Transform 5 Areas of Your Home With These Eco-Friendly Tips

1. Kitchens and bathrooms

Kitchens

Kitchens are a great place to start for those who want a greener home. Choosing cookware and utensils that are built to last – and buying only what you need – will go a long way toward making our kitchen a more environmentally friendly space.

New appliances these days are fully energy efficient, and modern ovens don’t need preheating. If you’re replacing your fridge, think small: you’ll save energy and waste less food. Once the oven is on, cook a few things together, and use a microwave oven or toaster for smaller items. Cooking food fresh from local suppliers rather than buying pre-prepared frozen options is also a smart green choice.

And if it’s time to remodel your kitchen, consider reclaimed materials and new green options for counters, flooring, and cabinets.

 
eco-friendly-kitchen
 

Bathrooms

Your bathroom may not have a large surface area compared to other rooms in your house, but it’s certainly one that has a big environmental impact.

Install a low-flow toilet with a dual flush to save on water, and replace your showerhead also with a low-flow one that will reduce the amount of water you use and the amount of energy needed to heat it. Motion-sensor faucets will conserve energy and prevent the spreading of germs, and Energy Star vents will cut down your energy usage.

There’s even more you can do: replace bathroom essentials like rugs, towels, hand soaps, and toilet paper with greener alternatives.

 
eco-friendly-bathroom
 

2. Furniture and appliances

Furniture

Ever wonder where that smell of new furniture comes from? It’s probably formaldehyde covered up with fragrances. Furniture is soaked in chemicals that could be making you sick. Wood is treated against bugs, sofas treated against fires, beds have volatile organic compounds…the list goes on. Read more about how just chemicals are in your furniture and what you can do about it.

 
eco-friendly-furniture
 

✔ Action:

When it comes to furniture, a green makeover can be really fun. Buy recycled furniture or find out how to affordably replace your furniture for a toxin-free home environment.

Appliances

When your old appliances give up the ghost, replace them with energy efficient, greener models. This will not only help the environment, it’ll translate into savings for you as well.

In the US, look for Energy Star labels, a voluntary program introduced by the EPA to help you find the most energy-efficient products. Modern washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, and heating and cooling units use less energy than older models.

 
eco-friendly-appliances
 

✔ Action:

3. Lighting and heating

Lighting

Changing your regular incandescent light bulbs for energy-efficient lights is a simple step nearly everyone can take: it costs less than $10 and takes less than a minute to change a lightbulb.

Compact fluorescent lights (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) are both powerful energy-efficient bulbs that last far longer and use far less energy than traditional bulbs. In fact, LED bulbs 40 times longer than typical incandescent bulbs, and don’t easily get damaged.

 
eco-friendly-lighting
 

✔ Action:

Visit the Energy.gov site to get help choosing energy-efficient lighting for your home.

Heating

With the rising price of energy, and the rising global temperatures, now is a good time to look at how you heat your home. From geothermal and solar heating to techy gadgets that help regulate your home’s temperature, there are plenty of ways to green up your heating. Improving the insulation of your pipes, boilers, roofs, and windows will all lead to significant savings when it comes to heating your house.

 
eco-friendly-heating
 

4. Cleaning products and beauty products

Cleaning products

In our obsession to attain sterile environments, we spend fortunes on strong cleaning products. But did you know these can wreak havoc with your immune system and are terrible for the environment?

It’s cheap and easy to create your own homemade cleaning products that will clean thoroughly and improve the air quality indoors, protecting your health from the toxins of cleaning products that can cause irritation, allergies, and other health issues.

 
eco-friendly-cleaning
 

Beauty products and toiletries

We all have a role to play in the sustainability of our planet. And we can do more to protect our own health from harmful chemicals, pesticides, and carcinogens that we willingly put on our bodies.

Our beauty products, everything from shampoos and nail polish to lipstick and deodorants, all contain controversial substances that are often deemed dangerous or carcinogenic in high concentrations.

There are plenty of new companies that keep the noxious chemicals to a minimum and use natural organic compounds that are gentler on human health. And many of them are cruelty free and sustainable, too.

 
eco-friendly-makeup
 

✔ Action:

Change up your beauty routine in the home and see what a difference it can make.

