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Author Archive | Jennie Lyon

5 Eco-Friendly Plumbing Tips For a Greener Home

March 2, 2021 0

When temperatures drop, your chief concern as a homeowner might be to make sure your pipes don’t freeze. While the plumbing industry made more than $107 billion in revenue during 2018, you’ll probably want to avoid paying top dollar for a plumbing emergency this winter. But aside from insulating your plumbing to prevent a burst pipe, there may be other ways to save money in this realm. And in many cases, the cost-saving choice is also the sustainable choice.

Despite the fact that nearly half of American homeowners live in the first home they ever purchased, there are a number of ways to upgrade your home’s plumbing system to prioritize environmental responsibility. If you’re looking to lead a greener lifestyle by reducing water waste and save some green in the process, here are just five ideas that will help you create a more eco-friendly plumbing system at home.

Install Low-Flow and High-Efficiency Appliances

It’s amazing what a few household upgrades can do when you want to reduce water waste. Low-flow toilets and showerheads can reduce how much water is used during daily activities without sacrificing performance. You might also consider installing a high-efficiency faucet, which reduces water flow while maintaining pressure, or high-efficiency dishwashers and washing machines. These options are better for the environment (and for your water bill!), though you’ll probably never notice a difference when you’re using them.

Consider a Tankless Water Heater

Your home’s water heater performs a vital function, but relying on an outdated model can be expensive and wasteful. If you want to prioritize energy efficiency and make sure you aren’t heating water you don’t actually need to heat, you may want to switch to a demand-style heater or a tankless water heater, which tend to be more efficient and can save a lot of space in your home. If you plan on selling your house down the line, these water heaters can add some value to your property, as well.

Opt For Energy-Efficient Pipes

If you own an older home, chances are that your home’s plumbing is on the older side, too. Switching to steel or PEX pipes will naturally retain heat and can allow you to reduce the amount you spend on heating your water. But if you’re sticking with plastic or copper pipes, you may want to insulate them for the sake of energy efficiency. This is a good idea in the winter anyway, but it can actually help you save money and reduce energy waste year-round.

Be Careful About What You Flush

While this doesn’t involve any equipment upgrades, adopting this habit can prevent you from ruining your plumbing system and spending money on expensive repairs or replacement while prioritizing the protection of your local water system. Even if you think certain household products — like sanitizing wipes or cotton balls — are technically flushable, that doesn’t mean they should go down the drain. These products often won’t break down and can actually clog your toilet. Worse yet, they can end up in the water supply. Make it a point to use biodegradable or compostable products whenever possible to avoid this scenario and reduce waste altogether.

Cut Down on Water Use

Hydration and access to clean water is a must, considering that 71% of Americans drink tap water (and no one wants you to get dehydrated!). However, you might want to take some steps to reduce the amount of water you’re unknowingly consuming. For example, taking a shorter shower or limiting the number of times you shower each week can help your family be more eco-friendly. You can also remember to shut off the faucet when you’re brushing your teeth or when you’re washing the dishes. You’re most likely wasting a ton of water without realizing it, which might also mean you’re paying to heat that water. By reducing the amount of water you unintentionally waste, you’ll inherently have a more eco-friendly home.

No matter the season, there’s always a reason to be conscious of our water usage. With these tips in mind, you can curb wasteful habits and save all kinds of resources.

7 Tips For an Eco-Friendly Move

February 22, 2021 0

Moving creates a lot of waste. From cardboard boxes to tape to the gas mileage of transporting things to your new home, there are many non-eco-friendly practices that are common in moving. You can take steps to make sure that your move is more environmentally conscious, and below are a few examples of what you can do.

Think About Location

When you’re thinking about your future home’s location, you’ll want to take into account more than just what your neighbors are going to be like. If you’re moving somewhere where you’ll have to drive everywhere, you’ll have to make sure that you’re within a reasonable distance to places like your job, a grocery store, or another place you go regularly, like a gym. If you have a loved one over 65, they may be part of the 52% of people in their age range that need long-term care services. If you know you’ll want to routinely go visit them, you should try to look for a place that allows you to do that without wasting a lot of gas. If your ideal location is near public transport, that’s the best possible option.

