Change Housing and Habits

Any individual living in a conventionally constructed home can make changes to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. This revolves around our awareness of energy and water consumption, as well as our behavior. Those of us who grew up in conventional, grid-tied homes are used to a seemingly endless flow of water and electricity, we may be very out of touch with our consumption patterns and how they relate to our natural environment.
SIMPLE CHANGES YOU CAN MAKE
PUT ON A SWEATER
rather than turning up the thermostat, or use an energy efficient fan rather than cranking up the AC.
RUN FULL LOADS
In your washing machine and dishwasher
TURN OFF THE TAP
When you're washing dishes and brushing your teeth
TURN DOWN
Your hot water heater
TAKE SHORTER SHOWERS
and / or install low flow shower heads and faucets as well as low-flush toilets
TURN OFF THE LIGHTS
When you leave a room
SET YOUR CLOTHES DRYER TO LOW HEAT
or better yet - just “air dry”
REDUCE PHANTOM LOAD
of your electronics (the power they draw while plugged into an outlet—even while not in use) by using a power strip and turning it off when you leave. In addition to saving energy, this hack will save you an average of 10% of your energy bills!
TURN SWITCH TO LED
they have up to 25 times the life of incandescent, and use up to 80% less electricity
“There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.”
Marshall McLuhan
MORE AMBITIOUS CHANGES
SWITCH TO ENERGY STAR
aplliances
ADD MORE INSULATION
to your home wherever you can. This will help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter- it will save you money too!
GET SOLAR PANELS
Whether grid-tied or off-the-grid, or a combination of both, solar panels are a great way to reduce your bills and your carbon footprint.
CHANGE YOUR WINDOWS
to more energy efficient / low -E
BUILD NATURALLY
construct a new home from local and natural materials.
UTILILIZE ORIENTATION
Retrofit your home, or build a new one with windows oriented properly for your climate ( if you need heat - orient towards the equator - if you need cool, orient your windows away from it)
USE RECYCLED MATERIALS
Repurpose waste from construction sites or renovations like old (but perfectly usable) sinks, tubs, windows, doors and countertops.
GO TINY
Tiny houses use less materials to build and less energy to heat and cool because they're well, tiny.
GO OFF-THE-GRID
If you are particularly ambitious, you can go completely off-the-grid and create a self-sufficient abode, eschewing utility bills by capturing rainwater, treating your own waste, and storing energy from renewable resources like the wind and sun
VIDEOS TO INSPIRE
Shelbizleee
ZERO WASTE SWAPS FOR EVERYONE // Swaps for Beginners & Advanced
We can't do everything, but everyone can do something, right?
Bill Nye
BILL NYE ON MAKING HIS HOUSE ENERGY-EFFICIENT
Bill Nye, the Science Guy, joins Lunch Break to discusses his own home to show how energy-efficient houses save both money and the environment.
Exploring Alternatives
COUPLE BUILDS ENERGY EFFICIENT PASSIVE SOLAR HOME - GREEN BUILDING
In this video we meet Casey & Natasha, a conscious couple who built a passive solar home near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
A more sustainable home oftentimes means a healthier one. What's good for you is also good for the planet! We have provided the links below to help you dive deeper on your journey to find a home that works for you and the planet!
We have no affiliation with these companies and are not receiving any compensation for highlighting them on our website.
HELPFUL LINKS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE HOME
LEED CERTIFIED
If you would like to get tax credits for renovating your home to be more green, LEED is one way to get you there.
LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
Th If you would like to go deeper than LEED - Living Building Challenge is the place for you!
LIVING DEEP
Living Deep is Living Building Challenge's newest endeavor. Go here to discover the best / healthiest brands to incorporate in your home, and so much more!
SAM RODELL- ARCHITECT
Sam Rodell is the principal architect for Rodell Design. He is a master of Passive House (Passivhaus) design.
RETHINK.DESIGN
Is an amazing resource site that highlights all different kinds of green building / design techniques and products. It's a perfect place to start if you want your home to be healthier and better for the planet.
FUSE LIVING
Fuse Living is a Certified Green Interior Design Firm, as well as a new construction development firm located right in Phoenix, AZ. They are committed to finding the greenest / healthiest interior design solutions.
