Creating your own energy is both good for the environment, and for your long term finances! Reducing your reliance on the national grid and ‘paid for’ services also creates an overwhelming sense of well being. Sustainable energy is not only a financial investment, but an investment for the prolonged future of our planet.

Below you will find a number of energy creating solutions that are environmentally friendly and perfect for home installations.

Image via: Tiktock2u

Solar Photovoltaic Panels

Solar energy systems are an extremely clean and effective way to produce your own electricity. Solar photovoltaic panels capture the suns light, converting it in to usable electricity. This can be used within your home to power appliances, or stored for later use. Unused energy can often be sold back to the national grid, helping to pay off the initial investment for the solar panels even sooner! There are also numerous government incentives to make the installation of solar panels an even more attractive prospect.

Wind Turbines

Wind turbines are another clean and effective way to create energy for your home; they use the power of the wind to spin the turbine, which is connected to an electricity generator. Small scale systems, called “microwind” turbines, are perfect for those looking for a more low key solution. They supply enough energy to help power the lights and appliances of a typical home. This reduces the costs of your electricity bill, as well as making you applicable for the government incentives and subsidies of installing renewable energy in your home. Similarly to the solar photovoltaic panels, unused energy can either be stored for later use, or sold back to the national grid.

Image via: Household Wind Turbines

Wood Stoves

Wood stoves have been used for centuries to heat homes, and they are experiencing a resurgence in popularity in recent years. The contemporary name for a wood powered stove is a “biomass” system, but the principles are the same as they always were. The stove burns logs or pellets, and can even be integrated with a boiler to heat water. Biomass systems are extremely effective at heating homes and water, thus saving substantial amounts on heating bills.

Image via: Stovax

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Using pipes buried in your home’s garden, ground source heat pumps extract naturally occurring heat from the earth. Heat taken from the buried pipes is used to heat radiators and underfloor heating (if your home has it installed). When combined with a biomass system, you may be able to eliminate traditional heating bills altogether!

Although all of the above systems require relatively high initial investments, the costs of renewable energy are constantly being lowered. When combined with government incentives, reduced energy bills, and the opportunity to sell unused energy, the installation of renewable energy sources is an extremely attractive prospect, both for those looking to save money, and those looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

Evergreen PV specialize in MCS Approved Solar Panels; these meet government requirements for eligibility in to their feed-in tariff, meaning home owners who install MCS approved solar panels receive a cash back incentive. For more information, you can visit their website: Evergreen PV

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

1. Sustainable Bare Floors

Bamboo flooring is another beautiful alternative to traditional flooring. Completely natural and flattering in almost any setting, bamboo is less scarce than many types of wood used for flooring because it grows and matures more quickly than most.

Cork flooring is also impressively sustainable. Cork-oak trees are able to quickly re-grow the minimal amount of wood that is removed to make this eco-friendly flooring. The result is a soft, easily-installed wood that will transform any room in your home.

Natural linoleum provides the convenience you expect from linoleum but is made entirely of natural materials. Comprised of wood flour, resins and linseed oil, natural linoleum is great-looking and prevents the spread of bacteria in your kitchen or bathroom.

2. Green Carpet

New carpet gives your home’s interior an instant visual boost. Green flooring contractors can help you choose the perfect eco-friendly option for your home and budget. Wool, hemp and other natural fibers give you the comfort and beauty of carpet using non-toxic, chemical-free materials. Hemp carpet is pigmented rather than dyed, so even the color is derived from nature.

Recycled plastic carpet may not be all-natural, but it prevents entire plastic bottles from adding to the nation’s already-massive landfills. Carpet made from recycled plastic bottles not only helps you green-ify your home, but is also surprisingly soft and lush.

Image via: Remodelista

3. Environmentally Sound Bathrooms

Bamboo plywood is ideal for bathroom cabinets as well as eco-friendly flooring. Bamboo stands up beautifully to humidity so it won’t warp after thousands of showers and baths. Using less water is another way to convert your bathroom into a green haven.

