Save Some Green with Energy Star Appliances

I received my power bill last week and it was through the roof! Why? Because of my energy hogging appliances. After casually talking to my mama about school, this and that and my bills, she told me that she had Energy Star appliances that have reduced her power bills/water bills. So, I researched Energy Star and thought I'd talk about appliances that not only have gone green, but also save you some green.

Energy Star is program that involves the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This program allows anyone to save some green and attribute to an eco-friendly environment through "energy-efficient products and practices."

According to the Energy Star Web site:

"Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2006 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars — all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills."

Sounds great, right? Energy Star offers an array of products/appliances that reduce energy use, including but not limited to clothes washers, dehumidifiers, refrigerators and freezers, room air conditioners, room air cleaners and ceiling fans.

Take for instance, dishwashers. They not only use power to run them, but water as well. Energy Star dishwashers can save you $30 a year in utility bills.

According to the Energy Star Web site on dishwashers:

"ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers use at least 41 percent less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption. ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers use much less water than conventional models. Because they use less hot water compared to new conventional models, an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher saves about $90 over its lifetime."

So reduce your bills and reduce energy use in your home by not only going green with appliances, but saving green.

Until next week, happy appliance hunting!

Save the Earth in Your Sleep

As a full time student, family member, friend and worker, sleep is but a nice thought at times. When I do get the chance to take a "power" nap, or a good, full night's rest, I like to do so comfortably. And what better way to sleep and feel good while catching my Zzzz's? Organic sheets.

I recently took a stroll down Target's bed and bath aisles and came across organic sheets in a bag, ranging from $39-59. The bag said that the sheets contained/were:

- 100% organically grown cotton fiber
- ecofriendly dyes
- 250 thread count
- produced in an IMO certified facility

So, I thought I'd give the sheets a try and bought a set-- the white one to be exact. Let me tell you, even though they're only 250 thread count, they are extremely comfortable. After my firsts night sleep on them, I can honestly say that I woke up after 8 straight hours of sleep, feeling great. I guess knowing that I contributed to the environment, even if it was through sheets, made my sleep that much better.

But back to the sheets, or more importantly, organic cotton...


Organic fibers, or one specifically, organic cotton is one of the most popular fibers out in the eco-friendly market today. Not only can organic cotton be made into sheets, but other products such as clothing, towels and makeup removal pads.

According to the
Organic Trade Association:

"In 2003, organic fiber sales in the United States grew by 22.7 percent over the previous year, to reach $85 million, according to the Organic Trade Association's 2004 Manufacturer Survey. Sales of organic women's clothing during that period grew by 33.6 percent, while organic infant's clothing and diaper sales grew 20.5 percent. Sales of organic men's clothing grew by 11 percent, and children's and teens clothing sales grew by 15.8 percent. Meanwhile, sales of organic sheets and towels grew by 17.9 percent, and those for organic mattresses and pillows increased 8.3 percent."

Grown in soil that reduces toxic pesticides, organic cotton has a low-impact on the environment, but adds to the large production impact for everyday, eco-friendly items.

So, sleep well, sleep organically!

Brighten up those walls, reduce health issues!

Recently, I had an interview with Natasha, owner of Originate Natural Building Materials here in town. She was helping me out with information on bamboo and its uses for a story I'm working on for the Cat Scan.

After talking "bamboo this" and "bamboo that", I wanted, needed to hear of another product.

So, I walked around and noticed in the middle of her showroom, a curved, free-standing bookcase filled with different sized paint jars. My attention was caught and she proceeded to talk all about the non-VOC paints in which she sells. Volatile organic compounds, or VOC's, are gases emitted from a variety of products, including, but not limited to, paints, copy paper and cleaning supplies. Also, these gases can cause an array of health problems, such as cancer, skin reactions and nausea. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers a great explanation on VOC's and their effects on the environment and on personal health.

But back to paint! One company that Natasha distributes for, where the paints carry no VOC's, is Green Planet Paints.



Green Planet Paints carries clay paints (interior), color glazes (interior), milk paints (interior) and pigments, which are "green by design, have a small environmental footprint, and are much more than simply zero-VOC," according to one of their pamphlets.



And instead of using regular resins, found in most paint today, additives, or synthesized molecules that don't break down easily in the environment, and synthetic dyes, Green Planet Paints use "soy resin, mineral pigments and simple, low impact additives," Natasha said.

Another company that Natasha distributes for is BioShield. Recently, BioShield began a new line of paint called Kinder. Kinder paints, used indoors, don't contain VOC's just as Green Planet Paints. They've also created a new site, Healthy Living Paints, with tips on how to go green in your home, along with articles and interviews from BioShield staff.



