Here at ECOdecor, we define eco-decor as sustainable living, alternative energy, and other helpful green solutions for the home. Check out our fun, informational video to learn more!

                                                      

1. When your computer is not in use, remember to put it to sleep, standby, or hibernate. 

2. Your office supplies can be green too! Try purchasing soy based ink toner, recycled content paper, or other eco-friendly supplies. Websites like TheGreenOffice.com sell thousands of products in effort to help sustain the environment. 

3. Simple acts when printing your documents can also aid in reducing your paper and ink waste. Start by printing double sided. By saving paper you are not only saving the environment, you are saving money. Another idea is the program CleanPrint, it eliminates text and photos when printing from a browser saving both paper and ink.

WATCH OUR VIDEO ABOUT
SAVING PAPER WHEN PRINTING

4. "Use 'Ecofont' with your printer. It reduces ink usage due to its tiny pin-prick size holes in each letter. Up to 20% less ink is used when printing with Ecofont, thus reducing waste by increasing the life of your ink cartridges". (via bonafideGreenGoods.com).

5. Much of energy waste come from electronics when they are not in use. It can be estimated that up to 75% of the electricity used from electronics is energy used while they are considered "off" or in standby. To reduce this waste, consider using "smart" power strips. Some are created to be set by a timer, while others sense when your computer goes into sleep mode or is turned off. They can be found at most electronic retailers. 

6. Check out other energy saving and eco-friendly home decorating tips.

7. Want more ways to save paper? Around 44% of all junk mail you receive is thrown way. Simply remove yourself from junk mail lists to save on wasted paper.

Statistics and Research via EnergyStar.gov | HubPages.com | RealEstate.MSN.com | bonafideGreenGoods.com

1. Did you know, heating accounts for on average 45% of your utility bills? Not only does this cost you money, but also takes a toll on the environment. There are many alternative energy solutions for heating your home, and when put into action can greatly reduce the amount of energy you use in your household.

2. Take a few minutes to conduct a Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit.

3. Next time you leave your living room, think about unplugging! Some appliances when left plugged in may only use a small amount of energy, but when accumulated together can add up to a lot. Take the time to unplug devices such as your televisions, DVD players, VCRs, radios, and lamps. Want an alternative? Try using devices and appliances already built in with energy saving features, or simply plug everything into a power strip so it is easy and quick to switch off when everything is not in use.

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UNPLUGGING ELECTRONICS

4. Redecorating? Opt for thin curtains on your windows. While they still maintain privacy, they can also help reduce your energy by letting in natural light. Try other energy saving and eco-friendly home decorating tips.

5. Replace the light bulbs throughout your home for an easy and cost effective way to save energy. If your not ready to commit to them throughout, try to locate the top 5 bulbs used in your home. Compact Fluorescent light bulbs can last up to 10 times longer than standard bulbs, and use up to 75% less energy.

6. While your thinking about lighting, understand the process of Choosing the Right Light. 

Statistics and Research via Energy.gov | DailyFinance.com | EnergyStar.gov | HomePower.com

1. Keep your furnace from costing you more money through wasted energy. There are many ways to make your furnace more efficient, and alternative energy solutions for heating your home.

2. Have you ever considered turning down your hot water heater? 

3. Whenever possible, line dry your clothes. Dryers make up a large portion of your home's energy use, and cutting back your use can save energy and money. By using a clothesline and using your dryer sensibly you have the potential to save around $130 a year.

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LINE DRYING CLOTHES

4. Avoid harsh chemicals by purchasing eco-friendly cleaning products. This simple switch can provide you with both health and environmental benefits. There are a variety of them out there, and are just as effective as the chemical based cleaners used by the majority. Another cleaning product alternative is using white distilled vinegar. Due to its acidity, it is effective in killing germs on many surfaces. There are many ways to use this environmentally friendly cleaner, many of which can be found on VinegarTips.org. 

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MAKING YOUR OWN VINEGAR CLEANER

5. Wash full loads when doing your laundry. Reducing the amount of loads you wash each week is one way to save both water and money. Skipping one load each week can save you over 10% on your laundry costs. 

6. "The department of energy estimates that up to 90% of the energy used during laundry goes to heating the water! Conserve energy (and save some money) by washing your clothes in cold water." (brightnest.com).

Statistics and Research via Energywise.govt.nz | RealSimple.com | BrightNest.com

1. Have you ever considered turning down your hot water heater? 

2. One large contributor to water usage in your home is your toilet. Low-flow toilets are one option to save hundreds of gallons of water. Make sure your plumbing system can handle a low-flow toilet, then check out these 5 tips for choosing a low-flow toilet so your home can become even more efficient. 

