simple + green

If you haven’t seen it yet, check your listings for a repeat: HGTV has been running a very interesting show called 20 Ways Your Home Can Save The Planet.

Curious about the 20 ways? I’m sure you’ve seen most of these ideas before:
1. Plug into the hottest appliances: look for energy-efficiency models
2. Keep your cabinets and countertops green: use sustainable materials
3. Look for eco-friendly dishes and cookware: keep an eye out for chemical-free options
4. Think energy-saving when you think windows: insulated windows are the key
5. Recycle with style: recycling materials, turning them into gifts and more
6. Consider planet-friendly floors: cork, bamboo and tile are sustainable options
7. Make a new bed, organically: organic mattresses, sheets and more
8. Paint it safe: use paint products with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
9. Switch your bulbs: replace incandescents with compact fluorescents to save both energy and money!
10. Make your family room family- and earth-friendly: use natural flooring materials
11. Furnish naturally: look for wood products that are formaldehyde-free, hemp accessories
12. Keep your garage gear green: manual lawnmowers, non-toxic pegboards
13. Go with the low flow: low-flow water fixtures such as showerheads, faucets and toilets will help reduce consumption and cost.
14. Renew your bathroom with reclaimed style: look for eco-friendly tile, countertops and fixtures.
15. Go natural: go chemical-free in the bathroom with everything from organic hand soap to bamboo hand towels.
16. Stock up on earth-friendly office supplies: use items like recycled computer disks and earth-friendly inks
17. Be green when you clean: from high-efficiency washing machines to dryers that save water and energy.
18. Choose good wood: base home projects on wood that has been farmed, clear-cut and stained with natural products.
19. Plant for the planet: use plants that require little watering and maintenance.
20. Keep nature natural: Seek out items crafted out of recycled materials like chairs made from plastic milk jugs or corn-husk planters.

HGTV keeps things at a level that appeals to many. But they still manage to hit a lot of really good ideas.

The thing I’d like to see HGTV do is to focus less on buying eco-friendly solutions, and more on implementing solutions: grey-water systems, solar and wind power. Granted these are larger-scale than buying an FSC-certified chair, but the impact can’t be questioned.

Then again, if HGTV didn’t include a good dose of product endorsements, they may not be able to have shows like this!

Thankfully, I have met most of these ideas already. I’m not too much for buying products based on recycled goods. And our migration to having a yard that requires minimal water and maintenance is not yet completed (or started for that matter!).

But we have the rest of these already in action.

How about you?