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Going Green: Bathrooms

Nov07
2008
1 Comment Written by Alicia

If you’re looking to go green, saving money on your energy bills, your bathroom is a great place to begin! According to the California Urban Water Conservation Council, 60 percent of a home’s water consumption takes place in the bathroom! Many opportunities are available to decrease your water usage and create a greener bathroom.

Toilets can use up to 5-gpf (gallons per flush), especially older models. Updating your commode could save you hundreds of gallons of water a month! Newer toilets use as little as 1.6-gpf. If you think a low-flush toilet just won’t cut it in your household, look into a dual-flush one. These toilets provide two flush options: a full flush for solids and a reduced flush for liquids. Low-flush and dual-flush commodes have become easier to find than ever.

More toilet tips:

  • To gain the most efficiency from your toilets, change parts every five years. If you have a leak, fix it immediately. Make sure to ask for low-flush replacement parts at the hardware store.
  • Use recycled toilet paper.
  • Close the toilet lid before flushing. This prevents a flow of bacteria through the air.
  • Don’t flush anything but toilet paper. This will use up less water and decrease pollution.

Showers now contain many options for water-saving efficiency. Showerheads use way more water than needed. A showerhead should only use 2.5-gpm. Even if you have this type of showerhead, they are often used improperly. Make sure that your showerhead is dishing out appropriate amounts of water. Steer away from dual-heads, which use way more water than necessary.

More shower tips:

  • Purchase a tankless water heater and your water will heat up in a mere 30 seconds. This will save tons of water in the long run.
  • Use a PVC-free shower curtain in order to not release chemical gases and odors into the bathroom air.
  • Take cooler showers or shorten the length of showers. Turn off the water while you shampoo your hair or while shaving. If you take daily baths, only fill the bath halfway.

Faucets constantly spurt more water than what is necessary. They should use around 2.2-gpm or less. A low-flow faucet gadget costs little to nothing and can save ample amounts of water.

More faucet tips:

  • Turn off the water while you brush your teeth or wash your face.
  • If you shave in the sink, fill the sink halfway with water and dunk your razor into the water instead of leaving the water running.

Besides saving water, here are other ways to create an all-around green bathroom:

  • Add a skylight or a glass-block window. These allow natural light to stream into your bathroom and leave the bathroom lights off during daylight hours. They still provide privacy. If these are not options for you, use compact fluorescent lights that use less energy and last longer.
  • Add or replace your ventilation fans to keep the room dry. By doing so, your light bulbs will last longer and you can keep mold and mildew away.
  • Use organic cotton bath linens or bamboo linens. Regular cotton linens are filled with chemicals that can cause harm to you and the environment.
    If you are looking to entirely revamp your bathroom, add flooring and a vanity with recycled products that are good for the environment! Bamboo cabinets, recycled linoleum/ceramic floors and recycled aluminum countertops are all excellent choices.
  • When keeping your bathroom tidy, use green cleaners or homemade cleaners to do the trick! Click here to learn more about these types of cleaners.
Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged bathrooms, eco-friendly tips, going green, green bathrooms, Home Improvement, owning a home, renovations
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12 Quick Ways to Go Green

Oct31
2008
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

It’s a green world these days. And with an increasing number of home sellers offering green advantages in their homes, you might want to consider the benefits. Though some green features can conveniently allow you to raise the price of your home, they’ll also make your home stand out from other homes that don’t offer green features.

Here are a dozen ways to make your home greener, from cheapest to priciest. Even if it’s a last-minute change, it might be just what you need to make your home its most valuable.

1. Change the light bulbs in your home’s light fixtures to compact fluorescent bulbs. They last longer and they use less energy than regular bulbs. Home buyers will be pleased to know that their new home is filled with new bulbs that will last a long time!

2. Change the water gadgets in your home to devices that are low flowing and save on energy. Toilets, showerheads, faucet heads, laundry appliances and utility sinks can all be equipped with energy-saving gadgets. Lower water bills aren’t just good for you; they’re attractive to buyers!

3. Fill the areas around leaky or drafty windows. You can do this multiple ways: replace the window frames, add a pane of glass to trap temperatures or fill with insulation. Even adding blinds to all of the windows will help keep interior temperatures stable.

4. Check your entire home for possible insulation needs, whether it is your attic, windows, doors or basement. For more information on energy-efficient insulation, click here

5. Add ceiling fans in order to keep air constantly circulated. Both air and heat need a constant flow, especially if your home features high ceilings. The heat tends to rise, leaving the rooms chilly. If you only add one ceiling fan, place it somewhere in the middle of the home.

6. If you own a dial-type thermostat, replace it with a modern electric one. These allow you to program it to lower or higher temperatures when you aren’t home or while you are sleeping. This way, heat or air is not being wasted during times that you don’t need it!

7. If you’ve been contemplating a repaint job, opt to use non-toxic paints that have low or no VOCs (volatile organic chemicals). These used to be vital to the performance of paint, until recently. New types of paint reduce the toxic emissions that normally pollute the air.

8. For outdoor energy efficiency, add a xeriscaping system or an irrigation system to your yard. This allows future owners to enjoy a landscaped yard by knowing that less work is involved and it’s being done in an efficient way. For more information on xeriscaping, click here.

9. Add new doors to your home. Not only can they spruce up a room, but they can also add energy efficiency. Old doors are oftentimes not properly installed or not properly air-sealed. Add new exterior doors, add storm doors to existing doors or replace weather-stripping on exterior doors.

10. As with doors, old appliances use more energy than newer appliances. When choosing a new refrigerator, opt to purchase a top freezer instead of a side-by-side, and choose a standard size. With dishwashers, look for water-efficient models with multiple wash options. A microwave cooks food faster, therefore uses less energy than an oven.

11. Replace your roof, or paint it white. White roofs reflect the sun and allow less drastic temperatures to enter your home or attic.

12. When using Buy Owner to sell your home, make sure to mention these energy-saving/green elements in your home advertising! Potential home buyers may not be aware of how the new elements in your home save them energy. Inform the sales representatives that come to your house in order to make certain that these features are included in your home’s ad!

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged advertising a home, energy-efficiency, Green Living, improvements to home, selling a home
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