At the turn of the century, Upton Sinclair helped our raise national awareness about the toxic nature of unregulated industry with his novel The Jungle. Today, people have recognized another toxic by-product of civilizations. The healing process, known as the green movement, has begun.

However, the green movement requires more than just governmental regulations and industrial change. It also requires changes in every home in the world, and truly, in every person’s attitude toward environmental protection. If you want to add a little “green” to your home, read these forty tips toward creating a green home.

1. Weather proof your doors and windows
Every air leak in your home represents an increase energy usage. For example, when cool air leaks out during the summer or when warm air leaks out during the winter, your air conditioner or heating system runs harder and longer. The end result is a greater use of electrical or natural gas energy. While many industries are showing more concern for the environment, most electrical producers must still use coal-fired plants and most natural gas producers must drill and destroy ecosystems. The less energy you consume, the more green your home becomes.

2. Using energy-efficient lighting
Energy efficient lighting in the form of compact fluorescent bulbs can save your home some money and also make it much greener. Compact fluorescent bulbs use less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. (Incandescent bulbs are the round bulbs with a filament inside that have been used widely.) When you use less energy on your lighting, you reduce the amount that is required of electrical energy producers.

3. Turn your thermostat down
If your home is equipped with a programmable thermostat, then you are in luck. Program your thermostat to be at a green temperature, normally in the low 70s. Not only will you be more comfortable in a stable temperature, but also your heating or air conditioning unit will not work nearly as hard. That will save you repair and energy costs, and help the environment by eliminating all the “green” costs of repair and energy overuse. Turning down your thermostat just one degree will save you around 4% of your heating costs.

4. Giving air conditioners a tune-up
Air conditioning units, especially newer units, can be much more efficient if given a tune up every two years. Have a technician ensure that your air conditioner is running in tip-top condition, and your pocketbook and sense of environmental ethical responsibility will thank you. This is a great tip for those without the funds to buy a newer, more efficient air conditioning unit. The tune up will allow owners of older models to make environmentally conscious decisions without breaking the bank.

5. Installing low flow taps and showerheads
Do you know what the gallons per minute (GPM) measure of your faucets, showerheads and toilets are? Older homes are often fitted with very high flow rate water fixtures. Not only will the increase amount of water wastage cost you more money, but it does a number on the environment as well. Because more processing is required to meet water demand, companies must build new water treatment facilities. When companies have to build to meet demand generated by waste, the environment suffers.

6. Insulating the water heater
Insulating jackets for water heaters and pipes are not only cheap, but also effective. The idea is simple - cover your water heater and adjoining pipes in insulation, and less heat is lost to the surrounding air. The end result is that the water heater does not work as hard, does not use as much electricity or natural gas, and saves you money. In turn, the environment will thank you as companies stop building more plants to meet wasted demand.

7. Regulating the water heater
Is the water coming out of your taps scalding hot if you turn the heat on all the way? Did you know that your water heater could be regulated to the point that full heat at the tap becomes a comfortable temperature? Regulating your water heater is a lot like programming your air conditioner thermostat. The water heater will only heat water to a specified temperature, and then stop. It requires much less energy to heat a water heater to 120 degrees than 180, and the former is much safer for children and adults alike.

8. Installing a tankless water heater
The tankless water heater is a modern green marvel. The way it works is that water is pumped through a heating device that gets very hot, very quickly. That way, a tank of water does not have to be kept at a constant hot temperature all day long, but rather water is heated on demand (a tap or showerhead is opened). Tankless water heaters are also great for the home - they are tiny compared to tank varieties and can be easier to install.

9. Planting greenery
This one is a no-brainer. When you plant decorative shrubs and trees, you are essentially installing oxygen generation machines in your yard. They are beautiful, decorative and by definition, environmentally friendly.