So, don't be afraid to splash some color on bare walls. More importantly, while doing so, help out the environment and your health by painting the non-VOC way!

Until next week, let's paint!

LEED to green!

Let me just say that I am amazed! Design collides with Green Building in an effort to spread eco-friendly developments.

Modus Development, based in Phoenix, defines itself in three ways on their Web site--

"an arrangement of or mode of expressing, the idea of variation or departure from some general rule or form, and lifestyle: a manner of living that reflects a person's values and attitudes."

Besides having an innovative and unique name, Modus developers pick and choose sites to build upon, which otherwise are not utilized to the fullest, to create an environment that suits the residents lifestyle inside their homes and where they work. Creatively developing beautiful homes with sophisticated and edgy designs alongside modular appearances, Modus' developments are also green!

Phoenix communities developed by Modus include The Galleries at Turney, Array, Vivendi, and Project MZ. The Galleries at Turney are located at 24th Street and Camelback, and comprise eight units that are un-attached to each other. Array is located in Scottsdale, two blocks east of the Indian Bend Wash, and comprises nine, three-story units. Vivendi, Modus' newest development, is also located in Scottsdale, but on Hayden Road. And Project MZ will comprise six units.

All four developments showoff great and modern design. But most importantly, these communities are eco-built. According to the Modus Web site:

"All Modus developments are developed to meet Green Building standards, which have many high-performance features that provide improved health, safety, comfort and lower operating costs. Green buildings are more environmentally friendly, including being more durable and less polluting, as well as making substantially better use of resources including energy, water, materials and land. Long term, Green Building projects have higher resale values and lower maintenance and operating costs."

Also, Modus communities meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Green Building requirements. According to the Modus Web site:

"The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a performance-oriented, consensus-developed rating system. Credits are earned for satisfying specific Green Building criteria by reviewing five major environmental categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality."

Take the Array community for example. One of the development's energy efficient features is eco-friendly building materials, such as "corrugated metal siding and fibrous concrete panels that act as a rain screen while creating a thermal barrier that eliminates heat transmission to the building while effectively shading the building from the heat of the desert sun," according to the Modus Web site.

So again, I'm amazed. Green Building is really LEED-ing the way! And Modus Development is ahead of the game! Check out Desert Living and Green Homebuilder's articles on Modus.

See you next week!

Begin Right, Build Right

Hello all! I hope everyone had a great, long weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed mine.

I went to Vegas, and during my trip, stumbled across this amazing "green house".

Originally, I wanted to discuss bamboo furniture and flooring this week, but I instead came across an exciting topic Sunday afternoon while driving back to my parents house after shopping. Huge houses caught my attention, and I noticed that these homes were part of a new development, "Madera, A Living Smart Neighborhood by Pardee Homes". A sign confirmed that model homes were open for viewing, so I thought I'd take a look.

I entered the office and a Pardee Homes representative greeted me with a "hello" and a bottle of water. He then proceeded to explain the Living Smart Program that has spectators buying homes in Madera, that Pardee Homes is a home builder in Sacramento, Southern California and Las Vegas, and directed me around the Pardee Homes Web site.

After my meet and greet, I was ecstatic to see what this Living Smart Program entailed. Upon entering one of the model homes, a sign outside the door said, "Living Smart! This model home demonstrates what LivingSmart means, both inside your home and around your community."

Once inside, the entire house was green! Green rugs, bamboo flooring, green curtains, green paint, bamboo plants, green dishes, everything! Even the modeled toothbrushes in the kids room were lime green. But besides the green decor and design, small signs explained that the Living Smart program included four overall concepts or features: EnergySmart, EarthSmart, HealthSmart, and WaterSmart.

According to the home builders pamphlet and Web site, EnergySmart features include "choices that reduce energy consumption, possibly lowering energy bills."
In example--using energy-saving windows and a tankless water heater.

EarthSmart features include "choices that encourage conservation or use recycled or sustainable resources."
In example--using low VOC paint and carpeting made from recycled materials.

HealthSmart features include "choices that support healthy indoor air and water quality."
In example--using low-formaldehyde attic insulation and a high-efficiency air filtration system.

And WaterSmart features include "choices that minimize water consumption to conserve this precious resource."
In example--using low-flow faucets and shower heads.

After taking my environmentally house tour, I thought, too, what better way to introduce decor and interior design, than to begin explaining that the structure of a home in itself can be eco-friendly, along with the power, water and air inside. And with healthy indoor air and water, as Pardee Homes includes in their Living Smart Program, you'll have more energy to decorate and design your home!

So until next week, take a look at my slide show, relax and Live Smart!