Low-flow toilets decrease water waste and reduce water company bills. Expert green contractors can help you choose the most user-friendly models, ensuring that you’ll be as happy with their everyday use as you are with your water bills.

4. Eco-Friendly Walls

Nothing gives your home a quick pick-me-up like a fresh coat of paint. Whether you’re changing your color scheme or just brightening a room, knowledgeable green contractors will ensure that this minor renovation doesn’t release harmful chemicals into your home. Many paint companies have begun offering formulas free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These potentially harmful compounds enter your home’s atmosphere even after the paint has dried, so choosing a VOC-free paint is essential.

Image via: Restoration Hardware

5. Green Insulation

Green construction experts can replace your fiberglass insulation with insulation made from natural fibers or recycled materials. Cellulose, denim, hemp fiber and recycled paper are all durable alternatives to traditional insulation. These non-toxic insulation options maximize energy efficiency safely and naturally. This green home construction project offers a great return on investment.

Most home renovation products involving green construction and sustainable materials do more than just spruce up your surroundings. They increase the value of your home and often help cut utility costs. The growing number of green contractors and eco-friendly home improvement supplies makes going green more appealing and easier than ever. Give your local green construction company a call when you’re ready to give your home an environmentally-friendly makeover.

Alex Levin is a writer specializing in the design and building industry. From surety bonding news to DIY building tips, he’s an expert on the construction world as a whole.

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

If you’re like most of us, the hot sunny summer weather is starting to take it’s toll, and you are ready to usher out summer and welcome in fall. Fall brings in cooler temperatures, gorgeous foliage colors into your decor and a sense of relaxation and comfort into your home. Today, my Guest Blogger shows you how to bring green decor ideas into your indoor and outdoor home.

Image courtesy of HGTV.com

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Fall is a great time for warm, rich colors. Chocolate brown, golden yellow, rich oranges and reds are all a part of the fall color palate. But the most important color for fall is “green”.  Fall flooring, furniture, and paint can be incorporated in your home, all while being green.

Green, From the Ground Up

Natural cork and bamboo are the perfect flooring combination for a sustainable home. Both are renewable, harvested in a natural habitat, and satisfy LEED credits. Natural Cork underlayment provides acoustic and thermal insulation. Bamboo flooring boasts a unique appearance that is complimentary to many decors. Like other natural products, differences in tone and appearance give the flooring singular character. For carpeting, if you have wool carpet, keep it. Otherwise, it’s best to use modular carpet tiles. Several eco-friendly companies offer stylish carpet squares that use non-toxic dyes and are made from recycled materials. Many manufactures offer to recycle it when you are done with it. The squares can be self-installed and don’t need support from toxic padding.

Image courtesy of thenateshow.com

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Furniture

The greenest furniture is recycled furniture. Finding a piece of furniture you like, in excellent condition is ideal, but not always an easy find. A green alternative to re-vamp furniture is using eco-friendly upholstery or fabric, or paint the piece with a low VOC paint for a fresh look. Reclaimed wood is a popular option for fall. Large furniture retailers like Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn and West Elm carry reclaimed wood pieces as well as many online and local furniture stores.  Salvaged window and mirror décor is a hot trend for fall. Use architectural salvaged items and repurposing them can give your home and walls added interest. For accents, used lamps and lighting fixtures that have compact florescent bulb compatibility are the best choice. Pillows that are environmentally friendly can also be covered in recycled upholstery. Quick seasonal color-changing fixes such as bedding and linens can transform a bedroom and bathroom by purchasing organic and eco-friendly fabrics like bamboo, hemp, flax, and many other green blends.

Low to No VOC Paint

Due to environmental regulations and increasing consumer demand, paint companies have developed new house paints that emit little or no VOCs.  This is achieved by using water, or sustainable raw materials like soy and sunflower oil, as a base instead of traditional, petroleum-based oil solvents. Whether the color is bold or neutral, these paints can achieve the look and environmental goal you desire.