3. You may also benefit from updating to a low-flow shower head. With just a little research, it will be easy to narrow down which shower head would work in your climate. There are two basic kinds- aerating and laminar-flow. Both are great options to reduce your home's water usage. 

4. There are so many ways you can cut water usage in your bathroom and in your house! Here are 100+ Ways to Conserve Water.

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SAVING WATER 

5. ThisOldHouse.com gives a great tip for stopping water loss by your toilet. They instruct to "Pour food coloring into the water in the tank, wait two hours, then check to see if any color has seeped into the bowl. If it has, your tank's flapper is leaking, either from mineral buildup or warn parts. After you flush the dye away so it doesn't stain, head to the hardware store for a replacement flapper assembly (then go to thisoldhouse.com for instructions on how to install it.) Toilet leaks waste up to a gallon of water per minute. Thats more than 43,000 gallons a month". 

Statistics and Research via Energy.gov | WaterUseItWisely.com | ThisOldHouse.com

1. Everyone wants their homes to look their best, and the kitchen is no exception. When redecorating, try a few energy saving and eco-friendly home decorating tips. Not only will your space look its best, but you'll be saving the environment along the way. 

2. Before you run your dishwasher, make sure it is full to minimize any waste. (Dishes are not the only things you can clean in the dishwasher). Also once the dishwasher has ran, turn off the drying cycle to let the contents air dry. This simple act can save up to 1,200 watts per dry cycle.

3. Have you ever thought about turning down your hot water heater? 

4. When cooking be mindful of what pots and pans you use to prepare your meals. Pots that are too small for the burners can cause you to use more energy that you realize. Using the microwave to heat something instead of the oven, and the use of glass pans can also help reduce you energy use. 

5. Unplug any appliances when they aren't in use. Coffeemakers and toasters are perfect examples of what to unplug. Check out others- 25 appliances you can unplug to save electricity.

6. When it comes to appliances, another step to take is to make sure they are not hogging energy. Appliances can be responsible for around 18% of your energy bill. The biggest culprit? Your fridge. For any appliances that are more than 10 years old, it is suggested that you take the step and purchase a new, energy efficient model, ones marked with the "Energy Star" logo. This can save from 10%-50% less energy and water used in your household. 

7. There are so many ways you can cut water usage in your kitchen and in your house! Here are 100+ Ways to Conserve Water.

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SAVING WATER WHEN WASHING DISHES

8. Reusable shopping bags are a must! Keep them in the back of your car for every time you go shopping - no more wasting paper or plastic. 

9. When boiling water, invest in a glass "Pot Watcher". Its saves energy by keeping you from letting your water boil for too long. When your water starts to boil, the disk will clatter which lets you know your water is ready to use. 

10. Check your fridge's temperature. It should be between 37 and 40 degrees, and your freezer should be between 0 and 5 degrees. Keeping them only 10 degrees cooler than necessary  can raise your energy use by 25%.

Statistics and Research via EnergizeCorvallis.org | RealEstate.MSN.com | WaterUseItWisely.com | bonafideGreenGoods.com | ThisOldHouse.com

1. If you have the means, you should really consider buying a hybrid or electric car. While hybrids have benefits, the very best car you can have in your garage is an electric vehicle (or EV). These cars run solely on electricity. They are controlled by an electric motor powered by rechargeable battery packs. Click here to find out more. 

2. If buying a new car is not in your budget, there are many alternative solutions that you can use to make your car use less gas, and therefore be more eco-friendly. 

3. Having a sustainable garage does not just have to include making green choices for your vehicle! There are many different options for those who would like to have power-tools and other equipment that is better for the environment. A few of these options include reel or electric lawnmowers, cordless chain-saws, and battery-operated drills. 

4. Try buying refurbished models of tools for your garage. It's like large-scale recycling!

5. If you know you don't have any reason to actually own your own power-tools, the best thing you can do is rent or borrow them. If you have good relationships with your neighbors, ask them if you start a tool swapping program with them. Each family can buy one or two eco-friendly power-tools and then the entire cluster of neighbors can share with one another. 

Otherwise, renting is a great form of green tool usage. Not only is this option saving the planet, but it also saves money. Rather than owning a set of tools that you will hardly use and that will take up space, you can rent the tools you need when you need them, from rental companies--like your local home improvement store, such as Home Depot or Lowes. Here is a list of 8 tools you should rent, not buy. 

6. Your garage flooring can also go green if you use recycled vinyl tile. 

7. Last but not least, there are green garage doors. These doors have recycled wood, are sturdier, add insulation value to your garage and house, and--of course--help the environment! 

