From the category archives:

Recycle


When you create a green home design, you are contributing to preserving our planet's natural resources. In addition, you are helping to eliminate greenhouse gases, which are the main cause of global warming. Besides improving the health of the planet, you can enjoy savings on your energy bills. This can be done by purchasing appliances that are energy efficient, selecting eco-friendly building materials and practicing energy saving measures.

Using recycled materials are the best way to achieve a green home design. Your builder, local home improvement store, or interior design websites have a wealth of information about instituting eco-friendly materials in every room of your house. For example, in the kitchen and bath, recycled counter tops made with paper stone are gaining in popularity over those made from granite.

The quickest road to a green home design is the use of energy efficient appliances, such as refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, televisions, air conditioners and small electrical items. Whenever purchasing small and large appliances, buy those with the Energy Star label. The seal of approval issued by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Environmental Protection Agency means the appliance prevents global warming by reducing energy consumption.

A green home design extends to a home's contents. One major area is the furniture, such as sofas, chairs, bureaus, tables and desks. Rather than buy new furnishings when they are outdated or when you redesign a room, consider whether the piece can be repainted, refinished, restained, or dressed in a slipcover. For worn out furniture pieces, determine whether it can be reupholstered or recycled.

There are various kinds of flooring that go hand in hand with a green home design. Cork and bamboo are two effective green offerings that provide additional benefits than traditional hard wood flooring. They come in a variety of color and style options, perform well in high traffic areas and look great.

A green home design should include dimmer switches. They can be easily installed in new homes under construction, as well as in existing homes. This simple switch can minimize energy consumption, which is a good thing for our planet. It can also put extra money in your pocket since you're saving on energy use. That translates into a lower electric bill.

Complementing a green home design are other environmentally friendly measures that save our resources. They are the four Rs: recycling, reusing items in other ways instead of discarding them, restoring instead of buying new and reducing waste. Evaluate your home practices to see how you can enhance your go green pledge.

A green home design helps to preserve our natural resources and keeps our planet healthy. Going green doesn't cost anything extra, especially when you consider the cost savings in the long run. Lighting changes, for example, instantly pays for itself. When you replace standard incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient luminescent ones, you conserve energy and realize a significant savings on your electric bill.



Sue Krippner is a Free Lance Artist, Home Staging and Redesign Professional. She is attracted to “all things beautiful, especially as it relates to interior decorating and design. Visit http://frugalhomedesign.com to see samples of her art and find plenty of professional design, tips hints and secrets to help facilitate your personal interior design goals with money saving frugal flair! Sue also has a lot more information about your green home design here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sue_E_Krippner
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Importance-of-a-Green-Home-Design&id=2360789

{ 0 comments }

Recycle: The How To Guide

June 5, 2009

Recycling has become one of the best ways to “save the world” today. Why? Because it is in the reach of the average consumer. There are several areas where the earth needs help, but as the average person we do not always have control over those areas, even if we want them. However, by recycling, [...]

Read the full article →

Recycling is Vital to Our Planet’s Resources

January 17, 2009

And Everyone Needs to Participate!
Our planet demonstrates every day that just how important it is that all of us participates in recycling. Every single one of us needs to play their part in healing the planet of its lost and damaged resources. We are responsible for the damage and now we must make [...]

Read the full article →

Recycling is Part of Everyday Green Living

January 15, 2009

Make it Simple and Set up Your Home with These Recycling Tips
Today, recycling has fortunately become a part of everyday life for most people on the planet. Still, we can do more by setting up our homes and communities with easily accessible recycling possibilities to everyone. Here are some simple recycling tips that [...]

Read the full article →

Benefits of Recycling Plastic Bottles

December 14, 2008

We all use plastic bottles, there is really no way around it. Plastic has become a big part of everyone lives. Plastic is much more desirable than glass because it is usually lighter and does not break as easily. Plastic comes in many forms; however, the most used form is in plastic bottles. Plastic is [...]

Read the full article →