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7 Simple Solutions To Make Your Home
Greener
By Ann Smith,
Broker
Want to make your home greener
and decrease your carbon footprint legacy? There are many ways to “go
green” and while this could be a very long list, I’ve kept it to a few easy
changes that can make a “world” of difference.
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Get rid of the old
refrigerator in the garage. Your old fridge may be costing you an
additional $150 per year! If your appliances are more than 10 years old,
consider replacing them with an energy-efficient model that bears the
"Energy Star" logo, which use 10%-50% less energy and water than standard
models.
-
Use Compact Fluorescent
Light bulbs (CFL’s). These energy-efficient bulbs use 66% less energy
than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. But
these bulbs cannot go to the landfills. If one breaks there are special
clean up procedures due to the mercury contained in the bulb. Many
stores, such as Canadian Tire, offer a recycling container for your
convenience.
-
Use cleaners certified by
Green Seal or EcoLogo. These cleaners reduce the chance of creating
formaldehyde in the air (the stuff that preserves biological specimens).
Or better yet, make your own cleaning solutions with simple household
ingredients such as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), washing soda
(sodium carbonate), vinegar, and lemon juice. Check out these books,
written by Annie Bertold-Bond, for cleaning formulas: "Clean and Green"
and "Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living."
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Use PVC-free shower
curtains. Yes, vinyl shower curtains contain PVC’s and in the first month
of use up to 108 chemicals are released in the air – some of which can
damage your liver and kidneys.
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Water savers. Install
aerators on taps and low-flow toilets (6L), which can save more than 50%
of water used.
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Install bamboo floors
instead of hardwood. Bamboo is a higher yield tree that replenishes
itself more quickly – just 4 to 6 years to mature compared to 50 to 100
years for typical hardwoods. Make sure the product uses formaldehyde-free
glues.
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Time for a fresh coat of
paint? There are healthier choices for your family that have zero- or
low-VOC’s (volatile organic compounds). If you are concerned about the
solvents, toxic metals, and VOC’s in conventional paints, it’s nice to
know that most big name paint manufactures carry the greener versions of
their product – even if you don’t want the colour green.
These are worthwhile changes
whether you want to make your house more enticing to buyers, or you want to
save money while you are waiting for a buyer…or you want to be “greener” in
your housekeeping.
Note: Trustworthy eco-seals that have stringent criteria for analysis
include EcoLogo; Green Seal; USDA organic; and Energy Star.
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Ann
Smith, Broker
Your Real
Estate Consultant…For Life! |
