Greening Your Home by Lauren Perreault and Danielle Newson

(cross published at The Beach Reporter and Eco Friendly Living Magazine)

You may not realize it, butaccording to the Green Building Council, buildings consume up to 40 percent of ALL energy used, add 30-40 percentof all emissions into the environment, and use up to 30 percent of all rawmaterials.  So thinking about yourhome and how you can add value to it while also caring about the environment isa great idea that can help to save the planet (and save you money as well.)

Althoughmost of us already know the basics of energy savings around the home, includingreplacing inefficient lighting and appliances with newer technology products,using a fan instead of the air conditioner and making sure the weather strippingaround doors is in good shape before winter, but did you know that your waterheater is a major consumer of energy that often gets overlooked?  If you water heater is outside,consider putting a thermal blanket around it or if it's time to replace it,check out the hi-efficiency tankless water heaters and save up to 35% on yourelectric bill.  

Doinga major remodel?  Notedenvironmental architect Garth Sheriff (http://www.GarthDesigns.com) of Manhattan Beach says that you should consider the source of materials.  "Wood floors are beautiful, but youshould ensure that you are buying woods from a sustainable source rather than asource that is stripping the rain forest bare.  You can tell if the wood is environmentally friendly byseeing if the manufacturer is a member of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)".  Cork or linoleum are both eco-friendlychoices as well, especially for kitchens or other areas where wood may not besuitable.  

Forcountertops, materials made from recycled glass, crushed stone, or evenrecycled paper are both environmentally responsible AND beautiful.  When replacing cabinetry, considerwhether new doors or a new finish would work as well and eliminate the landfillwaste - or at least donate the old cabinets to someplace that recycles buildingmaterials.  Other ways to be ecoconscious about cabinets are to choose veneers rather than solid - many morecabinets can be made out of the same lumber when using veneers.

Forcarpet, look for the Carpet Rug Institute (CRI) designation for low outgassing,and for other fabrics, look for those made from sustainable materials such asbamboo or hemp.  Exterior surfacefinishes such as integral color stucco rather than paint is a great choice toeliminate noxious fumes, or else specify paints that do not contain volatileorganic compounds, which are designated as low VOC.

Andif all this seems too overwhelming and you'd rather just buy a new homethatwas already environmentally sensitive and "green", contact Danielle& Lauren (www.FabulousSouthBay.com) who understand the issuesand materials and can help you find the perfect eco friendly home foryou.