Select the icons to get remodeling tips for each area of the room.

Furnishings

• Green Product Buying Guide (PDF, 500 K)
• Pillows and throw blankets made of natural latex, wool or organic cotton can help to reduce allergens and are biodegradable, so they will break down at the end of their life.
• Consider buying used, recycled and antique furnishings to reduce demands on natural resources while helping to create period-specific aesthetics, while oftentimes saving you money.
• Keep furnishings at least one foot from baseboard heaters and floor registers, and make sure they do not cover baseboards, wall heaters or forced air heat vents.

Heating, cooling, ventilation

Ductless heat pumps

• Ductless mini-split heat pumps are two to three times as efficient as electric resistance heat and also provide highly efficient cooling and are easy to install.
• Ductless mini-split heat pumps do a better job of distributing warm or cool air around a home than electric baseboard or electric wall heaters, thus making living areas more comfortable.
• View more Eco-Cool Remodel energy resources

Additional resources

Carbon monoxide detector

• Carbon Monoxide FAQ– from the Consumer Product Safety Commission external link
  A Frequently Asked Questions page about home Carbon Monoxide detectors
• CO Experts external link

Green Materials

• Green Product Buying Guide 500 K)
• Evaluating and Selecting Green Materials external link
  This is a comprehensive guide from the Whole Building Design Guides that describes Life Cycle Assessment and considerations for green materials.
• What Makes a Product Green external link
  This article from BuildingGreen.com walks through descriptions of numerous product attributes and what to look for when choosing products.
• Green Building Supply external link
  This site provides numerous investigations related to green washing chemical sensitivities.
• EPA’s Choosing Green Materials and Products external link
  This website provides background information about choosing products as well as numerous additional resources and links.

Other

• EcoBusiness Environmental Directory external link
  Provides an extensive list of links to companies that specialize in eco–friendly products for any home remodeling project
• Household Hazardous Waste Collection Options – from the King County Solid Waste Division
  Provides information on how to best dispose of household hazardous waste
• King County Solid Waste Division What Do I Do With…? website
  Provides information about where you can recycle carpet in King County
• Dunn Lumber external link
  A family-owned supplier of building materials including FCS certified lumber
• Green Home Solutions external link
  A Seattle-based company providing quality green building products including certified flooring, cabinets, countertops and tile

Living Room Wall

• Consider clay plaster as an alternative to paint.
• Choose low-toxic, low-VOC or Zero VOC paints.
• Typical low VOC levels are:
  • Less than 150 g/L for flat paints
  • < 50 g/L for non-flat paints
• Consider lighter-colored paints to reduce artificial lighting needs.
• Select clay plaster as an alternative to paint to create a rich, natural texture. It is breathable, mold- resistant, hypo-allergenic and low-toxic.
• Choose low-toxic, low-VOC or zero-VOC paints since they are safer to handle, easier to clean up and emit fewer fumes as they dry.
• Using lighter-colored paints is a strategy to reduce artificial lighting needs, and therefore cut down on your lighting energy use.
• View more Eco-Cool Remodel paints and coatings resources

Living Room Lighting

• Replace all incandescent light bulbs with LEDs.
• Install LED bulbs in all lighting fixtures.
• Install ENERGY STAR labeled light fixtures.
• Utilize natural daylight through windows instead of electrical lighting as much as possible by keeping windows clear of furniture or blinds.
• If remodeling, consider window placement and size to optimize your daylighting potential.
• Install dimmers to save energy and allow you to change the amount of light to suit your needs and extend the life of the light bulb. Be sure the light bulbs are compatible with dimmer switches.
• Include vacandy sensors on lighting - these trigger lights to go off if no one is in the room (but will not come back on with movement if watching movies, etc.)
• View more Eco-Cool Remodel lighting resources

Carbon monoxide detector

• Check your carbon monoxide (CO) batteries to ensure they are working.
• Replace your CO detector every three to five years.
• Install a 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.

