Reduce your carbon footprint. Here is One Green Thing for each room of your house.
by Brenna Hartmann, the Fixie Chick
Attic: Insulate with cotton.
Cotton insulation is made from 100% recycled material and natural fibers. Most is made from Denim manufacturing trimmings that are usually dumped in landfills. No Formaldehyde or other chemical irritants are required for manufacturing.
Bedroom: Use natural fiber bedding and pillows.
Look for PBDE-free bedding choices like mattresses wrapped in wool, which is naturally fire-retardant. To support the environment as well as your health, go with organic cotton that has been cultivated without polluting pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Check labels to make sure that bedding is also produced without bleaching or stain- or water-resistant “finishing” (a process that uses offgassing chemicals such as formaldehyde). Undyed linens are free of the heavy metals found in conventional fabric dyes.
Bathroom: Low-Flow fixtures
By replacing the hardware on your shower with a low-flow showerhead, you can save over 20,000 gallons of water a year.
Kitchen: Eco friendly cookware
Non-stick, coated pans heated above 680 degrees release toxic fumes such as the animal carcinogen tetrafluoroethylene. Beyond this, the manufacturing process of Teflon and other nonstick coatings releases perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which, according to an EPA advisory panel, is a likely human carcinogen. Stainless steel, cast iron and enameled alternatives are widely available, more durable and usually preferred by chefs.
Laundry Room: Alternative Energy
With natural resources diminishing and fuel prices sky-rocketing, what is better for your wallet and our environment than free clothes drying by mother nature? A collapsible wooden clothes-drying rack will save you money and gas or electricity.
Living Room: Use Odor-less, solvent-free, organic paints
Conventional gloss paints and emulsion paints contain solvents which can cause irritation and serious health problems and are difficult to dispose of. Switch to Eco-friendly paint for all of your home projects. It’s better for the earth and it’s better for you.
Playroom: Choose Environmental Floor Coverings
The Impacts of a carpet roll’s lifecycle include chemical emissions from manufacturing, depletion of natural resources like petroleum, transportation, indoor air quality, and disposal costs at landfills and recycling operations. Carpet tiles reduce these impacts and contribute to positive indoor air quality too.
Home Office: Power Down
Use a power strip for all of your office electronics. Turn the power strip off when not in use.
Lawn & Garden: Chemical Free
Use easy to find non-toxic, organic, recycled fertilizers and pesticides.
Whole House:
Use bag-free vacuum cleaners, use home-made cleaning supplies (see recipe) and change your furnace filter each month.
Home-brewed disinfectant:
Borax has long been recognized for its disinfectant and deodorizing properties. Mix a half-cup of borax with 1 gallon hot water. Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme, rosemary or lavender. Steep for 10 minutes, strain and cool. Recycle a plastic spray bottle to store.
