral home’s energy consumption 35%. A bank could not offer you that kind of a return on your investment. Here is a way to do that. It’s also green, the right thing to do, has a positive effect on your public image and good for national security of our entire country!.

The Energy Audit

The best way to learn where and how your funeral home is losing energy is with a complete home energy audit. Use a company that is an energy star contractor or certified by the building performance Institute (B.P.I). Fixing energy draining areas in your funeral home can really have a dramatic effect and get the 20 – 50% reduction you have heard is possible. Your contractor will must look at the way the entire building is functioning and take what is called a “whole house approach”. It will be a combination of fixes that will add up to substantial savings and increased comfort. Funeral home operators don’t always have the budget to fix every little problem, it is important to pinpoint the areas that when corrected will give us the best energy reduction for the cost.

Information You Can Use

energy home — Shows Potential Air Sealing Areas

The information gathered during the energy audit is analyzed using specialized software to produce a comprehensive Home Energy Report. The Report shows which energy-efficiency improvements would reduce energy costs and make the home more comfortable. The analysis takes into account regional variables such as local weather, implementation costs, and fuel prices. The Report contains estimates of the savings, costs and payback for each energy-efficiency recommendation.

Formulating Your Plan

After the audit you will have identified where your funeral home is losing energy. Now you can work with your contractor to assign priorities that will give you the best return on your energy saving dollars. (Go for the best buys first) Often it will be the cheapest, easiest projects that make the biggest dents in you utility bills.

Some guiding questions are:
• How much money do you spend on energy?

• Where are your greatest energy losses?

• How long will it take for an investment in energy efficiency to pay for itself in energy cost savings?

• Do the energy saving measures provide additional benefits that are important to you (for example), increased comfort from simple weatherization of your windows and doors.

• How long do you plan to own your funeral home?

Tools of the trade

Blower Door Tests
Professional energy auditors use blower door tests to help determine a funeral home’s air tightness.

These are some reasons for establishing the proper building tightness:

Reducing energy consumption due to air leakage
Avoiding moisture condensation problems
Avoiding uncomfortable drafts caused by cold air leaking in

How They Work
A blower door is a powerful fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure then flows in through all unsealed cracks and openings. The auditors may use a smoke pencil to detect air leaks. These tests determine the air infiltration rate of a building.

Blower doors consist of a frame and flexible panel that you can place in a doorway, a variable-speed fan, a pressure gauge to measure the pressure differences inside and outside the home, and an airflow manometer and hoses for measuring airflow.

There are two types of blower doors: calibrated and uncalibrated. It is important that auditors use a calibrated door. This type of blower door has several gauges that measure the amount of air pulled out of the house by the fan. Uncalibrated blower doors can only locate leaks in homes. They provide no method for determining the overall tightness of a building. The calibrated blower door’s data allows the auditor to quantify the amount of air leakage and the effectiveness of any air-sealing job

Infrared Scans

An infrared scanner will display differences in temperature when pointed at a surface. The scans work best when there is a difference of 20 degrees or more from the interior to the outdoors, this is why the winter is the ideal time to conduct an energy audit of your funeral home. An infrared scan conducted from inside the house will reveal not only the areas of cold air infiltration, but areas of walls and floors that are warmer or colder than adjoining areas. We can see heat ducts, water pipes, even the studs in the wall. The infrared scan will most importantly also reveal areas of inadequate or nonexistent insulation. Energy Wise Homes auditors use infrared scanning to detect thermal defects in building envelopes.
How They Work
The infrared camera measures light that is in the heat spectrum. Images on the film record the temperature variations of the building’s skin, ranging from white for warm regions to black for cooler areas. The resulting images help the auditor determine whether insulation is needed. They also serve as a quality control tool, to ensure that insulation has been installed correctly.
A thermographic inspection is either an interior or exterior survey. The energy auditor decides which method would give the best results under certain weather conditions. Interior scans are more common, because warm air escaping from a building does not always move through the walls in a straight line. Heat loss detected in one area of the outside wall might originate at some other location on the inside of the wall. Also, it is harder to detect temperature differences on the outside surface of the building during windy weather. Because of this difficulty, interior surveys are generally more accurate because they benefit from reduced air movement.
Thermographic scans are also commonly used with a blower door test running. The blower door helps exaggerate air leaking through defects in the building shell. Such air leaks appear as black streaks in the infrared camera’s viewfinder.
Energy auditors use these images as a tool to help detect heat losses and air leakage in building envelopes. Infrared scanning also allows energy auditors to check the effectiveness of insulation a building’s construction. The resulting thermograms help auditors determine whether a building needs insulation and where in the building it should go. Because wet insulation conducts heat faster than dry insulation, thermographic scans of roofs can often detect roof leaks.

