Energy Star rated appliances (approximately $600) can lower your electric and water bill because they are more environmentally friendly. For example, if you use a front-load washing machine you will use only 18-25 gallons of water versus the 40 gallons used in older, top load models. Each energy star appliance saves a homeowner over $110 annually — so if you multiply that times the 5-8 appliances in your home, it adds up to a lot of money!
Gas fireplaces (approximately $750) have an on-off function to ensure that the gas is not running all the time, thus preserving our usage of fossil fuels. If you have a standard fireplace, make sure that the chimney flue is well insulated so that your money is not “going up in smoke.â€
Flooring (approximately $1000) can be eco-friendly or sustainable by using engineered or bamboo materials. Neither product takes new trees from the forests. Engineered floors are made from recycled timber and bamboo is actually a grass that re-grows easily. We recommend Mohawk for engineered and Dragonfly for bamboo flooring.
Make sure to check to see if thee are tax breaks, rebates or other incentives under the Home Star program which is similar to the “cash for clunkers†program. Enjoy making your home a healthy eco-system for your family with these budget conscious options.
More options for creating an eco-healthy home on a budget:
Free
Remove your shoes when you enter your home to keep toxins out
Lower the toilet lid each time you flush
Freeze your child’s stuffed animals once a week for 24 hours to kill dust mites
Clean the water pan under your refrigerator
$1 to $100
Replace your vinyl shower curtain liner with a nylon shower curtain liner ($20)
Replace your pillow ($25)
Purchase hypoallergenic pillow and mattress covers ($9 to $45)
Change all your light bulbs to CFL or LED bulbs ($2 to $40/each)
Purchase towels made of organic cotton or recycled cotton yarn
$100 to $500
Install carpet tiles in a room instead of wall-to-wall carpet ($8/each)
Purchase Water Sense-labeled faucets, fixtures and toilets which are more water efficient
$500 to $1,000
Install a wool-backed rug instead of a vinyl backed rug ($500 and up)
Select a sofa with slip covers that can be cleaned regularly
Install a countertop made of paperstone, icestone or ECO by Cosentino instead of granite
$1,000 to $5,000
Install eco-friendly custom cabinetry
Purchase an eco-healthy foam mattress
Purchase a nursery set that has non-formaldehyde adhesives
Robin Wilson is a eco-friendly and healthy home interior designer focused on sustainable, reusable, recyclable and non-toxic options from the ‘foundation to the furniture’. She is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, an affiliate member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), and she is currently studying for her LEED accreditation. She is the author of “Kennedy Green House: Designing an Eco-Healthy Home from the Foundation to the Furniture,†(Greenleaf Book Group Press, $30).
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