Eco Exteriors

Solar panels are in-vogue, and for good reason—financial and environmental benefits. But, if the thought of solar panels on a roof is repulsing, there are now more aesthetically pleasing ways to gain the benefits of solar. Solar shingles are becoming more popular, and they look very similar to regular roof shingles. Another fun option for solar is Solar Ivy. Solar “leaves” are arranged on a home to absorb sunlight and have the look of ivy. As the weather cools down and the home heats up, solar is an excellent option.

My name is Chelsea Wyles and I work and blog for Cooler Planet. Cooler Planet helps you take steps to reduce your impact on the planet, while saving you both time and money. We’ve developed an extensive network of pre-screened Green Professionals that can help you toward your green goals.

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

As we all try to improve our home environment and green our lives, have you ever considered that home repairs can also make your home eco-friendly? While many of us think that buying all new energy efficient appliances, and all new low-flow plumbing fixtures is the only way to conserve precious resources, so is repairing your existing home.

Guest Blogger, Crispin Jones, gives tips for making home repairs to make your home eco-friendlier.

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Do you want to do your bit to save the environment? Are you convinced you could be doing more, but confused as to where to start? If so, the good news is that there are some simple steps you can take – for example, shower tray repairs and bath repairs could save you water and energy, and avoid the wasteful issue of having to replace an entire unit or fitting.

Fixing vs. Replacing

Yes – eco-friendly life doesn’t just mean recycling and remembering to turn the lights off.  As a general rule, if you can fix something, that’s much better for the environment than replacing it (except for really old, energy wasting appliances). Shower tray repairs are generally much more cost effective than replacing the whole tray, and bath repairs can give your entire tub a new lease of life.

If you don’t currently have a shower, then there are still some things you can do to protect the environment. For example, if your bath taps are leaky, or your tub is damaged, then you can take advantage of bath repairs to save you water, and also save you money at the same time.  Bath and shower tray repairs could save you a fortune.

Fixing Plumbing

If eco-friendly living is a priority of yours, then small steps such as fixing leaky taps should definitely be near the top of your list.  They’re easy to do, and will have a lasting impact.  In some cases, you can do shower tray repairs yourself, but if you don’t have the time or feel that the job is too big for you to do on your own, then you could call in a bath repairs company to do the job for you. Many specialist companies can do almost invisible repairs, making your fittings look as good as new!

Water wastage can be a serious problem in homes with older plumbing.  A leaking tap can waste as much as 3500 litres per year, assuming it drips once every two seconds.  If your water usage is metered, you’ll quickly see why bath repairs are useful! Shower tray repairs could save you a lot too – a cracked, leaky shower tray could be doing a lot of damage to your floor. Not only that, severe cracks or chips could be unhygienic, or even dangerous – especially if they’re sharp. Do you really want to risk catching your bare feet on a sharp edge when getting out of the shower?

Cosmetic Repairs

Even from a cosmetic point of view, shower tray repairs make a lot of sense. The cracked enamel or the hole in the tray may not be doing any damage, but if it looks ugly it doesn’t exactly make your bathroom a desirable place.  You can spice up the rest of the room with a bit of paint, some new tiles, and a bit of time. Replacing your bath or shower fittings is an entirely different proposition, though. Before you rip out some perfectly serviceable fittings, why not investigate the option of bath repairs. If your existing fittings are fairly modern, then there’s a good chance that they’ll spruce up nicely, and you’ll save time, hassle, money, and waste.

This post was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of Hometech, experts in bath repairs and shower tray repair. Crispin writes on home improvements and interior design. He is particularly interested in sustainability and environmental issues.

For more Guest Blogger posts on Stagetecture, click here.

It’s always a treat to find eco-friendly ways to improve your lifestyle and the Earth at the same time. Especially in the kitchen, where food, running appliances, and still keeping the aesthetics beautiful can often be a challenge.

Today, our Guest Blogger Isaac, gives you tips for having an ‘eco kitchen’ in your home.

