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Get Ready for the Greenest Holiday Ever!

November 29, 2009 in Holiday, Holiday Gift Guide by Jennifer | No comments

No matter what winter holidays you celebrate it’s easy to green them up. Before we kick off the 2009 winter holiday season this December I thought we’d look back at some of the best green home holiday tips from last year. Then stay tuned for brand new holiday tips over the next couple of weeks.

greenest holiday ever

GREEN HOLIDAY BASICS

TREATS & GIFTS!

SPICE UP YOUR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

PLAN AHEAD

Also as you start thinking about the new year consider a Ban on Paper Calendars.

Ten easy ways to green Christmas

November 19, 2009 in Holiday by Jennifer | No comments

Christmas is one of those holidays that’s actually pretty darn easy to green up. Simple choices can lead to a green Christmas and a more meaningful holiday celebration. Following are some ideas…

green your christmas

1. Green your Christmas tree: There are so many choices when it comes to the tree that it can seem hard not simple, but it all comes down to a few bits of info…

  • Reusable plastic tree = not so green.
  • Cut trees from a conventional farm = ok, but still not too green.
  • Cut tree from an organic farm = greener.
  • A living tree = green!
  • Alternatives like a wreath, small tree, plant, or other recyclable option = green.

To get an in-depth look read the most eco-friendly Christmas tree.

2. Green your lights: No matter where you like to place holiday lights, LEDS save you energy and look beautiful as well.

3. Green your wrap: Reuse last year’s Christmas wrap; use the comics; use a reusable container; use wrap made with recycled paper.

4. Green your greetings: Don’t send cards this year, call your loved ones instead or send an e-card. Make cards with recycled craft supplies. IF you really want to send a paper card, send one made of tree-free paper, plantable paper, or choose from the many recycled Christmas card options available.

5. Green your holiday baking: Use organic ingredients and eco-safe bake ware. No time to bake? Find the most Amazing Organic Holiday Cookies.

6. Green your shopping: Don’t shop like mad. Make a small list of meaningful gifts you’d like to get and stick to it. OR make crafty homemade holiday gifts. You can also give many gifts that actually give back.

7. Green the toys: If you’ve got kids, Christmas toys are likely on your list. Make sure you get safe, lead-free, non-toxic toys this year.

8. Green your Christmas stocking: This year use an eco-friendly Christmas stocking AND stuff it with safe fun green treats.

9. Green your holiday supplies: Plan on using goods for the holidays that are made with recycled materials or that can easily be recycled. You’d be surprised at how many options there are for a nice recyclable holiday season.

10. Green your Christmas mindset: The biggest challenge surrounding getting green for Christmas is simply wrapping your mind around a new way to celebrate. Read I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas and/or Celebrate Green for ideas about how you can celebrate in a fun way while keeping it green and meaningful.

How are you greening your Christmas this year?

Green Your Home Office in Three Easy Steps

September 28, 2009 in Home Office by Jennifer | No comments

There are plenty of important steps to a greener home office, here are three of the biggies.

1. PAPER USE:

The Worldwatch Institute notes that about 42% of all trees harvested are used to make paper. Making paper not only uses precious resources like water, energy, and trees, but cutting down those trees can ruin entire wildlife habitats in the process. Instead of virgin paper use recycled paper – which is readily available nowadays. You can also plan for a paper-free, or less paper used office.

2. ENERGY USE:

Computer use is a big drag on your home energy bill, especially when you get a few users per home. Make sure you’re using eco-savvy, energy saving computer tactics. You can also adjust your office lighting using CFLs or CFL alternatives. In some cases you may be able to use LED lighting (if you have a smaller office space. Also, be sure to unplug items like your printer and fax machine when not in use.

3. GREENER OFFICE SUPPLIES:

First off think reusable, refillable, and long-lasting green office supplies. For example refillable pencils, refillable ink cartridges, recycled notebooks and binders, recycled clipboards, and so on. You’ll also want to look for sustainably made office products and only buy what you actually need. For office furniture you can go with used pieces or sustainable pieces. Also see: Fun Green Home Office Supplies.

Cons of Building or Buying a New Green Home

May 21, 2009 in Green Building by Jennifer | No comments

This month we’ve been sorting out which is better: remodeling green or buying or building a new green home. So far we’ve looked at…

Today the last part of our series – the cons of building or buying new. However, stay tuned because soon I’ll post some resources that will help you out, no matter your final decision.

