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Benefits of Choosing Eco-Friendly Construction Materials for Your Home

Eco-friendly building materials have been a hot topic for the last fifty years, yet many people don’t know what it could mean for their homes. Is it too pricey? Do these products do what they say? Although there’s a learning curve with these materials: they’re fantastic when implemented correctly.

These are the top benefits of choosing eco-friendly construction materials for your home!

What Are Eco-Friendly Construction Materials?

The definition for what’s eco-friendly isn’t a simple one and seems to evolve. From the materials being sourced in green ways, to materials like bamboo, which are completely sustainable, to even items that can be recycled or repurposed when they’re no longer in use: many things can fall under this label.

Fortunately, that means you have a large selection. If you’re curious about these green materials, talk to your home contractor about what your options are! Wanting to live eco-friendly is a great goal.

These Materials Increase Your Home’s Value

Although this isn’t the main goal for many: it’s a wonderful perk. Through a poll, the National Association of Realtors has found that 68% of home buyers are seeking out green or energy-efficient homes. This means that there’s a major market out there for green properties.

A separate poll by NAR also found that almost 40%  of home buyers agreed that they’d pay over $10,000 more for a home that’s built with eco-friendly materials like ashcrete. This gives these properties a large head start in the market and the opportunity to sell faster and for more money.

You Can Count On Them For Cleaner Air

Air is a problem that many have in mind. The EPA has found that most American households have more than two to three times the air pollutants inside than they do outside. These air pollutants can cause things like asthma, COPD, allergies, and dozens of other issues.  Although you can buy an air purifier, it’s smarter to plan.

Most green products like insulated concrete forms don’t give off the pollutants you can find in most homes. This ensures that you’ll have cleaner air and a better chance at good lung health from the start.

Save Money On Water and Energy Costs

If there’s anything the average person hates: it’s the cost of their energy bills. NPR found that nearly a third of Americans struggle to cover their energy bills because they’re unpredictable except for the fact that they keep rising. This expense is mostly capable of being worked around if you’re getting to start the home from scratch.

Intelligent, eco-friendly construction can ensure that your home will be better insulated- from the paint that’s on your exterior to the insulation in your walls- and that the outside temperatures will be less likely to leech in. It’s not too late to add eco-friendly materials, even if your home isn’t brand new. A roof replacement can also help cut down energy costs and control the internal temperature.

Conserve and Restore Natural Resources

When it comes to kitchen renovation, many have the aesthetics in their mind first.  There’s no problem with that; how your home looks matters and can inspire a lot of love for your property, but consider being eco-friendly as well. Well-sourced cabinetry can ensure that you’re not buying wood that would feed into deforestation instead of renewable wood. You can still have it in any look or finish you like, but sourcing it intelligently can make a huge difference.

Conserving natural resources ensures that your home puts less strain on the local ecology and protects the environment you’re building in.

Better Physical and Mental Health

Our physical and mental health are large deciding factors of our everyday life. Investing in an eco-friendly home can increase your happiness and reduce your likelihood of depression or anxiety symptoms. In addition, studies found that proximity to eco-friendly planning and construction boosts moods.  Even having sustainable public transit available is enough to increase these numbers.

There are multiple theories for why this may be happening, but a large part comes down to enjoying your environment without feeling helpless to pollution and waste. Many people fear that no change they make will be enough, so it feels good to know that changing your home and being conscious about how it’s built can make lasting changes.

Eco-Friendly Construction Materials Are Life-Changing

Whether this is your first home and you want to start it off right, or this is a rental property, you want to offer your tenants the best things you can: choosing eco-friendly construction materials can make a large change in your life and comfort. So take a look at how your items are sourced, how they’re implemented, and the positive changes they can offer you in your daily life.

10 Ways to Conserve Water While Maintaining a Green Lawn

Every homeowner loves to have a green lawn throughout the year. However, maintaining a green lawn all the time can be challenging for many people. It is essential to water a lawn regularly to maintain it green, especially in the summer season. Also, it is important to save water to save our environment and ecosystem.

