green home projects

You love the warm glow of the setting sun that filters through the windows on a fall afternoon, but can’t take the egg-frying heat of summer? Here are several recommendations that will make your living space bright and comfortable (not to mention energy-efficient) all year round.

Insulate your ceiling (1st) and walls (2nd) to Energy Star standards for your area.

Get info on insulation

Install double-pane low-E gas-filled windows. They’ll keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Find window recommendations and installers in your area

Install Solar Screens in place of your old ones on your windows. They’ll keep that cool breeze coming through, but will block up to 80% of the sun’s heat and glare.

See solar screens

Use natural lighting such as Sun Tubes, or replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lights use 1/3 the electricity of normal bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. And they’re not bright and ugly anymore!

See fixtures and lights

See Sun Tube skylights

Buy sustainable furniture. You’ve always wanted that mahogany entertainment center as the centerpiece of your room, but are worried about what rain forest was cut down to supply it. Now, you can buy one out of reclaimed / recycled wood instead. Consider other furniture and decorations made of recycled and renewable materials too.

See furniture

Consider flooring made of renewable materials such as bamboo.

See sustainable flooring

Unplug / shut down appliance not in use. Energy vampires like 1,000 watt surround sound receivers and plasma TVs continue to suck energy 24/7 if left to their own devices.

Find products that help reduce appliance energy use

If you’re planning to paint any walls, be sure to use low VOC paints – these non-toxic paints are healthier for you and your family, and they are bright, beautiful and durable as well!

Find paints to lighten up your room