Sustainable Design - Going Green and I'm Not Talking Color

Last week I was so excited to spend the day in Boston at the Design Center; one workshop that I was attending was about Sustainable Kitchen and Bath Design. Although it is everything that I already knew, it made me realize a little blog on "being green" would be a great idea.
Small changes that you can make in your home can benefit you in many ways.
By making little changes in your home you: Save money! Help air quality! Increase value in your home!and help the environment.
What things can you do you ask?
   * Change out faucets - having a good quality low water use faucet will decrease the water flow as well as add new aesthetically pleasing look. This is an area that you do not want to go cheap. The faucets in your home are a highly used object and they get a lot of attention.
   * New low flow toilet! it uses less water so it will decrease the water bill as well as help out the environment. The designs have improved over the last few years and flushing is not an issue. The designs of the bowls have also improved so you can get a very stylish and functional toilet.
  * Update your appliances - this is a big one for many homes, the cost can be significant but the payoff is great. Energy star rated appliances are the way to go. This includes your clothes washer and dryer as well. An inefficient refrigerator can cost you money - having a new one that runs better and keeps your food longer and colder is beneficial for your grocery budget as well as your electric budget.
  * Light bulbs! Change them out.
  * It can be expensive but make sure that your windows are efficient. Why waste money and let all your heat or cool air just go right out them. It is a waste of money and energy.The cost upfront can be big but the savings will be worth it.
  * Digital thermostats - set it an forget it! When your not home who needs the heat to be toasty warm, save the energy for when you are. Set the timer to have your heat come on about 20 minutes before you come home and you will be nice and warm and not feeling guilty for wasting heat on the dust bunnies.
  * Water heaters - there are many different options for them - visit your local store and ask lots of questions to learn all about them.
  * Add plants to your home - they add contrast to a room but help with the air quality.
  * When painting use low or no VOC paints! helps to keep the air clean and there is no chemical smells

There are just a few ideas to get you going - it is the little things that will help make a big difference.

Happy Designing