German recycling bins at the train station

By Celine De Perlinghi-Johanson

As I packed for my sophomore semester abroad in Fall 2011, I wondered what life would be like in Munich, Germany.  Stereotypically, I pictured Germans enjoying themselves, eating schnitzel and drinking beer in local pubs.  I did not imagine them recycling and composting.  Yet this was the surprising reality that struck me almost immediately when I arrived.

I unpacked my bags in my host family’s three-bedroom city apartment that would be my home for the next four months. I was about to discard some of the things I’d accumulated during my travel when I opened up the cabinet under the kitchen sink to find six separate containers. American households commonly have a trashcan and one recycling bin (maybe); however, in my new home, I found separate recycling containers for paper, aluminum, plastic, glass and compost!  I looked at my pile of debris and for the first time I realized how much material I customarily and thoughtlessly discarded as trash as a typical American citizen.

Less Water to Waste: the Green Bathroom Version

During my time in Munich, I became increasingly aware of the extent of green living in Germany, and subsequently, the lack of it in my own life back home in America.  I noticed the differences between the German toilet and the American toilet.  The difference was not just that most German toilets use less water and have the option of “Number 1” or “Number 2” flush, but the construction of the toilet bowl is completely different.  Your typical American toilet has a bowl full of water.  Its German counterpart, however, has barely any water in it at all.  Instead, it has a kind of shelf onto which the waste falls and then gets pushed down the drain when you flush.

I made another observation when the temperature began to drop suddenly at the beginning of October.  Instead of having a central heating source, each room had its own radiator.  The system requires you to manually turn the radiator on or off for every room. I found that I actually liked the German system better because I tend to like a cooler room and I could control the temperature of my room without freezing the others in the apartment.  Also, the family needn’t pay to heat the entire apartment when they spent most of their time in one or two common rooms.

These are just a couple of examples how I found life in Germany to be a bit greener.  Living in Germany made me more aware of the simple, yet important things people can do to live a greener life.  Now that I am back in America, I find my own habits have changed for the better. I plan to continue on my green path, but I also feel a new sense of responsibility to make others aware of what’s possible.  We can change our old habits!  I changed mine in as little as one semester.

So although some of my expectations of Germany were not so far off (it turns out Germans do enjoy their traditional food with a nice beer!) they are also surprisingly committed to conservation and the environment.  I know I’m a more environmentally conscious American because I’ve seen what can be accomplished when we all change our habits.

Celine De Perlinghi-Johanson is a new intern at Greenspiration Homes.  She is a senior at Guilford College majoring in German and Philosophy and hopes to pursue a masters in Sustainable Design.

"Mood Rocking Bed" from Shiner International

By Trish Holder

Does this bed come with the beach?  If so, tuck me in!

Okay – maybe I just need a vacation… or a nap… or both, but this picture just about brought me to my knees with a mysterious longing.  It comes courtesy of Shiner International’s founder and Vice President, Joe Manus.  The “Mood Rocking Bed”, our American Made Pick-of-the-Week is one of Shiner’s most popular and iconic designs.  Its elliptical shape was inspired by the distorted wheel rim of a wrecked motorcycle – Manus’ motorcycle.  He was sitting on the side of the road, waiting for a friend to come and pick him up after an unfortunate encounter with a large rock.

“I was 14, I needed a bed and I guess my endorphins were at their pinnacle because on the drive home I sketched the bed.  It has matured over the years into its current form, but has always been a special tour de force design of mine,” said Manus.

Are we surprised that he named Shiner International after his first black eye?

“The “Alchemy” of Shiner…”

Clearly this is one furniture designer who approaches his work with a visceral passion–a passion that has served him well.  Manus launched the company, which makes bedding, seating, lighting and accessories, in January 2010 and has since experienced rapid growth.  In 2012 he sold the company to Home Source International (HSI), an Atlanta, Georgia, company and was hired as the leading design conspirator.

