Popular “green” features

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I can’t imagine I’m the only one that enjoys reading their facebook memories on a regular basis. It’s partially why I post on facebook in the first place. Looking at the memories is a nice way to start my day, reflecting and often times smiling at the fun or lame posts over the years. I recently saw a memory that I posted 4 years ago asking people what is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear about a “Green” home. Here are the top 3 most popular responses:

Reducing trash/zero waste living

Energy efficient

Solar panels

I’m glad to see these are popular themes. The top 2 are habits you can create pretty easily, one step at a time. Solar panels require more of an investment and do not always bring an immediate return, but more on that in a separate post. First, let’s discuss how to reduce your waste and create a more efficient home.

My first rule of thumb; to create less waste, you need to buy less things. Try to repair and reuse before buying new. And also, think about if you actually need it, or just want it.

Plastic bottles, plastic bags, food wrappers and cigarette butts are among the most common items to become liter. So let’s start with out to reduce those items.

Plastic bottle should be easy- use reusable bottles! I’m certainly not perfect with this, but if I do get a plastic bottle, I try to at least reuse it a few times. And obviously recycle the bottle when I’m done. It just takes a little more thought and planning to fill your reusable bottle with water, soda or coffee before leaving the house. This will save you money and reduce overall waste. If you do need to purchase a beverage while out, aim for aluminum and glass as those are more often recycled.

Secondly are plastic bags. Again- some planning and creating new habits. Many of us are being forced to create this habit with new local municipalities banning plastic bags. I’m a fan! But also don’t fall victim of buying the store reusable bags every time- bring your own. Again- less waste and you’ll save money in the long run.

Reducing food wrappers is harder, especially if you have kids. I get it. Assess where you are personally struggling in this area and then make tweaks. For me, it’s snacks. I aim to pack lunches with homemade items. I know some people are good with making your own granola bars and cookies. Another option that I use since again, I’m not perfect, is using a 3rd party recycling company that will properly recycle the wrappers. For example, I use Rabbit Recycling and include the foil lined snack wrappers in my monthly pick up. I’m sure there is a better solution for the area you need to improve and if you need help, reach out to me, I’d love to help find a solution with you.

As for cigarette butts, well the quick answer is to not smoke. There is no benefit. However, I’m sympathetic to those that do smoke and suggest you alway throw out butts, never liter. Also, if you can collect and have Terracycle recycle them. Check out this fact from their website:

“Did you know cigarette butts are the world’s most littered item, with about 4.5 trillion cigarettes discarded each year worldwide and 9.7 billion cigarette butts discarded along roadways and waterways in the United States? And most cigarette filters are made of plastic fibers, which don’t break down naturally and will persist in our environment when littered.”

Next, how to create a more efficient home. You know I like to try to keep it easy and simple so you can actually make a change. To be more efficient, you should use less energy. A few simple things you can do to use less electricity in your home: Utilize the sunlight instead of turning on lights. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Don’t keep things such as toasters or irons plugged in when not in use. And use a programmable thermostat for more efficient heating and cooling.

Beyond daily habits, here are a few other suggestions to be more efficient:

– When an appliance breaks or dies, buy an Energy Star options.

– Have your heater and AC serviced yearly

– Caulk to seal cracks along windows and doors

– Install low flow shower heads and faucets

My intention for this post is to encourage people to be mindful and take action. You don’t have to do it all, but if everyone tries to be a little better at reducing their own waste and becoming more efficient, it will make a difference.

Keep an eye out for my next post talking about solar.

Sustainable kitchen trends

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Over the last few years, many of us are updating and transforming our homes. Putting money, time and personal touches into our current home, rather than moving is a trend I’ve seen in my own neighborhood and clients. This is one of the benefits of owning a home right, making it yours! I was excited to see this new study showing a growing trend in consumers choosing sustainable options for kitchen updates. This is exactly WHY I started this blog- to educate and inspire making your home more sustainable.

The 2024 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study found that 91% of respondents chose at least one sustainable option for their kitchen renovation, with 71% citing the cost-effectiveness of the choice as a reason, 55% environmentally friendly and 13% for health reasons. I can’t deny my frustration at only 13% referencing health reasons, but I think that’s more because people aren’t educated around the importance of choosing healthy materials.