The conventional method of loan irrigation leads to wastage of plenty of water. Therefore, it becomes essential for every landscape owner to use modern methods of irrigation that help them save water. Let us explore the best methods of irrigation and tips to conserve water and maintain a green lawn at the same time. 

Water at the right time 

It is essential to watering your lawn at the right time of the day to save water. Governments of many countries have established water restrictions on watering during certain times of the day. If your community has set some guidelines and descriptions on watering the lawns, that are there to preserve water in your area. 

Morning and evening hours are considered the best times to water your gardens as the rate of evaporation are almost negligible in these times. Due to the very low rate of evaporation, water loss is also minimal. 

Harvest rainwater

Nature offers many sources of free water that most of the homeowners ignore. If you have plenty of space in your backyard, you can create a water reservoir to collect the rainwater and use it afterward in the summer months. You can also buy some barrels to store water in your garden, and doing this will help you use less of the public water. Harvesting rainwater is one of the best methods to conserve water and irrigate your landscapes. 

Irrigate with the right amount of water 

The amount of water your lawn needs depends upon the type of grass and the type of soil in your garden. Light and sandy soils need more and frequent watering than heavy soils. Clay soils need more water but less often. So, if you have light, sandy, or clay soil in your lawn, you need to water it more frequently. 

The amount of water your lawn needs depends upon the climate in your location and season of The Year. It might be enough to water your lawn once a week in the winter, but you may need to water it every other day in the summer months. 

Aerate your lawn

Lawn aeration is important for your garden maintenance that most garden owners overlook. It is a process that involves creating holes in the soil with the help of an aeration machine. Aerating the soil helps it retain moisture and reduce the water runoff. If you have recently reseeded or sodded your soil, it does not need aeration. Therefore, you should try to aerate your lawn to save water and promote the growth of grass. 

Remove the weeds

Every plant in your lawn needs water for its growth. The weeds in the grass also need water, and they increase the watering requirement of your lawn. Therefore, garden owners should remove the leaves regularly from their lawn and provide proper nutrition to the grass.

Removing the weeds as soon as they appear will ensure that the water you offer gets absorbed by the grass and not by unwanted plants. Moreover, your grass will not be deprived of the fertilizers and nutrients due to the presence of weeds.

Use water-saving watering techniques

The conventional watering techniques like flood irrigation lead to evaporation and loss of water. Therefore, lawn owners should not use conventional irrigation techniques and switch to water-saving irrigation techniques. Let us check some water-saving irrigation techniques for irrigating a lawn. 

Sprinkler irrigation

This is one of the best irrigation techniques that involve the use of sprinkler heads installed on a garden hose or system of pipes. There are different types of sprinklers used for this type of irrigation. It is best to use an adjustable sprinkler that offers a variety of sprinkling patterns. The adjustable sprinklers offer you to water your lawn grass in multiple patterns. You can adjust every sprinkler at a different pattern to suit the requirements of different areas of your lawn. 

Drip irrigation 

Another way to save water while watering is to make use of drip irrigation. You can get a drip irrigation system from the market and install it in your loan. You can also create your own drip irrigation system at home with a garden hose. A drip irrigation system can save a lot of water as the water is directly sprayed near the roots of the grass. There is a very low rate of evaporation, runoff, and requires less water for irrigation. 

Artificial Turf 

If you are looking for one of the easiest ways to save water while maintaining a lawn, you can consider planting artificial turf in your lawn. There are a variety of artificial grasses available, and you can choose one according to your choice. The watering requirements, climate, and location do not matter for artificial turf. Moreover, you don’t need to trim the grass as it does not grow. All you need to maintain it is to wash it with water when it gets dirty or twice a month to keep it clean. 

Maintain the grass height

To minimize the evaporation of water, your graph should cover and provide shade to the soil. It is essential to maintain two inches of cross height to offer shade to the soil. So, the next time when you move your lawn, take care to keep the grass height between 2 and 3 inches long. Maintaining the height of grass will make it look better and also reduce evaporation to a minimum.  

