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From reducing energy consumption to recycling waste, it seems like everyone is interested in doing their part to help the environment these days. Living green not only conserves natural resources and reduces pollution, it also has the practical benefit of saving on utility bills.
Actor and environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr. is living proof of the power of going green. While you may know him best for his multiple roles in television and film, he has been an outspoken advocate for sustainable living for nearly 40 years. Everything about his home embodies his commitment to traveling as light as possible on earth. He even wrote a book, Living Like Ed: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Living, about his experiences.
sustainable site
The primary consideration in building a greenhouse is to minimize the environmental impact on the site. The Del Sur Green Development, just north of San Diego, is doing just that. Del Sur’s emphasis on green building practices and its commitment to retaining 60 percent of its developed land as open space has earned Del Sur some of California’s top environmental awards.
Pervious paving of driveways, streets and parking lots is another way to limit environmental damage. While permeable paving has the look and feel of concrete or asphalt, it allows stormwater to filter and seep into the ground. This reduces runoff that can pollute waterways and lower water tables, and reduces the need for expensive storm drains and cisterns.
Reuse and Recycle
The Ranch House in Del Sur is both a welcome center and a model of sustainability. As transporting building materials over long distances greatly increases the environmental impact, many of Del Sur’s materials were sourced locally. The walls of the ranch house were built using stone found on the property, while the wooden floors and ceiling beams came from the structure being demolished.
Nonprofits like Reuse People will get buildings slated for demolition in exchange for tax breaks. They then disassemble it and resell the material to fund their work. By taking the building piece by piece, they were able to reuse about three-quarters of the total weight and recover most of the rest.
Companies like California-based TerraMai specialize in turning high-quality lumber from demolished buildings into lumber for paneling, flooring and millwork. Since most of the wood comes from old, slow-growing trees, the wood was stronger and more stable than what is produced today.
Instead of tearing down old, inefficient home and apartment buildings, developers like Marty Bhatia of OM Development, LLC in Chicago are turning them into energy-efficient and environmentally friendly buildings. Buyers will even receive a brochure explaining the building’s green features.
green product
Green building materials can be made from almost anything, including agricultural waste.
Environ Biocomposites produces a composite material made from recycled sunflower husks called Dakota Burl® that emits no harmful fumes and can be used in a variety of interior applications.
Kirei Board is an eco-friendly product made in China from leftover sorghum stalks after harvest. The lightweight panels feature interesting grain patterns and can be used for anything from cabinets to floors.
conserve water
A family of four uses an average of 400 gallons of water per day, nearly 150,000 gallons per year.
The toilet is the place that uses the most water in the home. Older models require three times as much water as newer high-efficiency toilets like Kohler Persuade™ and San Raphael™. Replacing your existing toilet can reduce your home’s water use by up to 10,000 gallons per year.
Showers are another big water guzzler. Save up to 20% when replacing your standard shower head with a low-flow model like the Kohler MasterShower® Ecofficient™.
Adding low-flow aerators to kitchen and bathroom faucets can also help. Be sure to check with your local water provider to find out if there are tax credits for installing water-efficient appliances.
Another way to reduce water usage is to direct runoff from the roof into a storage tank to water the lawn.
Some systems, like Stormwater Management Solutions’ luxury drinking water systems, even filter household water.
If replacing bathroom fixtures or installing a rainwater harvesting system isn’t in your budget, you can still reduce water usage by fixing leaks, limiting shower time, and washing only full loads of clothes and dishes.
Learn and Watch Going Green, Part 2
For more information, visit our Going Green webpage
Other Tips From This Episode
Simple solution by Joe Truini:
check draft
An easy test for an air leak is to slowly run a butane lighter around the edge of a door or window. If the flame bends or flickers, repair or replace the weatherstripping until it stays steady. Make sure flames are kept away from curtains or other flammable materials.
Emily Barta’s Best New Product:
n:vision compact fluorescent light bulb
n:vision’s CFL bulbs are Energy Star rated and consume 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs while providing the same amount of light. Since they last about 10 times longer, you can save $40 to $50 per bulb over its lifetime. For more natural light, choose a color temperature grade of warm white or soft white. Learn more at The Home Depot.
Ask Danny:
Install a Programmable Thermostat
I’ve heard that if you install a digital thermostat it will lower your utility bills. Really? -Vicky from Spanish Fortress
Installing a programmable digital thermostat can allow your central system to reduce heating and cooling when the house is empty. While this can save up to 15% annually on utility bills, the actual amount will vary depending on how it is set up and how long each day the home is vacant. If you have a heat pump, use one of the newer hybrid thermostats designed for use with these systems.
