Lower Cooling Bills this Summer

This Spring we’ve had a taste of what summer will bring — high temperatures and humidity.  The good news is that there are lots of simple things we can do to beat the heat and still keep our energy bills in check.  Following these tips will not only reduce your expenses, but also benefit the environment.  By [...]

5 Energy-Saving Retrofits

Wondering how you can make your business or home more energy efficient?  Houston Neal’s article, on softwareadvice.com, explains how 5 “green” retrofits will reduce energy usage in commercial, industrial and residential markets.

Green your Backyard with Eco-friendly Furniture

Looking for some artful, yet functional pieces to spruce up your backyard this summer?  In this particular post in my series of earth-friendly outdoor furniture, I’ll focus on cool collections made from reclaimed winebarrels, watertanks and barnwood.  Other options include FSC-certified furniture where the wood is harvested from well-managed forests.  From patio dining sets to [...]

Add a Touch of Wine Country to your Home

Love the feeling of warmth and sunshine that emanates from the Napa Valley and other wine-producing regions?  One way to bring that sensation home is to incorporate furniture made from reclaimed wine barrels.  The barrels are typically made from the finest oak trees and are free from knots and defects.  During the course of many [...]

Green Home Tour Seattle Style

Looking for a new love nest?  This Saturday, you and your special someone can take a tour of the Beau Developments new urban lofts project in Seattle’s Judkins Park Neighborhood.  What could be more romantic than saving money on energy bills in your new pad?  These homes are estimated to have 40% lower energy bills [...]

Add Style to Your Living Room with Eco-friendly Furniture

Spending a lot of time indoors this winter?  You may be realizing that some of your furnishings need replacing.  For those on a tight budget, there are several ways to spruce up your living room:  cover existing upholstered furniture with organic cotton slip covers; sand and re-paint or stain existing wood pieces (with natural and [...]

Eco-friendly Interior Doors, Part II

As I’ve previously mentioned in Part I of this series of posts, there are many options for the environmentally-conscious shopper, even when it comes to buying interior doors.  I had focused on beautiful, reclaimed wood doors that add instant character and richness to any home.  Here, I’ll highlight residential and commercial doors made with recycled [...]

Increase Comfort and Reduce Energy Bills This Winter

Windows and exterior doors are, of course, necessary elements of any home, but if they are old and drafty, you may wonder about how to make them more energy efficient.  Whether you live in an historic home, or a home that has only single-pane windows, there are some relatively inexpensive and easy fixes you can [...]

Affordable Solar Tube Skylights Brighten Up Interior Spaces

Want to shed some light on that dark area of your home or commercial building without turning on the lights and driving up your electric bill?  A great solution is to install solar tubes, aka sun tunnels, which are easily retrofitted into existing buildings.  In fact, depending on the Energy Star rated system you choose, [...]

Green Kitchen and Bath Makeovers, Part V

This part of my series on eco-friendly makeovers, I’ll focus on another substantial element in any kitchen or bathroom:  cabinetry.  Whether you’re looking for something sleek and streamlined, or cabinets with a traditional flair, the green options available today will modernize and beautify these much-used rooms.

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