Final Words

These are some tips to save water and maintain your lawn green throughout the year. Installing the water-saving irrigation equipment can help save water. If you cannot find the equipment in physical stores, you can also check the drips and sprinklers for irrigation online. Following these tips will help landscape owners to irrigate their lawns wisely to save water and also maintain them green. 

Live in the Middle of Nowhere? Here’s How to Keep Your Home Running

Electric lines, Wi-Fi, cable television and tap water are just a few of the daily luxuries that most people take for granted. However, these little conveniences can become difficult to maintain when your home is in a secluded location. Whether you’re living in the middle of nowhere for a more sustainable lifestyle or just because of circumstances, here are four ways to keep your home running off-the-grid.

Keep the Lights On

One of the biggest challenges for homeowners living off the grid is establishing a reliable source of electricity, and solar panels are one of the most popular options. Solar panels have no moving parts, which means they are relatively maintenance-free, but they do require regular cleaning so they can absorb the sun’s rays efficiently. Purchase a solar panel cleaning kit and give your panels a scrub at least once per season.

Service Your Septic Tank

Homes in cities connect to a sewer system and let the city handle all the maintenance, but living in the middle of nowhere means you need a septic tank to deal with your household sewage. Dropping the ball on septic tank maintenance can lead to disaster, so remember to get your tank inspected and serviced on a regular basis. If you notice signs of septic failure like puddles in your yard or a backed-up toilet, call a septic tank repair service to fix the problem before it turns into a nightmare.

Stay Connected

Internet and cell phone service are vital to modern life, but securing these services in the middle of nowhere can be challenging. Despite a few shortcomings, satellite internet is usually the best option if you lack access to cable or fiber. Do you work from home and need to stay connected? Consider having a backup provider in case you lose service.

Don’t Run Dry

If you can’t hook into a municipal water system, your best bet is to have a well installed. Although a well eliminates the monthly water bill, it requires regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly. The CDC recommends having your well inspected annually for mechanical problems, contaminants and bacteria. Consider installing a gasoline generator to keep your well running when the power goes out.

Do you live off-the-grid and wish that municipal utilities were available? Contact your nearest companies to see if they’re willing to bring their services out to you. You can also call your local government representatives to find out if there are any grants or programs that can help.

Guest Post By:

Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her three-year-old husky, Snowball.

6 Plumbing Upgrades And Fixes That Lead To A Greener Home

bathroom

Green building refers to energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, sustainable materials, and insulated windows and walls. Today, green plumbing is also becoming popular because water consumption is a huge factor in any building’s environmental footprint (incidentally, drought-prone Australia has led the green plumbing movement).

‘Greening’ your plumbing will reduce your home energy costs. But apart from improving your utility bills, green plumbing also provides cleaner water and conserves valuable water resources. Most importantly, going green is about passing a better world to the next generations. It helps the environment by saving energy and water and using eco-friendly materials.

Here are some of the plumbing upgrades and fixes that property owners today must consider to attain a greener home. To make sure that these fixtures run efficiently, you must hire a licensed plumber install them.

1. Low-Flow Showerheads

Normal-flow showerheads make use of about six to seven gallons every minute, and the water comes out at 80 psi. If you want to use less water with normal showerheads, the stream is flat and insubstantial, which offers an unsatisfactory shower experience.

Low-flow showerheads will solve this problem by forcing the water towards a narrower opening. In turn, this will reduce the amount of water that will come out while maintaining the pressure at 80 psi for a strong stream.

There are two design types allowing you to get a reduced water flow without the need to sacrifice water pressure. The laminar design uses individual parallel water streams that will reduce the stream while showering. The other type is the aerator design, which pulls air via the air ducts.

2. Eco-Friendly Toilets

The conventional toilet makes use of about 13.25-18.93 litres (3.5 to 5 gallons) of water every time you flush. The older versions use about 26.5 litres (7 gallons) of water. Toilets made after 1992 uses 6 litres (1.6 gallons) of water per flush. Today, new designs with eco-friendly features are more in-demand. They only make use of 4.85 litres (1.28 gallons) per flush. So get a new toilet now to conserve more water.