Reduce the Number of Cardboard Boxes You Use

When you’re moving, you may envision a large number of cardboard boxes will be what carries your things to your new home. However, you can easily swap out many of your cardboard boxes for reusable alternatives. You can use suitcases for heavier objects like books since the wheels make them easier to move. You can also use things like duffle bags, reusable shopping bags, and large plastic totes or bins for any other items you have. Try to pack as much as you can into these types of reusable bins before you start using disposable containers. You can also ask friends and family if they have anything you can borrow to pack your things into — you never know who secretly has a stash of 20 plastic totes in their basement.

Or Use Recycled Boxes

If you run out of reusable packing containers, you can still use cardboard boxes. However, try to avoid buying boxes for your move. Instead, you can save up any boxes you get from packages or go to your local grocery store to ask if they have any. Many times grocery stores have a large stock of boxes that they receive their inventory in, and you’ll be delaying the recycling of the boxes by using them to move. Reusing is preferable to recycling since it means the object is being used in generally its original form, so this is a more eco-friendly option than just buying boxes. Plus it’s much more cost-effective.

Recycle or Donate What You Don’t Want

When you’re moving, you’ll likely come across a lot of things you were storing that you no longer need. If you’re part of the 40% to 50% of marriages that end in divorce and that’s why you’re moving, you’re probably going to have even more things you want to get rid of. However, instead of throwing things out, look for places to donate or resell them instead. Look for thrift stores or donation drop boxes that match your values and accept what you want to get rid of, and then drop all of your items there. You’re giving your things a chance to be reused and recycled now that you no longer have use for them.

Don’t Buy New Packing Materials

When you’re packing up your boxes, you may be tempted to buy bubble wrap at your local home improvement store to ensure that your items remain unbroken during the move. However, there are definitely more eco-friendly alternatives to buying plastic bubble wrap. First, you can use recycled paper from newspapers, magazines, and scrap paper to pad your boxes. Though this is still disposable, you’ll be reusing it, which makes it more eco-friendly.

You can also use non-disposable options to pack up your breakable items. You can use clothing like cotton t-shirts, sweatpants, and socks to wrap up your breakable items so that they have a cushioned ride t to your new home. Household linens like towels and sheets can also be used as a great way to pad your items without having to use disposable materials. As an added bonus for using these materials to pack your breakable belongings, you now don’t have to pack them somewhere else.

Limit Trips Back and Forth

If you’re moving things yourself, make sure that every trip you take is with your car or moving track packed completely to capacity. This will help reduce the number of trips you take between your old and new homes, therefore reducing the amount of gas that you’re using. If you hire a moving company to help you with the move, you should talk to them about the possibility of reducing the number of trips they’re taking as well.

After You Arrive

Once you’ve moved into your new place, you should make sure that you immediately take some eco-friendly measures. If you have the storage room, keep any reusable packing materials that you used. You can lend these out to friends or family or even go back to using them in your usual life, like for duffel bags or suitcases. The average 30-year-old person has already moved six times in their life, so you may want to hold onto your materials for any future move that you have.

If you used cardboard boxes or padded boxes with newspapers, make sure that you properly recycle your packing materials. Other things you can do once you move in include not using paint with VOCs in it, putting in LED lights to replace non-LED ones, and every upgrading to Energy Star rated appliances and windows.

Traditionally, moving isn’t the most eco-friendly activity. However, if you put effort into making your move more environmentally conscious, you can make a big difference. Try to use as many reusable materials as you can, and use recycled materials any time that reusable ones aren’t available.

How do you make moving more eco-friendly? Let us know in the comments!

3 Evidenced-Based, Natural Ways to Get Healthier Right Now

February 15, 2021 0

Improving your health can seem daunting when there are a lot of steps involved like meal prepping and working out. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways you can improve your health right now without having to jump through any hoops or having to wait. Here are three evidence-based, natural ways you can boost your body’s health and well-being ASAP.

