stylebind

Green Living

Posted on 09. Jun, 2009 by Jenny in Decorating, Revamping

More and more Green is on every-body’s mind…and we aren’t talking money honey….Green living!  Home Buyers are seeking it out when purchasing a home, and current homeowners are using it as a way to upgrade their place and be environmentally conscious!   You’d be surprised how much it costs, and what you think it costs!  Putting little effort into making your home Green, will also earn you a lot of $$ when selling.  Always remember a lot of green products are made to last longer, so in the end the product actually becomes cheaper since it doesn’t have to be replaced as often!  Here are some great tips on ways to Green your home and make it a part of any lifestyle!

Tip #1:  Use compact fluorescent bulbs instead regular incandescent bulbs and use 60 percent less energy per bulb and save 300 pounds of C02 a year.

These light bulbs have come along way, and now you can find them with a nice soothing glow for the home, and less of that “office” light we see 5 days a week.  Most stores carry green alternative lighting!

Tip#2:  Use Bamboo as a hardwood alternative when looking to replace or update your flooring.

It is an excellent alternative to tree wood because bamboo can grow wood faster than any tree.  Bamboo is a rapid growing grass and not a wood, it can be harvested every 5-7 years, in comparison to the 15-100 years for many tree wood. This makes bamboo an extremely environmentally friendly product for flooring.

Tip#3:  Use a low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint, when painting your home.

Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc-all offer great zero-low VOC paints.  It will cost slightly more, but the fact that there will be less harmful toxins in your home will be well worth the purchase!

Tip#4:  Recycle!  Cans, plastic, furniture, clothes, EVERYTHING!

A lot of times we tend to throw things away instead of re-use them.  If you have old furniture around, all you may need to spruce them up is a can of stain and new fabric!  Also keep in mind there are many great recycled products that can be used for you home, from garden mulch to Kitchen counter tops it’s out there!  Most importantly remember to watch water usage, power usage, and more.

*Rinse dishes in Cold water before placing into the dishwasher

*Cook meals in a slow cooker if you can

*Install motion sensors or dimmers on all lighting

Hopefully these few tips will help you start your way to a better way of living…Green!  If you have any questions or comments let me know!  There are many, many ways to live green!

Tags: eco-friendly, enviroment, green, green living, smart choices