5. Flooring and windows

Flooring

Eco-friendly materials are all the rage these days, with more and more designers conscious of the impact we have on our environment. When it comes to flooring, there are many modern and sustainable options that you can be proud to have in your home.

Cork can be harvested sustainably, is naturally anti-bacterial and fire retardant, and is really durable. It comes in beautifully designed paints and color options.

A favorite in Japan, bamboo flooring is also highly sustainable, easy to install, and available in many natural hues that can be customized. Some modern designers are also creating recycled glass tiles that look stunning in just about any home. And if you prefer traditional styles, reclaimed hardwood is also an option to green up your flooring.

 
eco-friendly-bamboo
 

Windows

When it comes time to repair or replace your windows, consider going for an eco-friendlier version. By choosing double or triple-pane windows, you can improve your home’s insulation and cut down on heating.

You can go a step further and choose sustainably sourced frames, like the environmentally friendly option of reclaimed wood. Many companies, including some in Oregon, will offer locally harvested, certifiably sustainable sources.

And it doesn’t stop there. Find sustainable materials for your window treatments, like hemp or organic cotton, which won’t have been treated by the pesticides typically used in traditional cotton growing.

 
eco-friendly-window
 

✔ Action:

Visit Energy.gov to find out how to replace your windows with eco-friendly alternatives.

5 Ways to Make your Bathroom More Eco-friendly

Here at Keith Green Construction, we live up to our name in more ways than one. We care about our environment and finding eco-friendly approaches and building materials whenever possible.

There are lots of reasons why eco-friendly construction methods and materials make sense. They support local Oregon businesses and strengthen our economy, and also improve the health of the planet and that of our own families.

So in that spirit, we’d like to share some ideas on how you can make your home a little greener, starting with one of the most used rooms in the house: the bathroom.

1. Green planning from the start

Think eco-friendly right from the start, before you actually start any renovation work.

If it’s the first time you’re considering making eco-friendly renovations, read these tips and then look into the types of materials that you’d like in your bathroom. You want to aim for eco-friendly, but also functional and luxurious so you’ll love your new bathroom.

Speak to your construction contractor about greener materials, like non-toxic paints, recycled or sustainable flooring and countertops options, and ways to reduce energy and water consumption.

2. Reduce your water consumption

Water overconsumption is widespread but there are plenty of ways to go more eco-friendly in the bathroom.

  • Toilets tend to use more water than washing machines or dishwashers! Replace them with a low-flow model with a dual-flusher, which uses just the right amount of water to flush.
  • Adding a motion-sensor faucet to your sink will also help save water: many people use more than they want or need to when brushing their teeth or washing their faces and hands.
  • Install a low-flow showerhead that uses less water with the same water pressure (Portland’s water isn’t hard, so simple low-flow showerheads will do: you don’t need a hard-water softener.)
  • Look for the WaterSense label for your showerheads, sinks, and faucets, and check for rebates for WaterSense labeled products in your area.
  • You can also install a grey-water system, which collects water from the shower drains, sinks, and washing machines and redirects it to the garden, for example.

3. Save energy

Reduce your energy consumption and save money on your energy bill with small and significant changes:

  • If you have windows, consider repairs and upgrades to keep the seal airtight. If you have a fan instead, upgrade it with an Energy-Star fan, which will give you lots of energy savings compared to old models.
  • When you’re ready with light fixtures, switch to LEDs, which now come with the warm colors that give that cozy glow we were used to with incandescent bulbs. LEDs not only consume less energy and function at a lower wattage, but they also last nearly 25 times longer.

4. Use renewable and natural materials

Using recycled and sustainable materials is a great eco-friendly option for your bathroom.