3. Up-to-date Taps

Old taps use plenty of water and their inefficiency increases as they age. Most modern styles of taps have luxury features like longer tap heads, low-flow designs, portable extensions, and convenient handless water shut off for better functionality. Surely, you will be amazed at the different options available in the market today.

Adding an aerator to these taps can also save water and money. Aerators will increase water pressure by adding air to water flow whilst reducing the amount of water used.

4. Tankless Water Heaters

Although conventional water heaters have improved when it comes to energy efficiency, they still waste a significant amount of money. They let the water sit in the tank whilst continually heating it until the household is ready to use it. And when you are ready to use it, you have to wait for it to get hot. No wonder today’s tankless water heaters are popular.

Tankless water heaters will warm water on demand, which saves an incredible amount of energy while making sure that you don’t run out of hot water. This kind of water heater is an excellent water-saving option that is also worth evaluating.

5. Piping and Insulation

Most plumbing systems in homes aren’t insulated properly; this will cause heat loss, making your water heater work harder. Plumbing experts recommend insulating your pipes as soon as possible.

Older pipes with galvanized steel easily corrode, thus blocking the system. Grey or blue poly, on the other hand, are prone to leaks. As such, you must let the experts in plumbing services replace your old pipes today.

6. Modern Appliances

The most visible feature of a plumbing system would be the appliances. Updating your appliances to their eco-friendly versions will add significant value to your home. Most modern appliances require a smaller amount of water while providing superior functionality. Consider switching out the refrigerator, dishwasher, and washing machine for new models. This upfront investment will pay off well in the long run.

Do not wait for your plumbing fixtures to break down or malfunction before making an upgrade. You must start conserving water and saving money on water bills. If you don’t upgrade your plumbing system, you could literally be flushing your hard-earned money down the drain.

AUTHOR BIO

Based in South Melbourne, Blue Diamond Plumbing was founded in 1985, working on new homes, repairs and commercial contracts. Over time they have grown to become some of the best plumbers Melbourne has to offer. Since 2001 the company has specialised in Emergency Plumbing and Property Maintenance, Repairs and Renovations for homes and businesses in Melbourne and inner city suburbs. Owner Rod Diamond has over 30 years experience with emergency plumbing in Melbourne’s inner suburbs.

 

Green Movement: Effective Home Improvements

There are lots of reasons to remodel, renovate, or update your home. You might do so in order to eventually put your residence up for sale or you might do so in order to create a more livable place for you and yours. But one common motivation these days is the desire to be more energy efficient to reduce the end-of-month energy bill. If this strikes a chord with you, getting aboard the green movement bandwagon can bring about tangible results. So read on for effective home improvements that will allow you to live green, save money, and improve home value.

Green Movement: Effective Home Improvements

ATTIC INSULATION

While it’s not exactly the most exciting home improvement measure, adequate attic insulation will help you to keep down your heating costs during the cold weather months. If you live in an older residence, chances are that your attic does not have enough insulation…and it’s possible that it actually has no insulation at all. Have it checked and get enough insulation in your attic. This could potentially save you hundreds of bucks during the cold weather season. While you’re at it, ensure that your walls also have enough insulation.

KITCHEN

When it comes to your kitchen, there are lots of things you can do to make this popular space more energy efficient as well as eco-friendly. Depending on how extensive the remodeling, you can swap your cabinets for options that have the stamp of approval from the Forest Stewardship Council. Wood and wood products with such certification are obtained employing responsible forest management efforts, and they’re made with glues that don’t have formaldehyde. You can also get green countertops that are made from recycled or sustainable products and that are manufactured courtesy of eco-friendly methods. Among other options, you can also upgrade your kitchen with energy efficient equipment like a new fridge, freezer, or dishwasher. And don’t forget to get fluorescent lighting, which employs much less energy versus incandescent lighting.

