Make your home eco-friendly

This article is reprinted from Wine Country Real Estate, a special advertising section of The Press Democrat.

Driving down Sonoma Avenue recently, I noticed a lawn sign in the shape of an arrow. It said, 'Look Up.' Not sure whether this was a guide to a more philosophical approach to life, or an instruction to raise my eyes heavenward, I did the latter. There were solar panels on the roof of the house. Very clever. While we're all thinking about the recent Earth Day celebrations, it's a good time to discuss what else we can do to make our homes more eco-friendly.

More and more of my clients are looking at homes with an eye toward how green the home is. If there are no truly green homes on the market in your price range, exactly when you need to move, take heart. There are many things you can do with existing homes to make them more energy-efficient and earth-friendly. It can be a gradual process, and it can be done within your budget and sense of aesthetics.

Drought-Proof Your Yard

In this era of serious drought, the first step is to look out the window. Is your yard a water-guzzler? Do you feel guilty when the sprinklers go on? Call in a landscaper who specializes in low-water, drought-resistant plants, and get some advice. You may be surprised at what a pleasant yard you can have with less-thirsty plants. A drip irrigation system is another good way to cut down on water use. When we're fortunate enough to have some rain, collecting it in rain barrels and using it when the rain stops is efficient.

While you're in the yard, you can protect the environment and your family's health by using organic and natural fertilizers, pest-repellants, and weed chasers. If you have the space, a compost pit is a great start to growing healthy veggies for your family. 'Greenscaping' is cool!

Efficient Appliances

New technology has made energy-efficient kitchen appliances readily available at reasonable prices. If your new home has old, tired-looking appliances, this is a great opportunity to improve the look of your kitchen as well as its efficiency. To see that this is a three-way win, look at your electric bill and note the money you're saving. Next, peek into the laundry room and see how much money and energy you can save there.

During the rainy season—may we soon get one—a dryer is a blessing. But all summer long, it's a delight to hang clothes on the line in the morning sun and sniff their fresh smell as you bring them in at night.

Healthier Spaces

It's not out of sheer nobility and concern for the environment that many people strive for an eco-friendly home. Nor is it solely for the cost savings. There's also the matter of your family's health. The use of toxin-free building materials reduces indoor air pollution, which, experts tell us, can be worse than outdoor air pollution. For example, new carpets which off-gas formaldehyde and other chemicals pose a hazard to occupants, particularly the most vulnerable—children and the elderly, as well as those with suppressed immune systems. Chemical-laden indoor air can pose risks to well people, too, who may not know why they are suddenly having symptoms they never had before.

Low-VOC or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, long used for kids' rooms, are a good choice for all rooms. Whether you've lived in your home for years or have just moved in with the thought of freshening up its look and feel with a bright new coat of paint, those are the terms to look for on the label.

Beat the Weather

Did you know? Residential cooling and heating alone make up 20% of the United States' yearly energy use. Something as simple as weather stripping around doors can make a noticeable dent in your heating bill. Double-paned windows are a worthwhile addition to a home. Insulation can make a major dent in heating and air conditioning costs. And attic fans, quaint as they may seem, are just the thing to move rising hot air out of your home and provide relief on summer days.

Bathroom Upgrades

Do you have an elegant fixture over the sink with many bulbs in it? Unscrew half of them. And of course replace all incandescent bulbs, all throughout the house, with compact fluorescents or other energy-efficient bulbs. While you're there, considering changing to low-flow toilets and water-saving showerheads.

Changes to your home don't have to involve the newest and shiniest. Simple habits like regular maintenance on appliances and fixing drips immediately may seem small but they're important conservation steps.