  • Buy pre-loved cabinets and fixtures, or shop around for some made out of reclaimed or recycled wood.
  • Wood from sustainably grown trees is renewable and recyclable, and we’re lucky in Oregon to be a national leader in wood production, so you can shop green AND local. Thanks to the Oregon Forest Practices Act, sustainable forest management practices are enshrined in law in Oregon.When looking for sustainable wood materials, ask about FSC, American Tree Farm System, or Sustainable Forestry Initiatives certification. You should also know that thanks to strong state laws and practices, Oregon wood meets the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria for green building projects.
  • Quick-growing bamboo, is very strong and perfect for walls or flooring. Hardwood is also a good green choice, as it’s durable and sustainable.
  • Ask your contractor about using recycled steel, which is gaining in popularity as a green building material for structural use, and recycled concrete.
  • When it’s time, replace your hot water heater with a more efficient one, which can save you a lot of money off your energy bills.

5. Green your products

One of the easiest ways to “greenovate” your bathroom is to go more natural with your bathroom and cleaning products.

  • Replace your PVC shower curtain liner with a glass shower door.
  • When it’s time to replace your towels, choose comfy, organic towels: conventional cotton production uses enormous water resources and is very polluting.
  • Ditch the anti-bacterial soaps and conventional shampoos and shower gels. Replace them instead with natural, organic ones, free from parabens, toxic preservatives, and other harmful chemicals. Swap biocides and harmful cleaning products for natural ones with baking soda, vinegar, and essential oils.
  • Chemical-saturated products aren’t good for the planet, and they’re not good for you, either. By buying natural, organic products, you support organic farmers, fair-trade organizations, and companies that place value on sound environmental practices.

Final Thoughts

Building green is really about reducing our impact on the world around us. For some, it means reducing energy consumption by upgrading your roofing and house insulation; for others, it means using non-toxic or sustainable materials.

However you see it, if you’re ready to transform your bathroom into a greener version of itself, call us at Keith Green Construction. Together, we can find ways to make your home more environmentally friendly in a way that suits you.

Your Roof and Energy Savings – What’s the Link?

Insulate your roof and choose the right materials for an energy-efficient home

With energy prices on the rise, and with the cold climate creating more demand for record natural gas consumption, it’s a good idea to turn your problem-solving skills close to home and see where you can make significant energy savings.

A great place to start is your roof.

A poorly insulated roof can leave you cranking up the air conditioning (and the resulting bills) in the summer, while leaking badly-needed heat (and money from your wallet!) in the winter.

In fact, insulation and roofing materials can play a large part in energy savings. Find out how!

Insulation and energy savings

There are many ways to make your roof more energy-efficient, and they’re easier than you think.

The single biggest change you can make is the insulation of your roof and attic. Most people are horrified when they find out how much heat they’re losing through their roof, attic, and walls – but this is something that can be fixed.

Your roofing insulation can have a huge effect on how much warmth leaks away from your home in the winter. You can reduce your energy costs by making sure your roof and attic are well insulated, especially if your home is a little older.

What kind of insulation you choose will depend on the type of roof you have. For example, pitched roofs have more insulation options than flat ones, but there are solutions for all kinds of roofs. Some choose to insulate the area under the roof, which includes the loft, while others will insulate immediately above the ceiling of the top floor, which is slightly easier to install.

If you already have insulated your roof, it’s worth checking the depth of the insulation, as the recommended depth has been increased over the years, and perhaps add a little more. Check that the loft hatch is insulated, too. Pipes can also be insulated (but not cables), and so can the side of tanks (but not the underside).

The type of roofing insulation is important, so let a professional guide you in your choice of materials.

 ‘Cool’ and ‘Dark’ roofs

Have you ever seen pictures or postcards of the houses in the Greek islands and their striking white roofs? These are traditionally covered in a layer of white plaster, and it’s not just for looks. These white roofs are highly reflective, meaning that they reflect the heat of the sun away from the roof, keeping the house cool.

It’s a technique used across the world. In the southern U.S., for example, many homes have adopted this strategy of using ‘cool’ roofs to keep the energy cost of air conditioning low.

But if you’re in a cold region, a ‘dark’ roof makes much more sense. Dark roofs will absorb heat, while white roofs reflect it. What kind of roof you should get depends on your location!

In the southern U.S., for example, the summer ‘cooling’ season is much longer than the heating season of winter. So it makes sense in that climate to use a cool roof or cooling-roof paint.

In Portland and in colder climates, however, the cooling season is much shorter than the winter heating season. So you’d want the roof to keep in and absorb heat, not reflect it away.

