Jump into June

Jump into June

Eco DIY

Can grilling be environmentally friendly?

A lesson in HVAC

Enjoy the summer

Jump into June

I simply love summer. It is by far my favorite season. I think it is because it always makes me feel like a kid again. I want to be outside, even when it is hot. I want to go on picnics and sit under a shade tree and read. And of course there is always the beach. I don't mind camping as long as it is of the "glamping" variety. If you are like me and don't really like roughing it, check out these glamorous ways to camp.

Whatever you do, have fun and stay safe. And remember to stay cool and jump in the pool.

Eco DIY

One of my favorite walls in a room is the ceiling. It is the one wall that is often ignored and simply painted some shade of white. There are so many other ways to decorate this "fifth" wall. One unique way to dress up a ceiling is with cork tiles. There are many advantages to using cork ceiling tiles including insulation for warmth, noise reduction and fire resistance. Check out the variety of cork tiles for any interior.

Photo courtesy of Jelinek Cork

Can grilling be environmentally friendly?

I enjoy grilled food but I can also live without it. For those of you who can't, there are many options to make your grilling a lot greener. As with anything, there are always environmental trade-offs and many opinions about the most eco-friendly way to grill.

Some experts argue that based on the overall carbon footprint and renewability, charcoal is a more eco-friendly option than gas or propane. Charcoal cannot be lumped together (pun intended) as if it is all the same. There is lump charcoal and there is the charcoal briquette. Lump charcoal is made from wood whereas briquettes can be made from a variety of agri-waste products including coconut shells. So check these out before you get your grill-on:

Lump charcoal

Wood briquette

Green briquette

And for those of you who are born DIYer's here are some instructions for making your own charcoal.

And don't forget to use a clean starter such as a charcoal chimney starter. No sense in pouring chemicals on an eco-friendly charcoal and adding unnecessary toxins to your food.

A lesson in HVAC

An efficient HVAC system is an important part of any "green" home. As part of the annual maintenance of my pretty green home, I have my HVAC system checked out. This year I was a little late to the party and did not get my A/C system tuned up until nearly the end of May. What I learned was quite surprising.

I was always so proud of how little I used my A/C system due to the SmartVent that was installed in my home when it was built. A SmartVent opens and closes when you tell it to depending on the thermostat settings. For example, I set my SmartVent to turn on when the outside temperature dips below 63°. The vent opens and brings cool air in through the HVAC system so the air is filtered and all the icky particulates are stuck in the air filter. I love this system because it keeps my house, brings fresh air in without opening the windows and negates the need for air conditioning in our cool Sacramento evenings (most of the summer).

Or at least I loved it until the A/C man told me that maybe this system was not the best thing in the world. He was definitely not a fan. His opinion was that the SmartVent puts a strain on the furnace fan and is not as efficient in its cooling. That may have been his professional opinion but I just know that it cools down my house to around 67° on many days and I rarely run my air conditioner during the dog days of summer. I shut my windows and blinds when the house reaches about 70° or 72° and it rarely reaches 80 in my upstairs.

My home is only six years old and my air conditioner needed a new capacitor and he indicated that it needed coolant. Really? I hardly use this unit and it is going bad (can you say cheap system installed in a new home).

Given that my A/C unit will likely have to be replaced within less than 10 years I think I will continue using my SmartVent. I love the fresh air and having to use a light quilt in the summer because I am so darn cold at night. I can put the money I save by not using my air conditioner into an account I can use toward replacing the not so wonderful HVAC system in the future.

Enjoy the summer but remember that sunscreen!

Sincerely,

Marie L. Brown, LEED AP ID + C
Eco-Chic Design