Green Living

There are a growing number of resources available on green living – filled with ways to leave a smaller environmental impact. Since our focus today is around products used in your home, we thought it was appropriate to share tips and resources focused on your green living at home.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Our home is an expression of who we are. The colors, the furnishings, and how we live in
it – all tell a part of our story. Making choices that are bit more environmentally friendly is one way to express your values.

If you don’t believe that green living can be stylish, then you’ve never heard of Danny Seo. As a green living expert, Danny’s blog is full of fun ideas on products as well as projects to reuse and recycle without sacrificing style and design.

When you’re making purchases for your home, consider a few basic questions prior to purchase. How was the product made? What materials were used to make this product? How long will it last? If you’re specifically looking for furniture or a mattress, here are some environmental considerations compiled from industry associations¹. And don’t forget to recycle, donate, or find a reuse group for your old products.

Looking for other options to green your home? Visit the Home Depot’s Eco Options site for tips and products. You can even tour a virtual home to get ideas for each room.

Outside Your Home

After considering living green inside your home, you may want to consider what you can do outside your home. One way to have a positive impact on the environment is by planting a rain garden. A rain garden is made with plants in a small depression and often on a natural slope. It is designed to soak in rain water runoff from roofs, driveways, patios or lawns. Rain gardens are effective in removing chemicals and sediments from the rainwater runoff, and they allow for more water to soak into the ground. Here are some resources:
-Rain Garden 101 from The Groundwater Foundation
-Rain Garden Network
-Native Rain Garden

Interested in learning more? Here are some resources to help you get started.

• Calculate your footprint: Several are available on sites such as World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Yahoo! Green, and Carbon Fund.
• Make a plan: Select changes you’re willing to make in your life and then see the impact of those changes. Invite your friends to make a plan as well. Start now!
• Connect with others: Visit many of the green living communities to connect and learn from others such as Yahoo! Green, Care2, and Sustain Lane.

What are your favorite green living tips for your home? What other resources have you found helpful? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

¹ Based on information from the Sustainable Furnishings Council and International Sleep Products Associaiton.