Now that even the white house has decided that man made global warming is real you should take a look into eco friendly design. Sometimes simple things like changing the light bulbs and getting new energy effect appliances are great, but not everything you can do.
Buy things that are produced in ways that are environmentally friendly. There are many new companies out there that would love to sell you things that you can use in your everyday life. Also buy as many home items as you can locally. Furniture made by the Amish 20 minutes from your home or that local guy who makes amazing tables in his garage. Don’t live by the Amish or know someone? Talk to people you know or just kinda know, they probably do know someone.
The last tip I have and one of the best is to buy from estate sales and antique stores. These items are wonderful things to have and to fix up. The best part is technically you are recycling them!
When arranging your room you want to make it so that the flow of the room is good for the flow of Chi. Chi is energy that can help improve your home and life when used correctly. You want Chi to flow slowly though your home without hitting any roadblocks. Keep doorways clear and create paths though your home that do not have obstacles.
One way to think about this is to arrange furniture in a room so that when you walk into a door you don’t have to immediately turn and go around a piece of furniture. There should be a clear path. This doesn’t mean that everything needs to be against a wall either. Move furniture away from the wall and see what a difference it can make in the feel of the room.
I am always looking for ways to save energy, so is my mom. I think that is why we always make my little brother vacuum the house. That way we have energy to do something else. Okay so I’m not actually talking about that kind of energy I’m talking about the energy you buy.
If your looking to save energy anyway you can you should check out Dirt Devil. They have the only energy star approved vacuum. This means that it will save you money when you use it. It uses 70% less energy then other vacuums and it look pretty cool too. It’s smaller then some vacuums so it will also be easier to store.
When you look for any new appliance or electronics type product, make sure it has an Energy Star rating. This will help you save a lot of money and usually the product will pay for itself within a few years or less. I’m going to be buying this new Dirt Devil when I move, unfortunately it doesn’t include a little brother.
Next fall I will be taking a lighting class, at least I hope to be there are a few complications I have to get though first. I am though, looking forward to this class. Lighting is so much more then just having a light in the room so you can see. Lighting can make things pop out at you, it can set the mood by making it brighter or darker in a room and it can keep you safe.
There are many types of lighting you can buy. I recommend going green and buying compact florescent lighting or LED lights. LED’s take some getting use to as their light tends to have more of a blue tint then other types of lighting, but they last forever. Think of a child’s toy that has the small lights on it. Those lights hardly ever die and that is because most of them are LED’s. Both compact florescent and LED’s are great for the environment and your pocketbook. Yes they may cost more in the long run, but with energy prices going up they will really help save you money in the long run.
If your looking to switch but are not sure where to start here are a few tips.
1. change all of your night lights to LED lights. I got 2 LED bulbs for around $2 at walmart. Shop around though you may find a better deal
2. Figure out which lights you use most during the day and evening. Switch those first.
3. If you can replace all of you bulbs at once, if not do one room at a time.
4. Don’t forget about your outdoor lights
5. Buy all new holiday decorations made with LED’s. Sometimes trying things that are not permanent can help you see what you would get out of switching everything. Christmas lights are a great way to do this.
Having a well designed home is always a huge health benefit because it makes you feel good to be there, can give you less stress and provides a piece of mind. One thing that most people don’t think about when designing their home is the quality of the air in the home. Air filters help to create a clean environment for you and your family. A good clean filter can keep your family from getting sick, having allergy flare ups and can actually help improve their concentration and energy level. Clean air is important for everyone.
If you already have an air filter you should check it to make sure it’s clean and running properly. If it’s dirty it’s not cleaning the air and all of that dust and other germs are going into your air and onto your furniture, carpet and family. The other reason you want it to be clean is that it will save energy, a clean air filter will run better and more energy efficient then a dirty one.
There are many ways to cool your home where you can save energy and money. One way is to just open the windows. Of course many of us don’t like do this anyway so there are other options. One idea I really like is using window tinting. This can dramatically help to improve your homes energy efficiency and save you money.
I’m sure you are wondering where you can get this tint for your windows. Well Snap Tint has a great selection of not only Solar window tint, but decorative film and car tint. Most people I think will really like the Symphony Neutral tint that doesn’t look like a tint at all, but still reflects the sun away. This is a wonderful product for anyone who has large windows with a great view.
Stepping away from the solar tint we have decorative window film. This is not an energy saver, but for a feng shui tip, use it in your bedroom if you have closet mirrors facing the bed. This helps to stop the reflection and helps create a good balance in your bedroom. Decorative film can also be used in a bathroom, kitchen or along any glass surface.
Window tint is easy to install and does not cost much compared to the savings you will get. Warm sunlight though a window can raise the temperature of a home by 10 degrees or more. If you can block that sunlight your energy saves will cover much more then the cost of the window tint.
Many people right now are trying to find ways to save energy and still keep their homes warm and livable. I have a great new product for you to try called Radiant glass. This glass is made in Colorado by a company called Radiant Glass industries. The product is called Power*e Glass and it is very easy to use and install.
The glass uses a save low voltage current that would be the equivalent of running 2 light bulbs. The current heats the window and allows that heat into your home. Many people who have used it claim that there heaters hardly ever run after adding just a few of these windows. This is a great product for anyone who has a lot of windows in their home. I would recommend having a separate thermostat installed for any interior rooms that have no windows though. These windows will also help keep your home cool in the summer by blocking the heat from outside.
Besides helping with energy cost these windows also will stop condensation and fogging of windows. That way you will always have a clear view outside. This type of window would work well in a bathroom where you may use a shower or tub that could cause fogging and block a view.
Power*e windows can be made any way you would like. They work in most types of frames and can even be tinted. Check out this new unique product and see if if will work for you.
This blog is for information on interior design and decoration. You will find many reviews on products and services as well as tips and tricks to make your home look and feel better.
about that kind of energy I’m talking about the energy you buy.
lights. LED’s take some getting use to as their light tends to have more of a blue tint then other types of lighting, but they last forever. Think of a child’s toy that has the small lights on it. Those lights hardly ever die and that is because most of them are LED’s. Both compact florescent and LED’s are great for the environment and your pocketbook. Yes they may cost more in the long run, but with energy prices going up they will really help save you money in the long run. 
decorative film and 