Image courtesy of Design Wagen

There are many different ways to make your day to day living more in harmony with ecologically responsible priorities. One way to do this is to create an “eco kitchen.” A kitchen works on many levels that can impact the environment. From the food you prepare to the materials used in the kitchen’s construction to the appliances used to whether or not you recycle – All of these levels can be brought into greater harmony with the ecology of the planet and thus play a part in the environmental healing and rehabilitation of our earth. The following are some ideas you can use in creating your own eco kitchen:

Use Green Construction Materials

If possible, try to use green construction material in the actual construction of your kitchen. This is of course easiest if you are having the house custom built or building it yourself. However, even if the house has already been built, you can consider remodelling options that are ecologically responsible. For instance, you can use green flooring. This is flooring (and by flooring we mean everything from the subfloor to the planks to any tile you use) that is made from recycled or renewable materials. Some options here are recycled or reclaimed wood (either plywood or boards), tiles, stone flooring, and so on. Pretty much any material that is reused from another source will help conserve the earth’s resources and can be used in kitchen construction.
Another option here is to investigate new materials such as wood or stone that has been cultivated in an ecologically responsible way. Not all companies that deal in these products do so with the same level of green awareness. So investigating which companies to do business with for building materials should be a first step that you take when planning to build or remodel your kitchen to make it greener.

Certain building materials such as wheat board and bamboo are much more renewable than the traditional timber that is used in lumber production. So investigate using these as well. Wheat board is a by-product of wheat harvesting that would otherwise go to waste and bamboo grows back very quickly after being cut. So both of these are great eco-friendly options as regards building materials.

Image courtesy of Bamboo Plant Care

Cook Organic Food

A kitchen is for preparing food. So it makes sense that an eco-kitchen would prepare ecologically responsible food. You can buy certified organically grown products to prepare in your eco kitchen. The organic food industry is large and well organized now and you can get a huge variety of organic food products. Make all kinds of interesting recipes with the ingredients you purchase to inspire people to cook in vegetarian and organic ways themselves.

Appliances and Power Usage

In order to cool ecologically sound food in your kitchen, you need various kitchen appliances. The way to make these appliances more eco-friendly is to get appliances that are energy efficient. The design of common kitchen appliances has evolved over time, and new appliances often use much less energy than old ones, thus helping to preserve the earth’s energy resources. Investigate high efficiency ovens, stoves, toasters, and so on and compare their energy consumption data with existing ones that you own. You may be surprised by how much more efficient they are. You can even use low voltage, energy conserving lighting in your eco kitchen.

You will have fun designing your eco kitchen as well as learn a lot in the process. The kitchen is a high usage area where you will find many opportunities to promote a greener earth. This is a local step that can have global implications.

Isaac writes on behalf of Cliq Studios a home improvements business who design, manufacture and sell quality kitchen cabinets which come with a lifetime warranty. Use the Cliq Studios website to visualise your new kitchen, request free kitchen samples or to simply browse the kitchen design blog for inspiration. Whatever your requirement – trust Cliq Studios’ Kitchen Cabinets to exceed expectations.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

As we continue through “Renew your Home” month on Stagetecture, I’m always looking for ways for homeowners to not only reinvent themselves, their homes, and their practices, but the Earth’s resources. Today, I ran across Greenopolis – an online community, and in the street community that has reached millions through recycling, and rewarding those who do through local partners in your community.

See this You Tube Video about who they are:

Greenopolis:

We are about doing good.

Specifically, our goal is to provide you with information and tools to:

• Help you to recycle easily
• Help to save our natural resources for our children’s children
• Track conservation through recycling and re-use
• Educate and reward conservation

Through both our On-Line site of Greenopolis and our physical, On-Street presence of Greenopolis Recycling Kiosks, we allow our customers to do actual, “trackable” good for the planet. We also try to make your everyday life better by offering rewards for helping the world and changing the way we handle natural resource and recyclables.

Our overriding desire is to actually make the world a better place rather than just pointing out problems. To that end, you’ll find a new tone to the content you find on Greenopolis. Whether it’s a blog post, video, infographic, podcast, tweet or email message, our content will be:

• Positive – We don’t want to fall into the trap of always trashing others and offering no real solutions. We embrace individuals, organizations and businesses who are working to make a difference in the world. We offer positive solutions, opinions and documentation to help change the world in a real and meaningful way.

