Is there such thing as an ecofriendly permanent exterior paint? Maybe. But if you’re thinking of adding a ceramic coating to your home or using a ceramic house paint, here’s what I now know about ceramic paint that I wish I’d known sooner!
Green Products
Just because you're living green doesn't mean you can't save some green at the same time! Our environmentally conscious homeowners are sharing their personal experiences with a number of eco-friendly products for the home. From water-saving toilets, showerheads, and water heaters... to energy-saving lighting, flooring, and appliances... to money-saving paints and cleaning materials. If it's something you add to your home after it's built, we're talking about it here. Our goal is to help you reduce your energy bills with the household products and appliances you choose.
Cork Flooring Durability & Eco-Friendliness Are This Interior Designer’s Top Reasons For Choosing Cork Floors
As an interior designer, one of my favorite materials to use inside a home is cork. Cork flooring has many advantages over other popular materials — including hardwood, tile, and concrete. Two of the biggest reasons I encourage clients to choose cork flooring are: its durability and eco-friendliness. Here are some good things to know before installing cork flooring.
Toilet Flush Ratings: Making Sense Of Maximum Performance (MaP) Toilet Ratings
Toilet flush ratings are no laughing matter. They really are important when choosing the best toilet that is energy-efficient and flushes (your business) like nobody’s business! Here’s what to look for in Maximum Performance (MaP) toilet flush ratings. I’ll explain how a MaP rating is verified and how they put toilets to the test.
Smart Home DIY: How To Install A Keyless Door Lock Yourself + 5 Reasons Your Family Is Going To Love Smart Door Locks
I installed a Kevo smart door lock in my home, and I can tell you it’s been a real game changer for my family! Here are some of the features of smart door locks that could be useful for your family, how to install a smart door lock yourself, and the many ways to unlock a smart lock that you and your kids are going to love.
5 Eco-Friendly Ways To Remove Paint With Non Toxic Paint Removers & Paint Stripping Techniques
Don’t want to harm yourself or the environment when painting? Consider these non toxic paint remover ideas if you’re concerned about using eco friendly ways to remove paint. Soy gels, boiling water with baking soda and 3 other eco friendly paint removers.
How To Increase Home Energy Savings: 4 Simple Things You Can Do
One of the best ways to save money is to look into home energy savings. Here are 4 things you can do to save money month in and month out.
4 Cool Home Products I Found At The Atlanta Home Show
I searched high and low at the 2011 Fall Atlanta Home Show for cool homebuilding products and I found a few that I think you’re going to like. Solar thermal water heaters, attic access insulation covers and tubular sun skylights were among my favorites.
Our Samsung Washing Machine Reviews
In the market for a new washing machine? There are a few good models out there, but the Samsung WA5451ANW/XAA stood out to us for several reasons. See why.
Energy Efficient Washers: How To Choose The Best Washing Machine
These days energy efficient washing machines are very popular. You can save some money and be mindful of the environment as well. Here’s what I’ve found out about my energy efficient washer — some have Energy Star-ratings and others have CEE Tier ratings. I’ve provided full explanations of these rating systems and simplified the info for you.
How To Install A Dual Flush Conversion Kit… A Great Water Saving Toilet Device!
My old toilet is like new and it’s smarter, too. See how I installed a dual flush converter kit, a standard flush valve, and a new fill valve.
Rain Chains Add Charm And Character To Your House… They’re Eco-Friendly Too!
Rain chains are kind of like downspouts turned inside-out. You get the opportunity to hear AND see rain water cascading through your own personal waterfall.
Envirotiles: Recycled Rubber Tiles And Rubber Pavers For DIY Deck & Patio Projects
Have you heard about using an envirotile as an alternative to traditional pavers? Envirotiles are rubber tiles – or rubber pavers – that look great for a deck or patio! They’re produced from 100% rubber tires diverted from landfills. As a passionate DIYer, I’m giving you the best information including where to buy, the pros of using them, and the downsides to installing rubber pavers.
Eco Friendly Carpets: Recycled Carpet Lines That Are Highly Rated
Selecting carpet that was derived from recycled materials is easier than ever and it’s a great product to boot. There’s not much reason to purchase any other type of carpeting product on the market today.
BreezeDry: An Eco-Friendly Indoor Laundry Drying Cabinet
Drying all of your delicate laundry has been made simple and economical with a very cool product. It’s an indoor laundry drying cabinet that uses outside or inside air to effectively dry your clothes as gentle as possible.
Sideways: An Engineered Hardwood Flooring With A Different Look
Are you looking for engineered hardwood flooring that contributes to LEED credits, looks different in shape and pattern and is beautiful to look at. Take a few minutes to learn about this cool flooring product. It’s green, too!
Coconut Palm Flooring: A Beautiful, Eco-Friendly Alternative
Palm flooring is an eco-friendly flooring option that you should put on your short list when comparing different types of wood species. It’s sustainable, it’s beautiful, it’s made with no added urea formaldehyde, and it will earn you LEED credits for your homebuilding project for low-emitting materials.
Water Saving Shower Heads: How To Find The Best Water Efficient Shower Head
Swapping out your old showerheads with new EPA WaterSense labeled showerheads would conserve at least 20% of your water usage. I’ve got the scoop on what you need to know before buying.
