Giving Your Home The 'Green' Light

Betty J. Scheiner, Scheiner & Company Interior Design

By Betty J. Scheiner

Green has become stylish and chic. Mother Nature needs all the help we can give her to remain clean, free from toxins and environmental damage so that She can provide all of us on planet Earth a healthy environment for generations to come. We all need to be as active as possible in passing a beautiful, clean, and healthy planet to our children, and on and on. 

Some suggestions for a start would be in our homes. This is the place where we spend a lot of our time and we want this space to be a safe and healthy haven for our families. It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing approach. We can start to renew our spaces with small steps which will give us a sense of ownership, pride, and comfort, as well as a sense of well being.

We now have so many products to choose from in the construction or remodeling of our homes that protect our environment and our health, as well. These choices help us feel so much better about our participation in making our homes, communities, and planet Earth a much better place to live and to pass on to the next generation. We are the stewards of what we have been given and it is the responsibility of everyone to make sure we are doing everything we can to correct the damage already done and to ensure we don’t continue to make mistakes that greatly damage our planet.

There are many incentives for making environment upgrades, such as energy-efficiency tax credit, renewable energy tax credit, fuel cells and microturbine tax credit, federal housing administration energy- efficient mortgages, conventional energy efficient mortgages, and energy efficient appliances rebate.

Here are a few of the steps you can take to ‘green’ your home during new construction or remodeling:

Rehab Floors. Foot traffic takes a toll on floors. Hardwood floors are easier to keep clean and provide flexibility for redecorating in the future. Carpet harbors dirt and bacteria - not the best choice. Examples of certified sustainable wood flooring choices – Bamboo, Cork, Natural Linoleum.

Wake Up Walls. One dramatic change we can make to a room is changing the wall covering. Something as simple as a fresh, vibrant coat of paint can liven up a room and our mood. There are several earth friendly ways to introduce decorative color and texture. Safe paint, meaning one that is low in VOC’s., emits fewer volatile organic compounds that pollute indoor air. (Note that low VOC paint still can contain harmful toxins.) Other toxic ingredients like formaldehyde, acetone and ammonia are found in many conventional paints. Be good to the planet and choose paints that do not compromise.

Natural Clay Plaster. Plaster is a natural, environmentally friendly material used in homes for thousands of years because of its strength and longevity. Plaster controls moisture, absorbs odors and doesn’t attract dirt.

Plant-Based Wall Coverings. Would you have thought that covering our walls with grass or coconut shells could produce such exquisite results? Papers, tiles, and panels crafted from sustainable plants and reclaimed agricultural waste will beautifully cover walls, imbuing them with pattern, texture, and color.

Architectural Detail. Crown molding, baseboards, door and window trim, mantels, beams, and wainscoting are affordable details that add interest and value. Planet friendly products of recycled and reclaimed origin ensure that we get the look we want without compromising the environment.

Dress Up Windows. Window treatments complement décor by adding to, not dominating. Earth- kind window fashions that come in soft, natural colors allow furnishings and decorative touches to be the star.  Select natural window treatments that are easy on the planet. Natural shades can enhance any design.  Natural curtains may be luxurious silk, organically grown cotton, hemp or linen. Loose linen weaves will allow natural light to filter through while protecting from harsh sunlight.

Improve Lighting. Lighting is an integral part of a room’s appeal, but the right lighting does more that enhance the beauty and utility of a room. It can also improve its energy efficiency and safety. CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) applications use fluorescent light bulbs only in fixtures that are continuously on for a half hour or more a day. For fixtures turned off and on for a few minutes at a time stick with standard bulbs. LED (Light Emitting Diodes) applications are fast becoming the new light source for ultra-energy efficient household lighting. Bulbs designed for home applications typically house a cluster of several small LED bulbs under a diffuser lens with an Edison base. Although more expensive than a comparable incandescent bulb, an LED bulb can last up to 50 times longer and use 85 percent less energy, so the cost is recouped over time.