Greentain
Ten Ways to Maintain Your Way to a Greener Home

Whether you’re a builder, remodeler, new or existing homeowner, or a first time homebuyer trying to understand how to be a little greener, Greentain™ can help. What is Greentain? Greentain is finding ways to incorporate products, features and lifestyle habits that are more resource and energy efficient, thereby creating a healthier, more efficient and durable home. In case you’re wondering, yes we did make up the word, but it works!
Listed below are ten Greentain ideas to upgrade and maintain the home. The items listed start small and simple and end with larger scale projects.

  1. Keep vents clean and free of clutter or obstructions to help optimize efficiency. This applies to HVAC air supply and return vents, dryer vent inside and outside of the home, and the vent under the refrigerator. ($) FREE
  2. Install a programmable thermostat…and USE IT!  The programmable features of the thermostat will only save money if it’s programmed.  Don’t forget to set it to vacation mode when away from home for an extended period of time. ($)
  3. When upgrading lighting, look for ENERGY STAR™ light fixtures and use compact fluorescent or LED bulbs.  This is also a good time to seal air leaks above the fixtures by caulking or installing UL-rated covers to seal the light boxes. If you tried CFL”s a few years ago with mixed results, try again. CFL technology has advanced quickly. ($ – $$)
  4. When updating bathroom or kitchen fixtures, look for low-flow options.  Shower heads that are 5 years or older can use 5 – 10 gallons or more a minute, whereas newer fixtures are available that use less than 3 gallons per minute (gpm).  A typical ten minute shower with an older fixture uses 50 – 100 gallons of water, whereas the low-flow fixture would use only 30 gallons. This could pay for itself in less than a year.  Also look for low-flow aerators for the faucets. They are inexpensive and easy to install. ($ – $$)
  5. When freshening-up a room with a new paint color, use low or no-VOC paints.  Most paint manufacturers feature at least one line of low or no-VOC paints. VOC’s are volatile organic chemicals that off-gas and contribute to poor indoor air quality. ($ – $$)
  6. Install ceiling fans.  The moving air from the fan makes occupants feel cooler, allowing the thermostat to be set a little higher.  Installing a fan is a beautiful decorative accent as well. ($$)
  7. Install a sun tube to brighten up a dark area without using electricity.  Bathrooms, closets, and dark hallways are great places to install a sun tube. They’re easily installed and bring the natural beauty of sunlight to a dark area. ($$$)
  8. Window treatments don’t just look good, but they can also help control light and heat – protecting your furnishings and helping reduce your utility bills. When updating window treatments, look for insulated options.  Also, keep curtains or blinds open during the day in the winter to get the benefit of the sun and then close them at night to insulate against cool air.  In the summer, close curtains during the day to prevent heat and solar gain. Blinds and curtains that diffuse or direct the light are especially helpful on east and west windows to help control glare. ($ – $$$)
  9. When replacing carpet, look for the Carpet and Rug Institutes, Green Label Plus certification, which ensures low-VOC carpet materials and adhesives.  Additionally, when replacing the carpet, caulk (using a low-VOC caulk) along the floor where the wall meets the floor.  This will reduce air leakage and help with energy efficiency. ($$$)
  10. When updating a kitchen or replacing appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR and WaterSense labels.  Using appliances that are designed to be more efficient, results in big savings over the lifetime of the appliance.  ($$$)

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