How green can your home be? That is the question the DIY Network asks in their recently aired hour-long special Green Me Up.
Two families, the Willises and Petersons, are pitted against each other to see who can transform their home into greener pastures in one month’s time. At the end of the month, their homes were judged by Tom Watson, a Seattle green expert with the winning family receiving an electric car.
In order to help jump start their green living, both families had three days to implement as many changes as possible where they were assisted by contractors and the show’s co-hosts. They were also given over $10,000 worth of green products. After the three days, the rest of the "greenification" was completely up to the families.
Some of the solutions for both homes included installing dual-flush toilets, low-flow shower heads, Energy Star appliances -- which meet strict guidelines set by the EPA -- insulating the attic using materials made from 80 percent recycled paper and something as simple as changing light bulbs.
Did you happen to catch Green Me Up? Were there any tips given which you already implement in your home or are thinking about doing? Do you think you could make your home greener?
The special will air again on August 5th and 6th.
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
Just watched the show. Interesting if simplistic.
We were REALLY surprised that you replaced a top-loading washing machine with another top-loader. VS. a front-loader. That seems so obvious, but you missed it. Water efficiency is also important (not just energy efficiency).
Olive oil for wood furniture polish. Not so much. In our experience as woodworkers (well, my husband), walnut oil, mineral oil, butcher-block oil, yes; OLIVE OIL may go rancid very quickly. The WikiHow page on olive oil furniture polish indicates the olive oil should be combined with either lemon juice or vinegar, and that it's not appropriate for use on "shiny" (closed surface) finishes, which that dresser was.
Water heaters were not mentioned.
No mention made of the DISadvantages of compact fluorescents. Like flicker-and-hum sensitivity, strange color of the light they give off, and recycling issues (mercury content means they have to be actively recycled).
Why the canard about cotton t-shirts? What's the alternative? Petroleum-based synthetic fabrics?
We generally approve of the recent spate of shows on building, living, re-modeling, decorating, etc. "green", but are concerned about the quality of some of the information being disseminated.
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