(NC)-Going green doesn't mean sacrificing style. You can easily incorporate eco-friendly and stylish products into your home décor, have lower bills and a healthier house.
Green Without Knowing It
Chances are parts of your home and lifestyle are already green - through reuse and recycling. If you've remodeled an existing home instead of building a new one, you've already taken a step in the green direction. Have any hand-me-downs or antiques in your home? Vintage furnishings are more eco-friendly than buying new since you're reducing resources used to produce new pieces and the reuse keeps these "older gems" from becoming waste.
Green Bathrooms
An obvious way to go greener in your home is to cut back on water consumption. And luckily thanks to product manufacturers, such as Moen, you can save water while still having a variety of stylish options. For example, the new Rothbury collection from Moen and the new Fina collection from ShowHouse feature flow-optimized aerators that allow bathroom faucets to flow at 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm), versus traditional aerators that flow at 2.2 gpm - reducing water usage by 30 percent. Both of these stylish faucets have received the WaterSense label from the Environmental Protection Agency for their water efficiency.
And when it comes to the shower, no one wants to sacrifice a powerful spray. But, with Moen's new flow-optimized water-saving showerhead, you'll enjoy the same invigorating experience, but enjoy the added benefit of knowing that the 1.75 gpm showerhead also reduces water use by 30 percent.
Small Style Changes, Big Impact
The next time that your light bulb is out, replace incandescent lights with a compact fluorescent. These lamps use three-quarters less electricity, provide an excellent quality of light, generate less heat and last six to 10 times longer than incandescent.
If you're in the market for new home furnishings and are not interested in vintage designs, be sure to look for companies that offer chemical-free pieces or ones made from renewable or reclaimed materials. Examples, such as natural fibre rugs, sofas made with recycled materials, beeswax or soy wax candles, and many others can add eco flair to your decor.
By incorporating these simple, and stylish, green updates, you'll be on your way to an eco-friendly and fabulously fashionable home. For more information on Moen's sustainable products, visit www.moen.ca.
Credit: www.newscanada.com