CONS OF BUILDING OR BUYING A NEW GREEN HOME:

The obvious first con of going with a new green home is cost. Green homes can cost more at the start than conventional. In the long run a green home will save you money, but start-up costs can stop some people cold. According to CNN Money, if you went as green as possible, a green home might cost you 20-30% more than a traditional home, but don’t forget there are shades of green in-between as well. You’ll also get tax credits. Green Prefab can also be an affordable way to build or buy green.

Side note: I built a green home and the costs were not more than a traditional home – but keep in mind that we built small as well (also a green feature). Additionally a piece at Ecomii notes that green costing more is a myth. According to this piece; “The chief complaint most people have with green building is cost… This is not true — but it’s a common misconception promoted by ignorant architects and contractors who are afraid of building in a different way. Good architects and contractors know how to save their clients money. The client sets the budget, and a project should come in at or below that budget. With a clear direction of budget, there is no reason you can’t build a green building for the same price as, or less than, a traditional building.” Read more.

OTHER CONS:

Read the rest of this entry »

Beyond Basic Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

April 8, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | No comments

We’re always hearing about compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) – and for good reason. CFLs are more earth friendly and last longer than typical bulbs. CFLs are an inexpensive way that any household can incorporate greener standards. BUT, what other greener lighting options are there? CFLs are not the only lighting choice if your goal is a green home. Following are two more green lighting options.

LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES (LEDS): Led lighting is actually more efficient (about three times more so) than CFLs and ten times more efficient than typical incandescent bulbs. They don’t give off much heat and last far longer than CFLs or standard bulbs. For example, the typical lifespan of a CFL is at most 10,000 hours while a LED can last up to 50,000 hours.

A downside of LED bulbs is that they’re more expensive to get started with. They do pay off in energy savings and lifespan in the long run, but in the short run you’ll need a larger budget to start using them. Also, LEDs are and are not handy depending on your needs. They make sense for smaller spaces where direct light is needed, but won’t work as well to light up large areas. See more tips on where LED lighting works best.

COLD CATHODE BULBS: These are actually a type of CFL but they run at room temperature, unlike average CFLs that work (in simple terms) by heating up. These can also be used for dimmers and any other light situation where flashing lights are needed. and last longer than other CFLs. You won’t have to fork over much extra cash for cold bulbs either, they’re not too much more than other CFLs and save you a little more over time due to their long life span. Cold cathode bulbs used to be used more like LEDs – i.e. in smaller, direct light situations, but currently you can find all sorts of bulbs for all kinds of applications.

Where to find these bulbs:

Green Apartment Life – Easy Ways To Get Sustainable

March 16, 2009 in Green Audit, Green Your Home by Jennifer | 1 comment

This week we’ve been looking at green apartment living. So far we’ve discussed:

Now we’ll look at some green tips that apply to anyone, even folks in an apartment, and later we’ll check out some sustainable decor and furnishings for apartment life before wrapping up this series.

When you live in an apartment, some green rules won’t apply. Unless you live in a very flexible apartment complex, you may not be able to do things like install a low-flow toilet, change your heating and cooling source, or build a rain barrel. But there are still plenty of ways to go green when living in an apartment. Such as…

Insulate your apartment. Caulking is iffy in an apartment but weather stripping and door draft stoppers are usually ok.

Ditch your landline phone.

Turn Down the Thermostat. You may be better off than a home dweller in this case, especially if you live on a first or second floor with an apartment above you. The extra layer of housing can help to seal in heat in the winter and keep it cooler in summer.

Live simply for a better, greener life.

Use eco-smart lighting like compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs and LED lighting.

Conserve water!

You can solve indoor air pollution even in an apartment. The same tips that work for a house work for an apartment.

Rethink your disposables. Using items like cloth napkins and cleaning cloths over paper towels is not only eco-friendly, but handy in an apartment. Apartments tend to be short on space and it takes more space to store huge packs of paper towels.

Hold a green audit! Not all green home audit questions will apply to an apartment dweller. However, there’s still a lot you can audit and possibly change to stay green. Check out the following home audits and simply cut out questions that don’t apply – such as roofing or landscaping issues.

Do you live in an apartment? How are you keeping it green?

Is There an Ideal Sustainable Home?