Under the wing of HSI, Shiner International has had extraordinary growth in a very short time.  Just this year, the company opened a 300,000 square feet manufacturing plant in Marianna, Florida, where every piece of Shiner furniture is made, often using repurposed wood, steel, and other materials.

“They are mostly the bastard materials of our industry. It is easy to make a nice chair out of Brazilian mahogany or a lampshade out of silk…. those are beautiful materials. The higher level of design is taking materials that aren’t inherently beautiful like cardboard or plywood and turning them into something great; that’s the alchemy of Shiner,” said Manus.

If the Bed’s A-rockin’….

It turns out the “Mood Rocking Bed” is good for a lot more than just nighttime sleep.  According to Manus, people have bought it to put on the patio or by the pool and even as a substitute for a sofa. Some love it for its therapeutic rest properties, while another large following covet it for its love making attributes.  Several customers have even purchased the bed to assuage the symptoms of Autism.

“It seems like the bed has no end to what it is good for and as the designer it is a gift to be able to help sooth so many parts of our human condition. I look at it like this…. you spend a third of your life in bed, so shouldn’t it be an incredible third?”

Shiner International furnishings can be purchased at brick and mortar retailers all over the country, as well as online.  To find out where you can purchase this bed or other Shiner creations, visit www.homesourceinternational.com.

I don’t leave the house when my laundry dryer is running. At least not anymore, I don’t. And I clean out the lint trap religiously – something I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t always do.

Why my sudden hyper-vigilance with my clothes dryer? I learned recently that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) issued a report in 2012 that concluded an estimated 16,800 home fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines occurred in 2010. Clothes dryers accounted for 92% of those fires.

It’s not like I sit around reading NFPA reports all day. If I’ve tried to convince my homeowner readers of anything, it’s that I’m just like you. I work. I have kids. Obviously I do laundry. But because I am a writer for the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) industry, I get exposed to a lot of information that the average homeowner doesn’t. Recently, while doing some research for an article I was writing about dryer exhaust ventilation (sexy, huh?), I learned a few things about clothes dryer safety.

How To Make Your Laundry Room Safer
First, not taking the time to clean out the lint trap each and every time you put in a load of laundry is really, really stupid. Lint build-up in the dryer cabinet is, overwhelmingly, the primary cause of dryer related fires – and this is usually due to homeowners neglecting to clean out the lint trap. Guilty.

Second, I learned how important it is that the dryer exhaust be vented with rigid or flexible METAL venting material – none of that plastic crap. Fortunately, my dryer has the correct venting material. But it’s still not ideal because it has to make a few turns before it reaches the exit vent on the exterior wall of my house. The more bends, kinks, crimps, etc., the more obstructed the airflow is and when airflow is obstructed, hot moist air can’t efficiently exit the unit. Hence, clothes remain damp after a dryer cycle. Furthermore, good airflow helps carry away suspended lint particles that can become a fire hazard if they accumulate in the dryer or the duct.

What The International Building Code (IRC) Has To Say
I’m fortunate in that my dryer is located close to an exterior wall. The exhaust vent makes a fairly short trip out the laundry room wall, into the crawlspace, and out the exterior wall, which is about four feet away from the laundry room. The International Residential Code (IRC) dictates that maximum length for dryer exhaust duct/vent cannot exceed 35 feet from the dryer location to the wall or roof termination. Each elbow reduces this maximum length by 5 feet since bends create more airflow restriction than straight duct. By keeping the exhaust path short and straight, you not only reduce your risk for dryer related fires, but clothes dry faster and more efficiently. Makes you think twice about having that centrally located laundry room, doesn’t it?

In my opinion, safety trumps convenience, so my preference would always be to have the laundry room located on an exterior wall for short, straight dryer venting. However, if you find yourself in a house in which there is absolutely no way to vent your dryer with 35 feet or less of vent (not counting bends – remember they equal 5 feet!) there are ventilation fans specifically designed to boost the airflow from the dryer. These devices are a suitable solution under the IRC.