GARDEN

While a garden might not seem to fit the theme, what better demonstrates that you’re really committed to the green movement than would developing and maintaining a wonderful garden? A garden will give your home more curb appeal in the event that you put it up for sale, make your residence a more inviting place for your family and guests to congregate, and reflect on the outside of your home what you’re hoping to accomplish on the inside of your home. Gardening is, as some put it, a lifestyle. So it’s best to do it right to get the best results.

garden

WINDOWS

According to one source, the average cost to install over 10 windows is $14,504; the average cost to replace between five and 10 windows is $4,917; and the average cost to replace under five windows is $2,219. Of course, there are various factors that come into play to determine how much it will cost. Another source notes that a typical home that opts for windows with the Energy Star rating can save between $126 and $465 annually when changing their single-pane windows. How can you tell if you need new windows? If you live in an older house, you might notice that your windows are drafty. It’s not difficult to determine if this is the case. All you’ll need to do is hold your hand up around the windows to determine if you can feel air. Should you feel air, you can save money by replacing your windows. Over time, the savings on your heating and cooling bills will exceed what you paid to buy and install your windows.

These are just a few effective home improvements you can make if you want to be part of the green movement. So live green, save money, and increase the valuation of your residence.

 

How to Keep Pests Away From Your Garden

garden

Springtime marks the beginning of another gardening season. You are out and about planting, pruning and making sure that every inch of your garden looks just perfect. You are just admiring your flower garden, when a cat runs right through the flowers and rips them to shreds. And cats are not the only animals that can ruin your garden. Many types of animals come out during the spring, so here are some ways in which you can defend yourself.

Mole repellents

All the tips here are going to be humane, telling you simply how to keep the animals away, rather than kill or harm them. The best way to get rid of moles is to simply plant the right things in your garden. Plants like daffodils, marigolds and alliums have contents that are natural mole repellents, and will surely keep those pesky moles out if planted around the perimeter of your yard.

Keeping your plants safe

Plant-eating animals are mostly small and not really easy to catch, so you have to protect your plants in a different way. A popular remedy is chopping up and boiling some hot peppers, then pouring the water into a spray bottle and spraying it over your plants. This is safe for your plants and will keep any bugs off. Still, this is not a good solution when it comes to edible plants – imagine putting fresh mint in your lemonade and tasting a hot pepper! For an alternative, you can use turmeric. Grate it and infuse it with some water, then repeat the spraying tactic on all of your plants!  If spider mites are your problem, a mixture of flour, water and buttermilk sprayed on your trees once a week will keep the mites at bay!

Recycling food scraps

Organic scraps are not only good for compost, but also great for many other things. You can bury banana peels two inches in the ground next to the plants that are attacked by ants or aphids to make sure your plants will be safe. And if your problem is more of the slimier kind, use crushed eggshells to form a fence against any snails and slugs that want to enter the forbidden territory.

How to repel bigger animals

If you have a problem with raccoons, remember that they do not go well with dogs. If you don’t have a dog of your own, fake it by placing some dog hair around your yard and kiss the raccoon problem goodbye.  For cats or squirrels, flour mustard and cayenne pepper is your solution. Place the mixture around the perimeter of your yard, or mix it with water to make a spray.  Another option that requires much less effort is using high tech defence. Having an ultrasonic pest repellent, like the one from Bird Control Australia, will make your life a lot easier. You won’t notice it, but potential intruders of the animal kind definitely will! It can keep away insects or any animals, depending on how you set it up.

You are now ready to continue with your daily gardening activities without worrying about any pests, big or small, ruining all your hard work. Try and be as humane as possible with all of the animals, because there are always ways to simply drive them away without exterminating them – and placing various poisons around your garden can also be dangerous if you have kids or pets, not to mention make all of your produce less enjoyable. After all, a few birds chirping around your garden might just be that special touch that is missing for a real fairytale garden!

 

A Few Ways to Make Your Old House the Greenest One in the Neighborhood

Redecorating your house is never easy, especially if you’re trying to do something special with it. Cosmetic changes are always appreciated, but what if you could make a bigger difference with a simple home makeover? Namely, what if you could help your environment become healthier and greener by using specific techniques and materials during your renovation process? In case you’re looking for ways to make your old house greener and save some energy and money in the process, here are a few tips that might come in handy.