This is where it may make more sense to install dark roofs, which absorb heat (just like a black T-shirt you’d wear in summer!) Black or dark shingles are a good choice for heat absorption and can help melt thin layers of snow on the roof.

Your roofing contractor can discuss the best options with you.

Choosing the right roof color

The color of your roof is important to the overall look of your house, of course, and there are many options of colors in the ‘dark’ category. Look for dark blue or green, deep charcoal, or black, which add flair and elegance to most houses.

Changing the color of your shingles will not just affect the look of your home; it’ll also affect your energy efficiency: it’s a balancing act between aesthetic curb appeal and energy savings.

With the help of your roofing contractor, you can choose the right roofing material, whether it’s asphalt, metal, wood, concrete or tile. Some may cost more than others, but they’ll save you money on energy efficiency in the long run.

Contact a professional

Of course, energy savings is far more complex than simply adding insulation or changing the color of a roof. It’s very much tied in with climate, energy costs, and your roof system design. If you’re reroofing your home, spending a little more now on the right roofing materials can save you a lot on energy bills later.

Keith Green Construction can help you find the right roofing solution and options to make your roof more energy efficient, from attic insulation and roofing inspections to recovering and leak repairs.

Plant a green roof­

Have a green thumb (and a bigger budget)? Consider installing a green roof on your home and making your roof a garden.

Get inspired by creative green roofs that not only provide a haven in an urban environment but also offer energy conservation and lend a helping hand to the environment.

Harness the Power of Green: Eco-friendly Products for your Home

eco-friendly-home-productsMoney makes the world go round, and by choosing how we spend, we decide which way it goes! You can harness the power of shopping by choosing green or eco-friendly products for your home and roof, and supporting a more sustainable world.

Nowadays, earth-friendly, fairtrade, organic, upcycled or sustainably sourced can also mean chic, elegant and distinctive. You can love your home and also care for the environment with beautifully-made new environmentally friendly home products.

The trends speak for themselves. Eco-friendly home interiors can be chic, beautiful, and eco-friendly. And what better way to make a green statement than to buy online and reducing your carbon footprint?

Here’s a look at how some savvy green shoppers are paving the way.

1. Style at Home – Eco-friendly online shopping
Style at Home magazine makes online green shopping seem easy! A simple assortment of popular sites with some inspiring eco-friendly home products that will confirm that green style is in!

2. Readers’ Digest’s Mall vs Online sustainability discussion
Is it really more environmentally friendly to shop online rather than drive to the mall? Reader’s Digest summarizes the research and gives you a straight answer.

3. Mashable’s Top 10 online shops for sustainable products
You can always trust Mashable to come up with entirely enticing lists of creative collections. These ones are all earth-friendly!

4. Houzz’s Easy Green Top 10
Houzz makes a compelling case for buying green with their selection of simple and common household products that has something for everyone.

5. Buying green in numbers: Ipsos tallies the count
Are you part of the 50% of enlightened shoppers who prefer eco-friendly alternatives for your home furnishings? Find out how we think and buy green.

6. Treehugger’s Green Product Shopping
As Treehugger states, you can find almost any eco-friendly product you need on the internet – if you know where to look. But why bother since they’ve done it for you already? Check out their list.

7. The Eco-Everything Label
Confused about the eco-labels you’re seeing? Check out a handy explanation of international green labels.

8. Earth First’s international categories of green living
Do you prefer to think – and shop – in terms of categories? Earth First makes it a breeze to browse eco-friendly alternatives by products rather than brand.

9. Buying green for your home and office: BuyGreen.com
Love to upcycle? From BPA-free alternatives to bamboo, BuyGreen.com has a wide range of environmentally friendly products for your home and office.

10. Good Housekeeping’s cheat sheet to buying green
Labels can be confusing, so Good Housekeeping created a simple cheat sheet that makes sense out of all the eco-clutter. Read this to understand how environmentally friendly your online products are.

We love things that look great and are even better for the environment, and these days, there’s no need to sacrifice our love of beautiful home products if we want them to be earth-friendly. Make the most of these eco-friendly alternative e-commerce sites to make your shopping match your principles.