Home Water Heater Efficiency Is Increasing With Advanced Technologies
This water heater efficiency guide is key to saving you money and reducing energy usage in our homes. Replace your old, tired energy-gobbling water heater and save yourself some money.
How To Choose The Best Energy Star Water Heater For Your Home
Choosing a water heater for your home can be a daunting task. This is a series of posts that will guide you through the process of selecting the best water heater for your home. Choosing an Energy Star water heater is a great start so dig in and come away with the best choice for you.
Save Money and Conserve Water At Home By Installing A Dual Flush Kit In Your Toilet
A simple way to conserve water and save money at the same time is to install a dual flush kit on your old toilets in your home. They’re pretty cheap and they work as advertised. My comparisons will help you decide which brand to choose. A look into high-efficiency toilets (HETs), too.
Big Ass Fans Keep You Cool and Comfortable
If you have a large space that needs a lot of air flow, look no further. These fans are the world’s largest and will get the job done in commercial, industrial and residential settings. Innovative design puts Big Ass Fans in the forefront of moving large amounts of air in an efficient manner for a more comfortable environment in which to work and live.
Remember Clotheslines? Simplicity and Eco-Friendly Come Together
Line drying your clothes on a clothesline may seem old fashioned but you must admit that it has lots of benefits that a dryer doesn’t offer. Don’t know what those benefits are?? Here are the Top 10 Reasons to Line Dry Your Clothes.
Making Sense of WaterSense Labeled Toilets (HET’s)
Lots of information on WaterSense labeled high-efficient toilets (HET’s). Performance is much improved over the early HET’s. There are also many more brands, styles and models of HET’s to choose from than ever before. Get out the checkbook! It’s time to save some water…and eventually recoup the expense and labor of the new toilet over the old one.
Reasons to Choose Reclaimed Wood Flooring
Reclaimed and salvaged wood flooring adds a huge dose of character when installed in homes. Reclaimed flooring from old barns, factories and houses is one recycled building material that is probably worth more now than when it was new and well worth the effort in locating it.
Beyond Green: Advantages of Cork Flooring You Might Not Know About
Cork flooring has many advantages that you may not have heard of before. Green home building has brought it to the forefront of flooring choices for eco-friendly homeowners but it’s been around for much, much longer for reasons that you may not have considered.
Ultra-High Tech Refrigerated Wall Oven is a Marvel of Engineering
Refrigerated wall ovens, by Connect IO, are one of the most intelligent kitchen appliances ever engineered. Operates via standard touchtone phone or internet browser from anywhere on planet Earth. it also has a user-friendly touch screen interface to get the ball rolling.
Manufacturing and the Environmental Impact of Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring has gained popularity in the past few years for good reason. It’s eco-friendly and it’s durable. There’s no reason to believe bamboo flooring won’t be around for years to come. Manufacturing techniques have made this material a great choice for flooring.
The TwoDaLoo Double-Sided Toilet: Not For Me (Us)
The TwoDaLoo is a dual-sided toilet that allows you and a very good friend to “go” at the same time whilst you talk about the day’s events. How dumb of an idea is that?
Fluorescent Light Bulb Recycling Made Easy
Properly disposing of spent fluorescent light bulbs, CFL’s and HID bulbs is your responsibility. Learn where to recycle your old bulbs with these helpful links.
Get To Know Solar Pool Heaters
Installing a solar pool heater system is best left to the professionals. The best we can do, as homeowners, is stand back, take photos, ask questions, watch and learn. That’s exactly what happened here.
Low Odor, Low VOC Paint Is The Responsible Choice
Low odor, low VOC paint is of high concern these days. Become acquainted with the facts surrounding VOC paints by reading this post. You’ll do your health and our Earth a lot of good by being an informed consumer.
Eco Friendly Flooring + Other Ideas For Your Renovating Kitchen From A DIY Expert
Paul Ryan, from the DIY Network, shares some of his insight on green building ideas and materials that you can use for your kitchen renovation project.
Natural Cork Flooring: A Growing Trend In Today’s Green Home Building Industry
Natural cork floor tiles are fast becoming the hottest trend in flooring options, especially with green homebuilders and their customers. Here is an example of one that has been installed.
Our Favorite Household Cleaning Products For Different Parts Of The Home
Looking for some eco-friendly household cleaning products that work? I’ve located some ‘recipes’ for making some at home, too. I’ve also included some products that aren’t necessarily environmentally friendly…but they work.
How To Choose The Most Energy Efficient Water Heater
Are you looking for information on the most energy efficient water heater? I’ve compiled some of the latest information to help you make an informed decision on methods, makes and models.
Insuladd: An Insulating Paint Additive That You’ve Got To Try
Insuladd is an insulating paint additive product that has been available since 1996 that WILL reduce your heating and cooling bills substantially and only costs 6 cents per square foot. It can be mixed with ordinary house paint or can be used in commercial applications. It was developed by NASA to help insulate buildings in close proximity to launch sites. It is safe, non-toxic and environmentally friendly so what’s the catch…none that I could find.
