| | | Green Living Space

From WikiVerde

Today the word ‘Green’ is used more in context to the environment, than to the color. In the same context, having a ‘Green’ home simply refers to a home that is environmentally friendly. What defines an environmentally friendly home? Simply put a home that does not have an adverse affect on your health and the environment. Most people don’t realize it, but the way in which a house is built, furnished and landscaped can have a substantial impact on the environment. Therefore it is very important to consider and carefully examine the use of materials whether it is paints, flooring or bathroom fittings. Today the environment and its well being are growing concerns for all and it is extremely important that each individual do their bit to help protect it. This article provides you with some helpful insight into building environmentally friendly houses.

1 How ‘Green’ is Your Home?
2 Environmentally Friendly Kitchens
3 Be Energy Smart
4 Be a ‘Water Sense’ Home
5 How Green is your Garden?
6 Eco-friendly products
7 References:

How ‘Green’ is Your Home?

The living space of a house generally can comprise of a drawing room, bedrooms and the study and one of the most important components of this living space is furniture. While choosing furniture, choose it responsibly. Environmentally-friendly furniture is made either out of resources that are renewable and are harvested responsibly or from resources that are recycled in part or full. And what’s more, this furniture looks great!

Paints are another important component of the living space that can be toxic. Besides the fact that they cause all sorts of allergies they also release organic compounds that are volatile. These compounds add to air pollution indoors and also affect the ozone on the ground level. Eco–friendly paints have extremely low levels of these harmful compounds. Some of these paints also do not have a lingering odor.

If you must wallpaper your house then opt for wallpaper that is biodegradable and recyclable. There are a number of brands in the market that make these types of wallpaper.

Winters see a lot of homes using fireplaces and wood stoves. Unfortunately these old fashioned fireplaces and wood stoves take a lot more out of the environment than they contribute to it. Replace all old stoves and fireplaces with EPA certified stoves and fireplace inserts. Most of these devices work with a pellet insert. Pellets made from saw dust are low polluting. Pellets are also the best burning option to replace wood heat.

Environmentally Friendly Kitchens

The kitchen is probably the place where most people forget about ‘going green’. However, it is surprising to know what one can do in the kitchen and contribute significantly to it being a better place for the environment. When choosing kitchen products, here are a few simple tips:

Cutting board – Stick to one that is made out of 100% recycled paper. It is just as efficient, and what’s more, it is designed to last.

Aluminum foil – Use the recycled versions. They are produced with a lot less energy, and they can be recycled, again!

Food Wraps – A good option would be wax paper made of natural soy. This paper is not edible but it is biodegradable and non-toxic.

Food containers – use food containers that are made out of recycled plastic.

Be Energy Smart

Electricity is one of the things we cannot live without today. It is also one of the world’s fastest depleting resources and if we are not careful, it will soon be in very short supply. Conserving electricity should be one of the top priorities while building a house. Gadgets that save electricity should be installed and alternative sources of electricity should be opted for.

Solar electricity is a concept that is catching on very quickly. It is a basic concept that soaks up the sun’s energy, turning it into clean energy that can be used to power almost all household appliances.

Switch to power saver electric bulbs. These bulbs are also known as CFL bulbs and while they are more expensive than normal lights, they go a long way in saving electricity, cutting consumption by up to 40%.

Unplug appliances when not in use. It is important to remember that appliances use electricity even if they are not on but still plugged in. Remembering to unplug appliances as soon as they have been turned off can not only save electricity but lots of bucks too!

Be a ‘Water Sense’ Home

Water is another fast depleting resource. Gallons of water get wasted with simple everyday actions like shaving, taking a shower or using the toilet. Make sure the bathrooms and kitchen use fittings and fixtures that conserve water. A lot of the time saving water also translates into saving energy. Replace old shower head with newer ones that have a ‘WaterSense’ certification. These shower heads, cut down on the amount of water that comes through them still giving you an enjoyable shower. Similar to the shower heads are water faucets. These too are built to save a lot of water. A toilet flush is also another culprit of water wastage. The new WaterSense toilets use 30% less water than the regular toilets.

How Green is your Garden?

The garden and lawn are probably the greenest part of the house, literally and theoretically speaking. But this green part of the house can also be ‘not so green’. Take for instance the lawn mower. The gas powered lawn mower uses up energy and a lot of fuel. The older versions are also more polluting than vehicles. A lot of the times fuel is also wasted during the refuelling process. Switch to a manual push lawn mower.

Trees are another important component to being environmentally friendly. They also help in saving energy. This is how. Planting trees on the east and west side of the house could save a considerable amount on cooling and hence energy. The shade from the trees helps keep the house cooler during the summer.

Eco-friendly products

The products that are used in homes also have an adverse effect on the environment. An example would be cleaning liquid that is used to clean the floors of a house. These contain harmful chemicals not only for the environment but for us as well. Be mindful of the products that are used in the house. Almost every product from bathing soap, moisturizing lotions, and deodorants, to house cleaners is available in an eco-friendly version.

In a nutshell, the three golden R’s need to be followed, ‘Recycle, Reduce & Reuse’ and then watch the environment take a healthy turn for the better.