10. Buying ENERGY STAR products
To achieve ENERGY STAR certification, appliances must meet very stringent specifications for energy use and wastage. Basically, ENERGY STAR devices are the greenest ones around because they have been designed with the certification in mind (and therefore the green movement too). Sure, they cost more money from the get-go, but in the long term these devices will reduce your energy expenditure and resulting costs.

11. Getting a blower door test
Blower doors are cool tools used by energy use specialists to help homeowners determine the amount of leakage in their homes. The contraption is set up in a door of your home while all other doors and windows are closed. Then, a calibrated fan blows a specified amount of air into the home and a pressure sensitive device records the effect. If air is leaking, then the pressure device will not register the normal amount of pressure. After this test, a technician can tell you how large your total leak, or the sum of the areas of all leaks, is. Bigger leaks lead to greater energy use and more negative environmental externalities.

12. Using Low-VOC products
Volatile organic compounds or VOCs are molecules that are toxic to humans and/or the environment. Many paints and cleaners use formulas that contain VOCs. Common substances containing VOCs are mineral spirits, paint thinner, oil and waterborne paints, and solvent based cleaners. What is important to note is that VOC formulated products are intended to let VOCs drift into the air. To make a long story short, releasing toxic fumes is not only unhealthy, but also unethical. The green movement has prompted many companies to prepare green or low-to-no VOC formulations of their products. Ask store clerks for these products when buying paints and cleaners.

13. Using proper insulation
Any way you can keep heat and cold in your home makes your home more efficient. Insulation is your way of wrapping up your whole house to keep the desired temperature inside. Homes with poorly installed (or absent!) insulation require more work from air conditioning units, which in turn uses more energy. By insulating your home correctly, you can save some money and environmental harm. Get in contact with a contractor to discuss insulation.

14. Composting
Such is the cycle of life: it is born, it grows, it dies, it is eaten, and it turns to dirt. Thankfully, humans have taken charge of this life process in the form of composting. The idea is simple - throw all your organic, non-toxic garbage into a big dirt pile and let a multitude of worms, insects and fungi feast on it. The leftover excrement and debris is nature’s most natural and potent fertilizer. It is literally packed with all the nutrients that the original banana peel left behind!

15. Use rainwater
While this idea may not sound pleasant, it can at least be practical. Put a big barrel underneath all the gutters attached to your home. When it rains, the gutters pour water into your barrels. Use this water to water your gardens or wash your outdoor furnishings. Do not use this water for drinking, however. It could contain unsafe levels of bacteria or roof debris.

16. Planting a garden

Do you know the plight of the commercially grown vegetable? It begins life as a seed, harvested through unnatural hybrid production. It is then planted in ground saturated with unnatural fertilizers, which will eventually run off into streams and rivers. As it grows, it is watered by aquifers which are unnaturally pumped dry. It is then harvested and transported with machines that generate waste carbon and pollution. I am guessing that being a vegan/vegetarian does not feel as soul-satisfying right now.

The natural alternative to the farming debauchery is to grow your own garden. Slap your own compost on your own dirt, and work it with the strength of your back. Albeit, if you grow beans you may be guilty of generating waste methane, but the amount will not be nearly as damaging as what is created by combines and trucks.

Worried about having “green” food for winter? Revive the old lost art of canning.

17. Buying energy efficient windows
The window is an intentional design flaw. It is a controllable hole in your home that will let all manner of heat and cold escape at the possibility that the air outside is comfortable enough to tolerate. If you must have windows in your home (proponents of fresh air and sunshine exist?), then install energy efficient windows. You will save money and use less energy.

18. Using recycled roof shingles
Have you ever lifted a bunch of shingles? If you have not, it is around eighty pounds. That will cover only a fraction of a small roof. Yes, you have hundreds of pounds of crap on your roof that is designed to protect you from all things falling. There are hundreds upon thousands of waste rubber tires floating in landfills that would make perfect trampolines to keep hail and the neighbor kid’s ball from damaging your rafters. Case in point, buy recycled.