Clean Your Lint Trap!
So, take a peek behind that dryer and do a little easy math in your head, especially if you’ve been frustrated with the lengthy dry times and damp clothes. Obstructed airflow is not only the likely cause; it’s also a fire hazard. Also, if you can possibly avoid it, don’t dry clothes when there are no adults in the home—just in case. And clean that pesky lint trap!

Remember, there’s nothing green about a house fire, or taking 3 hours to dry a single load of clothes!

Ridley Stallings wall hangings made from architectural elements

By Trish Holder

I won’t lie.  I did a pretty poor job of covering the High Point Furniture Market this past week.  With only a few hours on three separate days to spare, I stuck to my favorite two buildings – Market Square and the International Home Furnishings Center IHFC. I didn’t come close to seeing everything in either of these buildings, especially not the three-and-a-half million square feet IHFC building.  But I did manage to pick out some furnishings that might intrigue my sustainability conscious readers.  Here are some of my favorites:

Savannah Georgia artist Ridley Stallings had several items in her booth that made me smile, especially these guitar wall hangings.  Stallings uses architectural elements salvaged from old southern homes to create one-of-a-kind art pieces.  The colors are bright and vibrant, and incorporate a lot of patina and texture.  These are the sort of pieces that look fabulous in any style home – from contemporary to country cottage.

Entertainment console by Kincaid Furniture with poplar bark panels

I loved this small entertainment console from Kincaid Furniture with its wonderfully textural bark panels made from cast off poplar bark.  Like all Kincaid furniture, the piece is solid wood – and that means not an ounce of pressed or composite wood anywhere.  This console, like all of Kincaid’s upholstered goods and an increasing number of case goods and wood furniture, is completely made in western North Carolina.

Coffee table from The Recycler

If you’re an avid cycler, or simply love the movement and symmetry of man’s greatest invention, you owe it to yourself to check out The Recycler furniture and accessories.  If I was lucky or cool enough to live in a downtown loft, I’d love to put this coffee table in front of a big red sofa.  And, I’d find some interesting looking containers that fit neatly into the lower frame for snacks.  Or a potted plant.  Or the TV remote.  Anyway, the point is, this is the kind of table that excites the imagination and starts conversation.

Bar stools by All From Boats

This colorful barstool is completely made from reclaimed boat timbers salvaged from Indonesian islands such as Bali.  These pieces are made in Indonesia (I know, I know) but the manufacturer, All From Boats, has a great story and a true passion for old fishing boats that are no longer seaworthy. The company purchases the old boats for materials while employing former Indonesian fishermen to craft the furniture.  It has distributors all over the U.S., including a retailer in Hickory, North Carolina, called Warehouse 2120.  I actually visited this adorable little shop this weekend – a must do if you happen to be in the Hickory area.

Pant rocker by Shiner International

My husband and I both loved this comfy outdoor rocker from Shiner – a company named in remembrance of the owner’s first black eye (at age 7).  Every piece of furniture that Shiner makes is constructed by hand in Marianna, Florida and most all of the materials they use are diverted from the landfill or incinerator.  We met the owner in the High Point showroom.  Seemed like a guy I’d like to know.  Very nice and very genuine; definitely not someone you’d want to punch in the eye.

Tree sculpture from Roberta Schilling

The Roberta Schilling collection is one other import I’ll mention – simply because I just loved this tree made of hundreds of reclaimed items.  This Brazilian company has a stable of artists that create some pretty special art pieces and furnishings, using a lot of reclaimed materials.  I’m one of those people who could never have an artificial Christmas tree – but I’d be pretty tempted to string some lights on this to celebrate the season.  I might even be tempted to leave it up all year long.

American made pillows by Elaine Smith

I loved the American-made fabrics in this line of pillows from Elaine Smith – all of which are also made in the US.  The pillows are indoor/outdoor and pretty darn indestructible.  So, they great choice if you are like me and have kids and pets, and can’t ever remember to bring anything in from out of the rain.

