Have you heard stories about your ultra-conscientious neighbors trading their old energy-devouring water heaters and HVAC units for the new energy-efficient models, putting up solar panels and installing the dual flush toilets? Suddenly your effort to cycle out incandescent light bulbs starts to feel trivial and you wonder, if you are more confined by budget than your earth-friendly neighbors, is going green worth it? The trick is figuring out what works for you and your lifestyle, according to Mark Lewison, academic director of the Interior Design Department at The Art Institute of California, Hollywood. "Find an improvement that makes sense for your bottom line and then look for green options in that area of improvement." Adding insulation, opting for paints free of volatile organic compounds, and simply unplugging electronics and appliances when you're not using them are all easy, cost-effective ways to conserve energy and improve your environment.
Go Lean and Green with Kitchen, Bath Renovations
When it comes to adding value and enjoyment to your home, kitchen and bath remodels still remain tops! (According to remodeling and real estate experts are telling us.) But how people remodel is definitely changing. High-end renovations, costing $10’s of $1000’s, are dwindling, replaced by upgrades that provide homeowners with the most return for the least investment. Installing a skylight is a cost-effective, energy-efficient upgrade that’s becoming increasingly popular for bathrooms and kitchens. Kitchens and baths are logical candidates for natural lighting and passive ventilation upgrades. Along with laundry rooms, they tend to have higher moisture and humidity levels than other rooms in the home, making them among the most popular locations for venting skylights. Another kitchen- and bath-specific issue skylights help address is the need for privacy. Skylights admit light from above, but prevent anyone on the outside seeing into rooms where you want privacy.
I spent some time Google-ing sustainable energies, passive solar options and the result I came up with, is, YES! Going green *IS* worth it!
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