• Focused on Recycling, Reusing, Repurposing, Waste-to-Resource or Conservation – We can’t be all things to all audiences, so we must tighten our focus onto what we do best, and onto what works best with our online/offline/real-time capabilities. We also recognize the world is changing – and that means the green customer is changing – and we promise to serve the needs of you, our audience.

• Fun to read – Rather than being earnest and negative, we strive to make our content entertaining. This doesn’t mean all of our content is humorous, but rather that it’s something you enjoy reading or watching. For instance, our recent story of converting SUVs into baby incubators was a serious story about a very serious subject, but the tone of the writing and inclusion of an uplifting video created an enjoyable experience.

• Visually interesting – Our stories are paired with beautiful pictures, arresting videos and presented in an attractive and easy-to-use format. We believe the visual cues and information for all content is as important as the words on the page.

• Provide links to more information – If, as we state above, that we can’t be all things to all people, then we owe you an easy way to find out more. That’s why we offer links to content on other sites that will help you to understand the story more fully.

By always keeping you in mind and working to include these five components in every piece of content we create, we can ensure that a Greenopolis story always feels like a “Greenopolis Story.” We believe this is the only way we can protect the trust you place in us and to earn your business everyday.

Find a Greenopolis Kiosk in your Area:

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

As we get March underway and we continue the theme of “Home Renewal” I think it’s important to focus on your exterior home. While the interiors are where you spend your most time, the exterior of your home is where the harsh winter has taken a beating, and spending time beautifying it will be key to you enjoying your outdoor home this Spring.

Today I have the pleasure of bringing you the Landscaping Design pair of  Lindeman/Stevens. They offer a vision of an “American” Garden combined with a unique “afterC.A.R.E.” program to help keep your landscaping looking and thriving for years into the future. See how they approach landscaping design for their clients, as well as give you helpful tips and inspiration for your outdoor home.

STAGETECTURE:

1.) How long has Lindeman/Stevens been in service, and what is your focus for helping home owners beautify their outdoor environment?

LINDEMAN/STEVENS:

We officially joined forces in Spring 2010 after working together off and on for the past

10 years. We each have extensive histories in the business. Dennis (Stevens) has been doing landscape design for 20+ years, and Karla (Lindeman) has been in the field for 10+ years.

Beautifying the outdoor environment is really quite simple.  We could take a house on a street and for a reasonable amount of money completely change the ambiance in 4 hours through colors, containers, and providing added character through unconventional manipulation of existing elements.  For example, if there are shutters on the outside, they could be painted a fresh color; OR you could add shutters, perfectly installed, but then cock one a little so it’s not quite perfect. One of the aspects we all find interesting about older, character-heavy homes (often on East coast or abroad) are the slight imperfections.  Another idea is to add one really great pot and change the plant’s annual color in it. Or add more pots.  And if you are active for the holidays, change out your plants thematically.

Put the detail into your plant material, because (and this is one reason we LOVE trees) you really only need to trim trees every five years, so there is not much change there.

Now, for a little more investment, we first interview a client and see what excites them, which is so personal and subjective. Our goal is to help bring “character” to the outside, bringing attention to what is strong and leaving alone what may be a weaker element.

If you have a good amount of money and time, we suggest removing elements that aren’t working, rethink your space, keep great things, feed them, thin out, and add additional plant material to make it all more interesting.

Finally, we recommend getting an aftercare plan in place; it makes all the difference in the world.  With regular small investment in upkeep, you will save a lot of money in replacements down the road. We actually have a program called “afterC.A.R.E.” and you can learn more about it at Lindeman/Stevens.

STAGETECTURE:

2.) Many home owners are turning to zen gardens and meditation spaces for their outdoor environment. Do you all see this trend, and what amenities would you suggest for Stagetecture readers to achieve this at their own home?

