June Bloom or Gloom?
The answer to that question depends on where you live in the beautiful State of California. If you live in Southern California, June may bring you some gloom. If you live in my half of the State, June brings many blooms and not much gloom. Wherever you live in our great State, summer is the best time of the year unless you live in San Francisco where it feels like winter in August. Farmers markets are brimming with produce, honey and flowers. Flea markets are in full swing and the food trucks are everywhere. Hope your June is the best ever.
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Your Home is Beautiful - But Is It Healthy?
Even with the most diligent research it is challenging to create a healthy home. The primary reason is that the most commonly used building materials contain some if not many unhealthy chemicals. Some of these toxins include formaldehyde, chlorinated materials (PVC commonly called Vinyl), lead, mercury, polybrominated flame retardants, and perfluorooctanoate,
Some of the materials that contain these toxins are obvious and some are not so obvious.
The not so obvious include:
- PVC water pipes
- Wood treated with arsenic or creosote to try to make it pest resistant
- Cable wiring covered in PVC or other chlorinated materials
- Carpet backing (PVC)
- Weather stripping (PVC)
- Vinyl siding (PVC)
The obvious include:
- Vinyl clad windows (PVC)
- Kitchen cabinetry
- Paints
- Flooring adhesives
- Furniture containing fire retardant chemicals
You can reduce the chemicals in your home by being conscious of everything you bring into your home. If you are remodeling, it pays to consult with green building experts for advice on the least toxic yet durable products. When buying furniture, flooring or lighting it may be worth the $100 - $250 fee to consult with a designer for advice on the healthiest options for your home.
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Less Really is Better
Congratulations you used 40% less energy than similar homes and 20% less energy than efficient similar homes. This good news came from my home energy report provided by PG&E.
How did you do that? It's easy when you use all the tools in your energy savings tool belt. One of those tools is participating in the Smart Rate program from PG & E. It's easy to sign up and easy to participate. The best part is that you can save some serious money.
Some of the other tools include: 1. Using my Smart Vent at night or early morning to cool down my home. Don't have a Smart Vent? Consider installing a whole house fan which can provide similar savings. 2. Closing my energy efficient window blinds on the really sunny days. I have Hunter Douglas Architella shades on the sunny side of my home and it is amazing how cool my rooms stay, even on 100� + days. 3. Doing my laundry in the early morning hours and running my dishwasher after midnight. 4. Using natural light instead of heat creating light fixtures during the day and early evening hours. 5. I have begun installing LED bulbs as my CFL's burn out. Remember to dispose of your CFL's properly to avoid exposure to mercury. 6. While I am not the biggest fan of the Smart Meter I have learned much about my daily energy use from it. Reducing my usage at the most expensive time of the day has also helped reduce my bills. |
Detox Your Life
With the local farmer's markets in full swing, you may be buying a lot of fresh produce. If your markets are like mine, some of the produce is still covered in dirt. Here is an easy way to clean your produce. Pour 1/4 cup of vinegar in a sink full of water and soak your produce for about 15 minutes. Dry and store produce.
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Would Love to Hear From You
Eco-Chic Design would like your feedback. Please email [email protected] and tell us what topics you would like to see in your monthly newsletter. Sincerely,
Eco-Chic Design 
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