Change Your HVAC Filters

According to a study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, indoor air quality can have a greater impact on your health than outdoor air. Indoor air pollutants such as cleaners, varnished, fungal spores, and smoke can create bigger problems for our health because we’re breathing them in more frequently in such a small space. With so many of us staying indoors more often due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important now than ever to monitor your indoor air quality.

One easy way to boost your indoor air quality is by changing out your HVAC filters at least twice a month, or three times if you have pets. Dirt, debris, and dander can build-up in your HVAC filters throughout the day. When the filters aren’t swapped out, your HVAC system can’t trap the grime and instead spits it out into the air you breathe. What’s more, HVAC systems typically last 12 years, but when they may fail sooner when they have to work harder to deliver warm or cool air.

Replace Your Toothbrush

Many people already know that the American Dental Association recommends brushing at least twice a day. But not many know that they’re meant to replace their toothbrush at least once every three months. In fact, not replacing your toothbrush frequently could actually be making you sick. According to researchers at England’s University of Manchester, toothbrushes can harbor over 100 million different bacteria including E. coli and staphylococci (“Staph”) bacteria. Consider buying a pack of toothbrushes to make changing them out easier than waiting for your next dentist appointment.

Stop Cold Drafts

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts around your doors and windows can increase your heating bills by up to 10%. But drafts aren’t only problematic for your energy bills. They’re also problematic to your health. Research shows that when cold air from a draft comes in contact with your throat, the temperature of your body’s pharyngeal mucosa lowers. This causes the mucosa to dry out, which increases your risk of infection. To protect yourself against the common cold and other pesky pathogens, make sure to cover any gaps between your door and the floor and stuff any window gaps with spray-adhesive insulation.

When it comes to improving your health, sometimes taking the smallest steps can make the biggest difference. Try out some of the tips above to boost your well-being and get your body feeling great.

Can You Make Your Home Eco In One Week?

February 3, 2021 0

When trying to stay afloat with our finances it is super important to be conscious about the energy we use at home every day. Saving energy is important not only for our finances but for the planet, and today we want to talk about some of the simple ways you can save energy at home today. 

Let in natural light 

One of the simple ways to make your home more green is to invest in natural light. If you currently have small windows that don’t let a lot of light penetrate the home during the day this might mean that you are more likely to turn on the lights and waste energy. Instead, consider investing in bigger windows and even some more windows around the house to maximise the light you get into your home. Not only will it save money but it will make your home feel bigger and more spacious. 

Get rid of unneeded appliances 

It is important not to have a load of appliances hanging around the house that you won’t use. Don’t crowd the home with tech that you don’t need and this will help you reduce the energy you use every day. It is all too easy for you to get used to plugging everything in around the house and this can waste a lot of energy and cost you a huge amount of money. 

Turn off the tap 

The first simple change in habit you can implement into your life is to turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Water costs a pretty penny and it takes a lot of energy to bring water to your home and into your taps. It is important not to run your taps when you don’t need to because this will make a massive impact on the energy you use as well as your water bill at the end of the month. 

Switch off the lights 

Another way you can change the energy you use at home is by choosing different lights throughout the home. Energy companies can recommend different lights such as Olympia Lighting for you to install at home that are more efficient and energy saving. Switching to LED lights for example could save you a lot of money and will use much less energy so is better for the environment. 

Insulate the walls 

One of the important things to consider when you want to keep the house warm and decrease your energy usage each year is insulation. Insulating the walls is a crucial step in your journey because it will lock in the warm air in your home when you turn on the heating, and as a result you are less likely to keep having to switch on the heating. 

Use these simple tips and tricks to help you save some money in the house this year as well as make it more energy efficient. There’s no need to spend a pretty penny and use too much energy when you are savvy! 

Building a Home? Here’s How to Make It as Green as Possible

February 1, 2021 0

Every year, hundreds of thousands of new homes are built. In 2018, about 840,000 new single-family homes were constructed, but how many of those homes were built with environmental friendliness in mind?

If you’re in the process of planning your new home, you should try to keep in mind the environmental impact of your home’s future. By making sure that you’re designing your dream home with eco-friendly ideals in mind, you can help save energy, money, and the planet. Below are a few ways to make your new home as green as possible.