January 30, 2009 in Sustainable Building by Jennifer | No comments

Sustainable housing is not a new idea, but there are many different ideas surrounding the term sustainable building, some of them always changing (think LEED). People have varied sustainable plans when designing a house, but in reality you can narrow sustainability down to some basic ideas.

The best sustainable housing is…

Sustainable at each level. From choosing a site and clearing the land. Your choice of materials and your building ethics (i.e. recycling waste). Your energy system and landscaping. At each level of the planning and building process there are sustainable aspects you can consider.

A sustainable home has a light footprint and takes up less space. You can sort of build a green McMansion but that majorly defeats the true purpose of sustainable design.

The best sustainable materials are locally acquired, efficient, and recyclable. You can go further by choosing materials that have been reclaimed and by using only what you need. For example, two sinks in the bath, may be overkill.

Sustainable housing requires less fuel to heat or cool and maximizes natural vs. non-renewable resources for energy. Wind, solar, proper landscaping, window quality, and more are all ideas surrounding sustainable energy for housing.

Sustainable housing makes the most of water use with things like water efficient appliances, rainwater systems, and low-water landscaping.

Interior design is also a consideration. Non-toxic paints, clean air techniques, reclaimed floors, sustainable furniture, and more all contribute to overall sustainable design.

In my opinion, sustainable design also adds to the land integrity instead of claiming aesthetics from said land. This is not an across the board idea, but it makes little sense to overtake nature with design.

To learn more about sustainable design read:

Where to Get Eco-friendly Home Office Supplies

January 20, 2009 in Healthy Green Home, Home Office by Jennifer | No comments

Last week we started looking at eco-home office ideas. You can catch up by reading:

It actually used to be hard to find eco-office supplies; at least on a budget. The places carrying these items were few and far between, so you had to pay a lot for even simple things like recycled content printer paper. Currently though, things are a lot better. So many places carry eco-office goods that you’re sure to find what you need at a decent price.

Here are some good places to start your eco-office supply search:

Later I’ll post some cool specific green office products – nice green office bling you’ll adore.

Green Your Home Office – Home Office Eco Ideas

January 15, 2009 in Green Your Home, Healthy Green Home by Jennifer | 2 comments

This week we’re looking at how to create a healthy and green home office. The other day we saw some office supplies and products that can help you reduce waste and chemicals.Today some tips that can help you easily green your home office space.

Shredding rules: If you splurge on one amazing piece of equipment, make sure it’s a shredder. You need a heavy duty paper shredder. This will help you keep things tidy and supply you plenty of free and recycled packing material. If you have too much shredding, you can compost the extra, or simply toss it in the recycle bin. It doesn’t pay to buy a wussy shredder though. Get a really nice one, like the OfficeMax Shredder, Cross-Cut. This shredder has a 20 sheet capacity (even with staples) and shreds crazy stuff like credit cards and DVDs.

Try green flooring: Some nice eco-friendly rugs, that still allow your chair on wheels to roll around include:

NOTE: for real rolling ease, you should use a rug mat under the rug you choose.

Bring in some real green: Plants are both healthy and green. Placing two or three around your desk is an easy way to improve the air quality in your office. Opening that window from time to time (even in winter) will help to improve your air quality and green your space as well.

Stay warm, save energy: If you can, set up a home office thermostat that’s programmable. If you’re in and out of your home office quite a bit, you might want to consider a sweater vs. the heat cranking.

If something breaks… You should take more steps than just tossing the item. One, see if your item can be fixed. Two, if it can’t be fixed, see if you can recycle it. Three, if it’s not broke, I’d say hang onto it. However, we all know there are folks who like the latest office gadgets. If this is you, don’t toss your old one, donate it to a cause. Plenty of non-profits can use an extra computer or printer.

Stay tuned for tips on green home office accessories.

How are you greening your home office?

Create A Healthy and Green Home Office

January 13, 2009 in Green Your Home, Healthy Green Home by Jennifer | No comments

I’m thinking that with the start of the new year, redesigning a room in your house to be greener is a great plan. One easy place to start with a green home make-over is your home office.Over the next few days we’ll look at how you can get your home office, be it a space, or an entire room, into tip-top green shape.These tips can also be applied to your out of the house office if you like.