When looking at a building to determine where our money is best spent, we always look first at the top and bottom of the structure. The top and bottom of the house are the areas where air infiltration and heat loss are most pronounced because there are actual pressures forcing outside air into the house at the low points and conditioned air being forced by pressures out of the top of the house. About halfway up the house is what is known as the neutral zone, where air is neither forced in or out. These differences in pressure are created by what is known as the stack effect.

Stack effect is the movement of air into and out of buildings or other containers, and is driven by buoyancy. Buoyancy occurs due to a difference in indoor-to-outdoor air density resulting from temperature and moisture differences. The result is either a positive or negative buoyancy force. The greater the thermal difference and the height of the structure, the greater the buoyancy force, and thus the stack effect. The stack effect is also referred to as the “chimney effect”, and it helps drive natural ventilation or infiltration

No matter how well we insulate the natural forces of the stack effect will still be present. This is why sealing off the thermal envelope by what is called air-sealing is so important. In fact any B.P.I certified home performance contractor will not insulate your funeral home until they have done their best to first air-seal the thermal envelope from the energy draining forces of the stack effect. The thermal envelope is the area of the house that you
live in and heat in the winter or cool in the summer. It is the barrier that keeps
the outside air out and the inside air in!

The old way of thinking was that buildings needed to “Breathe” and that they needed this natural uncontrolled ventilation. It is true that houses need ventilation, but energy efficient homes address this by sealing the envelope as tight as possible and then ventilate as needed with controlled ventilation.

Air sealing is a crucial part of building a healthy, energy-efficient home. Below is a checklist of items to use to ensure proper air sealing when building or renovating a conventional stick-frame home. A leaky home will decrease the R-value of your insulation, create unwanted drafts and comfort issues, and bring moisture and pollutants into the home. As the saying goes, “Seal it tight and insulate it right!”

Insulation and How it Works
You need insulation in your funeral home to provide resistance to heat flow. The more heat flow resistance your insulation provides, the lower your heating and cooling costs.
Heat flows naturally from a warmer to a cooler space. In the winter, this heat flow moves directly from all heated living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, basements, and even to the outdoors. Heat flow can also move indirectly through interior ceilings, walls, and floors—wherever there is a difference in temperature. During the cooling season, heat flows from the outdoors to the interior of a house.

To maintain comfort, the heat lost in the winter must be replaced by your heating system and the heat gained in the summer must be removed by your cooling system. Properly insulating your home will decrease this heat flow by providing an effective resistance to the flow of heat. These days the insulation of choice is closed or open cell spray foam insulation and cellulose blown insulation. Fiberglass insulation is no longer recommended and if the fiberglass in your attic of your funeral home is in bad shape your contractor will want to remove it.

We hope the information we have given you here today will help you with your funeral homes energy solutions. Remember the first step to improving the performance of any house is an Home Energy Audit. A energy audit will give you the information needed to get the best value for your energy saving dollars.

By Jeff Staab
Owner of Cremation Solutions, The Life Tree Farm and
Former owner of Energy Wise Homes

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