Sweet Greens

Many of us have properties that can be greatly improved by expanding or renovating, making it a great idea. However it’s important to remember that your family members are not the only inhabitants of your surroundings. Bats, birds, beneficial bugs, badgers, reptiles, bees, squirrels, mice, chipmunks, plants and many others live in our surroundings and they need to be considered ahead of any major project. It’s important to consider conservation of the environment when doing any home renovation – there are ways to compromise making both you and the environment happy. Read on to learn more about home renovation versus ecological conservation.

#1: Bats: What you Need to Know
Certain projects are more likely to upset the habitation of certain species than others. One of the main areas of concern is the conservation of bats. Bats are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our planet. Like bee’s, bats help pollinate our plants and they are also an amazing insecticide. Bats also help tell us learn about the environment and any changes that may be affecting it. Bats tend to reside in dark nooks and crannies such as those found in attics which mean loft conversions may be harmful to their habitat. Certain times of the year make bats more vulnerable to building work including while they are hibernating in the winter months or when babies are born during the summer months. An attic renovation for example may involve completely eradicating their roosts and an extension may involve destroying roosts on what are currently external walls.

So what can you do?
Bats are protected by law and it’s important that they are considered during any home renovation. The wisest thing to do is have a bat survey carried out prior to any works or the purchase of any materials. If bats do live in the area you want to develop a plan that can be altered after you hear the given advice. It doesn’t necessarily mean the work will not take place, but it might mean liaising with the correct authorities on your next course of action.

Other species affected by building works may require ecological surveys that will reveal more than just whether bats are present and will be looking for evidence of birds, badgers and even reptiles depending on the survey you book. Remember at all times that while the work on your home is important to you, we all share the planet. By consulting with the correct parties you will be doing your part to conserve the planet and all of the critters that inhabit it.
 
#2: Trees: What you Need to Know
When building a house extension homeowners need to avoid cutting down trees. Trees don’t just exist to look pretty; they are an important part of our ecosystem – they clean our air, provide shelter for animals, cool our homes in the summer. Some trees are protected by tree protection orders and they will need to be avoided by any measure. Even those that are not should be preserved wherever possible. Ecological surveys will include assessing the trees in the area you should you wish to expand.

When most people start thinking about making home renovations or considering an extension they worry about time, budget and project management. But one of the most important things to consider is the plants and animals we share our living space with. Our planet is home to a large number of protected species and it important to assess their habitation while we consider how we want to change our own too.

photo credit

NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: This post, 4 Tips for Eco-Friendly Home Security was written by Jenna. Jenna is a freelance writer who focuses on personal finance, eco-lifestyle, and health. Her normal writing topics include things like how to an afford security system: www.securitychoice.com or how to afford a green home makeover. When Jenna is not writing she is reading her favorite blogs or riding her bike!

Our home is one of the most important things in our lives. Homes provide us with shelter, a place to enjoy our family, a place where we can store our prized personal belongings and a safe place for our families to live. While there are a number of eco-friendly ways to improve your home, finding simple ways to ensure your home is safe and eco-friendly friendly is possible too.  Read on to discover how you can keep your home, personal belonging, pets and family members secure while doing your part to keep the planet clean and green.

#1: Keep Outdoor Lighting in Mind
While it’s a fact that leaving outdoors floodlights on around the clock will stop intruders from finding the darkness to hide, it’s also a fact that this practice is not at all energy efficient. Motion detector lights on the other hand work great for home security (regardless of whether you are home or away) because they get switched on when any motion is detected, which can startle any burglars into running.

In addition, when you come home after dark, these lights will help show you the way to your door by illuminating the path. When you aim them properly, you won’t find them coming on each time a stray cat runs across the yard. The best thing about motion sensor lights is that today you can find many that are solar powered. They get charged up during the day and switch on during the dark whenever any motion is detected. 
 
#2: Indoor Lighting is Important Too 
One of the things that can really help with your home security is the power to control indoor home lighting when you’re not home. This way the lights can go on and off in different rooms at various hours of the day, making your absence less obvious. Such smart home lighting not only helps in improving home security, but also lets you cut down on power usage – since you won’t need to leave several lights on the entire time you are gone.