Check out the top sustainability features:

•    LED lightbulbs (67%)
•    Energy-efficient appliances (62%)
•    Timeless design (47%)
•    Light dimmers (47%)
•    Water-efficient fixtures (32%)
•    Energy-efficient windows (28%)
•    VOC-free paints, finishes, and coatings (22%)
•    Eco-friendly flooring (16%)
•    Eco-friendly materials (13%)
•    Nontoxic, sustainable cabinets (11%)
•    Recycled materials (6%)
•    Hired an eco-focused professional (3%)

Energy efficiency is also important in choosing appliances, with 22% of respondents saying it’s a primary factor. This is important as it helps with long terms utility bills and overall budget.

From the list above, I’m surprised to see only 22% are choosing VOC free paints. Low to no VOC paints are easy to come by, affordable and really important to choose over traditional paint. They are paint options that are better for you, yet could be harder to find or pricier, such as mineral based paints. If you can go that route, please do. Choosing paints with less chemicals is good for both the person painting and the people living in the home (which could be the same person!). As a reminder, paints that use VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are harmful to our bodies and the environment due to their polluting chemicals. The EPA reports that VOCs can lead to adverse health effects like eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, allergies and may even damage your liver, kidneys and central nervous system. Not good.

More options from the list that are good for sustainability and the health of your home are choosing eco-friendly materials and flooring. Both are a great way to improve your indoor air quality. If you need to change out the flooring (again, reuse is best for sustainability- use what you have), aim for solid wood, natural linoleum, cork, bamboo, tile and stone. If you are blessed with lovely hardwoods, refinish with water based finish. We used Marmoluem in our laundry/powder room renovation and I love it. For other materials, one thing we did was to repurpose wood to create open shelving and painted our solid cabinets instead of replacing. For countertops, look for reclaimed wood or quartz options. Other materials to consider changing out are also what you are actually cooking with. Maybe it’s time for a refresh in pots and pans or cooking utensils.

Hopefully these idea gets you thinking about some tweaks you can do that don’t involve a complete renovation too. As light bulbs go out, switch to LED. As appliances die, look for the most energy efficient options. Small steps will reap rewards. If you want more ideas or a one on one consultation to make your kitchen or other rooms more happy & healthy, please contact me.

Aging in your home

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I have been working on updating a presentation for an class I’m teaching in a few weeks. The class is focused on educating older adults on how to safely age in their current homes, while also increasing the value in their home. Think, simple tweaks they can do to enhance their living and even major modifications to consider. I haven’t done the presentation in some time due to COVID stopping all in person presentations and then COVID also resulting in a crazy busy market. But, I have missed educating and helping the community, so I’m excited to get back at it!

During my new research, I’m realizing that many of the smaller tweaks and alternations are actually good for a ‘happy and healthy’ home too! So I want to share some things you can do to your home to improve your functionality and lifestyle.

First is lighting. Both indoor and outdoor lighting are important for your safety and every day necessities. Also, as you age, eyesight decreases in a number of ways. For the outdoors try solar lights along walkways and around outdoor entertaining spaces. This way you use the power of the sun to light them up in the evening. You could also do motion sensor lighting for added safety and ambiance. Inside, natural light is great for during the day. Plus it’s free to use! But, you want to add layer lighting inside as the sun goes down and in darker areas of your home. Place table lamps or floor lamps near spaces you enjoy such as a reading nook, by the piano and by your bed. Also, recessed lighting with dimmers come in handy and people of any age appreciate those. LED lights and lightbulbs are more energy efficient and there are a ton of options these days.

Another improvement would be to declutter. This is one of my favorite suggestions when selling a home, downsizing and to improve the energy/chi in your home. Plus, it’s free and you could potentially even make some money if you try selling items. Decluttering is so important for aging in place to make maneuvering around rooms and hallways easier and safer, especially when needing a cane or walker. In addition to safety, small tables, knick knacks and ‘stuff’ around collects dust, which negatively affects your indoor air quality. Spend a few hours a week, focusing on one room at a time to remove unwanted and unnecessary items. It takes time, so give yourself time and grace. And if you need it, want it or treasure it, you don’t need to get rid of it. But make sure the flow of the rooms is easy and positive.

Another area to consider as your aging and an added bonus to the environment, is to consider public transportation as eyesight, hearing loss and mobility decreases. Look to car sharing, trains and buses to get to social activities and appointments. This isn’t a home improvement, but something to keep in mind if you are relocating to ensure this is an option in your community. Walkability is also good for your health, both physically and mentally. I know our township has a great free shuttle option and has made some sidewalk and trail improvements. Check out the municipality and even your county for options and embrace public transportation as much as you can.

There are many more way to ‘thrive in place’ that I’ll continue to share over the next few months. And if you have other suggestions, I’m always looking to learn- please follow me on Instagram and send a DM- @KellysHealthyHome.