Floorcloth by Kathy Cooper

Finally, I’ve always loved floorcloths and was delighted to see them back on the scene when I encountered Kathy Cooper Floorcloths.  Everything in this North Carolina artist’s booth was fun and whimsical – but not silly.  These floorcloths, for all their color and personality, were somehow sophisticated as well, perhaps because they were so skillfully crafted.  I’m ashamed to admit I’d never heard of Kathy Cooper – and she’s practically a neighbor in Winston-Salem.  Now I’m going to have to make a point of visiting her studio….

This is far from all that I saw at Market.  I’ll be sharing more about these companies and others in the Greenspiration Home American Made Pick-of-the-Week series.  Stay tuned.  I continue to be so very inspired by the creativity that truly seems to be flourishing on American soil – and in some cases, my own backyard!

DIY Headboard uses scrap wallpaper and a picture frame!

By Lorre Lei Jackson

Here’s a little design inspiration for those of you looking for an alternative to buying a brand new headboard – especially if you love to repurpose materials in your décor.

A few years back I was on a mission to complete a bedroom makeover and was in need of a new headboard for a single bed.  I was challenged by the fact that I really wanted to use the wall behind the bed to display a grouping of my favorite pieces of art. I knew I needed something that would enhance but not compete with the art.  I decided that the headboard needed to be wooden, simple, and classic but to my surprise I couldn’t find anything I liked!  I searched stores, catalogs, and the web, yet all I could seem to find was brass, painted metal, and fabric.  Nothing came close to what I had in mind…so I decided to get a little creative and come up with a DIY headboard.

Plain staircase risers are enhanced by faux tile wallpaper. If you decide to change the look, simply peel the wall covering off and reuse or recycle!

I happened to have a leftover piece of repositionable vinyl wallpaper that was an artist-designed blue faux linen.  It matched the décor of the room and had just the right amount of subtle texture and elegance I wanted.  I gave up my search for the perfect headboard and instead decided to make something totally unique using the scrap wallpaper.   For a bargain price at a craft store/framing shop, I found a wooden frame in a size comparable to that of a headboard.  I simply cut the wallpaper to fit the frame’s glass, peeled back the backing and applied it to the glass.  Just like that, I had a brand new headboard more pleasing to me than anything I could have found in a store.

It’s Not Trash UNTIL You Throw It Away!

The nice thing about using removable and repositionable wallpaper for a project like this is that you can always peel it back off and try again if you don’t get it positioned right the first time. And if I tire of this look, I can remove the wallpaper from the glass frame, roll it onto the backing sheet that I’ve saved, and use it again for something else!  I don’t have to worry if it gets dirty while serving its purpose as a headboard because all I have to do is wipe it clean with a damp cloth.

Remember – it doesn’t become waste until you throw it away.  Repositionable wallpaper can have many lives and serve many other purposes other than just wallpaper.  My own daughters have used this same product in their homes, as the pictures show. All of these projects were simple to do and achieved very unique, personalized design results.  And who knows?  These wallpapers may turn up in other applications down the road!

One more thing – vinyl wall coverings can be recycled, so even when you’re done with it, you don’t have to throw it away!

Lorre Lei Jackson is a partner in Casart coverings; a family-owned, female-run business producing repositionable, removable, reusable wall coverings made in the USA.

Perennial garden needed to hide our compost bin!

By Trish Holder

I don’t have to look at seed catalogs anymore for signs of spring.  At last the familiar colors, smells and sounds of the season have arrived in North Carolina.  And collectively my organs are breathing a sigh of relief.

I know I have little right to complain, considering the winter people have endured this year in other parts of the country.  (Wasn’t there just a blizzard in Colorado this past week?)  But I have a theory that we adjust biologically, emotionally, and psychologically to the seasons of the home we know best.  The 3 or 4-week delay our spring had me physically longing for something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on — until the red buds started to bloom.

