Green Home Tips from Wanda Urbanska of Simple Living TV

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If you want to green your home, start with small changes in each room to reduce your carbon footprint and save on energy costs, as well. Wanda Urbanska of Simple Living TV recently sent her older home – the Sunflower House – to "green rehab" and she’s back at EcoSalon this week to share her tips.

Start your own home greening with these simple steps, then catch the show to learn even more.

Kitchen

Though you’ll want to eventually replace old appliances with energy-efficient models, one of the most important things to do in the kitchen is simpler than you think.

"The best thing you can do in the kitchen to be green is to cut the waste stream," explains Wanda. "For example, compost food scraps. I have a lovely white crock that stands on the counter and doesn’t even look like a compost. Another thing that’s important to do is to make recycling as easy as possible. I removed two lower shelves in my pantry to make room for recycling everything right in the kitchen."

Another way to cut the waste? Stop using disposable cleaning wipes, towels and napkins.

"We really have to get away from the throw-away habit," says Wanda. "Create a mental re-framing of what it means to clean. Unless you have a mess that’s really bad, or maybe a red wine spill that would stain your cleaning cloth permanently, stop using paper towels for basic cleanup. I keep a stack of cloths on hand for all sorts of cleaning purposes. If you make it close-at-hand, it’s easy to get into this habit."

Living Areas: Main Room, Dining Room, Den, Study

The keys to a welcoming green environment are energy conservation and organization.

“I’m dedicated to reducing energy leakage," says Wanda. “In Europe they have wonderful mechanisms – often a simple on/off button on the appliance – for this. You can turn off the source of the power without having to unplug the appliance. I recommend that you buy a wireless shutoff device – there are all kinds."

You can also install ceiling fans in the main living areas and bedrooms to improve air circulation, use energy more efficiently and freshen these highly-trafficked rooms. Wanda: "I’ve got a sun room that feels like it’s outdoors because it’s got gardening tools and various household items we use all the time. It gets a lot of use, and just having the air moving in the room makes such a huge difference so the room doesn’t feel stagnant. I don’t like noise, but the little whirr is comforting.”

Cut down on mental clutter, too, and make your home a place you want to spend time in, by focusing on organization.

“Have things well organized," recommends Wanda. "For example, in the study, I keep envelopes and stationery close at hand. I took out a standard closet and put in shelving to have a mini station for everything I need.”

Finally, don’t feel stressed to green all at once. "Buy used," says Wanda. "There’s nothing like the patina that older furniture acquires. Even new furniture is ‘used’ after just a few weeks, if you think about it." Look for ways to switch things seasonally – such as bedding, pillows and curtains, and don’t feel compelled to buy all new things. "Something we’ve gotten away from is slipcovers," notes Wanda. "This is a simple, and really green, way to keep your home feeling updated throughout the year."

Bedroom

Energy efficient lighting is a smart step in the bedroom. But don’t overlook "mental ecology", either. Make sure your  bedroom is a serene and calming space you look forward to being in.

"Having a streamlined space is so important. We Americans have had such a problem with over-consumption," says Wanda. It’s tempting to make the bedroom the repository for all the clutter we don’t want guests to see in the living room, but that’s not a happy option. "Get clutter under control by editing periodically – scarves, clothing, jewelry," advises Wanda. "For things you do want to keep you need to find a way to keep them well organized. Think of how we cram clothes – they get wrinkled and ruined. How much do we really wear anyway? We get little clothing ‘pets’, after all. I like to open my closet and see them hanging freely." The concept of buying and using less is healthy for the mind and pocketbook, but it’s also philosophically green.

A tangible green step in the bedroom is the simple decision to opt for organic, natural textiles, be they rugs, bedding, pillows or draperies. You might want to consider an eco-friendly mattress, if yours needs replacing.

Bathroom

There are the simple choices we all know: turn off water when brushing teeth, for example. But a few investments can make a big difference in your energy bill and carbon impact. Purchase a dual-control low-flush commode, and install a water-saving showerhead. (Wanda is personally surprised that at this point, building codes aren’t up to eco-snuff. "I think all new bathrooms in the country should be outfitted with efficient commodes," she says. I agree!)

Another way to green your bathroom is to – of course – clear the clutter. While this won’t save on your energy bill, it will create a welcoming, more spa-like environment, and help you to shift your perspective to a simpler, greener point of view. "We have all this stuff, and we are trying to accommodate all we own – rather than asking “Ëœwhat’s best for the space?’," says Wanda. "In the Sunflower House we sourced a locally made hardwood Provence-style vanity with a Madeira gold local granite top, and I am determined not to allow that countertop to get cluttered. I’ve installed a shelving unit behind for my makeup, hair dryer, and everything I need so it’s out of sight but in easy reach."

Wanda also recommends an eco-friendly mat of bamboo, jute, vetiver or another natural fiber, as well as organic cotton or bamboo toweling. And a grace note any bathroom can use: art. "Bring in one quality piece," says Wanda, "and you’ll transform your bath into a spa-like experience."

The Message: Perfection Is Not Authentic (or Green)

"Make improvements gradually," recommends Wanda. "You can get to know what you enjoy and what you really need, and work on it little by little. Nothing needs to be instant. Your house is always a work in progress – you’ll never be done. In a way, if it’s done, then it ceases to be alive."

Image: courtesy VivaTerra