Home Improvement: Going Green

One of the newest crazes is the green movement. People everywhere are shifting to using renewable resources in cars, food, electronics, and almost every other aspect of daily life. How does this effect at-home do-it-yourselfers?

More than ever before, the appliances and parts of our homes are 'green', made to help the environment, or at least not damage it. Sealants for woods and paints, varnish, paint itself; all are made with non-toxic, biodegradable resources. Lumber is being cut and grown in such a way as not to harm the environment and byproducts are kept to a minimum. People everywhere are using their creativity to craft rain-catchers, compost bins, and other gardening equipment to help them reduce their eco-footprint and even lower bills!

In addition to the reworking of common materials and appliances, new ones have been created. Consumers can now buy floors made of recycled cork, woods, or even a rubber floor made from recycled tires. Plumbing, too has been evolving. Showerheads now come with low-flow or adjustable flow features, to lower water usage. In kitchens, new countertops have been developed, including 'Paper Stone', a paper and fiber mix suspended in resin that looks much like real stone, without the need to quarry rock, which harms the environment. Another countertop of interest is Terrazzo, a glass rock, concrete mix that is 95% recycled and very durable.

For many environmentalists, the energy crisis is very important. One of the simplest ways to reduce electricity bills is simply to unplug or turn off electronics such as your TV, computer, chargers or lights. Interesting fact: Even if an electronic device is turned off, it is still using power. A more complicated method of lowering energy bills is to install solar powered devices. In some cases of solar powered houses, owners may even be able to sell their surplus energy back to the energy company.

Heating and cooling is another major factor and many smaller factors play a role. Widows are notorious for letting heat escape and driving up energy bill. Try installing windows made to prevent this; often made with multiple panes of glass between which select gases are trapped. These gases provide clear insulation to keep heat in the house. Another threat to temperature is the door. The cracks between the door and the door frame let cold air from outside into a house in the form of drafts. Thankfully, you don't have to replace your door to fix this. A trip to the local store will probably produce a door pillow, a long thin pillow to place against the bottom of the door to stop drafts.

Parker Real Estate