Sorry, Kermit: It's Easier Than Ever to be Green

Kermit the Frog sings a song called “It’s not easy being green,” but environmentally friendly decorating is now easier than ever. Whether you are building a new home, renovating an existing space or making small decorating decisions, there are many options available toward obtaining the goal of living in a “green” house.

New construction

If you are building a home, consider using natural materials found in your area and buying from local resources.  A good website to help in your search is www.Goodtobegreen.com. Here you will find a list of environmentally safe products as well as a directory of service professionals to tackle the projects that you feel are beyond your abilities.

Try to research energy-wise choices in effective insulation and efficient heating and cooling equipment by asking for manufacturers’ environmental impact statements and install high performance windows that feature double panes that conduct heat at a lower rate and have a film coating that reflects heat. All these items not only help the environment but will save you money.

Renovating

When remodeling an existing space, salvage materials for reuse or for donation to a deconstruction service. And likewise, purchase new and used building materials from a restoration center. We are lucky enough to have two centers in our area — the ReCONNstruction Center in New Britain and the ReStore Home Improvement Center in Springfield, Mass. And more locally — The Habitat for Humanity Restore in Cromwell.

Appliances, especially refrigerators, are the single biggest consumer of electricity. If you are in the market for new appliances, visit www.energystar.gov for tips and information on energy-efficient ratings. You can also purchase slightly damaged appliances at deep discounts.

Most major paint companies now produce finishes with low-odor and zero volatile organic compounds. These products meet environmental requirements without sacrificing durability and indoor air quality. And always check out store clearance rooms for such items as ceramic tiles, light fixtures and cabinets. These are often pieces that were never claimed or returned for various reasons.

Decorating

Earth friendly decorating can be done in small ways such as switching out lightbulbs to highly efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs use a quarter of the energy of regular bulbs and actually produce more light. They will cost more initially but you will save hundreds of dollars in your budget in the long run.

Soft materials can also be considered for their environmental impact. Buy recycled carpeting or choose natural fiber rugs or abandon them altogether for hard flooring to minimize allergens. When reupholstering a piece of furniture, look to natural textiles such as organic cotton, hemp or linen.

Before buying new, consider what you already have and see if it can be used in a different way. Reuse items in creative ways for your home, but if you are buying any products, check to see if the product or its packaging can be recycled.

You may not be able to implement all of these ideas, but they are a starting point. Creating a “green” house has many benefits to the homeowner — from reducing the operating costs of the home by increasing efficiency, conserving natural resources, improving the quality of your life to even increasing the value of your home — all positive changes!

We all have a responsibility in preserving our planet and we can each take small steps toward that goal. You see, being green isn’t so hard after all!

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