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The Family Home: Going Greener
Between helping with homework and trying to keep the house even minimally clean, who has time for green? You do with these simple steps
Designing a lovely life with five children in tow. http://www.dandee-designs.com
Designing a lovely life with five children in tow. http://www.dandee-designs.com... More »
Families often get a bad rap when it comes to the environment. Our homes are usually larger, which uses more energy, our cars are bigger and require more fuel, and we create more waste. My children's homework folders alone would fill a landfill if we didn't recycle. Regardless of all this, there are simple things we can do around our homes to make them a little more green.
Have you ever considered carpet tiles instead of wall-to-wall carpeting? Or maybe installing a drying rack in the laundry room? Learn what you can do during your next renovation or weekend warrior project to make your family home a little more earth friendly.
Have you ever considered carpet tiles instead of wall-to-wall carpeting? Or maybe installing a drying rack in the laundry room? Learn what you can do during your next renovation or weekend warrior project to make your family home a little more earth friendly.
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by Shelley Gardea
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| 1. Get familiar with carpet tiles. The next time a room in your home needs carpet, consider using carpet tiles instead of the wall-to-wall variety. Carpet tiles are more readily available than ever and come in a myriad of colors and designs. When a tile gets worn or ruined by a juice spill, you simply replace it. Plus, some companies, such as FLOR, even recycle old tiles. |
by Feinmann, Inc.
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2. Open the shades and let the sun in. Instead of flipping on lights during daylight hours, try opening the drapes, pulling up the shades and letting Mother Nature do the work.
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| 3. Consider reclaimed wood floors. Wood flooring is great for active families. If you're a lover of wood and have a soft spot for history, reclaimed wood floors are a great option for your family. Elmwood Reclaimed Timber in Missouri mills wood flooring from old barns, buildings and rural structures, then ships it all over the country. |
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4. Take a family outing to the salvage yard. There are many treasures to be found at a salvage yard. Some of my favorites are the rows and rows of old claw-foot bathtubs. If you're currently building a home and looking to add some character, a vintage claw-foot tub might be your ticket. I bet the kids would love to splash around in the one pictured here.
More ways to work with salvage finds
More ways to work with salvage finds
by Quadstar Design
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5. Install a drying rack. A clothes dryer uses a lot of energy, so why not give it a break and air dry? Installing a wall-mounted unit like the one shown here won't get in the way in smaller laundry rooms and will help you air dry your clothes in rain or shine.
Browse drying racks
Browse drying racks
| 6. Decorate with found objects. Another beautiful use of reclaimed wood is this wall treatment. It adds so much character and depth to the room! |
by H&H Design
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7. Add color with low-VOC paint. Making the choice to purchase paint with low volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, is healthier for your family and your house. Typical paint can contain up to 10,000 chemicals, and 300 of those are known toxins. Low- or no-VOC paints reduce toxin emissions in your home and the environment.
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8. Plant a family garden. Gardens are great for families. They're fantastic ways to teach children about where food comes from, and they are good for the earth.
Planting and harvesting items you would typically purchase from the grocery store will save you money and fuel. Plus, a garden will give you an opportunity to experiment with composting — an excellent way to cut back your family's contribution to landfills.
Raised Beds Lift the Garden
More Family Home:
Living Rooms You Can Live In
Creative Multi-Use Workspaces
A Kitchen the Entire Clan Will Love
Planting and harvesting items you would typically purchase from the grocery store will save you money and fuel. Plus, a garden will give you an opportunity to experiment with composting — an excellent way to cut back your family's contribution to landfills.
Raised Beds Lift the Garden
More Family Home:
Living Rooms You Can Live In
Creative Multi-Use Workspaces
A Kitchen the Entire Clan Will Love
Ideabook updated on March 17, 2012.
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The rest are good suggestions. Having large amounts of used wood most likely will be expensive to ship though.
We need to change the way we think in this country. People feel the need to have one up on someone, something bigger and better. We need to reuse and recycle and be good to this precious earth. It's sad to think what it will be like someday.