5 Quick Tips to Green Your Home

kbutler — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:53:21 -0400

Yep, it’s trying times out there. Gas prices, food prices, housing prices – you have to wonder if we’re going to be able to entertain our kids with rousing stories of hard 00’s like our grandparents did with the Depression. (Though in our version, we’ve got Paris Hilton instead of Little Orphan Annie and reality TV stars in place of Hobos.) In an attempt to save money, people may be inclined to go with the cheaper option, whether it is green or not. But we’ve got your back! Check out our quick, useful reminders on how to keep your wallet green.

1. Ditch the bottle water. Install a water filter or invest in some Britas. You can skip the extra landfill that comes with all the plastic packaging and save a few dollars in the meantime.

2. Make your home energy efficient. The typical American family spends around $1,600 a year on energy bills and much of that is phantom energy. The U.S. government actually provides a detailed list on different ways you can green up your home, such as choosing an Energy Star air conditioning unit or turning off your power strips to save up to 20% on your energy bills.

3. If you’re feeling a little hippie-dippy, considering tie-dying your stained sheets and even towels for a second life. At the least, there’s a three year old out there who will dig it, even if your yuppie friends wonder what kind of organic weeds you might have gotten into.

4. There are little things you can do in the kitchen to save energy and therefore cash. Remember that is you cover a pot of water; it will boil faster and save energy. Use a toaster oven for smaller meals – it uses much less energy than the stove.

5. Think about giving up things like paper towels. That can seem like a hard one, but paper towels add up – and your old gym socks and ripped towels can do the job just as well. And they’re better off cleaning your home than living in a landfill.

So remember our tips next time you’re feeling a little blue about the lack of green in your life.

Sustainable Kitchen and Bathrooms More Popular

jchait — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:42:15 -0400

A fairly recent AIA Home Design Trends Survey shows that kitchens and bathrooms remain a popular key design area in the home, and that includes green additions and green remodels and features.

Bathrooms have gone slightly down in popularity, in that more people are making do with smaller and fewer baths - to me that's a good deal. However, they still remain higher in focus than other home areas.

The growing interest in green features includes items like renewable flooring, such as cork and bamboo; renewable counter top materials, like bamboo and concrete, and energy efficient appliances. Water filters for drinking water have also remained a semi-popular feature in kitchens.

If you're looking to build or remodel green and kitchens and baths are at the top of your list, the first step is to consider what you need vs. what you think you need. You may be able to manage just fine with a smaller kitchen or bathroom. Size is one big green issue, but next you'll want to look at materials.

Here's where to find some decent green features, fixtures, and materials.

Low flow toilets

Composting toilets

WaterSense labeled faucets and aerators

Smaller bathtubs

Low flow shower heads

Endurawood Butcher Block Counter tops

Safecoat 3 in 1 Adhesive

Bathroom counter tops

Non-Toxic & Natural Paints and Finishes

Recycled metal tiles

Recycled glass tiles

Efficient Hot Water Pumps

Eco friendly kitchen counters

Of course this is just a good start. There are plenty of green bath and kitchen materials available currently - once you start looking, you'll see all sorts of supplies to adore.

green kitchen

5 Quick Tips to Green Your Home

Sustainable Kitchen and Bathrooms More Popular