Answering the call of nature, I’ve took a few extra moments this week to survey my yard.  It’s a big yard and no doubt it will be at least 10 years before it’s all I want it to be.  For now, I’ve assigned myself one simple task:  Create with my own little hands (mostly) a perennial garden to disguise our not-so-lovely-to-look at compost bin.  Here’s what I want:

• Long seasonal color (that is, flowers that bloom from late spring to early fall)
• Year long foliage to hide the compost bin even after the flowers have faded
• A set burst of seasonal color that I won’t have to purchase over and over again
• A pretty, virtually maintenance-free focal point for my back yard
• Plants that won’t require supplemental water once they are established
• Perennials that will thrive in full sun in my Zone 7 climate

I’ve read it can be done.  And while I’m almost completely useless at growing anything (including my poorly performing petunia seedlings), I’m going to try.  My goal is to make this happen without bothering my husband, who is stooped over with stress from tax season.  (As the number cruncher in the family, spring always comes late for him.)

So….I need your help and suggestions quickly, because aside from being a useless and inept gardener, I’m also an impatient one.  My favorite colors in a flower garden are yellow, pink, and blue – but I’m not all that particular.  Fire away!

My home is heated and cooled with a geothermal heat pump – also known as a ground source heat pump.  I was sold on the idea of geothermal heating and cooling for the same reasons that I suspect most homeowners are:

• The promise of lower energy costs
• The attractive renewable energy tax credits, which make it easier to come to terms with the rather exorbitant cost
• The belief that this is truly a more environmentally responsible choice since geothermal heat pumps do not rely on combustible fuel
• The “cool factor” associated with owning a geothermal system (This was not a major driver for me, but I do get a warm glow when people are impressed that I have a highly regarded technology in my home.)

I now question (and with good reason) the validity of the first and most significant incentive for purchasing a geothermal heat pump:  Lower energy costs.

Energy Performance Not What I’d Hoped

The fact is, the utility costs in my all-electric, Energy Star, LEED-certified, geothermal heated and cooled home is not drastically better than my neighbor’s homes with far less expensive heating and cooling systems.  Now, the reasons for that are probably quite complex and have to do with numerous application and lifestyle matters that can make or break the efficiency of any type of heating and cooling system.

But none of those matters came up in that first, fateful meeting with the geothermal distributor.  No – that conversation was filled a lot of confusing yet highly persuasive information about why I should choose geothermal, including an estimate that projected a lifetime savings to me of nearly $40K!

Suffice to say the distributor offered a pretty compelling case for geothermal.  You may wonder if, after 4 years of living in my home, I find I’m on track for that type of savings.

I’d be lying if I said I thought I was.

The truth is, I suspect there was much in that conversation that would be terribly, terribly misleading to the average homeowner.  A building scientist might have called the distributor out on a lot of those details.  But neither I, nor most homeowners, go into these decisions with that level of expertise.

I open about this not because I am disappointed or disillusioned with geothermal technology.   Rather, I am disappointed and disillusioned with how the industry conducts itself, and I am concerned with the fallout to well-meaning homeowners.  Many homeowners will never see the true the advantages of geothermal energy because of misapplications.

Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy Reside in the Industry, Not the Technology

I got a hard dose of reality after the first cooling season in my home.  My system needed to be replaced because the original system was oversized—grossly oversized.  I went to a lot of trouble to confirm this fact and basically had to go through a six-month arm wrestling match to make those who were responsible bear the expense of the replacement.  I eventually won – but not before I got this depressing peek at the dark side of the geothermal/residential HVAC industry.

