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Eco-Friendly, EPA-Approved Fireplaces

Sep03
2009
Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

Fireplaces

While they add warmth and coziness to a room, especially on cool fall and winter evenings, fireplaces aren’t all ambiance. Did you know that, according to some experts, fireplaces are often bad for the environment?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the smoke you see coming out of a chimney indicates that the fuel in the fireplace below has not burned completely.

Chimney smoke is a mixture of gas and particles that can cause health problems, especially when the particles typically measure anywhere between 2.5 and 10 micrometers in diameter. Some of the gases emitted from wood smoke include sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide. When inhaled, these gases can infect the heart and the lungs, causing such illnesses as asthma, coronary artery disease and cancer, sometimes even resulting in heart failure.

With Washington being the only state in the country to enforce fireplace emissions testing, the EPA created a voluntary Low Mass Wood-Burning Fireplace Program geared toward manufacturers located throughout the rest of the United States. It is the hope of the EPA that factories distribute cleaner, low-mass fireplaces in order to improve the air quality all over the country. Essentially, if a given state won’t do it, it’s up to the EPA and the fireplace manufacturers to help the environment.

When a fireplace passes the EPA’s test, its packaging is stamped with either an orange or white tag. The orange tag means that the fireplace meets the Phase 1 (above average) emission levels and the white tag signifies that the fireplace meets Phase 2 (better than above average) emission levels. No matter which tag has been placed on a fireplace, you will know that those specific models were tested by an EPA-accredited lab, and they are cleaner (and greener) than other models.

For a complete guide to eco-friendly, EPA-approved fireplaces, visit www.epa.gov/woodstoves.

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, fireplaces, Low Mass Wood-burning Fireplace program, voluntary, Washington state, wood-burning stoves
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Going Green with Sinks

Aug28
2009
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

kitchensink
In previous articles, we at the Buy Owner Blog have given you several ideas for eco-friendly improvements. Specifically for your kitchen, we’ve offered tips for everything from how to choose new appliances to how to select materials for flooring, windows, cabinetry and lighting.

In this post, we’re getting even more specific, focusing on an aspect of your kitchen you really couldn’t do without: the sink.

Here’s what you may not know about sinks: not only are they a necessary part of a functional cooking space, but they also can be a great way to go green, particularly if you choose well in the type of material they’re constructed from.

Materials to Look for:
Eco-friendly sink materials include stainless steel and cast iron, both of which are recyclable and sometimes available used at salvage yards. As an added bonus, stainless steel is very easy to find and in a variety of sizes; plus, it’s easy to clean!

Think about Counters:
Sometimes it’s possible to extend the same material from the countertops to the sink, creating a seamless transition of work space and minimizing bacteria-harboring crevices.

Under- or Surface-Mounted?
Because they are easier to clean, under-mounted sinks may be preferable to surface-mounted ones, despite being more difficult to install. Just note that the material you’ve chosen for your counters may limit the type of sink you’re able to pick—for an under-mounted sink, it’s best to choose concrete, stone or some other solid-surface counter.

Other Reminders:
• Your kitchen is also a great place to add a water filtration system, which we’ve written about in a previous Buy Owner Blog article here.
• A foot pedal makes you more aware of how much water you’re actually using, and it doesn’t allow you to walk away with the water still running.
• Change the faucet to one that is low flowing, and save on energy. Lower water bills aren’t just good for you and the environment; they’re attractive to buyers!

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged Green Living, kitchen, sink, sinks
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Living in Smaller Spaces

Jul23
2009
1 Comment Written by Shanna

house Going green doesn’t always mean replacing appliances or purchasing products. Sometimes, learning to live in an eco-friendly way is the opposite of adding to our lives; rather, it is the reducing of our needs and wants in order to consume less and use what we have more efficiently. In fact, more and more home owners are doing just that: buying and living in smaller residences than ever before.

Whether choosing to build a remarkably smaller home like those made famous by the Small House Society or simply downsizing to something smaller than you’ve been used to, living in a smaller space can be one of the simplest ways to go green.

The only problem, of course, is that moving down can be difficult, especially when you’ve been used to more space, more rooms and more excess. What should you do? Are there ways to make the most of every bit of space?

Simply put, yes. Here are some ideas:

  • Keep what you need. Just what you need. This is smaller living at its most essential: choosing to live with less and cutting down on overall expenses/space/usages. If you can get rid of it, get rid of it.
  • Prepare to clean often. Just because your space is small doesn’t necessarily mean it will be easy to clean. Less overall space makes even a small amount of clutter feel large, at least proportionately. So it’s important to cultivate habits of cleaning regularly and consistently in order to cope.
  • Be organized. Well-chosen organization tools can make all the difference, whether closet caddies or something else. You may want a throw-everything drawer or cabinet where you can stash things to pull out later when you’re ready to organize.
  • Decorate with neutral colors. Because neutral colors tend to make a space seem larger, they’re a great choice in small spaces.

These tips just scratch the surface with ideas for maximizing space, but they demonstrate the reality that using your overall space efficiently can make an impact!

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged Green Living, owning a home, real estate, small space
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Should You Try Composting?

Jul02
2009
1 Comment Written by Shanna

composting

Going green starts at home, in small, daily changes done consistently. You replace your lightbulbs with energy-efficient ones. You choose ceiling fans. You become conscious of your water usage.

