Does living green really save you money? 

Is it possible to keep your home toxin free?

We are committed to sharing the answers to these and many more of your questions.  It is our hope that you will also share with us your ideas and the thoughtful choices you make for the place we think matters the most - your home.

What is the very first step you should take in creating an eco-friendly home?

We have created a Green Home Makeover Checklist that will help you to see how efficiently your home operates. It shows you areas where you can make changes that will reduce the amount of energy your home requires to be comfortable and at the same time save you money. 
If you live in the Seattle-Puget Sound area we can perform a Green Home Makeover Consultation. 

Do you know what it means to go green?  Take our quiz and see!

2) What water conservation task can you do that will cost you nothing, but save a family of four $124.00 per year?             
    a)   wash clothes in cold water where possible
    b)   locate your water main valve and know how to turn it off 
    c)   reduce your hot water temperature from 140 to 120 degrees

3) How much energy will you save by recycling one glass container?  Enough to light a 100-watt bulb for: 
    a)   1 hour 
    b)   2 hours 
    c)   4 hours

4) How much plastic would we keep out of landfills if every plastic bottle was recycled?                    
    a)   500,000 tons
    b)   1 billion tons
    c)   2 billion tons 

5) How many gallons of water per year does a typical leaky toilet tank waste?          
    a)   250 gallons    
    b)   1,250 gallons
    c)   5,850 gallons

6) What colorless, odorless and tasteless gas is found naturally in the soil and may pose a serious health risk to you and your family?
    a)  Argon
    b)  Carbon monoxide
    c)  Radon

7) Smart power strips eliminate vampire power.  What is vampire power?                
    a)   energy used at night 
    b)   power that TV cable boxes and peripheries use even when not in use           

8) All energy-efficient refrigerators are created equal.
    a)  true 
    b)  false

9) VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound.   
    a)  true
    b)  false  

10) All colors of paints are equal in the amount of VOCs they output.  
    a)  true
    b)  false

Quiz Answers:
   
1.  You only need to adjust your thermostat by 2 degrees to have an impact on your energy bills in both the warmer and colder seasons.

2.  If you reduce the temperature of your hot water heater from 140 degrees to 120 degrees it will save a family of four $124.00 per year.

3.  Recycling one glass container will save enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for 4 hours.

4.  If every plastic bottle we used were recycled it would keep 2 billion tons of plastic out of our landfills.

5.  A typical leaky toilet can waste as much as 5,850 gallons of water per year.

6.  Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is known to be a cause of lung cancer.

7.  Vampire power is energy used by TV cable boxes, computer peripheries, and game systems that are left on standby.

8.  Heat rises and cold falls so a refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom is more energy efficient.

9.  Use non- or low-VOC products for better indoor air quality. The toxicity of conventional paints, thinners, adhesives, and sealers is evident in that familiar smell.

10. All paint colors are not equal.  Darker-colored paints output more VOC’s and also fade faster.

Homeowners in 2009 are choosing eco-friendly options increasing their homes efficiency by reducing the amount of electricity and gas needed, which helps to make their homes less expensive to live in.  The small changes each of us make will have a positive effect on the health and well being of our families and ourselves.