Were my experiences unusual?  I doubt it, especially after reading this article recently posted on Greenbuildingadvisor.com, which confirmed much of what I already suspected.  Here’s is the gist:

• The high cost of geothermal systems is not necessarily attributable to the cost associated with installing the ground loop (that is digging or drilling the holes or trenches that make it possible to transfer heat to and from the earth for the purpose of heating and cooling your home).  Over the last few decades, it is the cost of equipment, not the drilling, that has skyrocketed, making geothermal cost-prohibitive to most homeowners.
• The cost-savings frequently touted by geothermal manufacturers are generally unrealistic and inflated, partially due to the nuances of how efficiency ratings are calculated.  One expert compared these ratings to scoring the fuel efficiency of car based on the car’s performance while coasting down a hill.  Sure, the savings estimates are based on mathematical data, but data that isn’t necessarily relevant to real life.
• Manufacturers are more interested in selling more and bigger equipment than they are in the energy performance of your home.  This inherent conflict of interest undercuts the homeowner’s chances of getting the best bang for their buck when installing a geothermal system.  There are many factors that impact the efficiency of a geothermal system but the manufacturer and/or the installer is typically concerned with just two things:  (1) selling the equipment and (2) avoiding callbacks.  Neither of these have much (if anything) to do with actual energy performance.

Here’s the funny part.  I am still a fan of geothermal technology, as are many of the experts intent on “calling out” the industry for its…. shall we say….imperfections.

The best homeowners can do is be aware.  That’s why I implore you to read this article on greenbuildingadvisor.com.  If you are considering geothermal you owe it to yourself to get the “big picture” before you dig into your pockets with your fingers crossed.

If I known about FLOR carpet design squares when I was building the Greenspiration Home I would have seriously considering using them in our bonus room. I say that now, since shortly after we moved in, my daughter’s birthday sleepover party resulted in a green paint stain on my brand new, wall-to-wall carpet in the bonus room.  If I had FLOR carpet tiles, I’d have simply popped up the tile with the stain and put another in its place.  As it is, that stain now resides under a floor cloth I made specifically to cover it.   Live and learn.

Life’s little mishaps aside, how fun are these carpet tiles!  Using the impressive selection of colors, textures and designs from FLOR, you can mix and match your way to a one-of-a-kind floor covering masterpiece.  And the names of the design squares are as fun as the idea itself! FLOR staffers must have a ball coming up with names like  Made You Look^TM and Heavy Petal^TM for their designs.

My personal favorite shown here is Heirloom^TM.  I’m completely taken with the sophisticated look, which belies the fact that this is, in fact, a carpet tile.  It’s a far cry from the nursery school color block styles that typically spring to mind when you think of this type of floor covering.

How Do FLOR Carpet Tiles Work?

FLOR carpet tiles are designed to got together using FLOR’s patented FLORdots which are one-sided, non-toxic adhesives that connect to the bottom of each square – not the flor.  According to FLOR, the adhesive is specially formulated to allow for changes or rearrangements within the first few hours with the bond growing stronger over time.  The backing on the squares are designed to “hug” the floor for a virtually non–skid surface that eliminates the need for extra padding.

Are they difficult to assemble?  Not at all says company spokesperson, Abigail Rechenthin.

“FLOR is super easy to assemble.  Think of it as building a rug from the inside out. One-sided, non-toxic adhesives stick to the bottom of each square– sticky side up.  Each square then adheres to its neighbor–not to the floor– for sturdy, secure positioning that holds area rugs, runners and wall-to-wall designs in place.  No glue, no tacks required!”

Recycle Your Carpet Tiles – It’s On FLOR!

While I haven’t experienced the product firsthand, there’s a lot to like about FLOR– including the fact that 95% of their product assortment is USA-made in Georgia.  Then there’s the fact that all new FLOR styles are now made using 100% recycled nylon face fibers made from icky things like discarded plastic bottles and fishing nets.  But what really blows my mind is the company’s “Return & Recycle Program” that provides FLOR users with a pre-paid UPS return label when they need to send back their old FLOR squares so the can be recycled.   That’s just as good as curbside pick-up – and it’s free!

Once received, the face fibers and backing are cleaned and separated.  The nylon face fibers are then sent to FLOR’s fiber partners to be reconstituted into new, recycled nylon fibers.  This new post-consumer recycled fiber is available for purchase to be used in future products.  The backing is shredded into small pieces, heated, melted and converted back into raw materials for use in future products.  FLOR squares returned through the company’s Return & Recycle Program are guaranteed not to end up in a landfill.