Your basic home office supplies checklist:

There are basically three sorts of products to watch out for in home offices – products that drain excess energy, products that use too many resources, and products that are chemical heavy. Of course, you want to be on the flip side of this…

Products that save energy in your home office: Read the rest of this entry »

Seven Tips for A Greener Holiday Season

November 20, 2008 in Holiday by Jennifer | No comments

Anyone can green up the holiday season. Try these easy seven tips out…

  1. Make homemade eco friendly gifts instead of buying new, overpriced, bad for the environment gifts.
  2. Use LED lighting for all your holiday needs. LED tree lights, LED house lights, and special LED accessory lights.
  3. Use recycled wrapping paper for gifts. You can even make your own with homemade paper, old newspaper, or last year’s wrap. After festivities recycle the wrap again.
  4. Make it an earth friendly year by buying fewer overall gifts. Make time for your family and friends vs. purchasing products for them. I suggest a nature walk. Think it’s too cold? Read, 25 Reasons To Get Outside During Winter for ideas.
  5. Have a tree-free year, or at least learn more about the best Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree options.
  6. Host an Eco-Friendly Winter Party — Save Heat and Save Money!
  7. Green your holiday baking – use organic ingredients and eco-safe bake ware. No time to bake? Find the most Amazing Organic Holiday Cookies.

To learn more about green holiday tips related to Christmas, check out this book review; Green Christmas.

[top image via Holiday LEDs]

Green Halloween Decorations for Your Home

October 2, 2008 in Holiday by Jennifer | 2 comments

Holiday decorating is a tradition for many households. Now that spooky old Halloween is upon us, it’s time to break out the ghosts and pumpkins. Here are some tips for keeping it green this Halloween:

Jack O’ Lantern fun: First of all there’s the question of your pumpkin (or pumpkins as the case may be). There are some good arguments for organic pumpkins, but cost is a factor as well. I actually covered this topic at another blog of mine, so instead of rehashing the issue, I’ll simply link you there: Should you buy an organic pumpkin for Halloween?

Spooky decor: There’s no need to buy brand new Halloween decorations. You can break out last year’s decorations or make plenty of your own with a little imagination and some recycled goods:

You can also recycle plain old paper into great crafts. Last year, my son and I created a collection of gravestones and spooky trees on our living room wall.

Scary lighting:

Some people like to hang lights for Halloween. If your family does this, make sure you snag some energy saving LED light strings. Holiday LEDS has a large selection of Halloween colored lights to choose from.

Have fun and don’t forget to stock up on plenty of Fair Trade Treats for Halloween.

10 Tips for Greening Your Bedroom

August 14, 2008 in Decor, Furniture & Appliances, Green Your Home by Jennifer | No comments

This week we’re looking at easy and effective ways to green your living spaces. So far we’ve looked at how to green up both your living room and the baby nursery. Today, we’ll look at the bedroom.

  1. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs rather than typical incandescent bulbs in lamps and overhead. You can even use LED lighting if you only need to light a small space. It’s the bedroom – you could just go with some soothing organic candles.
  2. If you charge items in your bedroom, unplug them when they’re not charging. In fact, it’ll save even more energy if you unplug lamps and stereos as well.
  3. Use a non-toxic, chemical and pesticide free organic mattress.
  4. Be sure to invest in soft organic pillows, blankets, curtains and other natural bedding accessories.
  5. Choose sustainable bedroom furniture that’s non-toxic.
  6. Use natural flooring options or choose natural safe carpet.
  7. Instead of mothballs in your closets and drawers use natural cedar blocks, dried lavender, or make a mix of dried orange peels, cinnamon, cloves, and essential oils.
  8. To remove stains from bedding try a natural method: sprinkle the stain with table salt and lemon juice; leave your linens sitting in the sun for a few hours; brush off salt and wash on gentle.
  9. To keep your bedroom clean aim for all natural green cleaning methods. Green cleaning is important, but you really want to avoid chemicals in the bedroom.
  10. Choose environmentally friendly paints for your bedroom walls.

Green Building Resources & Green Living Tips

July 29, 2008 in Alternative Energy, Decor, Save Energy, Sustainable Building by Jennifer | 1 comment

I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but Best Green Home Tips used to be located in a different spot, at the RiverWired network. Over there, we looked at many a green building and remodeling tip. I thought that if you missed these posts, it would be cool to catch you up to speed.

green living

Following are some of the best posts that you may have missed the first time around…

Green building:

Green home interior:

Alternative energy & energy saving:

This catches you up on about half of the green building blog. Later this week, I’ll post a second batch of great links that can help you to build and live green.