LINDEMAN/STEVENS:

Instead of calling it a ‘trend’, we believe instead that people are going to be creating spaces outside their home that change based on need.  For instance, a space may actually be two separate patios separated by panels on a daily basis but can be opened up to create one large continuous space for a cocktail party.  This idea came from being around Japanese gardens and how their homes open and close and become larger/smaller.

If you want to think along the lines of your question, we are firm believers in walkways and little areas to sit down where you feel good, want to read a book, just sit, think or talk.  Creating that space—your haven—is better for your health than any other investment!

Another idea, often tied to these haven-like areas, is creating art in the garden, which is simple, and does not have to be expensive. For example, buy a big chunk of wood and place it in the ground at an angle and plant a vine that grows up it and then the majority of foliage is near the top and near the ground stem.  This way you are controlling the art formed by the landscaping and wood.  Or if you can afford to crane in a big rock, and plant a variety of unusual junipers around or through it…that’s another idea. Nature likes to be manipulated in beautiful ways like this!These little spaces can become your favorite part in the yard, so develop it — with stones, or even add a great chaise lounge (or 2).

STAGETECTURE:

3.) Stagetecture readers love to employ “do it yourself” measures in their homes. What landscaping suggestions do you have for them, and which projects would you suggest they leave to the professionals?

LINDEMAN/STEVENS:

This really depends on the budget of the person. There are so many options out there right now, but you sometimes need someone to help point you in right direction. Even on a small budget, we recommend that you meet with a landscape designer to get direction. We interview the client and find out how well educated you are in the garden – have you taken any classes? How much gardening have you done? Do you read books?  If you’ve gone to seminars, for instance, there are a vast number of things you can do on your own. Everyone has a wish list, so create it first!  You can do things yourself but stay with a wish list that is simple.  Don’t start working with things that need cranes, landscape gullies, etc.  Work with things that can be built up and added to.  Keep in mind that a lot of professionals ARE willing to work on a decoration” consultation fee vs. the design fee.  Sometimes they’ll even listen to your idea during consultation, and develop a sketch so that you know what you are aiming for.

But one big key for designing: You DO need a great imagination, and that’s often where great designers also come into play and provide great value.

STAGETECTURE:

4.) With the onset of green home initiatives, what practices does Lindeman/Stevens employ throughout their projects? Do you teach home owners to care for their landscaping after you are gone?

LINDEMAN/STEVENS:

Our traditional vision in America of the perfect landscape is what we copied from European architecture, which often includes symmetry and lushness.  I’ve done a lot of projects that have such a classic tenor, but I really want now—as often as possible–to provide confidence in creating what I call an “American” garden which uses what makes sense for where we live, creates a haven uniquely our own, and also cleans the air as one important benefit.

Additionally, the financial and time savings are really timely benefits to choosing an “American” garden. Using appropriate and beautiful regional plants results in longevity of survival and simplicity of maintenance.  Right now, we’re really excited about dwarf trees, groundcover, artificial turf and artificial putting turf, as well as hedging to create privacy and interest in the house as an architectural element.  Where you would build a wall, maybe plant a hedge instead.  These are certainly sustainable concepts, for the environment and for people’s personal finances. And the look is sophisticated and cohesive.

We are so excited about this idea that we’ll even lay out the plans for free if the client will let me implement it. There was a sort of tract home Dennis did a while back (in the desert), taking it from ‘blah’ to really interesting using this idea. He bought 10 small date palms to make a mini grove, reminding him of the orange groves he grew up with. He and the client spread them evenly in the backyard, then added a groundcover, and then walkways to a center terrace where the owners dined, another one where could sun, and another where they could BBQ.  The walkway was the lawn, and the larger groundcover was the dirt.  It looked amazing.

STAGETECTURE:

5.) What new trends for outdoor living do you see for this Spring and Summer 2011?

LINDEMAN/STEVENS:

In California, where we are based, it’s going to be a really good season to plant a cutting garden—especially roses–because of the rains we’ve had…the ground is swollen with water.  Natural vegetation is cleaned off.  Annual colors can be cut and brought in the house regularly!