You can also easily make green choices when choosing light bulbs for your home. For example, LED bulbs are much more energy efficient than those incandescent bulbs. They not only use up to 80 percent less energy, but also last for years. Even though they are a bit costly up front, they can easily pay for themselves in about two years of time.

#3: Choose a Home Security Company that Uses Recycled Materials
Home security companies/services today can be seen focusing on going green by using recycled materials along with parts from old and outdated components. Such reused materials can include electronic components, precious metals, repairable parts, and minerals.

If you are considering installing a home security system, choose a company that that makes efforts to stay green and eco-friendly. ADT for example is a company that uses recycled materials for its home security solutions.

#4: Closet + Lock Your Doors!
Most people forget that simply closing and locking your doors helps you to be greener and safer. When the air in your home stays in your home, it reduces the need for gas or electricity (air conditioning and heating). Some intruders will simply look for doors that are unlocked and then enter the home unannounced. Remember that being eco-friendly also means thinking about your utilities and how they relate to the rest of the earth.

No matter what steps you take to keep your home secure from any kind of intrusion, do it in a way that not only helps you keep your family safe but also goes hand in hand with your aim to contribute to the green revolution. The more steps you take to create an eco-friendly home, the the better it is.

How about you lovely readers, what steps do you take to ensure that your home is safe?

Disclosure Statement

We all lead very busy lives and if you are anything like me the last thing you want to spend your free time on is cleaning. While I love having a clean and organized home, I don’t love cleaning. The mister and I use to spend  our Saturday mornings deep-cleaning the house. Looking back, we should have broken it down into smaller chunks spread out over the week, instead of wasting our Saturdays together cleaning.

Now that I am older and (wiser!), I focus on my 6 cleaning secrets and speed clean during the week. We never spend any part of our weekend deep-cleaning. Hooray! My entire speed cleaning routine takes about 30 minutes a day. On the days where I do deep-cleaning – such as cleaning the appliances, oiling the furniture or mopping and dusting everything, it takes 85 minutes. (I timed it!) I have broken it down for you below. First, are my speed cleaning steps and below it the deep-cleaning time. Read on to get started, and I hope you never spend another weekend cleaning your house.

#1: Getting Started
I always start in the room that is in the very back of the house. When we have lived in homes with multiple levels, I always start at the top floor and work my way down.

Tip: I keep the cleaners that I will need in the room where I will need them. For example, I keep all of the green bathroom cleaners and washcloths stashed in the bathroom vanity. That way I have everything that I need in that particular room – no toting cleaning products from room to room.

#2: Bathrooms | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I quickly spritz down the counter tops, toilet, sinks and mirrors with a great green multipurpose cleaner and wipe everything clean. Then, I sweep the floor and as I leave the room I take the garbage can with me.

Deep Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
On the days that I do a deep-cleaning, I also wipe out the cabinet drawers, scrub the inside of the toilet and mop the floor.

Tip: I keep a bottle of green shower cleaner in the shower. I periodically spritz down the shower a few minutes before I get in, then scrub the shower while my hair conditioner soaks in. Our shower is always clean. Yay! I do this with the bathtubs too!

#3 Master Bedroom | Speed Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
I start by throwing away any garbage (in the garbage can from the bathroom) and take any dishes to the sink, and clothes to the laundry room. Then, I make the bed, quickly wipe down the surfaces and tidy up my workspace.

Deep Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
In addition to the speed cleaning tasks, I dust off the ceiling fan, television, shelving, wash the windows, change the sheets and vacuum the room.

Tip: If the duvet is super wrinkled, I spritz it down with a water bottle and pull until the wrinkles fall out.

#4: Kids Bedroom | Speed Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
Eben cleans his own bedroom, but I do stop in every day to quickly wipe down all of the surfaces.

Deep Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
Eben will also wash his windows, change the sheets on his bed, dust the shelving, tidy his workspace and vacuum the room.

#Tip: Give your child the responsible of cleaning their own bedroom, this will save you a lot of time and teach them responsibility and pride too! 

