As you embark upon your new life together, why not make a commitment to the planet, as well? Living an eco-friendly lifestyle isn’t as hard as you may think. There are numerous ways that you can make a difference, from choosing non-toxic paint for your walls to simply changing your light bulbs! Here are four key areas of your home to re-evaluate, and some quick fixes to make your newlywed nest green in no time.
1) Floors
If you’re looking for eco-friendly flooring, there are plenty of stylish options available. Bamboo, cork and linoleum are all chic, affordable and environmentally conscious. Unlike hardwoods such as maple and oak, bamboo and cork are highly sustainable: bamboo is a grass, which grows rapidly, and cork is harvested from the bark of the tree, which also regenerates itself quickly. Lastly, linoleum is 100% natural, as it is derived from linseed oil. Linoleum is also 100% biodegradable.
2) Walls
Earth-friendly wall treatments are definitely the way of the future, and for good reason. Many traditional paints include VOCs, which are detrimental to the environment, as well as your personal health. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, react negatively with sunlight, thereby releasing chemicals and significantly reducing air quality. Needless to say, when purchasing paint, your best bet is to opt for zero-VOC varieties. Thankfully, green paint alternatives are now more readily available than ever before. Check out greenpaint.ca, a Vancouver-based company, for more information, or to order online. As for wallpaper, you can find numerous elegant options produced using vegetable dyes and recycled paper. We’re definitely impressed with the stylish patterned papers by Woodson & Rummerfield (available at greenwithglamour.com).
3) Electricity
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to make a difference is to change all of your light bulbs from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs. And, it may seem obvious, but make sure you are conscientious about turning off lights when you leave a room. Likewise, remember to unplug appliances when they are not in use. Leaving cell phone chargers and the like plugged in at all times wastes unnecessary amounts of energy. Lastly, if you’re in the market for some new appliances, consider purchasing energy-efficient clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, air conditioners and other big-ticket items. These energy-efficient models use significantly less water and electricity than their out-of-date counterparts.
4) Heating
Those ubiquitous David Suzuki commercials are no joke― huge amounts of energy are wasted trying to heat or cool a home that is poorly insulated. When possible, turn down the heat while you’re sleeping or when you’re out to save energy. Also, remember to have your furnace serviced regularly in order to keep it running efficiently. And, for those of you who are truly committed to green heating, it might be worth looking into an environmentally safe fireplace. Companies such as Ecosmart Fire (ecosmartfire.com) provide fireplaces that burn completely clean thanks to their renewable fuel source, ethanol.
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