And here’s another idea, which is just as simple: You try composting.

What is Composting?
Simply put, composting is the process of turning organic trash (anything that was once living, such as food, garden waste, grass clippings, straw) into something usable. Instead of just taking it to the curb on trash day, you’re repurposing it towards dark, crumbly compost, which is perfect for adding to soil, by placing it in a compost bin that turns it into a nutrient-rich soil ideal for gardening!

Why you should do it:

  • It’s green. Did you know one-third of all trash that goes to landfills could be composted? (cite greenhome.com) Imagine if that trash were instead repurposed through composting! This saves the space in landfills, and it saves the energy involved in trash collection!
  • It’s a money-saver. By composting, you save money on your garbage bill and on fertilizer!
  • It’s simple. While some green alternatives are expensive or complicated, composting is not. It’s something anyone can do!

How to get started:
Composting isn’t a difficult process. You’ll need a compost bin of some kind (usually in the neighborhood of $60 to $180) to put in the yard. Then, you just need to begin trashing all organic materials, such as food scraps, in that bin. The bin will use high temperature (ideally around 160 degrees F) to convert all the organic materials. After a few months, compost will come out of the bottom.

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged compost, composting, environment, going green, home ownership
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Tax Credits from Green Living

May29
2009
1 Comment Written by Alicia

tax Though your tax returns are completed for 2008, you can start racking up tax credits for 2009 now by going green! According to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, and the stimulus bill recently signed by President Obama, homeowners can earn tax credits by making energy-efficient home improvements through 2010, and by adding renewable-energy technologies through 2016!

Examples of green home improvements include adding Energy Star appliances, energy-efficient metal roofing, eco-friendly insulation and energy-saving exterior doors or windows. By doing so, you can receive tax credit for 30 percent of the cost, which is up to $1,500.

Examples of renewable-energy technologies include solar water-heating systems, geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaic electricity and fuel cells. By adding one of these, you can also receive tax credit for 30 percent of the cost, with variable price returns.

For a more detailed description on these future tax credits, read this report from the Chicago Tribune.

For further assistance in turning your home into an eco-friendly, energy-efficient green home, read up on all of Buy Owner’s Green Living information here.

Specifics to check out-

  • Green roofing
  • Green insulation
  • Green flooring
  • Green kitchen
  • Green bathroom
  • Xeriscaping system
Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged environment, Green Living, Market News, news and trends, real estate market
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A Green Halloween

Oct24
2008
Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

And so it begins… the holiday season! This October marks the beginning of homeowners’ decorative showcases both inside and outside of their houses. After the 4th of July, many front yards and picture windows seem plain and bare, unless there’s a happy sunflower decal on the window or a few colorful flower bushes on the lawn. So after three months of decoration-less landscaping, October arrives, and people start erecting frightening ghouls, ghastly gravestones and spooky spider webs. They begin with Halloween, move on to Thanksgiving and then the winter festivities come right around the corner! Follow that up with Valentine’s Day and a few other holidays and people are almost celebrating Independence Day again!

This year, and beyond, forget about buying disposable holiday decor at a home depot store, a grocery store or an outlet mall. Why not try some more environmentally responsible alternatives that keep our planet healthier? Buy Owner will help you make greener choices when decorating and entertaining during the holidays, starting here with a green Halloween!

Use live greenery as part of your outdoor decorations!           

Planting colorful flowers is a sure-fire way to spice up outdoor Halloween decorations! Pick a universal color that can be used for mostly all holidays: white, red or black. Red impatients blossom into full, flourishing mounds! In a colder climate, they can bloom as early as spring and last as late as mid-November. Any white flower will add some delicacy to the decor. The following black flowers will help create a ghoulish garden: Black Diamond tulips, Black Barlow columbines and Alcea Rosea Nigra hollycocks.

 

Once you have chosen the universal color, place potted plants around your flower beds. For Halloween, go to any nursery and pick up orange chrysanthemums, red-orange heleniums (sneezeweeds), yellow helianthus (perennial sunflowers) or blonde goldenrods!

 

Inside the home, decorate with yummy edibles

All kinds of fruits and vegetables make the most appealing, appetizing centerpieces. Place a large bowl in the center of the table. For fall, look to fill it fruits that boast brown, orange, red or yellow hues: oranges, pears, pineapples, pomegranates, bananas and kiwi. Green veggies (like asparagus, broccoli and green beans) also enhance the warm, rich tones of the fruit. You may even want to decorate with pumpkins! Nothing says Halloween like a spooky Jack-o-lantern. Take the leftovers and whip up some tasty pumpkin pie. You could even save the seeds and plant pumpkins!

 

Think lasting, not disposable

Paper napkins that feature candy corn and pumpkins offer style and convenience, yet they waste resources. Try a greener, lasting linen that is washable and reusable. Visit Rawganique for some burgundy, russet orange or ivory organic hemp napkins. The GreenSage Store offers color-grown organic cotton tablecloths! You may want to use plain white linens and dress them up with colorful, reusable ribbons that match each holiday!

 

Check back in November for tips on how to have a greener Thanksgiving!

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged earth consciousness, environmental awareness, going green for the holidays, green ideas, Green Living, halloween, holidays
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