It’s easy being green: one step at a time!
Check off 1 or 2 items a month, & make your home much greener: healthier for you –and the planet, in under a year. Really ambitious? Challenge yourself: try to get them all within 2 years! (Some items only apply to renovation projects.)
Indoor Air
The easiest steps, with the biggest health benefits.
Anytime:
Switch to natural cleaning products & use ultra-concentrates
Add mats inside and out of all entries
Replace heat/ac air filters up to once per month
Use HEPA, Ionic, UV air purifiers; or essential oil: avoid chemical air fresheners
Update:
Use low-VOC paints when repainting (old in-place paint is fine)
When replacing carpet switch to hard-surface flooring (area rugs are ok)
Renovation:
Use high CFM vent fans, exhausted to outside, in kitchen & baths
Use quiet vent fans and include timer switch control in baths
Use low-offgassing materials: avoid formaldehyde, vinyl, & fire retardants
Building Envelope
The fastest route to greater comfort and a smaller carbon footprint.
Anytime:
Weatherstrip windows & doors; seal joints with walls
Seal holes & cracks at baseboards; seal outlet & switch plates
Seal joints at basements & attics: esp. at sill, chimney, attic hatch, pipes
Add more insulation in attic, especially cellulose
Add a damper (chimney top if necc.) and glass doors at fireplace
Update:
Have pre-1960 wood windows glazed & restored: avoid replacement
Replace pre-1998 storm windows with tight, low-e coated storms
Add blown-in cellulose or foam insulation in walls & eaves if needed
Renovation:
Consider soy foam, Icynene, or denim insulation
If windows cannot be restored, or where adding new windows, chooseenergy star, low-e, argon-filled, double-pane windows: avoid vinyl
Use a cool roof, an overhanging roof; minimize angles & protrusions
Mechanicals
Reduce your carbon footprint – and your energy & water bills!
Anytime:
Replace refrigerators from 1999 and earlier
Choose front-loading washers (save 26 gal/load) & moisture-sensing dryers
Use cold-water wash when possible: avoid dryer sheets & fabric softeners
Clean regularly: dryer, range hood, & fridge vent / gaskets, AC coils, radiators
Ensure pipes & water heater are wrapped; ducts sealed & wrapped
Add & use programmable thermostats
Update:
Choose energy star rated appliances, HVAC units, & ceiling fans
Add ceiling fans, esp. for high ceilings; use reverse on low in winter
Renovation:
Choose gas appliances for efficiency and cleaner burning fuel
Consider heat pumps, zoned heat/ac, & radiant, hot water heating systems
Consider tankless, solar, and indirect-fired hot water systems
Water
Moisture affects durability; control runoff to reduce water pollution.
Anytime:
Replace leaky faucets and add faucet aerators
Replace toilets from 1989 and earlier
Clean gutters (2x/year); direct downspouts to extend 4-6’ out
Grade away from house & ensure siding is 6-8” above grade
Trim plants 18-24” from house; use vines on trellises not house
Use native plants and xeriscaping methods
Add rain barrels
Update:
Use water permeable materials for driveways, patios, paths
Consider alternatives to conventional grass lawns
Add gutter guards
Renovation:
Use paperless drywall or greenboard at bathroom walls & ceilings
Use cement board or “mud” under all tile floors & walls
Consider low-flow sink faucets
Consider dual-flush or less than 1.6 gallons per flush toilets
Consider shower systems with volume controls
Consider grey-water systems
Light & Heat
Keep light levels equal by comparing lumens.
Anytime:
Optimize daylighting by keeping window treatments open ortranslucent during the day, especially at window tops
Replace bulbs with CFLs; discard used CFLs as hazardous waste
Replace bulbs in recessed cans with LEDs or CFLs
Close window treatments nights in winter, days in hot summer
Update:
Look to LED, fluorescent, & other options when replacing lights
Check CRI / color value, choose warm or daylight rated for comfort
Use dimmer switches when possible (verify format compatibility)
Choose dark sky compliant outdoor lighting and see more stars
Renovation:
Increase daylighting via solar tubes, clerestory windows, light wells
Avoid solar gain when placing skylights, large windows
Consider window tinting where appropriate
Use deciduous trees for solar gain management and air filtration
Materials & Methods
Consider these factors when planning an update or renovation.
Locally or regionally sourced
Sustainable or rapidly renewable
Durable and renewable/repairable
Recovered, recycled, recyclable or reusable
Materials whose manufacturing or extraction methods limit harm
Design for durability and for deconstruction
All the best and enjoy your green-friendly home!