As a whole, for the U.S., we’ll slightly contradict what we said above and say that yes, we think people will (or should!) create meditation or just ‘quiet, special’ places in their outside areas.  We all need our haven. Just even get your lounge chair, put it a little away from everyone else, and get sun on your face and think and rest up.

Lindeman/Stevens provides unequalled personal attention to homeowners, Architects, Interior Designers and Contractors. And their unique “afterC.A.R.E.” program helps maintain the designs for years to come. Lindeman/Stevens is a member of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America, and involved with the Los Angeles Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and Los Angeles Art Association. Twitter: @LindemanStevens

For more Landscaping ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Best of 2010 – #4

“How do I Save Energy? It’s so Hot this Summer”

We continue with the Best of 2010 on Stagetecture. From December 27 – December 31st I am counting down the top 5 blog posts on Stagetecture. These are based on the posts that received the most views from you, my readers.

In the heat of the summer, the number one item on everyone’s mind is saving energy! This post came in #4 this year, when the entire world was trying to cool off from the heat AND save energy at the same time. Whether it is summer or winter, these same energy efficiency ideas can be helpful!

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Original Entry #211, July 13, 2010

With record breaking heat in some areas of the United States, and just being darn hot everywhere – how can you even think about saving energy in your home? Low Impact Living has 8 Easy Ways to Save Energy and Money this Summer.

1.  Keep your home at an eco-conscious temperature.  78 degrees is plenty cool in the house.  Turn down the AC and get a programmable thermostat so you’re only cooling the house when you really need to.

2. Work with the sun to keep your house cool.  Close all shutters and blinds during the day to keep the sun out– then open windows at night to cool the house and feel the breeze (if you have any!).

3.  Let the air dry your dishes and clothes. The dryer and dish washer use a lot of energy– and the air does the drying job just as well.  Plus your clothes will last longer.  See some great clothes-drying racks here.

4.  Take shorter showers and do not take baths.  Hot water heating is one of the major uses of energy in any home.  Showers are the way to go– and keep ’em short. Baths use much more water and heat than do baths (unless you’re taking 30 minute showers!).

You can also look into solar hot water.

5. Ditch the beer fridge. It’s amazing how many homes have two refrigerators.  Please do not use more than one fridge.  And if you have an old model, get a newer Energy Star model.

6.  Use ceiling fans rather than A/C.  They are much more energy/-efficient and you can get very reasonably priced Energy Star models.

7.  Get solar screens for your windows. These screens cut 75% of the heat coming through your windows, but don’t impact your visibility. They are really great energy savers.  See solar screens here.

8.  Spend one night each week in candlelight. It’s romantic, fun and inspires new conversation. If you’ve got kids, how about turning off the TV one night and playing a board game by candlelight? Clue would be particularly spooky!

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

I’m always intrigued  by other successful, career mom’s who blog and have a full time business. While I do it myself everyday, to see it in someone else is inspiring that this thing we call ‘passion’ is all worth it!

Today I welcome Jennae Petersen from Green Your Decor – a ‘Guide to Stylish, Sustainable Decorating’. I interviewed Jennae and asked her how Green Your Decor started and how she juggles it all!

STAGETECTURE: What need did you want to fill by starting your blog/design service?

GREEN YOUR DECOR:

Green Your Decor is the manifestation of my love for decorating and my curiosity about green living. This will sound like a cliche, but the idea came to me in a dream. At the time, I was also more than a little obsessed with decorating (I blame it on hours of watching HGTV), and I also was curious about sustainability, but didn’t know a whole lot about it. I started investigating, and the more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. It was only natural for me to combine my two passions.

I also started looking for greener products for my own projects. They weren’t easy to find, and I figured there must be other people who had the same problem. My goal with the site is to prove that green design doesn’t have to be boring, or frumpy, or even expensive. With a little creativity and a lot of consciousness, we can make our homes — and by extension, our lives — more sustainable. Rather than telling my readers what to do, I show my them what I’m doing — which makes it easier for them to believe they can do the same.

STAGETECTURE: You’re also a graphic designer – How do you manage the two together?

