Healthy Home Tips

If you've kept up with this blog, you already know that we're big fans of the Environmental Working Group and the wealth of information they offer consumers. Last month they began their Healthy Home Tips Series for Parents. You can sign up via e-mail to be alerted of the next installment of the Healthy Home Series, and you don't have to be a parent to benefit from the content. The series is check full of ways that you can ensure your home is as healthy as possible. The latest installment is all about personal care products and how you can be a better label decipherer. Click your way on over to a healthier home for you and your family!

Green by Design

Green by Design is a great site filled with information and products for living a greener lifestyle. Learn more about green living with their blog, online shop with hand-picked goods, product guides, and green designer profiles. The products in their online shop come from a variety of sources and include furniture, household items, and fabric (my husband is now panicking and placing a freeze on our checking account). Each item listing includes a Green Scorecard with information on packaging, recycled content, company practices and more. There are also a number of buying guides to help you choose more environmentally friendly options for insulation, linens, water heaters, paint and on and on... it all can be found at Green by Design!

How Much Is That Rebate In the Window?

Who doesn't like a rebate? Or better yet, a tax credit? Want to find out what eco-friendly rebates are available in your area? Check out the Energy Star Rebate Finder! This easy-to-use resources allows you to type in your zip code and find what rebates are available for appliances, fans, heating and cooling, lighting, office equipment, residential water heaters, and your home envelope (yes, your home has an envelope). Are you considering energy-efficient windows for your home? You could be eligible for a tax credit! Take a look at Energy Star's Rebates and Tax Credit page for more information. So, get a check in an envelope when you check you home envelope...how great is that?!

This Forecast is for Green

Terri Bennett is a meteorologist, earth scientist, mom and all-round eco-guru! Folks from the Charlotte, NC area may recognize her from her weather reporting days, but Terri's Do Your Part initiative should earn her recognition across the state and beyond! Check out the Do Your Part Web site to find out what you can do at home, at work, at play, with your kids and on the road to reduce your ecological footprint. Learn water consrvation tips for the bathroom, greener grilling techniques for the backyard an ways to make the office break room more eco-friendly. I'd say the forecast looks bright from here.

Re-Duce, Re-Use, Re-Nest!

Who can't get into a site that says it's at the intersection of the "green" movement and the "home decor" movement? That's re-nest, and their goal is to "connect people to the resources they need to improve their homes, while reducing their reliance on stuff." A noble goal indeed! From shopping guides to home tours, it's surely worth a visit.

Do You Have a Health eHome?

WebMD and the nonprofit Healthy Child Healthy World have partnered to produce Health eHome. Wander through the kitchen, family room, bathroom, bedroom and even out to the yard and find out what items may be impacting your health or that of the environment. Click on the shower curtain in the bathroom, for example, and you'll get a short blurb on cleaning options and PVC health issues. Want to know more? You can click to watch a video about offgassing, or read about ways to prevent mold and allergies. Learn about the issues, test your knowledge and find out ways that you can take action...it's all at the Health eHome!

Because Old is the New Green!

Check out the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Green Home Tips. As they say, "the greenest house is the house already built." So, how can you save energy and save money in your historic home? Learn more about winterizing your home, how to make wood windows more energy-efficient, and much more with these Green Home Tips!

Room by Room

Check out the Green Guide's Room by Room Interactive where you can click on household objects to learn how to save energy and make smart purchasing choices. Each clickable object provides helpful tips and a link to a complete buying guide. From the bedroom to the bathroom to the laundry room and beyond...you'll be making greener choices all over!

Welcome to the PowerHouse

Black & Decker has come out with a new Energy Saver Series to help homeowners shave down their energy use. Energy Saver products include the Lights Out AutoSwitch that automatically turns out the lights in rooms not being used, the Thermal Leak Detector to find out where leaks could be costing you energy and money, and the Power Monitor that tracks your energy use in kilowatts and dollars as it's being used. Even if you don't get any of these gadgets, you can check out the PowerHouse Interactive Demo for tips on how to reduce your energy use in the home.

DIY Home Energy Audit

Check out the Home Energy Saver, an online do-it-yourself audit tool that can help you identify ways to save energy in your home and find the resources you need to do it. Sponsors of this cool tool include the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA. By answering questions about your use of energy, appliances and your home's construction, the Home Energy Saver can help you pinpoint what can be changed, how much less energy would be needed and how much money you could be saving!

The Green Home Guide

The U.S. Green Building Council is a non-profit organization that promotes buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy. Check out their Green Home Guide. This online resource provides renovation guidelines, project profiles, green building news, and information on green products and sustainable living. Whether you are looking to build your dreamhome or just making a few changes to your current digs, it's worth taking a look! Want to move into a home that is green already? Then check out their "Green Homes For Sale" listings.