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When it comes to home improvement projects, a lot of things come “in green” that can make a huge difference in the health of your home. Next time you update your indoors, here are some eco-tips on protecting the health and value of your home.

Milk Paint:

The oldest painted surfaces on earth were colored with a form of milk paint. From cave drawings to King Tutankhamen’s tomb, painted surfaces as old as 20,000 years, have survived. These ancient paints were made with a simple composition of milk (casein), lime, and earth pigments. This long lasting, petroleum-free formula is available today in a variety of colors. This type of paint does not emit the same harmful VOCs found in oil-based and latex paints, which may also contain metals.

Recycled Carpet:

Carpeting is now available in 100% post-consumer PET resin. This is the same plastic that the USDA mandates for food and drink containers, creating less off-gassing and greater safety. Recycled carpet manufactures estimate that each square yard of recycled carpet saves 40 plastic containers from the landfill.

Sustainable Hardwood:

Hardwood is tricky. This is another industry that has fallen prey to the ‘greenwashing’ that has infected advertising. Many hardwood manufacturers call their products sustainable or claim they’re from managed forests; however, these terms are relative and self-applied, even by companies that engage in clear cutting or destruction of indigenous lands.

A more secure hardwood option is reclaimed wood, salvaged from older buildings as they’re deconstructed. Many of these woods are of a higher quality because they were made from old-growth trees, use less energy for processing, and have a much shorter distance to travel than hardwoods, which are often exotic.

Fixtures & Faucets:

Updating your lighting and faucets can add new life to your bathrooms, kitchen, and living areas. When choosing new faucets, opt for low-flow and adjustable flow models. The water savings will astound you. Special “frugal” flappers for your toilet tank can often be picked up at your municipal water department for free.

Compact fluorescent lighting can make a huge difference in your electricity usage. Avoid fixtures with many tiny bulbs that suck up energy and dimmer switches that are incompatible with compact fluorescents. Have a chandelier you can’t part with? Unscrew some of those little bulbs when you do use it, and use it only for guests or special occasions. Add a couple of floor lamps with compact fluorescents to light up the room otherwise.

Recycled Furniture:

Top end designers are taking eco to the fashion extreme. Ultra trendy earth-friendly furniture is available at numerous boutiques and e-stores. These pieces employ organic and recycled fabrics and fillings and are framed with recycled metal, reclaimed wood, and sustainable bamboo. If boutique prices aren’t in your budget, vintage and antique furniture stores have high-end taste at second hand prices. Artfully refinished pieces made from quality materials compliment any décor. Restoring your own garage sale finds with low VOC stains can add a more personal flare.

Bamboo:

Because it is a natural, renewable resource, bamboo is an eco-choice for wood in many facets of home improvement. It is an idea material for cutting boards, butcher-block countertop inserts, and kitchen ware like bowls and utensils. It also makes a fantastic floor.

Bamboo is a grass, not a tree. It can reach maturity in as few as three or four years and does not need to be replanted (as those of you with bamboo in your yards know all too well). We can count on a reliable supply of bamboo products in the future without resorting to deforestation or drastic landscape change. When making flooring choices, seek out low-VOC finishes and formaldehyde-free adhesives, and consider a glueless floating floor.

If the Green movement has taught us anything, it has taught us that chemicals make us sick. It’s very obvious that the billowing clouds of smoke from the coal burning plant are bad for your lungs. The pollutants in your home may not be so obvious. There are many chemical toxins lurking in our homes that are impacting the air we breathe. It is important to understand where those chemical pollutants come from and how to heal the damage.

According to the EPA, indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in homes. This could be anything from hair spray to air freshener, even the propellant disinfectant sprays that are supposed to kill the odor causing germs in our homes. These products may seem safe or seem to provide a solution when they actually release propane, butane, or other combustible propellants into the air. These small particulates can stay suspended for hours, days, or weeks depending on the air flow.

Building materials and furnishings are a significant source of indoor air problems as well. These products may have been soaked in repellants, pesticides, or other chemicals during the manufacturing process. Carpets, cabinetry, wood, and upholstery can all contribute to indoor air quality problems by off-gassing, or releasing fumes, into your home. The result is more harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in your air.

When we breathe contaminated air, effects may show up immediately. In other people it may require repeated exposures for symptoms to develop. The symptoms of exposure to harmful VOCs include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. For most people, symptoms subside once the causative agent (the source of the pollution) is removed. Long term effects like asthma, respiratory infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, sleep apnea, and multiple chemical sensitivity are all possible. Age and other health factors contribute to your risk of developing a long term illness due to exposure to poor indoor air quality. If you are concerned about exposure to VOCs, consult your health care provider.

Fortunately, it is easy to reduce the number of new chemical pollutants you bring into your home, and there are even a few ways to remove what’s currently there.

Top 10 Home Detox Tips for Cleaner Indoor Air

10. Take off your shoes. Ask your guests to remove their shoes as well. We can track in things a lot more dangerous than mud. This is especially important if you have children or pets that play or crawl on your floors.

9. Grow some fresh air. Keep leafy house plants. Plants naturally absorb carbon dioxide and provide fresh oxygen. Growing healthy, organic plants is like growing fresh air.

8. Ditch the Dry-cleaner. If you must dry clean, air out dry cleaned clothing before you put it in your home. The chemicals used in the dry clean process are very toxic. If you must have an item dry cleaned, remove the plastic and hang it outside to let the residues dissipate.

7. Avoid Ammonia. Commonly found in conventional window cleaners, this chemical can irritate the lungs, eyes, and mucus membranes. Ammonia adds nitrogen to the environment often resulting in disruptions to the ecosystem. Check out alternative Green products at the Farmer’s Almanac store.

6. Eliminate soft surfaces. Soft surfaces such as curtains, carpets, rugs, artifical flowers, and throw pillows can hold harmful chemicals or residues in their fibers. A hard surface replacement is easy to clean. Drapes and curtains can hold in or emit dust and toxins. Replace them with blinds that can be wiped down. Replace carpets with sustainable bamboo flooring or a high quality linoleum that does not leach petroleum compounds.

5. Beware of aerosol sprays. Each pump can fill your home with propellants made of volatile hydrocarbons, typically propane, n-butane and isobutane, all flammable petrochemicals. There are plenty of natural alternatives to freshen your home

4. Don’t dry dust. Use a damp cloth to lock in the dust. Dust particles can bind to toxins and sit in your home. A cloth sprayed with an enzyme-based cleaner works great to deodorize and decontaminate.

3. Do away with air fresheners. These petroleum based fragrances continuously release chemicals into your home. Open a window or try an enzyme-based deodorizer to safely remove pet, smoke, and kitchen odors.

2. Get rid of toxic chemicals. Pesticides, solvents, chlorines, and petrochemicals have dangerous consequences. Chlorine is number one cause of chemical poisonings. Check with your local waste management to dispose of these properly.

1. Use only the highest quality green cleaning products. Read the labels carefully to make sure the product is actually green and safe. Fragrances and dyes are often made from petroleum, so “free and clear” products are best. Some products contain essential oils to add a pleasant scent and power. Since these oils are minimally processed, people with plant or pollen allergies should be careful. Used properly, green cleaners can help rid your home of dangerous residues and everyday soils.