Statistics and Research via HowStuffWorks.com |Houzz.com | EagleMat.com | HomeDepot.com

 Lowes.com | MowersDirect.com | StihlUSA.com 

1. An affordable option for solar power is solar powered landscaping lights. There are many options out there, and take advantage of the sun's energy.

WATCH OUR VIDEO ABOUT
SOLAR LIGHTS

2. Another energy saving option for your backyard is motion sensors for your outdoor lights. Not only are they convenient, but are energy efficient. 

3. Have you ever heard of Energy Efficient Landscaping? 

4. Make your garden a little more green. Skip the synthetic fertilizers and try a compost. Your plants will still be healthy, without being exposed to such harsh chemicals the fertilizers carry. Using native plants will also help create a more environmentally friendly garden - they have adapted to the local environment and help support native animals (according to realestate.msn.com). 

5. If your lawn is smaller, you can upgrade from a gas powered lawnmower to an electric or manual model, which can save in fuel costs and emissions. 

6. Also, by strategically placing shade trees around your yard, you can have a positive effect in your home's energy use by blocking unwanted sunlight. 

7. Solar Hot Tubbing?

8. Your swimming pool can also be energy efficient when you consider the alternative approaches you can take to heating it.

Statistics and Research via EnergyCircle.com | RealEstate.MSN.com | HowStuffWorks.com | HomePower.com

Windows today an incredible decision when considering your home's potential in saving energy. The right window has the capability of slowing heat loss, delivering natural light, slowing unwanted heat gain, and admitting passive solar heat. Depending on your climate and your home's needs, there are many options. This article about Looking Through the Options on windows helps you understand each option ad decide what is best for you.

Flooring can also be green. One eco-friendly flooring option is bamboo flooring. The addition of this type of flooring similar to hardwood is an environmentally friendly and cost effective. Bamboo is a highly renewable resource, and grows much faster than wood. You can shop bamboo flooring here.
You can explore other eco-friendly flooring on GreenAmerica.org.

When it comes to reducing energy use in you home, it can often be hard to know where to start. EPA.gov has an introduction to saving energy at home for new homeowners. They explain where to start, from roofing to energy star appliances. 

Location is a very important factor in having a green home, and according to beforeitsnews.com it's the Most Important Factor in Having a Green Home.They believe it's not what you build, but where you build.

Sustainable Furnishings Council helps you find a green manufacturer for most products and materials for your home.

When it comes to eco-friendly home decorating in your home, we have a page that covers the small, yet effective, steps you can take for an even "greener" home.

There are many different methods of alternative energy that can be accomplished throughout the nation. Two of the most popular are wind and solar power. By clicking on either of the pictures below you will be taken to a more in depth look at each of the alternative energy solutions.

For homeowners considering alternative energy, there are many options now, thanks to new improvements in technology everyday. Figuring out what alternative energy solution is right for you depends heavily on your geographical location. For information regarding the different types of alternative energy, this Homeowner's Guide to Alternative Energy expands on subjects ranging from solar, wind, geothermal, and even DIY alternative energy options. 

Depending on where you are from in the United States, there are different organizations created to aid you in becoming energy efficient in your home. Whether your climate is ideal for solar energy, wind energy, or another form of alternative energy, these programs specialize in finding the right solution for you. Click below on the region you call home to find links on alternative energy specific to your geographical location. 

Here on ECOdecor, we have a ton of information for you to

discover. We know going green can be a bit intimidating, so

we decided to put a few quick links here for some basic

actions that you can take in your daily routine to live

a more sustainable life. 

These links lead to various pages within our website's main

room-specific webpages. We hope that you find this helpful.
Simply click one of the buttons below to take you to the information that you seek:

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Check out these quick informational videos:

What is ECOdecor?

     

                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                            
                                         
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                       
                                                                             
                                               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                
                                                                                                         
                                                        

If you have any questions, comments, or advice that you think would be helpful for our website visitors, we encourage you to send them to ecodecorforthehome@gmail.com

We would love to hear any opinions of those reading our website, and are open to anything that could improve our content and visitor experience. 

Welcome to ECOdecor! We are glad that you are taking the first steps to living a greener life. We believe that anyone can turn their house into a sustainable living environment. All it takes is the implementation of a few lifestyle changes in combination with some eco-friendly solutions for the home. Here at ECOdecor, we know that every single part of your home has the potential of "going green" and we are determined to share with you every tip and trick there is.

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This website was created for the 2013 Website & Design Team competition for Business Professionals of America. Teammates Alicia Dutkiewicz and Sydney Septoski are members from the Tinley Park High School chapter, in Tinley Park, Illinois. 

Business Professionals of America is a national organization for students pursuing business-related careers. The mission of BPA is to contribute to the preparation of a world-class workforce through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic, and technological skills. 

BPA.org