A Few Ways to Make Your Old House the Greenest One in the Neighborhood

Insulation, Insulation, Insulation

The absolutely best way to ensure that your house is energy-efficient, eco-friendly and environmentally safe is by getting proper insulation. You don’t have to do much and spend a small fortune, but a well-thought-out plan can do wonders for your house’s sustainability and efficiency.

First, start with an energy audit – do it on your own or let a professional determine what needs to be done. Then, get in touch with a reliable contractor who will install insulation on your exterior walls and spice up your house with a new coat of paint. Finally, think about indoor insulation that will only improve all your hard work.

Doors and Windows

Once you’ve insulated your house, it’s time to pay attention to details. What many people don’t know is that the biggest portion of energy is lost through windows and doors, simply because they’re outdated and in need of replacement.

The easiest way to go is by weatherstripping using rubber, plastic, foam or silicone. Although this sounds complicated, it’s actually quite easy – it’s just a matter of locating and sealing loose parts of your doors and windows so that the air can’t pass through. That way, you’ll practically seal your home from the inside and prevent leaks, thus saving energy by having more control over your indoor temperature. Alternatively, you can install double glazed windows that may be expensive, but are highly effective and save you lots of money in the long run.

Doors and Windows

Solar Panels

Now, if you want to achieve an even better synergy of architecture and green approach to life, take solar panels into serious consideration. These will make your house more aesthetically appealing and instantaneously turn it into the talk of the neighborhood. Additionally, as a great alternative source of creating and preserving energy, they’ll do wonders for your bills. Of course, you don’t have to go all in and cover your entire roof with solar panels, but adding a few might do the trick.

When choosing how to install solar panels, it’s probably better to consult a professional instead of trying to deal with them on your own. If you want to get the best results, they have to be installed properly – not to mention that you simply must pick the best solar panels you can find. Additionally, by choosing only the best brands and service, you can make sure that you will enjoy your panels for a long time.

A Few Ways to Make Your Old House the Greenest One in the Neighborhood

Ceiling Fans

When it comes to interior decorating, there’s nothing more unique than a ceiling fan. After being very popular in the mid-20th century, these are making a huge comeback today. Their vintage look makes them perfect for people who want to introduce class into their homes and aren’t afraid to experiment. Further, these things will effectively and cheaply lower the temperature of any room during summer, especially if you have high ceilings. Once installed – you can probably handle this by yourself – these fans will work almost for free for years and years to come. Ultimately, these are also useful when it comes to heating your house in winter. By applying slight adjustments, they can rotate in a different manner and circulate hot air from the ceiling downwards.

Other Ideas

Some of the other ways to ensure that your house is the greenest in your street include equipping all your light fixtures with LED light bulbs, adjusting your water heater, insulating your attic and basement and updating your heating system. Finally, you could plant a tree or two in your front and backyard and enjoy the comfortable shade they’ll provide you with during summer.

Update Your Home This Spring with These Eco-Friendly Options

Update Your Home This Spring with These Eco-Friendly Options

It can be hard to think of spring while in the depths of winter. However, this has been one of the warmer winters in recent years, depending on where you live. However, the colder it gets, the closer we are to spring! Spring is a classic time to clean and update your home because everyone is sick of being cooped up all winter and you can finally get outside and play. If you’re interested in making your home more environmentally friendly, then this spring is the perfect time to do it.

Give Your Windows a Perk

Bringing natural light in is always a welcome relief from winter, but it can also put a hurting on your climate control. Replacing the windows in one room, each year, lets you update them slowly so you don’t have to shell out the money all at once. Double paned windows allow for the best insulation, but they are more expensive at a minimum of $500 each. In order to get the full benefit, all windows would have to be replaced. A cheaper option is to upgrade the insulation around your windows, but that requires regular upkeep.

home improvement new windows

Paint Your Roof

Greece is well-known for their stark, white homes. There’s actually a very good reason for that. The white helps to keep the home cooler, which is a necessity around the equator. You can achieve the same thing by painting your roof either white or another light color. However, it’s likely that you would have to repaint it frequently, about once a year. If that idea doesn’t agree with you, it’s also a good place for a garden or solar panels!

