How to green your hardware store trip

Tag : hardware items

Everyone loves a visit to the good old Home Depot, local hardwarestore, and so on. What you want to do though is make sure yourtrips to the hardware store are green; no going in and mindlesslybrowsing, because you're more likely to end up with less smartchoices. Following are some tips that homeowners, or anyone reallycan use to green those hardware store trips.
Know before you go: Knowing what you need before you go is always smart in regards tohardware stores. These stores are full of items begging to bebought, items that promote massive home improvements, and fun DIYprojects. But be careful. If you don't need an item or bunch ofitems, you're just adding to all that stuff people own. That's notcool, especially if you don't end up using the items - manyhomeowners think they'll start that project, and never do. Also, ifyou know before you go, you can research your best green options,instead of simply buying the first thing you see.
Two hardware store bargain: One basic $15-20 water heater prefab blanket is worth much moreonce you wrap your water heater in it. Another massive hardwarestore green bargin is a basic door sweep. Seriously, these babiesare at most $5 and reduce loads of escaping heat or air. Mostpeople will find that these two simple hardware store buys will payfor themselves in mere months.
Always buy eco-friendly paint : All those paint cans lined up in pretty, colorful rows may lookappealing, but all paint is not created equal when it comes tobeing earth friendly. There are plenty of eco-paint options available so don't be dissuaded by the conventional paints, that still rulein numbers at the hardware store.
Make your big purchases count : If you want to spend money on a bigger ticket green home item,such as a lower flush toilet or water saving washer, research firstto make sure it's the best way to use your money. Read Building Green Can Save You Money to learn about returns on green home investments.
[image via stock.xchng]