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Living Room
Thermostate
- Install programmable thermostats, such as those with the ENERGY STAR label, that allow for nighttime and vacation setbacks.
Fireplace
- Wood-burning fireplaces increase the cozy feel of a room, but contribute to poor indoor and outdoor air quality. A fire burning in an open fireplace is the least efficient way to heat your home because 90 percent of the heat goes up the chimney with the smoke.
- Install a carbon monoxide (CO) detector for houses with a wood- or gas-burning stove or fireplace. CO detectors warn residents when CO levels reach unhealthy levels. They are inexpensive and relatively easy to install. Detectors should be placed near fireplaces and near bedrooms.
- Don't use your fireplace when a burn ban is in effect (unless it is fueled by natural gas or propane).
- Change to a certified wood stove, a wood pellet stove, or a high-efficiency gas fireplace.
- Install tight-fitting glass doors to increase the overall efficiency of an existing fireplace
- Consider installing one or more fireplace devices, such as a flue top damper, air vents, heat exchangers and/or a fireplace insert with a blower, which can significantly improve efficiency and the heat circulation.
Wall surfaces
Painting is an inexpensive way to drastically change the look and feel of a space.
- Choose low-toxic, low-VOC paints since they are safer to handle, easier to clean up and do not emit harmful fumes as they dry.
- Consider lighter-colored paints to reduce artificial lighting needs.
- Select clay plaster as an alternative to paint to create a rich, natural texture. Unlike traditional plaster, newer clay plaster is easy to apply and durable. As a finish material, it is breathable, mold resistant, hypo-allergenic and low-toxic.
Lighting
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) instead of standard light bulbs and ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures when installing new fixtures. CFLs last 10 times longer and modern CFLs have comparable sizes and colors to incandescents.
- Dimmers can also help save energy if used correctly. Dimmers allow the user to change the amount of light to suit their needs and can and extend the life of the light bulb. Be sure to select dimmer-compatible CFLs.
- Consider timers, occupancy sensors or motion detectors, especially in rooms where lights are frequently left on.
Carbon monoxide detector
- Install a carbon monoxide (CO) detector near your wood or gas-burning stove or fireplace
- CO detectors warn residents when CO levels reach unhealthy levels. They are inexpensive and relatively easy to install
Floors
- If considering carpet, look for carpet, padding, and adhesives that are labeled as emitting less volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Off-gassing from carpet is particularly problematic immediately after installation.
- During its use, carpet attracts allergens, such as pet hair and dust, which can be reduced by choosing a low-pile carpet.
- Carpet tile products can be installed easily without harmful adhesives, worn or stained tiles can be replaced individually unlike broadloom products, and tiles often can be recycled.
- Natural fiber carpets, such as wool or jute, are typically better for indoor air quality than synthetic carpets.
- You may want to avoid carpets altogether and choose smooth flooring, such as linoleum, cork, tile or wood.
- Look for recycled-content flooring products.
Additional resources
Furniture
- Greener Lifestyles
Provides product information on sustainable and less–toxic home furniture
- Urban Hardwoods
This local company sells furniture made from reclaimed urban trees
Wall surfaces
CO detector
Other
Note: links to external sites include educational resources and businesses that are partners of existing or former King County Solid Waste Division environmental programs. If your business offers environmentally friendly home remodeling products or services, and you would like to be listed as a resource in the Eco-Cool Remodel Tool, please contact the EcoConsumer program online.
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