How to Make Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

There’s no place like home. And nobody appreciates a clean, fresh smelling home more than we do, but living in an eco-friendly home is also a huge priority for us. That’s why we believe in eco-friendly roofingeco-friendly products and have put together this list of natural, eco-friendly alternatives to your typical store-bought cleaners.

And while many people think that being friendly to the environment comes at a high financial cost, these solutions will actually leave more money in your pockets!

 

rubbing-alcohol

Use Alcohol to Disinfect Floors & Other Surfaces

When it comes to disinfecting surfaces in your home, we could all learn a thing or two from hospitals and medical clinics, who often turn to rubbing alcohol for eliminating germs and bacteria.

Simply mix seven parts alcohol (70% to 99%) with 3 parts of water. You can then use the solution in a spray bottle to disinfect surfaces like counters, appliances, toilets, and sinks and then wipe off with a dampened cloth. Or apply the mixture with a mop, to disinfect your floors. (Source: eHow.com)

DIY-wipes

DIY Disinfectant Wipes

While heavy-duty disinfecting calls for diluted alcohol, nothing beats the convenience of a disinfectant wipe for germ fighting throughout the day. Consider re-filling an old container of wipes with paper towels soaked in:

  • 1/2 cup of white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup of water
  • 8 drops of tea tree oil
  • 8 drops of lemon essential oil

Your surfaces will be pristine clean… and smell great too!

lemonClean Your Garbage Disposal with Lemons

A great way to clean your garbage disposal is to simply throw in two lemon halves, and let your disposal do its thing.

In just minutes, the acid of the lemons will pack a cleaning punch, and your entire kitchen will be filled with fresh scent.

aluminum-foil-baking-sodaClean Silver with Baking Soda & Aluminum

Polishing silver can be an onerous task, especially when you’re dealing with ornate utensils with intricate grooves and patterns. Try this ingenious alternative, from WikiHow, which will have you soak your silver pieces in a mixture of boiling water, baking soda, and aluminum paper.
Your silver will be gleaming again in no time!

LavenderEssentialOilClean Glass with Lavender Oil

Looking for an alternative to Windex that is environmentally friendly? The solution is simpler than you think. Simply mix 10 drops of lavender oil – or the essential oil of your choice – into two ounces of water. Fresh-smelling, streak-free shine awaits!

oil-vinegar-essential-oil

Polish Furniture with Oil & Vinegar

Oil and vinegar isn’t just for salads! Mix equal parts olive oil and white vinegar, then add a generous quantity of essential oil for sent. (We like lemon oil for this purpose.) You will have to shake this solution before you spray it, since it tends to separate. But we think you’ll be pleased to see how far it goes!

cornstarch

Use Cornstarch to Freshen your Carpet

Do you have an old rug that needs freshening up? Try reaching into your pantry for some cornstarch or baking soda, and sprinkle it onto your carpet before you vacuum. Either one will absorb the odors in your carpet and breathe new life into it.

toothpaste

Remove Marker Stains from Wooden Furniture with Toothpaste

Have you had the alarming experience of finding permanent marker stains on your wooden furniture or hardwood floors? For parents with young children, the experience is more common that you might think. Here’s an ingenious solution from MyLifeAndKids.com: Simply dab on some white toothpaste with a damp microfiber cloth and watch the stain disappear!

We hope you’ve found this post useful and that you will try some of our eco-friendly cleaning recipes. If you are looking to make some larger changes in your home, and want to deal with an evironmentally conscious construction company, please contact Keith Green Construction today!

Living in an Eco-Friendly Home

While research shows that almost 85% of Americans would like to live in an eco-friendly home, only about 30% of us actually do.

Making environmentally friendly decisions doesn’t always require a massive investment. Sometimes, it’s just a question of finding quality eco-friendly products to decorate, organize, roof, and clean your home.

In this infographic, find out how you can start making a difference, one baby step at a time!

 

living-in-an-eco-friendly-home

 

Are you ready to start doing your part to protect the environment? Call Keith Green Construction Inc., your sustainable roofing company in Portland, Oregon!