No
matter what your decorating style, there are many options
to be Green in your decorating decisions and to help sustain
the environment. Here are some suggestions for going 'green'
in your home.
Upholstery
Eco-friendly
fabrics made from recycled materials such as recycled plastic
bottles are a great alternative. Before ditching your current
furniture, consider reupholstering it. Soy-based foam is a
new option for greener cushions for your furniture.
Kitchens
Look
for natural materials, such as natural stone countertops.
You can also find cabinets made with sustainable woods such
as eucalyptus or bamboo, or find cabinets made from salvaged
or recycled wood. You can save wood by just updating the fronts
of your cabinets instead of replacing everything. There are
also many tile manufacturers now using recycled glass. Make
sure all the appliances carry Energy Star ratings.
Earth-Friendly
Bathrooms
Look
for water-saving showerheads and toilets as well as energy
efficient water heaters. Even if you're not home and no one's
using a drop of hot water, a typical water heater can burn
$50 in electricity in one month just keeping water hot in
the tank.
Pay
Attention to Indoor Air Quality
Look
for natural alternatives to items such as cleaning products,
paints, furniture materials and pesticides. For paint, you
need to look for low volatile organic compound (VOC) products.
Shop
Locally
If
you're choosing products to put in your home, try to stay
local and buy products manufactured within 500 miles or less.
If it has to come from China, you're using a lot more energy
getting it to your house than if you chose something made
just down the road.
We
all can strive to make responsible choices to improve the
world in which we all live.
