Archive for March, 2011

Leave a comment with your own earth-friendly tip to win a BLANCO 3-in-1 strainer, plus your choice of either a SOLON compost system or HYDRA water saving faucet.

One lucky winner will be announced on Earth Day.

From Leslie Clagett, http://www.kbculture.blogspot.com/ a very cool tip for saving water!

Countdown tip #10: Collect & cool water from steaming vegetables in a pot, and use to water houseplants.

Leave a comment with your own earth-friendly tip to win a BLANCO 3-in-1 strainer, plus your choice of either a SOLON compost system or HYDRA water saving faucet.

One lucky winner will be announced on Earth Day.

Is it tip #9 already? Just 22 days till Earth Day!

Andie Day, Design for Life has this to say about what’s under our footprint.

Green Floor Coverings
Recycled products and renewable natural resources are keywords when selecting your floor coverings. You’ll want to pass on area rugs and carpets made with synthetic fibers. Instead reach for ones made of natural materials such as jute, sisal and sea grass for a casual décor and renewable resources such as fine Shetland wool or vegetable or plant died wools for a more formal look.

Tip #8 as we countdown the days to Earth Day.

Planet Guru, Leslie Hoffman, President/Executive Director, Earth Pledge offers this design tip, “In my new Shelter Island kitchen, I have incorporated 4 garbage cans, a worm bin AND the BLANCO SOLON compost bucket recessed into the countertop! By making sure that the proper receptacles are built into your space, you will ensure that everyone separates the trash for best recycling results. All of my food waste will stay right on my property, and everything else will be pre-sorted for neatly being taken to the recycling center.”

Leslie Hoffman’s Gimme Shelter project is a showcase for environmentally responsible building practices, sustainable products, brands and creative talents, proving that an unremarkable house can become a beautiful, sustainable SHELTER.

Photo Courtesy of Susan Serra, Bornholm Kitchen

Counting it down to Earth Day. What can you do to help the planet?

Here’s tip #7 from Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS, http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com

Cook like a European chef!  Consider an induction range or cooktop when you remodel to save household energy without sacrificing cooking performance.

Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy

30+ days of earth-friendly tips. 5 down. Here’s a hot one for number six…

Kevin Henry of http://www.theessentialkitchen.blogspot.com/ suggests wrapping your water heater in an insulating jacket to save energy (if your tank is warm to the touch, it probably needs added insulation which can save $). You can also set your temperature for 120 degrees (if your dishwasher doesn’t have a heat boost you may need it @ 130-140 degrees for optimal cleaning). According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “For each 10ºF reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3%–5% in energy costs.” Really want to save? Energy Star qualified solar water heaters can cut your water heating bills in half and reduce your carbon footprint.

For Vicki Payne, CEO/Producer for the hit TV series For Your Home, this is the perfect time of the year to host a “Seed Swap” party.  A seed swap is to gardeners what a flea market is to collectors.  Gardening is all about sharing.  A live seed swap is basically a party where everyone brings plants, seeds and bulbs to trade.  It is an ideal way for gardeners, both beginners and pros, to exchange great plants and real-world gardening information. It’s simple to organize. Invite all your gardening or want to be gardener friends. Guests are asked to bring something to share at the swap.  Be sure to have everyone print off labels for their plants and care instructions and bring a tray or cardboard to transport their new treasures. Serve green tea, nuts, berries and fruit.

According to Grace & Ken Kelly, www.kitchendesigns.com/blog one way to save energy, money and help reduce global warming is to install a dimmer switch. If you dim your lights by 25 percent, you’ll save almost that same amount of energy. Installing one dimmer in every home would save $230 million in electricity per year and CO2 by 4.3 billion lbs per year. To learn more, visit their blog post on dimmers.

This earth-friendly tip is from BLANCO Design Council member Gloria Graham-Sollecito, AKBD, www.kitchensforliving.net.

Remodeling your kitchen?  Think about using some of your old kitchen cabinets in the garage. Not only will you be saving money, you will be decreasing the load for the land fill.  If you don’t have a garage and your cabinets are in decent condition list them on Craig’s List or donate to a church or charity for tax deduction.

Counting it down to Earth Day with 30+ earth-friendly tips. We love this tip from Leslie Clagett, KB Culture who suggests that we use cloth dishtowels. Or dry & reuse paper towels. Really! Importantly, think of ways you can reuse those empty paper towel rolls – for holding plastic garbage bags and managing electric cords.

Welcome to our countdown to Earth Day. What better way to celebrate and protect the planet than by offering 30+ earth-friendly tips gleaned from design professionals – including BLANCO’s own Design Council kitchen bloggers? Here’s our first one from Andie Day, Design for Life.

Composting from sink is easy with BLANCO's 3-in-1 strainer.

Going green with your interior design has never been easier. From furniture made with sustainable materials to composting right from your kitchen sink, many manufacturers are offering a myriad of planet-conscience products for the home. You’re now able to achieve high impact design results while keeping your impact on Mother Nature at an all time low.

Eco-friendly Furniture
Choosing fine furniture for your home while keeping it green requires a two-fold approach. First, you’ll want to buy from a manufacturer which ensures their products are made with low to zero toxicity (many traditional paints, finishes and dyes emit high levels of VOCs.) Look for the “Greenguard” label which assures low toxicity. Secondly, you’ll want to go for furnishings made from sustainable materials and recycled resources such as bamboo and rattan as well as organic textiles on upholstered pieces. The labels to look for here: Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC); Rainforest Alliance; or Rediscovered Wood Certification.