Home decor without livingthe stereotypical"granola-and-Birkenstocks"lifestyle

Tag : bath product

Just because you’re going green doesn’t meanyou have to sacrifice style. There are many ways to easilyincorporate eco-friendly ideas into your .

“Within the domains of daily living lie our opportunities andobligations to effect positive change in the world,” saysCrissy Trask, author of “It’s Easy Being Green.”“Understanding the relationship between what we do and thelarger environment is vital to developing and strengthening a senseof responsibility for the cause and effect of our actions.”

By making energy-saving improvements and incorporating sustainableand organic materials, you’ll have lower bills, a healthierhouse and proof that you can live green without sacrificing styleor comfort.

Green and You Don’t Even Know It
Chances are parts of your home and lifestyle are already green --you’re just unaware of it. A big component of going green isnot just to reduce, but also to reuse and recycle. If you’vedecided to remodel an existing home instead of building a new,greener one, you’ve already taken a step in the greendirection. Have any hand-me-downs or antiques in your home? Lookingfor vintage furnishings or reinventing outdated items is moreeco-friendly than buying brand new. You’ll help to cut backon the resources used to produce new pieces, and also eliminate theadditional waste that goes into packaging and shipping.

Green Bathrooms
An obvious way to go greener in your home is to cut back on waterand energy consumption. And until now, eco-friendly alternativeshave been less than trendy. Luckily, for environmentally conscioushomeowners, you can now save water and have up-to-the-minutedesigns, all at the same time. The aerator offered in MoenIncorporated’s new Rothbury collection of bath faucets allowswater to flow at an optimized 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm), versustraditional aerators that flow at 2.2 gpm. You’ll be treatedwith the sensational water experience you’re accustomed to,while reducing water usage by 30 percent. Plus, Rothbury faucetsare one of the first to receive WaterSense certification from theEnvironmental Protection Agency, validating the fixtures arewater-efficient.

Another way to “green your bath” is to include elementsthat emulate nature. Biomimicry is an offshoot of the greenmovement that is now being used in home design -- even in bathproducts. Moen’s new Inspire showerhead line incorporates thescience of biomimicry perfectly. The showerhead spray face isinspired by a Fibonacci spiral, the branching or spiral shapesoften found in natural objects like the whorls of seeds in asunflower. The beautiful design enhances the product’sperformance -- providing full body coverage that envelops the userin invigorating water sprays no matter what the spray setting.

Small Style Changes, Big Impact
There are so many transformations you can use to increase the styleand sustainability factor in your home. Replacing incandescentlights with compact fluorescents (CFL) uses three-quarters lesselectricity. And you don’t have to worry about flickering orharsh light from the new CFLs -- they provide an excellent qualityof light and also generate less heat.

If you’re in the market for new home furnishings, look forcompanies that offer chemical-free pieces or ones made fromrenewable or reclaimed materials. There are a number of homeaccents designed or manufactured with the planet in mind that aresavvy and stylish. Natural fiber rugs, beeswax or soy wax candlescan add eco flair to your decor. Or for a unique, elegant and greendecorating tip, adorn your home with mosaic bamboo tiles to warm upa wall or add interest to a floor.

By incorporating these simple, and stylish, green updates,you’ll be on your way to an eco-friendly and fabulouslyfashionable home. But don’t stop now; keep looking for morepractices and products to continue your home’s sustainabletransformation to make a world of difference.