When I was a kid, I remember asking for a skylight in my bedroom just because I thought they were cool, not because I was interested in saving energy or natural lighting.  My parents looked at each other, then looked at me, and issued a resounding “No!”.  Too bad for me.  I bet I would have had a little better luck if there were Sun Tunnel skylights back then.

Sun Tunnel tubular skylights install in your roof allowing sunlight to shine through a highly reflective tunnel and then into your home.  On the inside, a Sun Tunnel skylight looks very much like a typical light fixture. These skylights are a green lighting option for small spaces like closets, and bathrooms, or anywhere you want to add natural lighting.  What a sleek looking way to conserve energy and live green!  Visit Velux for more information on Sun Tunnel skylights.

Whether you use a dishwasher, or you do your dishes the old-fashioned way, there are a few things you can do to conserve energy and save water in your home.

Dishwashers:  If you use a dishwasher, you can save water by scraping your dishes rather than rinsing them before you put them in the dishwasher .  If your dishwasher has a heat dry option, turn it off to save energy, and allow you dishes to air dry.  Also, wait until you have a full load of dishes before running your dishwasher.  Your dishwasher uses the same amount of energy and water regardless of the load size, so make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.  Choose a phosphate-free dishwasher detergent to reduce pollution. Need a new one?  Here’s help for selecting a  green dishwasher.

Kitchen Sink:  If you do your dishes in the kitchen sink, fill one side with soapy water, then one side with rinse water, and rinse by dipping the soapy dishes into the water on the rinsing side.  Avoid letting the water run the entire time you are doing dishes.   You can also install a sink aerater on your kitchen faucet for conserving water. Phosphate free dish soap for doing dishes by hand is widely available.

Source:  Care 2 Make a Difference

With all the recent publicity surrounding CFL light bulbs, it’s easy to forget about LED lighting as a green choice for environmentally friendly homes. Thanks to advancements in technology, LED lighting is becoming more affordable and used in more household light fixtures. Here are just a few of the benefits of LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes).

Longer-Lasting: LED lights blast the competition when it comes to longevity. According to some reports, LEDs last 10 times longer than CFLs, and last more than a hundred times longer than incandescent light bulbs. In addition, LED light fixtures can help you save money by conserving energy in your green home.

Cool to the Touch: LED lights, including LED flashlights and LED Christmas lights, operate on very little power, allowing them to burn cool and reduce the risks of children being burned and accidental fire.

Compatible with Solar Panels: If you’re making the green energy switch to a solar-powered home, you may want to consider LED lighting. Because they use such little electricity, LEDs are a great option for use with solar panels.

See more information about LED lighting.

Cork flooring is both an environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient flooring option for your home. Here’s more information about this green flooring material:

How It’s Harvested: Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork tree, which is native to the Mediteranean. Cork to be used for flooring is cut into large flat panels. Cork harvesting is is an environmentally friendly process, as only the bark of the tree is used, and the tree is not harmed. Cork trees produce a new layer of cork for harvesting every 5-7 years.

How It’s Installed: Cork flooring installation is similar to the installation of wood flooring. It can be glued down or installed as a tongue and groove “floating floor”. Cork flooring is often treated with natural sealants for easy cleaning.

Cork Flooring Benefits: In addition to being a smart choice for any green remodeling project, cork flooring is sound absorbent, all natural, and energy-efficient. Cork flooring is warm to the touch and will help you conserve energy by acting as a natural insulator.

Cork floors cost about the same as hardwood floors. Here’s more info about cork flooring.

With much of America in the hottest part of the summer, electric meters are no doubt whirling in response to the increased energy demands of the air conditioners in millions of American homes. Here are a few quick tips for conserving energy and saving money on energy costs this summer. First, change the filter on your air conditioning unit often. A dirty air conditioner filter causes your unit to work harder and use more energy. A second tip for reducing summer energy costs is to conserve energy by purchasing a programmable thermostat for your air conditioner. Is it really necessary to chill the house down to 68 degrees all night long? Chances are you’ll never notice giving the air conditioner a break in the wee morning hours, and you’ll be saving energy and avoiding high summertime electric bills. A third tip for reducing the amount of energy you use in the summer is to open the windows. Sometimes we get so busy that we forget to check the outside weather to see if we really need the air conditioner all the time. Opening the windows in the evening hours is a great way to save energy and allow you home to breathe a little. As the summer sun glows, every little bit you do to conserve energy is helpful to the environment and will save you cash.