19. Use your ceiling fan in the winter AND the summer
If you’re lucky enough to have a ceiling fan, did you know if you reverse it’s direction it will blow warmer air down into the room making your hose feel warmer.

20. Landscaping with drought-resistant plants
This is a tip to protect you from being counterintuitive. Planting a ton of environmentally friendly shrubs, trees and plants is a great leap forward in making your home green. Just make sure that your greenery does not create a bigger problem than you started with because it requires more water consumption. Using drought-resistant plants will be a surefire way to make sure your new green investment stays green.

21. Planting shade trees
Sure, newer air conditioners use less energy, and are more efficient, and blah, blah, blah! There is a much more low-tech solution to the problem. Plant a shade tree next to your home, and the resulting shade will naturally cool your house. Just make sure to plant it a safe distance - you do not want to have to replace your foundation when tree roots crack it or your roof when falling limbs destroy it.

22. Install recycled flooring
You walk all over your flooring. Why does your flooring have to be made of brand new materials? Consider using recycled flooring, that way when Fido uses the floor instead of the fire hydrant it will be an act of the green movement!

23. Using modern appliances
Newer is not always better, but when speaking green it is. Stone Age appliances use more electricity and resources because people back then did not have a clue that their actions were destroying the future Earth. Modern technology and philosophy have resulted in more efficient appliances that use less energy. Less energy usage is environmentally friendly.

24. Keeping air filters clean
For those who have never changed their air filter, the air filter in your air conditioner unit is just behind that grate that sucks in air. Its purpose is to remove particles from the air which will cause the unit to malfunction or cause your allergies to flare. Most filters get filled with dust and debris as months go by, and all filters require washing or replacement after a manufacturer specified time period. To reduce the environmental costs of air conditioner repair or allergy clinic visits, replace your air filter often with a quality filter!

25. Using aerators on taps
Most taps come with an aerator these days, but if a recent plumbing fiasco resulted in a lost or destroyed aerator, invest in one. They are cheap devices that add air to the water running from taps. This increases the volume of the running water, so it becomes more effective in rinsing and washing. The result is less water wasted in doing the dishes.

26. Banish dripping taps
A tap dripping at just one drop per second will waste 10 gallons over the course of a week.

27. Buying recycled paper products
Printer paper, newspapers, toilet paper, paper towels - each product uses a precious resource, trees. There is big potential for saving the planet by using only recycled paper products. Less logging means less expended energy and fewer fallen trees. The result is cleaner, more abundant oxygen rich air.

28. Reduce the consumption of plastics
Plastics are a unique material due to their construction. They are made from petroleum and therefore require all the environmentally unfriendly techniques associated with petroleum exploration, collection and refinement. In addition, petroleum-based plastics release toxic compounds when burned. This is a common problem when rubbish must be burned.

29. Turning off your computer
Yes, having your computer fired up and ready to surf when you wake up each morning is glorious. However, you can save a lot of energy by turning it off at night. If shutting down is too inconvenient for you, use the hibernate feature in Windows.

30. Using soft furnishings and curtains to retain heat
Soft cloth curtains and drapes retain heat. Therefore, before winter hits, hang your soft curtains to keep heat in the room. This is especially important for homes with poorly efficient windows.

31. Consider solar panel electrical sources
This tip requires a big investment, but the savings are huge. Solar panels are expensive, a few thousand pounds for an average home. But when your electricity bills are a fraction of their previous amount, you will be relishing the investment. Not to mention that solar energy is environmentally friendly to the extreme.

32. Using roof coatings to retain heat
Companies sell special roof coatings that are applied to the underside of your roof which can retain heat in the winter and repel heat in the summer. Once coated, your roof will be just as efficient as your double paned windows and ENERGY STAR compliant dishwasher.

33. Install magnifying solar lights
Magnified solar lights are like tiny skylights, but magnified so the incoming light will illuminate an entire room. Rather than using artificial light to illuminate interior rooms, have these installed and use solar energy without the expense of buying panels.