GREEN YOUR DECOR:

Graphic design is my bread and butter, and it absolutely made the startup and maintenance parts of running the website a lot easier

for me. But managing two blogs (I also run a second site, Green & Gorgeous) is pretty much a full time job, so it’s never easy to split time between the two. It helps that I’m just as passionate about graphic design as I am about writing. Design projects rarely feel like “work” for me. I also tend to get very focused when I’m doing design, so I’ll sit for hours and knock out a project with no distractions.

It’s harder to maintain this kind of focus with the blog, particularly because social media is such a huge part of my online presence. It can be tempting to hop on Twitter and Facebook. I sometimes write blog posts in batches so I can schedule publishing a few days out, thereby freeing up my time during the week to work on graphic design projects.  I also had to let go a little and realize that I’m not superwoman. When I started the blog 2 years ago, I pushed myself to post every day, and sometimes 2-3 times a day, even on weekends. I wanted to build my archives and get people coming to the site, but I also had a WHOLE lot to say. However, that kind of posting schedule burned me out eventually. First, I quit posting on the weekends, preferring to spend that time with my family. Later, I decided that none would die if I didn’t post every single weekday. Now that I don’t force myself, it’s also a lot easier to get motivated to write, and that leads to better quality posts.

STAGETECTURE: What are your suggestions for Stagetecture readers that want to make their home and lifestyle more eco-friendly/green?

GREEN YOUR DECOR:

There are many different levels of green. However, I would venture to say that the greenest person is the one who spends nothing at all, but finds a way to repurpose and reuse what he or she already has. This includes everything from furniture to clothing and everything in between. Looking at old items in a new way and reducing our consumption is the first step to having a greener lifestyle. Once we realize that over consumption is at the root of many of the problems related to sustainability, it creates a shift in perspective that’s hard to turn back from.

I would also recommend that when buying goods for consumption (like food, soap, cleaning products, etc.) and new products (like textiles and toys), support companies that take sustainability seriously and who build that into their products. Learn what is in those products, where they came from and how they were made.

STAGETECTURE: Like you, I’m a mom, blogger, and career woman. What suggestions do you have for those who are trying to juggle so many balls?

GREEN YOUR DECOR:

Whew! I need some advice on that myself Seriously though, it’s all about balance. I know that’s what everyone says, but it’s the truth. Only you can decide the order of importance for the things you have to tackle on a daily basis. For me, my family is my priority. Of course, working puts food on the table and a roof over our heads, so I often have to make myself stop working to get in some quality time. Working for yourself and working from homes makes it really easy to let work and home life run together, particularly when you’re passionate about what you do. You just have to set boundaries that work for you. I now refuse to work on the weekends unless it’s a dire (read: life-threatening, or close) emergency. I try to get as much work as possible done while my daughter is in school so we can spend time together afterward. This doesn’t always work, but it’s a goal I always strive toward. It’ll take time to find a routine that works, but set small goals for managing your time and congratulate yourself every time you achieve one.

STAGETECTURE: What are some of your favorite items that Green Your Decor features?

GREEN YOUR DECOR:

There are SO many favorites! In general though, I LOVE products that are made by independent artisans. I spend a lot of time at Etsy.com looking at furniture, soft furnishings like pillows and textiles, and home accessories. I love products that have a story, such as products made from reclaimed wood or upcycled materials, particularly when those materials come from every day items that most of us don’t have the ingenuity to reuse. I’m always on the lookout for new, innovative products and projects that I think my readers will love too. I’ve honed my eye for design over time, so I have a bit of a knack for finding quality pieces that will stand out in any home.

Jennae Petersen is a green living expert, though she’s far from perfect. She is a mother, a graphic artist, a connoisseur of beautiful interiors and a purveyor of all things design. She believes it is her duty to strive toward sustainable living. This means being more conscious about every aspect of life. She is the founder and author of the Green Your Decor and Green & Gorgeous blogs. She also runs Hibiscus Creative, a successful, full-service graphic design firm specializing in branding and Thesis theme customizations, and is the Art Director of and Designer of organic t-shirt company Guillotine Co.

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.