If you’ve been feeling the pinch like we have, you’ve probably learned to shop smarter, pack your own lunch, and cut back on the gourmet coffee, but you might still be missing out on big savings if your home hasn’t been optimized for energy efficiency. The good news is that just a few quick and easy DIY upgrades to your home could equate to hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year in savings on your energy bill. Crafting a home energy-optimization strategy sounds more daunting than it is. We’ve rounded up 15 great inexpensive and easy-to-find green home improvement products that will set you on the path towards a lower energy bill and more moolah in the bank – read on to get the inside scoop on all of them.
Did you know that your daily five-minute shower uses more water than the average person in a developing country uses for an entire day*? In the U.S. we have such easy access to clean water that it can feel like we have an unlimited supply, and a few gallons wasted here and there may not seem like a big deal. But places like California are already feeling the effects of the global water crisis, and awareness about the need to save water is getting out there slowly but surely. The good news is that doing your part to conserve water is easy. Read on for our top tips on how to save water (it will only take you 5 minutes), and get ahead of the game today.
* United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2006). Human Development Report 2006, Beyond Scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis.
Major League Baseball (MLB) has emerged as a vanguard of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)'s Sports Greening Project, which has sparked a sustainability movement across a slew of professional and collegiate sports leagues. The MLB was the first professional sports league to partner with NRDC on the initiative in 2005. “Major League Baseball has really been a pioneer in the sports greening movement by committing holistically to environmental stewardship, which of course includes energy efficiency and water efficiency," said Alice Henly, a principal author of the Sports Greening Project's Game Changer Report. While the report itself does not rank the ballparks, it does include case studies and snapshots of all the parks included in this round up; the rankings below are based on sheer numbers of energy-efficient features, as well as the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Hit the jump for the full list!
This post was written by Miriam Berg of the Alliance to Save Energy. A previous version was published on their website, to learn more about the Alliance to Save Energy, visit their website.
The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to see your story on Inhabitat? Send us a tip by following this link. Remember to follow our instructions carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing!
Want to win an elegant, versatile carryall for any occasion? Over at Ecouterre, we’re giving away a gorgeous “Raylan Sm” bag by Matt & Nat that includes a padded compartment, lined with 100 percent recycled nylon, that’s perfect for toting a laptop, and elasticized compartments in the front to keep baby or water bottles from sliding around. What you choose to fill it with is entirely up to you, but the cruelty-free carryall will give you plenty of options. Click through to Ecouterre and enter to win now!
Wish your baby would fall into a quiet slumber so you can catch up on some shut-eye yourself? Well this week you’re in for a sweet deal because we’re giving away a gorgeous Hushamok organic baby hammock and stand to one lucky reader! With its natural rocking motion, this beautiful bassinet will get your baby to go to sleep faster – and stay asleep longer — which means you’ll finally get some of those much deserved zZZs!
They say that “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” and we think the same can be said about architecture. We’ve rounded six delightful structures inspired by our favorite toys and we think you’ll agree that they’re pretty tough to resist. From a slide for adults to a LEGO-like bridge to a wooden Jenga tower that looks like it’s about to topple over, we submit six playful works of architecture for your viewing pleasure.
This content series is brought to you in partnership with smartwater. smartwater, good taste travels well. To learn more click here.
Photo: Background pattern of wine bottles corks via Shutterstock
If you are involved in the creative community, you will have noticed the slowly-but-surely growing preponderance of cork as a material used in design. Just in the past few months, my boyfriend bought a cork iPhone case, I was coveting a beautiful cork totebag I saw at Brooklyn Flea, and just a week ago, in consideration of replacing my (very old and crummy) vinyl kitchen flooring from the 80′s, I came across cork as an eco-friendly option. I had seen cork floors used in commercial applications, but hadn’t thought about it before for my own home. Cork is everywhere, and, as I’ve quickly figured out – for good reason!
We know, we know… you’ve been spending a lot of time on Pinterest lately, dreaming and pinning your ultimate kitchen makeover. Whether you’re actually thinking about a real-life kitchen renovation to jazz up your current home, or designing a kitchen from scratch for a new apartment or house, budget is usually the biggest stumbling block. Beyond the pricey appliances, the materials that contribute to the look and feel of your kitchen décor – namely the countertops – can cost a small fortune, especially if you’re thinking of going with granite. Before you give up on your makeover plans or go into debt, however, check out Wilsonart® HD® countertops, which offer a laminate alternative to granite and other pricey options.
Welcome to Inhabitat, your online guide to the best green design ideas, innovations and inspiration to build a cleaner, brighter, and better future.