34. Having “green inspection” tests
Like the blower door test, green inspector companies can send technicians to evaluate your home’s efficiency. They can provide customized tips to save energy in your home.

35. Conserving water
Remember the Earth Day campaigns from the 90s? Having been a kid at that time, I remember that I am supposed to turn off the water when brushing my teeth. There are many ways to conserve water that are common sense. Follow them and enjoy a greener home.

36. Conserving electricity
Once again, common sense dictates that when an appliance is not being used, it should be turned off. This includes computers, video games, televisions - anything that uses electricity. Saving energy can be as easy as being responsible with your electronics. Remember, the energy you use may not be the direct culprit of environmental harm. Rather, the waste energy you consume prompts companies to build more plants to meet future demand. More plants make more waste.

37. Adjusting the refrigerator
If you can freeze POP-ICE in the fridge portion of your refrigerator/freezer, you need to adjust the temperature. By putting the temperature at a level that will provide food protection and less energy use, you can take a proactive green step for your home. It is normally as easy as turning a dial - look at the top of the inside of your fridge.

38. Line drying clothing
Another no-brainer is using wind power to dry your clothing rather than an electricity-guzzling dryer. Just keep in mind that especially humid days will make line drying difficult. Don’t worry - people have been line drying in their homes for decades.

39. Closing the fireplace damper
If you are noticing an especially large amount of air leakage from your home, but don’t know where the leak is, check the fireplace damper. Close it when not in use!

40. Using the smallest pan while cooking
An often-overlooked tip, larger pans require more energy to heat. If you use the smallest possible pan, you will use less range top time and therefore less total energy. Basically, if you are cooking Ramen noodle soup for one, don’t use your largest stockpot.

With the semi-bleak outlook of today’s economy, we are all becoming increasingly concerned with cutting costs and saving money. But, not only is it important to save cents…We are looking for ways to “save cents” that also “make sense.” What better way can we save money than by similarly cutting energy costs? If we can simply implement these easy energy and money saving strategies, we will all be expanding our wallets and resting our weary minds before we know it.

1- Good Quality Curtains

The strategy topping our energy-saving list is that of hanging good quality curtains. This may seem like a menial task; however, if it is done correctly, it will save energy and money by acting as an insulator, reducing heating and cooling costs.

For added energy-saving creds, get thermal or blackout lining sewn into your curtains or blinds and increase their insulating properties by up to 25%.

2- Thermostat

To further reduce expenditures, pay close attention to the setting on the thermostat–it should be set as low as is comfortable in both the winter and the summer. Dialling down just 1°C can save you £30 annually.

3- Switch off Switches and Appliances

Always switch of your plug sockets when you’re not using them. You can save tonnes of energy every year if you simply turn off your TV at the plug socket every night. Did you know that your DVD player consumes 85% of the power it uses, when it isn’t even in use? Not only this, but for things such as mobile phones and MP3 players, once they’ve finished charging you’re helping to preserve the life of the battery by unplugging it.

4-Stick Foil Behind Your Radiators

One of the easiest and most effective ways to save money and keep heat in is to stick some ordinary kitchen foil behind your radiators (shiny side facing the radiator). Sure, you can go out and buy expensive insulation to stuff behind there, but this is just as efffective at a fraction of the price.

5-Give your Tumble Dryer a Break

With summer looming, make use of the sunshine and dry your clothes outside. If you don’t have a garden or balcony, try installing a make-shift washing line in front of a window. Not only will you cut your energy bill, you’ll cut down on ironing time, which of course, is what really matters!

6- Set your Timer

With this summer expected to be one of the hottest to date (where have we heard that before?!), using your central heating should be done as rarely as possible. However, if you insist on using it, make sure to set your timer to switch off 30 minutes before you leave the house, and no more than 30 minutes before you’re due to get home. If your heating takes longer to kick in, you should seriously think about insulating your home better.

