In honor of Earth Day, April 22, we’re going to take a tour through the HGTV Green Home! Not only is this home beautiful, it’s earth friendly. And you could even have a one-in-a-million chance of winning it!

This model of a home is located in the town of Tradition in Port St. Lucie, Florida (near West Palm Beach). The location was selected because of it’s walkable atmosphere — almost everything in the town is accessible by foot, offering a very sustainable lifestyle.

The house planner, Jack Thomasson, who selected the site said, “I wanted to find a place where we could send a sort of message: Every home here wasn’t meant to be a green home, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t come in to a neighborhood and make your home green.”

The beautiful furniture in the home is made from either reclaimed/salvaged wood, recycled materials (like metal and paper), sustainable wood, organic cotton and earth friendly fabrics. All the paint in the home is low VOC (Volatile organic compound) from Sherwin Williams (no VOC paints are also available from some manufacturers), and the carpet is recycled and recyclable from Shaw.

The home is one-story with four bedrooms, three baths, foyer/study, a great room and an amazing gourmet kitchen.
I’m going to highlight a few of the great features — maybe it will give you ideas to bring a little easy green luxury into your living space.

Check out this amazing foyer!

Look what you can do in a small space. The interior designer, Linda Woodrum, carried the stripes from the small sofa up the wall to create a dramatic effect. Notice the plants in the space. A lot of plants were used on purpose – they make nice decor, and they help the air quality in your home! The designer selected low-maintenance plants like succulents, cactuses and orchids.

• Do it yourself: Cover a small sofa or chair with striped fabric and recreate the stripes on the wall with a low VOC paint (just ask your favorite paint store.) Then pick up an orchid at one of the local garden centers when you’re out on one of Cincinnati’s lovely spring days.

This huge dining table was crafted with reclaimed wood flooring from an old home and salvaged fence posts for legs. It was given a beautiful finish.

• Do it yourself: Notice the local vegetation on the table — you don’t have to buy flowers shipped in from other regions and refrigerated; just see what you have around your yard! Even fallen twigs and small branches from bushes can make a nice centerpiece, perhaps something you’ve pruned from your garden. And if you know a great carpenter, have him or her make you an amazing table from reclaimed wood!

These countertops are quartz

Quartz is not only very durable but also naturally antimicrobial (eliminating the need for toxic cleaners or frequent replacement.) The Kohler faucet is a low-flow with aeration so you can use less water, and the dishwasher actually has a sensor that can tell when your dishes are clean and stops washing them.

When you are in the market for new appliances, take advantage of the opportunity to pick ones that are eco-friendly (which also usually means wallet-friendly in the long run). This dishwasher is a Kenmore Elite. The sensors mean you use less water and energy overall AND your dishes always come out clean. Always look for Energy Star appliances when you’re in the market for new ones.

• Do it yourself: Keep your fruit out as decor! Why buy tacky, plastic decorations for your kitchen when you can use the real thing? Fruit usually tastes better when it’s room temperature (especially great for oranges and lemons — they are jucier when they aren’t cold) and you won’t use the extra power in your fridge to keep it cold. Plus, you might actually eat it!

Green Toys

This adorable child’s bedroom is orange, pink and “green.” The peg boards are made from old curtain rods and wooden letters from a craft store. The carpet is recycled, and the artwork was painted on a salvaged piece of plywood. The toys, like the mermaid on the bed, are made from eco-friendly fabrics. You can find toys like this for your children more and more places.

• Do it yourself: If you really want to be green, try to avoid plastic in your children’s rooms. It’s usually low-quality and not durable, and yet it will take thousands of years to break down in a landfill when you throw it away. Instead, go for a look like this, with natural and sustainable materials and more grown-up furniture. It’s healthier for the earth and your kids.

There are dozens of pictures and videos of the Green Home at www.hgtv.com/green-home. And while there, you can enter to win it! The winner of the home will be announced live on June 5.
We’re going to save some of our outdoor ideas for another blog entry! But, if you’re going to celebrate Earth Day, consider treating your home to one of these fun, green ideas. Just remember, having more “stuff” isn’t green! Just think about simplifying, reusing, staying local and staying natural.
Check out these links for a greener home:Building Value – Local spot to purchase reclaimed materials.
Info about low and no VOC paint.
Info about Energy Star Appliances.
More about HGTV.

Related...

• April 20, 2010 -- Five Creative Ways to Go Green
• May 4, 2009 -- Go Green in Your Urban Garden
• December 4, 2009 -- 3153 Fender Rd., Melbourne, KY 41059
• November 4, 2009 -- New Recycling Guidelines in Cincinnati