Use LED Lights

You should plan for your home to only use LED lights instead of traditional fluorescent light bulbs. The Department of Energy has estimated that LED lights could possibly cut the amount of energy used by the U.S. by up to 50%. To help join that lessened energy expenditure, make sure only LED bulbs are installed in your home.

There are many advantages to LED bulbs aside from saving energy. They also last significantly longer, which means that you’ll be creating less waste than with a traditional bulb. LED lights come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and even different tones and colors. If you want to add some fun to a room, you can plan on using a color-changing bulb that can be remote-controlled or even controlled through an app on your phone.

Make Sure Everything is Properly Insulated

One of the most important things to think about when you’re making your home eco-friendly is how well-insulated your home will be. Insulation is key to keeping your heating and cooling costs and energy expenditures down. By properly insulating your home, you’re creating a temperature-controlled environment, which means that heat won’t escape in the winter and won’t get in in the summer.

One area you should make sure to focus on is your attic. A lot of heat can escape through your roof if it’s not properly insulated, which makes it one of the most important places to properly insulate. You can also opt for certain options for your roofing to help with proper insulation, so make sure to speak with your home’s designer about your best options.

Go Solar

Solar power technology has been significantly improved in recent years, and you can take advantage of those improvements in your home. Realistically, you probably can’t power your entire home with the kind of solar panels available for residential homes, but you can hook them into your home’s power supply and use them to reduce your traditional energy usage.

Install a Grey Water System

Grey water is any water that has been used in your home by a sink or shower. It isn’t clean or fresh anymore, but it can be used to do things like water your lawn and garden. If you plan on having landscaping that will need additional watering, installing a grey water system in your home is a great way to decrease your home’s freshwater usage, which can really help decrease your home’s water consumption.

Go Low Flow

Another way to decrease your home’s water consumption is by installing low flow options of certain things, like your toilet and showerhead. With a low flow toilet, you’ll waste less water per flush, which really adds up over time. Many times these toilets will have an option for liquid versus solid waste, so you won’t have to worry about the toilet becoming clogged because there isn’t enough water running through it.

Low flow showerheads are designed to decrease the gallons per minute, or GPM, used by your shower. If you know you should take shorter showers to save water, but really love the feeling of being in the shower, this is a great way to make sure you aren’t using too much water.

Install Energy Star Approved Items

One of the easiest ways to make sure you’re not wasting energy is to make sure you’re opting for things with Energy Star approval. Energy Star appliances are more energy-efficient and are operating in a way that the Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, approves of. You can get Energy Star rated appliances, windows, electronics, and other things, so make sure when you’re looking into a certain option for your home that you’re looking for something that has the Energy Star logo on it somewhere.

Use Sustainable Materials

When it comes to the materials that will be used to actually build your home, you should make sure you’re using the most sustainable options available. By using items made of recycled or reclaimed materials, you’ll be creating less of a demand for brand new materials. This is a conversation you should definitely have with your home’s builders to make sure that they understand your commitment to building a sustainable and eco-friendly home.

Keep It Small

Extra space in your home means more energy used to light, heat, and cool it. Try not to have any part of your home that is extraneous or otherwise unneeded. The smaller your home is, the less energy it will take to keep it running. This doesn’t mean you have to live in a tiny home, but it does mean you should avoid making any part of your home larger than it really needs to be.

Plan It Out

When you’re still in the planning phase, it’s important to look at the plans and ensure that everything in the plan fits your needs and whatever eco-friendly upgrades or changes you want. There is currently architectural rendering software that can make both two-dimensional and three-dimensional renderings of your architect’s designs. By making sure that all of the changes you requested are in the design, you can avoid any mistakes made because your home’s designer forgot about a conversation.

Building a new home presents many opportunities to include eco-friendly features and materials, but you have to be conscious of the choices you make for your home. Every detail large and small from the building materials you use to the lightbulbs you screw into the sockets can have an environmental impact, so it’s important to be intentional with your choices during the home building process.

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