Update Your Insulation

A properly insulated home is your best defense again wasting extra energy to remain comfortable. Take a look at your home, and see what’s lacking. Insulation in the attic and basement is often neglected, even though it’s vital to keep your home’s heating and cooling costs under control. Putting in new insulation isn’t even that expensive. If you shop around and are willing to put in the work, it’s even something you might be able to DIY, if you get some advice.

Update Your Insulation

Replace Old and Damaged Goods

Old drafty doors need to go. If unchecked, they can be a constant drain on your energy usage. This actually applies to a lot more than just your front and back doors, as well. Garage doors are rarely replaced when they need to be. Damaged siding or roof tiles also need to be replaced before they cause more damage. Doing a thorough, yearly inspection of your home’s exterior can give you the chance to fix problems before they become serious. Plus, a new garage door can do a world of good for improving your curb appeal. That update can pay for its self, as do many other green updates.

Pack Your Home with Green

Pack Your Home with Green

House plants are good for a variety of reasons. They tend to be good for your spirits, they help keep the air clean, they provide a visual reminder of warmer weather and they can help your home be a bit eco-friendlier. In addition to filtering out a wide variety of potentially damaging chemicals from the air, they also pack your home with humidity. Heating and air conditioning both tend to suck that right out of the house!

Update Your Floors

Most classic flooring isn’t exactly environmentally friendly. A little updating can make a big difference in it. This is a slightly more expensive option, but floors take a lot of wear and tear. They all need to be replaced at some point. Bamboo is a beautiful, sustainable option but it’s also pricy. It’s hard enough to last a lifetime, cutting down on the environmental impact of another replacement.

However, if it’s not in your price range, or you don’t like the look, then cork is another green option. It’s much cheaper, incredibly simple to harvest, it lasts a very long time and it has an unusual texture. It’s great for kids and keeps the floor warm during the winter.

Update Your Home This Spring

Take it Outside

Since these are tips for spring, it only makes sense to remember the landscape. Native plants are wonderful, and provide a simple way to keep your lawn healthy with minimal work. You can also look into drip irrigation, composting, rainwater harvesting, and growing your own garden. Leave as many plants and trees as you can, especially if they provide protection to your home. Bushes provide an extra layer of insulation, and lots of plants allow for the wildlife to have food and cover. With humans encroaching on their land everywhere, they need it!

If you plan to spend a hefty chunk or just a bit, there are a ton of options to make your home greener. Pick a small one to start, and progress on to larger endeavors. With all the savings you’ll get from updating your home, you’ll be able to make bigger changes!

Kacey-MyaKacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.

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Building A Home? 4 Tips To Reduce Your Construction Carbon Footprint

Building A Home 4 Tips To Reduce Your Construction Carbon Footprint

You might be surprised to hear just how much waste is produced during the construction process. Even for a smaller home, your construction crew could potentially release a huge volume of toxins into the air and contaminate the local environment. If you are getting ready to break ground, then take a look at these four tips for reducing your carbon footprint during construction.

Focus On The Location

Determining the location of your new home is probably the most important step in this process. While building deep within a city is not always ideal, those who buy property far off the beaten path will drastically increase the amount of fuel it takes to transport supplies. Whenever possible, you want to build on a piece of property that is relatively close to the materials you need. You should also research local water sources to make sure that your construction will not contaminate creeks, rivers, and underground aquifers.

Consider Recycled Materials

Not only are recycled materials very trendy right now, but they are also much better for the environment. Many construction companies and contractors sell their leftovers at just a fraction of their original price, and you will be saving those materials from going to the dump. When buying these supplies, you should double-check to see if they have been manufactured with any toxic chemicals. Materials such as construction-grade lumber and pipes are often treated with hazardous compounds to increase their longevity.

Green Insulation

Insulating your new home is one of the best ways to reduce your energy consumption, but you don’t need to stop there. Many older insulation pads and rolls are made with petroleum-based chemicals, and they can wreak havoc on the local environment during the installation process. Modern polymer sprays, like those offered at SPRAY FOAM DISTRIBUTORS, provide homeowners with the same amount of insulation, but they are produced with sustainable materials that will not release additional toxins into the air.

