Five Totally Doable Ways To Green Your Home

I’m sure most of you out there are familiar with the concept of “going green”. For me, going green means living in a way that makes the least impact on the land around you. I found an article on MarketWatch that talks about five different products that you can add to your home that will save in energy, conserve water, and cut down on toxins in your home. And they’re practical, relatively affordable fixes that we can all do. Here’s an excerpted list.

1. Washers that save energy and water

The newest washers are front loading, with features that use less water to clean clothes. Whirlpool, for example, has a washer that uses steam technology to save 73% of the water and 77% of the energy that top-load washers manufactured only four years ago use. A spin speed cycle is able to extract more water from clothes, cutting down on dryer time.

2. Toilets that conserve water

In many homes, toilets are the biggest water users. To save water in the bathroom, manufactures are developing toilets that use less per flush. Some models take it a step further, using different amounts of water depending on the type of waste being flushed.

3. No-VOC paints

Paints have traditionally had some amount of volatile organic compounds present in them. Today’s paints often have low amounts of the gasses that hurt a home’s indoor air quality. A new product introduced at the show contains no VOCs at all.

4. Smart thermostat applications

Programmable thermostats are often touted as a way to keep energy costs down. The only problem is, many times consumers use them incorrectly.

But online computer programs — such as a new system from In2 Networks that works with Honeywell thermostats — allow consumers to monitor heating and cooling consumption and control settings from their computers. The system can show homeowners the difference a couple of degrees could make, both in terms of dollars and the home’s carbon footprint.

5. Low-flow faucets and showerheads

Low-flow faucets and showerheads may not be a new concept, but the latest versions perform a lot better than their older counterparts. As a result, homeowners who didn’t want to sacrifice their hand washing or shower experiences for water conservation are giving these products a second look.

I’m just curious. Have any of you here done anything to green your home? For those of you shopping for a home do you/would you even care if it had “green” features? Please share.