Appliances
When it comes to appliances you should always look for ones that are the most energy efficient, reasonably priced and rank high on performance. Of course, you want one that looks good too! Nowadays that isn't a problem. With tons of new models and different designs you will be sure to find one that suits your home.
According to Consumer Reports the top green appliances to shop for are washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators. If you are looking for a new component to add to your laundry room than front loaders ranked the highest in both efficiency and performance. For years they have been the best choice and are known to save up to $100 a year on your energy cost. They are also getting cheaper. Just know that they can do a lot of shaking so it might be best for it to be in the basement or on first floor. There will obviously be more bending involved but that never hurt anyone. Their smart pick was the GE WCVH6800(WW) priced at $750. To check out other great picks visit these websites: Consumer Search, Green Guide and Green Home.
What are the best solutions for getting those dishes clean? Nowadays, dishwashers are being made much better and more energy efficient. Some even use less than washing by hand! The only thing with this appliance is most of the highest ranked machines cost more money. You can definitely find one that is not too costly but it will probably use more water for each load. They recommend the Bosch Evolution 500 Series and the Kenmore Elite Ultra Wash HE both ranging between $800 - $850. For more choices and information you can check out these sites: Planet Green, Greener Choices and Inhabitat.
As far as refrigerators go your best option is to get one with a top or bottom freezer that doesn't include an ice or water dispenser. Although, the side by side styles are getting better, as of now they are not good enough so stick with the classic style. The only downside of choosing these green machines is they won't be big and fancy. I think that is something a lot of us can handle considering the greener it is the more money we save and the planet will be happier. Smart Picks are LG LTC22350 and Whirlpool Gold G9RXXFMW both in the $850 range. For more info go to: Greener Choices, Tree Hugger and Planet Green.
The Bathroom
Not only should the bathroom be one of the cleanest rooms in the house but it should be one of the greenest as well. Think of how many times you flush the toilet and wash your hands. Not to mention, taking a shower. Thats a lot of water! Today toilets have come a long way. Most of them only use about 1.6 gallons per flush which is a 2 gallon difference from 2005. Here are the best picks: Kohler Cimarron K-3609 and American Standard FloWise Cadet. They range from $300 to $445. Remember you can save around 650 gallons of water per year buying a green low flow model. Visit these sites for more info: Mother Earth News, Fox News and Green Living.
Shower heads are another great green product to buy for your bathroom. There are a good amount of choices out there that use enough water to give you a good flow but are still energy efficient. The ones with the best performance use 2.5 gallons per minute but there are others that use less and cost the same. I highly suggest you do your research before making your purchase. Here are the best picks: American Standard FloWise Dual Function Water Saving model which runs at about $50. It could save you up to 7,300 gallons of water per year!
Other ways to make your home eco-friendly are to substitute the things you use the most with greener options. If cooking is something you do a lot of than invest in some new cookware. Preferably ones that don't have PFOA, a chemical that is used in nonstick pans. If this sounds good to you than you might want to try Earth Pan and Starfrit. Another good choice is to use stainless steel. Read Planet Green for more information. Flooring is another important factor considering its used all over the house. The best choices are bamboo, cork and linoleum. They are all made from renewable recourses and last a pretty long time. Although, some may be pricey it pays off in the end. Look into these best buys: Eco Timber Woven Honey, Armstrong Locking Hardwood Bamboo Carbonized Natural, Montado Cork RK49001 Jisbula Cinnamon, Armstrong Marmorette Oak Brown.
Some easy fixes for everyone are lighting and paint. Even renters can benefit from this green option. Change up your regular bulbs for CFL's. They last 12 times longer and use 75% less energy! EcoSmart and Philips have some great products you should check out. Thinking about giving your home a makeover? Using low-VOC paints are the best way to go. Especially, if you have children and pets. They may be a little more expensive but you and your family's health is worth it. Plus, who likes the smell of paint? Can someone say headache! From my reading I found that Benjamin Moore Natura is a good buy. It doesn't have any VOC's and there are more than 3,400 colors to choose from. You will need to use a primer beforehand though. Fifty a gallon may sound pricey but I suggest you give it a try. You can also check out Green Planet Paints and Milk Paint.
Another thing to look out for when buying green products are labels. They might confuse you considering there are a lot out there. Who do you trust? Well, here is a quick look at some you might find familiar.
Greenguard - An independent group that does all testing themselves to make sure paint does not cross high amounts of VOC's.
Green Seal - They limit the amount of VOC's in flat paint to 50 grams per liter which is a strict standard. Also an independent company they limit non flat paint to 100 grams. You will have a hard time finding products with this seal in stores though.
Green Sure - By limiting VOC's in paints to 50 grams per liter and prohibiting other hazardous chemicals this group is moving in the right direction. However, they are a Sherman-Williams group and only test their own products.
Green Promise - This group is also company owned and only applies to its own products. Benjamin Moore runs this one folks. I like this one because they prohibit both VOC's in the paint and the compounds used.
I hope you can take this information and use it to make better choices for your home. Remember to always read up and do your research!
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