Request LEED Certification

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program is designed to exhaustively test new buildings to ensure that meet the strictest standards for sustainable construction. In order for your home to be certified, a third-party inspector will need to follow every step of the construction process starting on the very first day. In addition to being better for the environment, this certification could significantly increase the value of your home as well.

Green building methods are going to promote biodiversity while protecting the local ecosystems. Many of these alterations will also provide you with long-term savings to keep your energy consumption and utility bills as low as possible over the years.

Tips For Creating A More Eco-Friendly Bathroom

Tips For Creating A More Eco-Friendly Bathroom

Want a more eco-friendly home? The bathroom is a great place to start. It may be the smallest room in the house, but per square foot it offers more opportunity for positive impact than any other area in your home.

Between fans, hair dryers and other electric devices, lighting and water heating, the bathroom is a hot spot for energy use. Plus, it’s where the lion’s share of household water consumption takes place.

Fortunately, it isn’t hard to create a more eco-friendly bathroom. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1.   Choose a Low-Flow Toilet

The average household flushes 27 percent of the water it uses down the toilet, making this fixture by far the largest water consumer in your home. Choosing a WaterSense labeled toilet can reduce the amount of water you flush by 20-60 percent.

2.   Install Water-Saving Fixtures

Replace standard bathroom faucets and aerators with high-efficiency ones. Today’s high-efficiency models work great, and they can save you up to 700 gallons per year. Consider also installing a WaterSense labeled showerhead. If your shower water consumption is anywhere near average, it can save you $70 per year in utility costs!

3.   Weatherize Your Bathroom

A drafty bathroom is uncomfortable and will cause you to turn up the heat and prolong your showers. Nip that cycle in the bud with some simple weatherization. If your bathroom has an exterior window, use caulk to seal around it. Also, seal any cracks in the woodwork, around your tub or shower, and around fans, vents and plumbing penetrations.

4.   Insulate Your Pipes

Insulating your hot water pipes is an easy one-hour home improvement project nearly anyone can do. It can raise your domestic hot water temperatures by up to 4 degrees. That means you can set your water heater temperature lower, which saves energy! You also will run less water because it will not take as long for hot water to reach your tap.

5.   Switch to LED Lighting

You need good lighting in the bathroom. It’s also a place where you’re likely to turn the lights on and off frequently. If you haven’t yet made the switch to LEDs, this is the place to start. LED bulbs offer high-quality light and are the most energy-efficient lighting option available. They are also the most durable type of bulb, which is good news if you hate messing with your bathroom light fixtures. And, unlike CFLs, LED bulbs are unaffected by frequent switching on and off.

6.   Choose Eco-Friendly Bathroom Materials

Next time you remodel or outfit your bathroom, pay attention to what goes into it. From bathroom cabinets to toilet paper to towels to cleaning supplies and body care items, today’s market offers many recycled, organic and other environmentally friendly options from which to choose. Not only will you be helping the planet, but selecting eco-friendly items is usually healthier for you and your family, too.

7.   Take Clean Air Action

High humidity in such a small space can lead to mold growth and other indoor air quality issues in the bathroom. Clear the air by installing a high-efficiency exhaust fan. Green Tips For Creating A More Eco-Friendly Bathroomplants can also help keep your bathroom air clean. And, next time you paint your bathroom, choose zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint to avoid off-gassing fumes.

Greening up your bathroom doesn’t have to be a major endeavor, and it needn’t be expensive. Nearly all of these ideas are easy for the average homeowner to do. Most are quite inexpensive. If you do them one at a time you will hardly notice the difference in your family budget — but you’ll definitely notice the utility savings and enjoy increased comfort in your bathroom!

Author bio: Erica Garland is Content Marketing Manager at Modern Bathroom and has 15 years of experience in the bathroom renovation industry. Modern Bathroom sells a variety of products you would need for any bathroom renovation project. With such a large selection of contemporary bathroom vanities, sinks, toilets and bathtubs for sale, Modern Bathroom is sure to have the perfect piece to give your bathroom an updated look.    

 

 

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