#5: Half Bath | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I clean the half-bath the same way as the master bedroom. Throw away any garbage, spritz the counter top, sink, mirror and toilet and wipe them down. Then, sweep the floor.

Deep Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
I also scrub the toilet, bathtub, tidy up the toiletries and mop the floor.

Tip: If you have a half-bath that you never use, don’t clean it every week, only when it gets dirty. 

#6: Laundry Room + Hall | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I wipe down the top of the washer and dryer, throw away any garbage, and sweep the floors.

Deep Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
I also clean out the lint trap, wipe down the inside of the washer and mop the floor.

Tip: We do a load of laundry everyday or as soon as the washer is full. We immediately dry, fold and put away the laundry too. We never have a full laundry basket!

#7: Kitchen | Speed Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
I spray down all of the counter tops, while the cleaner soaks I unload and load the dishwasher. Then, I wipe down all of the counter tops and spot clean the front of the appliances and cabinets. Then, I sweep the floor.

Deep Cleaning Version (20 minutes)
I spray down the inside of the microwave, stove and refrigerator and clean them. I will also wipe out any drawers that need it. I wipe down the front of all of the cabinets and mop the floor too.

Tip: Again, if it isn’t dirty – don’t clean it. For example: if you wiped out the refrigerator last week and it still looks good, don’t bother moving everything around to clean it again – wait until next time. 

#8: Living Room | Speed Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
I quickly straighten up the sofa and fluff the pillows. I put away the remote controls, any odds and ends laying around and quickly dust the surfaces.

Deep Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
On deep cleaning day, I also vacuum the rug, down the sofa, wash the windows and mop the floor.

Tip: If you are really strapped for time, simple straighten up the sofa and fluff all of the pillows – this will immediately make the room look cleaner. 

#9: Dining Room | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I wipe down the dining room table and chairs and quickly dust all surfaces and sweep the floor.

Deep Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
I also wash the windows, oil the table and dust the chandelier.

#10: Staircase + Entry | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I sweep the entry way, dust the surfaces and put away anything left by the front door.

Deep Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
I also vacuum the stairs, wash the windows and fingerprints off the front door and mop the floor.

Tip: If you don’t have an entry way closet to tidy all of your families shoes, coats and bags, add a few hooks and baskets to your entry way to quickly hang coats and bags and toss those shoes into a basket. 

#11: Outside Areas | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I quickly sweep off the front porch and back patio and straighten up the furniture.

Deep Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
I also wipe down tables and furniture and spray off the porch.

Total Speed Cleaning Time: 32 minutes
Total Deep Cleaning Time: 80 minutes (Eben does his own room)

How about you lovely readers – do you have speed cleaning tips, I would love to hear!

One challenge of our new small home was the size of Eben’s bedroom. It is much smaller than any bedroom that he has had before – and we quickly realized after putting his bed, and shelving system in the room that there wouldn’t be room for him to work on his projects. Eben spends a large portion of his free time building and painting models, drawing, creating, setting up and filming short movies. I worried that if he didn’t have a space where he could spread out and work on his projects that he might lose some of his creativity.

After a lot of brainstorming, I thought that the closet would remain mostly unused and could easily be repurposed into a workspace for Eben. I asked the mister to remove the closet doors (which he thought was completely crazy at first). Then, I repurposed a long table and filing cabinet that I used in my office at our last home. The mister and I were both surprised to find that it fit in the space perfectly. Seriously, almost as if we had the table cut to fit into the space. I added lighting so Eben could adjust the light for his movies and art projects, shelves to hold all of his sketch books and canvases and a few containers to house all of his pens, markers, pencils, paintbrushes and the like. I used the space in the top and bottom of the closet for stuffed animal and LEGO storage and all of his other supplies fit into the filing cabinet. 

The best part, this makeover didn’t cost a penny, everything we used we already owned. It actually saved us from having to sell or store my old office desk, filing cabinet, picture shelves and is a great place to keep one of our extra dining room chairs too.

What do you think? Have you ever repurposed a closet? Would you?