7- Plant Trees

Planting deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your home to keep it cool and shady in the summer and light-filled through the winter is probably one of the ‘greenest’ things you can do save energy.

8- Replace Lightbulbs

Consider replacing regular light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs or CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs). They last about 10-15 times longer than regular bulbs and save you around £9 a year if you change all the lights in your house. On average, you save about £100 over the bulb’s lifetime.

9-Insulate Drafts

Find and seal cracks, gaps, and leaks and add insulation to protect the home against air loss. This practice alone could potentially save 20% on heating and cooling costs. To locate possible leaks, use a lit incense stick and hold it next to an area with a potential outside air pathway (doors, windows, electrical boxes…). If the smoke flows horizontally, this indicates a leak that needs attention.

10-Regular Servicing

Finally, as a general rule of thumb, have heating and cooling systems serviced once a year to ensure optimum performance efficiency.

By completing these 10 simple tips, you can save yourself time, energy, and money. In today’s society, we need all three, and everything always makes more sense when we’re saving cents.

Embrace your inner Bill Gates with these curtains…

1) For the Internet Obsessed…

If the internet is like your second shadow, your Siamese twin, your Ying and your Yang.

And if you can’t live without your YouTube, Google or Flickr and the mere thought of going a day without logging onto your Facebook account gives you the absolute jitters…

…. then this one’s for you, you beautiful crazy geeky person, you.

Apparently, someone had 9 wooden window blinds designed for them with a range of those logos printed on them including one for Digg, Flickr, Google, Facebook and Firefox.

Now that’s dedication.

(img src: nets2go.co.uk)

2) This One Produces Electricity…

You definitely can’t blow your nose with this one (or rather, you can, but it might be the last time you do).

The brainchild of Sheila Kennedy, this (prototype) curtain has thin flexi solar panels built into it. The idea is that any energy the curtain derives from the sun is stored and funnelled through to other electrical equipment throughout the home.

Really good (and cool) idea.

However, on a health and safety tip: how safe would it be around children?

And on a style tip: Would a range of different textiles be available? Or would a choice have to be made by the consumer between style and being environmentally friendly?

(img src: inhabitat.com)

3) Aaaand This One’s ‘Wiimotely’ Controlled…

It’s highly debatable as to whether this gadget’s really needed …unless ones room is SO big, the curtains are a 100 miles away but…anyway…

The ‘Wiimote’ is a remote that opens and closes your curtains for you. Looking at the video, it does look like a lot of wrist action just to do that. Wouldn’t it take the same amount of energy (or slightly more) to just get up and do it manually?

Hmm.

4) This One’s Made Out of Computer Punch cards…

Yep, you heard. Someone fashioned a blind out of a humble needle and thread plus the piers de resistance itself… computer punch cards.

Looking at the photo, they don’t look like punch cards at all. It looks more like some sort of calligraphy or creative pattern.

What an amazing way to use waste considering much of that was probably initially destined for the dumpster.

(img src: flickr.com/photos/jeffreygarman)

5) And This One’s a Tree…(but not as you know it)…

Aaaah, nature. It’s so, erm, natural, isn’t it?

I mean, look at that tree outside - and the way the curtain brings out its sheer beauty. All it needs is a couple of birds and voila, Mother Nature at her best.

Except that…ahem…the tree is inside not outside. And, erm, it’s not a real tree actually, but rather a profile of a tree …intricately printed on fabric…using ASCII characters.

Cool or what?!

Eat your heart out, Ikea.

(img src: nsybrandy.nl)

6) Don’t Walk Past This One if You’re, Erm, a Magnet…

The designer of this magnetic curtain, Florian Krautli, who is now my bestest friend in the whole world (but doesn’t know it), created it by incorporating itty bitty magnets to the fabric so that it could be bent/shaped any which way the user chooses.

Where do these designers get their ideas from? Did the Tooth Fairy give them more than a gold coin when they were little?