Got kids, pets, and avid wine drinkers in your home like we do?  If so, this is one American-made product worth checking out.

Don’t judge.

I know my seed starting configuration is a little….well….unconventional.  But bear in mind I had two goals:  (1) start a large number of flower seeds with a limited amount of sunny indoor surface area (2) avoid buying anything other than seeds and potting soil.  And the seeds are starting to germinate–so nah-nah-nah-boo-boo!

This is what I do to get past those last dreary days of winter.  I plant flower seeds and try to keep them alive until it is warm enough to plant.

I’ve got a long way to go before my pink, yellow, and unusual blue-colored petunias are the envy of the neighborhood.  My cat may still decide to have a go at these silly looking newspaper pots, and who knows if I’ll remember to keep them watered.  But I’m optimistic—moderately optimistic.  Besides, I desperately need to see some signs of spring after one of the dreariest North Carolina winters I can recall.

A Little Newspaper and a LOT of Seed

As tempting as it was to buy some fancy seed starting kit, I was intrigued by the homemade seed starting ideas I’ve seen on the web lately.  I figured, “Why not turn some trash into little biodegradable pots?”  Okay – so the ones I’ve seen on Pinterest are a lot cuter than mine, but I was going for quantity not quality.  I formed these babies as rapidly as I could by molding squares of newspaper around a shot glass.  It took me about two hours, not including the time it took to wash the newsprint off my hands.

Space is always an issue when you start seeds inside.  This year, rather ingeniously, I solved my space problem with a dog crate, which has been sitting in my office, unused, since we adopted our dog.  Not only can I water through it but it protects at least a portion of my crop from my cat who is no doubt agitated that this thing is now sitting in her favorite sunbathing spot.

So, for the cost of some potting soil and a few dollars worth of seeds, which I bought off of eBay (yeah Baby!), I’m about one quarter of the way to some viable seedlings.

It ain’t pretty, but if I can just keep just half of these little seedlings alive until they are big enough to put in the ground, I’ll have a lot of color in my yard for a fraction of what I would spend buying plants.  And I’ll still be bragging about it by this time next year.

Of Course, It Might Not Work…

You’re skeptical; I can feel it.

So what happens, you wonder, if my crudely formed paper pots don’t hold up?  Or what if I do something really stupid like set them out in preparation for planting the next day only to have them blow away?  (Not that I would ever do something so dumb….)

I’ll confess my failure – hurtful as that might be.  We’re all about transparency here at Greenspiration Home.  And whatever painful lesson I learn, I promise I’ll share with you so you don’t end up looking quite as foolish or disappointed as me.  Stay tuned.  In the meantime, I’ll be dreaming pink, yellow, and blue.

As a green builder interested in technology and saving money, my home is a laboratory.  I have high efficiency appliances, lots of insulation, and a solar array.  One of my latest experiments is with light bulbs.

In case you haven’t heard, the government is phasing out incandescent light bulbs.  In fact 100- and 75-watt incandescent light bulbs are no longer even being manufactured.  So what should we use instead?

As a builder, I know that incandescent bulbs are more of a heater than a light source.  (Have you ever tried to touch a 75-watt light bulb when it is on?  You would burn your hand!)  Personally, I’ve been using compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs since they hit the market.  And more recently I’ve tried some light-emitting diodes (LEDs) bulbs, both of which are higher efficiency alternatives to incandescents.

I know what many of you are saying – “But the light from these is not the same!” My wife took the position that light from CFL bulbs was not adequate for applying makeup or preparing food therefore, ruling out their use in the master bathroom or the kitchen.  I would agree that the first versions of CFL bulbs were a little disappointing.  They were dimmer than their incandescent equivalents and took several minutes of being on to achieve their full brightness.  But the new versions of CFL’s are much better.  They get bright faster and provide a better quality light.