Hemp, Linen and Cotton- Oh My!

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Are you curious about the fabric choices out there to create a happy and healthy home? It’s top of mind right now for me, so I thought I’d share some helpful tips.

Over the last 6 months, our adorable, sweet, destroying puppy Charlie has chewed a lot of things. One of his favorite ‘treats’ is to nibble on pillows and blankets. Now, I do practice what I preach and have sewn many to salvage them-restore & reuse, right?! Actually my husband helped sew one of my favorite (aka a little more expensive) blankets this weekend- he’s the best!

But some things were straight up-destroyed. So when I find myself needing to replace, I aim to support companies that have high standards as well.

What I like to look for when shopping are companies that are ethical and sustainable. A label you might see on food and textiles is “Fair Trade.” According to Fairtradeamerica.org, “Fairtrade puts more money into the hands of farmers and workers through a unique pricing model, sets and monitors rigorous standards at every step of the supply chain, supports producers through local and regional expert networks, and creates demand for ethical goods in countries like the US.” I like this as it’s ensuring the employees are treated and paid fairly. It’s a reminder that all of our ‘stuff’ comes from somewhere. It’s grown, manufactured, boxed, shipped and delivered. All of those components have employees and also creates waste– hence why I don’t like to by new if I don’t have to.

The type of material is important for toxins ands overall sustainability too. For example, cotton really isn’t super sustainable, it requires a lot of water and resources. Certified organic cotton, is better for the soil with less chemicals, better for farmers and requires third party certificate. If you want cotton, look for GOTS or BCI certifications. Other great materials are Hemp and Linen. Hemp is a wonderfully diverse plant. It is  one of the fastest growing plants and doesn’t need herbicides or pesticides. It can be grown with less land and a third of the water used for cotton as well as sturdier than cotton. It’s a great option for pillows, blankets and clothes. Linen, comes from the fibers of the flax plant: it thrives in poor-quality conditions, requires less water than cotton, and doesn’t need fertilizer’s and pesticides. Both linen and cotton are biodegradable.

I have zero affiliation, but am a true fan of West Elm for their sustainability fabric options. When searching for bedding, look at the filter options! I have the European Flax Linen Blanket- definitely recommend! I just bought pillow covers for our living room to replace our eaten ones (eye roll…).

There are plenty of other great companies that are GOTS or BCI certified such as Avocado, PACT, plus many more option. Simply search for specific certifications and types of items you’re looking for and the internet will deliver.

Wondering what the least sustainable materials are? Cotton, silk, wool and leather. As a vegan, I won’t buy or wear three of those, but beyond my ethics, they also require a lot of resources, water and chemicals to grow and process. If you love a leather couch for example, check out second hand first!

Now, wish me luck in having my new items last for many many years! #dogmom

Radon 101

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Let’s dive into a conversation about radon, a radioactive gas, and emphasize the significance of assessing your home for radon. Additionally, I’ll explain effective methods for mitigating unsafe radon levels if detected.

So why is it so important to test our homes for radon?

According to the DEP, radon is responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths nationwide each year, making it the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless gas that is naturally released from rocks, soil and water. It can enter homes and buildings through cracks, holes and buildup in the air. So basically, you don’t know if you have it unless you test for it!

I’ve read that the winter months are a great time to test due to the colder weather. Did you know that many things can affect radon levels such as; shifting climatic conditions, temperature, atmospheric pressure, precipitation and even construction or reconstruction. That is why it’s good to test every few years.

Locally, across Pennsylvania, all 67 counties have experienced exposure to radon, with some areas more affected by the gas than others. The DEP says central Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley and counties surrounding Pittsburgh are the most severely affected, with the Lehigh Valley in particular having the highest radon level in the world. Yikes! Personally, I see high levels and mitigation systems in probably over half the homes I sell each year in the Philadelphia area.

Radon is measured by picocuries per liter of air – referred to as pCi/L – which measures the speed of decay in radon. In other words, it measures its level of radioactivity, with a higher pCi/L being more dangerous to health.

If you test and have over 4 pCi/L, don’t worry. It can be mitigated fairly easily.

Check out this list of state-certified testers and mitigators..

The photo to the left shows a simple diagram of the process to mitigate. This is a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. Sealing foundation cracks and other openings makes this
kind of system more effective and cost-efficient. This is what I mostly see in our area.

The EPA has a great brochure outlining more information about radon, how to test and how to find professionals: A citizens guide to radon.pdf

Make it a priority this month to either hire a professional to test or buy a test from the local hardware store. Doing a simple radon test is part of making your home a happy and healthy place.