Not only is this design idea overly-fab, it’s such a simple idea in a “why-didn’t-I-think-of-that” way that it’s a tad frustrating (in a good way, of course).

(img src: nets2go.co.uk)

7) A Shower Curtain that Could Teach You a Thing or Two…

I personally prefer to sing my little tonsils out in the shower, but these shower curtains are pretty cool though. With lots of useful information printed on them, you can kick your sleepy brain into gear in the morning while lathering up in the bathroom.

A range of ‘educational’ shower curtains are available for your grey matter’s absorbing delight including Maths, French and Spanish Vocabulary, Geography and The Periodic Table.

Bathroom showers will never be the same (unless you don’t buy this particular shower curtain, that is. Ahem.)

(img src: nets2go.co.uk)

8) Plastic, Liquid-Crystal Curtain, Anyone?

If a curtain can be fashioned from magnets and computer punch-cards, then why not from plastic and liquid crystal?

This curtain consists of 2 pieces of plastic that switch from clear to opaque when the user presses a button. It’s made possible through the liquid-crystal that’s positioned between both pieces. As energy passes through it, it imbues an interesting dream-like impression onto the plastic.

(img src: nets2go.co.uk/)

Using interlined or thermally lined curtains or Roman blinds is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to insulate your home. They cut your energy bills significantly, even during the long, cold winter months. They also reduce your electric bills in the summer by keeping out excessive heat. In addition, they keep out more light, as well as noise, than conventional window coverings with their extra “wadding”. Finally, they do all this, yet still look elegant on your windows.

The interlining is usually an extra padding that lies between the facing material and the inner lining. Thermal lining uses a special thermal layer specifically designed to restrict the flow of cold air into the room through the window, in the winter, and out the window, during the summer.

Roman blinds, by design, create a modern, elegant look to your house or apartment. Curtains create a classic look that brings dignity to your living space. When they are thermally lined, functionality and elegance come together to create a comfortably warm yet sophisticated interior environment. You can proudly entertain even the finickiest guests on the coldest evenings.

As with regular curtains and Roman blinds, you can request any type of fabric for the facing material of your custom sewn thermally lined curtains and Roman blinds. And when made and cared for properly, they can last from ten to twenty years, thus further paying for themselves in addition to reducing your energy bills.

You can buy factory made interlined or thermally lined curtains and Roman blinds for less, while still being assured of the highest quality lined items on the market. However, custom designed Roman blinds assure that any window, regardless of proportion, will be precisely covered, corner to corner, with no embarassing gaps between the window frames and the blinds, or sloppy overlap because they are too wide for a particular window.

Additionally, a professional window attachments company will be aware that if you wish to have both the thermally lined curtains as well as the thermally lined Roman blinds, the latter cannot simply be hung on a rod over the window. Their professionals will know that if the curtain rod is placed above the Roman blinds rod over the window, it will not provide the necessary space between the two that would otherwise further help to trap cold air. And, of course, it will look extremely sloppy, which is not what you want for your interior environment.

Thermal lining for curtains and Roman blinds usually runs anywhere from 60 centimeters to 140 centimeters, but again, you can request whatever thickness suits your particular needs. So if you have windows facing north or northeast, you will probably want the curtains and Roman blinds that will be placed over them to be somewhat thicker than those facing south or southwest. In addition, if you have windows that are not on the first or second floor, but rather on a third, fourth, or higher floor, then again, you will want a thicker lining.

And despite the extra lining, Roman blinds can also still be designed with either narrow or wider pleats, depending on your taste. So, if you prefer wider pleats for the dining or living rooms, and narrower pleats for the bathrooms or kitchen, they work equally as well. You do not have to sacrifice warmth for beauty.

It is impressive that interlined or thermally lined curtains and Roman blinds can be so practical and cost effective, while at the same time be so sophisticated and unique. Speak with your window attachments professional to see what exciting creations they can design for you.