• Install CO detectors on every level of the house that has a fuel-burning appliance. Because CO gas distributes evenly in air, it is best to install the detector between 5 and 6 feet high on the wall where it is most likely to be seen. Place the detector at least 6 feet away from the fuel-burning appliance.
• CO detectors should be replaced every 3 to 5 years depending on the life of the sensor. Most sensors do not sound an alarm until CO levels reach levels well above the EPA’s limit of 9 ppm. More expensive detector models will detect lower levels of CO and help prevent the health hazards from prolonged exposure to CO.
• View more Eco-Cool Remodel energy resources

Ceiling Fan

• Turn off fans when not in the room; fans cool people, not rooms.
• Look for ENERGY STAR labeled models, which meet criteria for efficient motor and controls, lighting (when installed), 30-year motor warranty, and efficient movement of air.
• In the winter, utilize the fan’s reverse mode. This produces an updraft that forces the warm air near the ceiling down into the living space.
• Install LED bulbs if your ceiling fan also contains a light fixture.

Home Electronics

• Eliminate plug loads (the fastest growing segment of residential energy use) by placing electronics on a power strip and turning off when not in use.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label when purchasing home electronics.
• Seal any holes with caulk or spray foam where TV/cable wires and vents enter or exit home.
• Use rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and digital cameras.

Consumer electronic product plug loads – the energy being consumed by household electronic devises plugged directly into a wall socket – are responsible for about 15 percent of household electricity use. These loads, also called “phantom loads,” are caused by electronics that may be turned off or are in standby mode but are still drawing electricity from the wall outlet.

• Survey your home for phantom loads – look for anything with a clock, remote, power adapter on the wall, electronic power switches, an electronic key pad, IT peripherals, coffee makers, and multimedia or communications equipment. Plug your electronics, chargers and power adapters into power strips, and turn off the strips when products are not in use.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label when purchasing home electronics such as TVs, cable boxes, computer & networking equipment to ensure you are getting a more energy-efficient model. For example, ENERGY STAR qualified TVs use about 30% less energy than standard units.
• Typical U.S. households spend $100 per year to power devices while they are in "standby" power mode. ENERGY STAR qualified products use less energy to perform these functions.

Living Room Flooring

• Choose wood (preferably FSC Certified or reclaimed), natural linoleum or cork flooring with no or low VOC sealants and adhesives, as the best indoor air quality choices.
• Look for recycled-content flooring products.
• If considering carpet, look for carpet, padding and adhesives that are labeled as emitting less volatile organic compounds.
• If considering carpet, choose low-pile carpet made with natural fibers such as wool or jute.
• Avoid carpet if possible - hard surfaces are better for human health/indoor air quality.
• If installing carpet, consider carpet tiles for ease of replacement and extended life of the carpet.
• For best air quality, you may want to avoid carpets altogether and choose wood, natural linoleum or cork.
• If considering carpet, look for carpet, padding and adhesives that are labeled as emitting less volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Natural fiber carpets, such as wool or jute, are typically better for indoor air quality.
• Consider carpet tiles that don't require adhesives; worn or stained tiles can be replaced individually.
• Choose low-pile carpet to minimize allergens such as pet hair and dust.
• Look for recycled-content flooring products.
• View more Eco-Cool Remodel flooring resources

Fireplace

• Pay attention to local burn bans, and do not use your fireplace or wood stove when one is in effect.
• Wood-burning fireplaces contribute to poor indoor and outdoor air quality, and are the least efficient way to heat your home; 90 percent of the wood’s heat goes up the stack. Consider removing wood-burning fireplaces in the home and do not replace. If a gas fireplace is installed, ensure the fireplace is EPA certified and AFUE rated with sealed combustion (e.g. doors on the fireplace) and vented.
• If you choose to build a new masonry fireplace, build a Rumford style fireplace. These high performance fireplaces produce lower emissions. Some models meet the EPA’s Phase II stove emission rate and are approved by Washington State’s Department of Ecology fireplace standard. Rumford fireplaces are also much more wood efficient due to their design.
• View more Eco-Cool Remodel energy resources

Ductless Heat Pump

• Consider replacing electric baseboard, electric furnace and electric wall heaters with ductless heat pumps, which are 2-3 times as efficient.
• Check with your utility for rebates on ductless heat pump units and installation – most provide substantial rebates.

Thermostat

• Some learning thermostats offer additional features, and there are rapid developments in technologies to integrate with phones and mobile devices.
• Always use the features of your thermostat, whichever type it is, to match your schedule.
• Learn how to “set back” your thermostat – a savings strategy for when you’re away for long periods or at night. This may not be appropriate for heat pumps, so check with your heating contractor.
• View more Eco-Cool Remodel energy resources