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10 Easy ways to green your home

Maryam Siddiqi, eco options, Fall 2007

Once you start updating your home with green products, you'll find it's easy and affordable.  In fact, once you start going green, it will be hard to stop.

FIXING UP THE HOUSE IS ALWAYS FUN, whether you're freshening up your bedroom with a new coat of paint or installing brand-new windows in the kitchen.  But the next time you're thinking about home improvement, consider going green.  Environmentally friendly products are cost effective (contributing to lower energy bills), they're on the cutting edge of design and, of course, they help keep our planet healthy, from reducing water and electricity consumption to cutting down on greenhouse gases to managing our forests responsibly.

Going green doesn't take a lot of work - it can be as simple as putting a "Save paper, save trees" sticker on your mailbox to cut down on junk mail.  Another quick and easy energy-saver is changing at least one, if not more, of your light bulbs to compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs).  They last 10 times longer than regular light bulbs and use 75% to 80% less energy to provide an amount of light equal to that of traditional incandescent bulbs (90% of a regular bulb's energy is released as heat).

Replacing your washing machine with an ENERGY STAR - certified front-loading model from manufacturers including Maytag and GE will have a positive impact on the environment and your energy bills - as well as your clothes!

Another stylish-and cost-effective - way to keep rooms cool is to employ the use of ceiling fans.  Available in many different styles and colours to complement every room from the kitchen to a bedroom, ceiling fans not only cool rooms down, but they also save enough energy to contribute noticeably to a lower hydro bill (particularly when compared to an air conditioning unit).

Once you start updating your home with green products you'll find it's easy and affordable.  In fact, you'll also find that, once you start going green, it will be hard to stop.

1.  WASHING MACHINES

Not only do ENERGY STAR-approved washers use less power (about 30% less energy) but front-loading models also use 30% to  50% less water.  There are lots of other benefits to front-loaders, too.  You don't need to use as much detergent.  Front-loading washers extract more water in the spin cycle, so your clothes spend less time in the dryer, which equals more energy savings. 

2.  CFL BULBS

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use a different, more advanced technology than incandescent light bulbs to provide warm, inviting and lasting light.  While slightly more expensive than traditional light bulbs, the money you'll save in the long term by using CFL bulbs means they more than pay for themselves.  CFL bulbs typically use 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescents.  Philips makes a wide variety of styles, sizes and configurations.  Although the most common type of CFL is the screw-in type, you can use them almost anywhere, and they come in a range of styles and sizes, including dimmable bulbs, which can use even less energy.

3.  CEILING FANS

Everyone knows a ceiling fan cools a room in summer, but in fact, a ceiling fan can be used year-round.  During the winter, reverse the motor and air-flow to a clock-wise direction to produce an updraft that pushes warmer air near the ceiling down into the room.  Eco Options fans also use energy-efficient motors and advanced blade design to move air with less power.  The 52 in. (1.3 m) Hampton Bay Quick Install ceiling fan pictured here is also an ENERGY STAR model that has an ENERGY STAR light kit attachment.  The Quick-Connect Assembly System means you can install it in next to no time - the motor housing comes pre-assembled and the blades simply slide and lock into place.

4.  WATER AERATORS

Installing a water aerator on a high-use faucet, such as in the kitchen or bathroom sink, is a simple and cost-effective way to cut down on your water use (and energy bills, if it's hot water) without noticing the difference.  The aerator pumps air into the stream of water to increase the water pressure without actually using more water.  So everything looks and feels the same, but meanwhile, you've reduced your water use by 25% to 50%.  To put it another way, you're saving 1.7 gallons (7.7 L) in just one minute.  Brass Craft by Delta aerators are easy to install- just screw them on and tighten by hand.

5.  ROOM DEODORIZERS

Why use a room deodorizer that just layers one odour on top of existing ones?  The Deodoroc Odor Control deodorizer from J&R Home Products actually attracts and absorbs all organic and chemical-based odours without giving off any scent itself, it's made from a naturally occurring mineral and is non-toxic and safe for use in the kitchen and around children and pets.  Even better, the solid version can be reused.  After about three months, simply put it outside in the fresh air for a couple of weeks and it will be recharged and ready to go.

6.  LOW-VOC PAINT

Most paints contain chemical solvents that invisibly drift into the air, sometimes long after the "paint smell" has gone away.  These microscopic particles can affect the quality of the air inside your home.  For a healthy indoor environment, choose paints that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOC) - they emit fewer pollutants and have almost no odour.  Low-VOC paint is also more durable than other finishes, so it's ideal for high-traffic areas such as hallways and bathrooms.  CIL Dulux Natural White Interior Latex comes in semi-gloss, which is virtually odourless, has only 1% acrylic content and is tintable.  The line also comes in low-lustre paints, which contain no petroleum-based or other organic solvents prior to tinting.

7.  WINDOWS

Roughly a quarter of a typical home's heat loss occurs through doors and windows.  However, if you install Eco Options' ENERGY STAR-certified windows, you can cut your heating costs by up to 12%.  Replacing older, less-well-insulated windows will also help to minimize air leaks.  Jeld-Wen's EnerSmart series of windows is highly energy efficient because the company uses a low emissivity (low-E) insulating glass.  Low-E glass features transparent, microscopic layers of silver placed between layers of anti-reflective metal-oxide coatings, which help keep homes warmer in winter and reduce condensation.  Compared to clear glass, windows made from low-E glass can also lower your energy costs by at least 15%.

8.  BAMBOO BLINDS

Bamboo is one of the most environmentally friendly woods you can find, since unlike trees, it grows very quickly - in fact, faster than just about any other substance.  Amazingly, it can grow up to half a metre a day.  Versailles Home Fashions' blinds are made of woven bamboo wood slats in a folding, Roman-shade style.  Each set has a cord cleat to keep the cords out of reach of small children.  The slats are easily trimmed with a fine-tooth saw and can be cleaned by dusting with a soft brush or lightly vacuuming .  They can also be painted or stained.

9. DRAPERY LINERS

Even if you don't see them, drapery liners can give your curtains that nice, finished look.  But they're useful in other ways, too.  They help insulate the room (and so contribute to reducing your energy bill) and they block out noise and light, so you'll have a better night's sleep.  Westport drapery liners, from Commonwealth Home fashion, are made from 70% polyester and 30% cotton, so they're lightweight and machine washable.

10.  FSC SHELVES

Canada might have lots of trees, it's true, but we still need to look after them.  That's where teh Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) comes in.  FSC-certified wood is your guarantee that the manufacturer is committed to using lumber from forests that are managed in such a way that protects their productivity, ecology and biodiversity.  At least 70% of the wood used in manufacturing this line of solid pine shelves made by Tekwani Sawmills comes from forests certified by the FSC.  The shelves are pre-drilled for easy assembly, and are ready to paint, stain or varnish.