All that said, there are still factors that should impact your choice of bulbs, depending on how and where you plan on using them in your home.  These include things like the bulb’s light output (lumens), whether you want or need a bulb that is dimmable or has three way (low-medium-high) capability, the desired hue, and the type of fixture (table lamps, recessed fixture, and candelabra bulbs).  My best advice is to visit your local lighting store and get familiar with these products.  Then pick a few fixtures and give them a try.

What Light Bulb to Use – And Where

Based on my experience, CFL bulbs work great in indoor and outdoor light fixtures that are likely to stay on for several hours at a time.  They do not perform well in light fixtures that you are likely to switch on and off many times during the day.

I have five exterior lights on a sensor that turns the lights on at night and off during the day.  These lights have been performing well for over six years, every night, in the cold (including subzero temperatures of southeastern Michigan) and in the heat.  In all that time, only one bulb has failed.  Furthermore, these CFL bulbs consume roughly 60 watts (12 watts per bulb) and each bulb produces equivalent light to a standard 60-watt light bulb — 240-watt savings!

I have not had success with CFL bulbs in our laundry room light fixture and the light on the garage door opener.  These areas are the main entry point for my family of four so these lights go on and off many times per day.  In these light fixtures, my experience has shown CFL bulbs will only last about one year before failing, about the same as a standard light bulb.

Recently, as an experiment, I replaced CFL bulbs in the laundry room with new LED bulbs. I want to see if the LED bulbs will endure the frequent on/off cycling than the CFLs did.   The owner of a local electrical supply store echoed my observations that CFLs do not seem to like rapid and numerous starts & stops.  So far, the LED bulbs are working perfectly in the laundry room light fixture and my family has not noticed the change.

LED Technology in the Kitchen

This past summer was very warm for SE Michigan, causing my wife to complain that the master bathroom was too hot when the light was on. Since I knew she was opposed to CFL bulbs in this location, I replaced the four 60-watt incandescent light bulbs with four LED bulbs.  These new light bulbs draw a total of 40 watts (a 200 watt savings).  Changing to LED bulbs reduced excessive heat and she was still able to apply her makeup in suitable lighting.

We have been using LED bulbs designed for six inch recessed light fixtures in our kitchen for almost three years.  These are great lights and are so bright I actually decided to install a dimmer. A typical six-inch recessed light fixture bulb is a 65-watt light bulb.  By replacing these incandescent kitchen light bulbs with LED bulbs, I reduced the 325 watts to 52.5 watts (a 272.5 watt savings).  I also reduced the amount of heat in the kitchen because LED bulbs produce significantly less heat than a standard incandescent bulb.  That matters because if your home is like mine your kitchen lights are on most of the time!

CFL or LED?

Since LED bulbs are still new to the market, they are the most expensive bulbs, about $10 per standard bulb in my experience.  LEDs for 6- inch recessed light fixtures cost around $60 to $80 per bulb and include the trim.  But before you faint, keep in mind these bulbs are designed to last about 20 years on average use.  For about the same price as the standard LED bulb, you can purchase a package of three 60-watt equivalent spiral CFL bulbs and a lot of 60 watt incandescent bulbs. For me, the difference is how often I need to change the bulb and how much energy I will save over the life of the bulb.

Numerous studies have shown homes that use Energy Star qualified light bulbs (CFL and LED) use much less energy than homes with standard bulbs and these bulbs last about 6 times longer. The new CFL and LED bulbs also burn cooler than incandescent bulbs, using 75 percent less energy, which translates to as much as $60 dollars in savings over the life of each light bulb.

I teach remodeling and home improvement classes at the local community college.  Replacing incandescent bulbs with either CFLs or LEDs is among the top energy saving strategies I advocate to my students.  This, along with adding attic insulation, caulking up cracks and holes to minimize heat loss and heat gain, and installing low-flow showerheads offers the best return on a homeowner’s money.