Saving the Planet Starts at Home

Throughout the world, people are working hard to reduce global warming and do what’s best for the environment. These days, everyone is going green. Now you can too! To help you lower the environmental impact of your home and your daily life, Latina presents a room-by-room guide to helping you save the planet.

The Lawn/Garden:

• Fine Tune Your Watering:
  Most people over-water their lawns. Buy an irrigation controller that can read the weather and adjust water according to the conditions.
• Pay Attention to Your Plants:
  Plant low water-use plants to reduce your water consumption. For a list of water-wise plants in your area, visit WaterUseItWisely.com.
• Get Non-Toxic:
  Instead of relying on chemically based protocols, fight pests using non-toxic products, like sandpaper, beer and salt.

Check Your Settings: 

Run laundry on a warm/cold cycle rather than hot.  It gets your clothes just as clean and saves energy.

Reuse Laundry Water: 

Recycle the drained water from your washer by installing a gray water system to irrigate your plants.

Pack the Dishwasher Tight:

  Save money and energy by filling your dishwasher as fully as possible, meaning fewer big loads.  And, only wash things in the sink if they can’t be washed in the dishwasher—the machine uses less water and energy that you would!

Green Clean: 

Use non-toxic, organic dish soap, detergent and cleaners.  Not only are they healthier for your familia, but they work just as well as the standard products.

Recycle and Re-Use:

  Rinse that sandwich bag and use it again.  Invest in durable reusable sacks, so you don’t have to get plastic bags every time you go to the grocery store.

Install Solar Screens: 

Replace your old window screens with solar ones.  They’ll block up to 80% of the sun’s heat and glare.

Pay Attention to Your Floor & Furniture: 

Consider flooring and furniture made of renewable materials, like bamboo.  You won’t sacrifice style, but you will help the environment.

Check Your Electronics:

Make sure to unplug or shut down appliances not being used.  Energy vampires like plasma TVs and DVD players continue to drain energy 24/7 if left plugged in.

Consider Getting a Ceiling Fan:

 Along with making you more comfortable, ceiling fans help circulate both heat and cool air—helping you save energy and money, too.

Check Your Windows:

  Make sure your windows don’t leak air—you could be wasting heat and energy.  Use weather-stripping.

Use Organic Cotton Bedding: 

Organic cotton is processed without the use of chemicals and either left natural, dyed with low-impact environmental dyes or dyed with natural colorants such as clay—helping contribute to a healthier planet.

Get a Low-Flush Toilet: 

Toilets, on average, are the single largest water wasters inside a house.  Older models can use up to five times as much water as newer versions.  Cut back on your water consumption by installing an ultra-low-flush toilet.

Save in The Shower: 

Along with toilets and washing machines, showers can be real water guzzlers.  A low-flow showerhead is comfortable and stylish!

Consider a Tankless Water Heater: 

One way to help the environment and wait less for the water to heat up on a bitter cold morning—a tankless water heater.  It helps you save energy and water and reduce carbon dioxide emissions!  Not to mention the extra storage space you’ll gain where the water heater once resided!

Tip: There’s a huge trend today toward creating outdoor rooms—using sofas, rugs, tables and even lamps to create rooms that mimic the inside of the house.  Luckily there are a lot of choices, from the lavish to the economical.  Don’t overlook the idea of an outdoor rug, it will anchor the space and really warm up the area.

Name:    Mark Cutler
Title:     Interior Designer/President
Company Name: Mark Cutler Design, Inc.
URL Address:  www.markcutlerdesign.com

Tip: Containers add so much more to a garden, such a different element.  They add structure and dimension. And in many ways, containers make it so much easier. You can have terrible soil conditions, but if you’re using containers, you can just buy the best Miracle-Gro® brand of soil. Also, you can move them around, so you can change things up and keep it fresh.

Name:   Jon Carloftis
Title: Garden Designer & Author
URL Address:   www.joncarloftis.com

Tip: There are two different tricks I recommend for making the most of a small space... If the space has little natural light, a cozy feeling, maybe a den, I like to play up the smallness and work with darker colors. Maybe chocolate brown walls, linen fabrics, a lot of trimmings and a few great accessories. On the other hand, a room with lots of natural light looks great with just one or two fabrics used consistently throughout. A pale blue and ivory toile with natural-colored upholstery, a sisal rug. The simplicity of the color scheme can add an open, airy feeling to the small space.

Tip: When decorating the bathroom, keep it simple. Don’t overdo it! Simple towels, a pleasant color and nothing knitted over your Kleenex box. Think of hotel bathrooms.

Tip: Instead of using a regular cocktail table in the living room, think about a trunk for storage. Also, shelves on the walls and bookcases under the staircase and in the closets will create a lot of storage space and help organize your room.

Tip: Try a paint made of recycled materials. It can be used for wall panels, doors, on custom light fixtures and can be backlit for a chic effect.

Tip: Instead of using a regular cocktail table in the living room, think about a trunk for storage. Also, shelves on the walls and bookcases under the staircase and in the closets will create a lot of storage space and help organize your room.

Tip:  When decorating the bathroom, keep it simple.  Don’t overdo it!  Simple towels, a pleasant color and nothing knitted over your Kleenex box.  Think of hotel bathrooms.

Name: Christopher Gaona
Title: Principal Designer
Company Name: Christopher Gaona, Inc.
URL Address:   www.christophergaona.com

Tip: In the kitchen, a colorless open-plan interior is enhanced with a kitchen island for extra storage - and a shot of tropical color.v

Tip: To save water, consider installing toilets with full or partial flush modes.

Tip: Tip: When you renovate don't just think you have to tear everything out. Ask yourself, How can I work with what's here? After all design is about solutions, everything works if you edit correctly.

Tip:  Vibrant orange—this is the hip, new color. It is a fresh and energetic color!  Try it as an accent on walls; toss pillows, and other pieces.

Name:   Laura Zazueta F.
Title: Principal Designer   
Company Name: FINO 
URL Address: www.finodesigstudio.com

Tip: I'm seeing hot colors ... literally. Oranges, bright yellows, fantastic pinks, shocking lime!

Tip:  I love finding things at the flea market and converting them into lamps. It’s not expensive and can help create a totally unique lamp. Try using a vase or a cool object such as a statue—even a cool antique child’s toy. One of the favorite lamps I ever made was created using an antique child’s ferris wheel!

Name: Mark Cutler   
Title: President Designer
Company Name:  Mark Cutler Design, Inc.
URL Address: www.markcutlerdesign.com

Tip: I designed a home exercise room for a client and we picked out a crisp, lavender paint color, added one wall of mirrors and then splurged on rubber flooring. She loved it!

Name: Victoria Sanchez   
Title: Interior Design, Principle   
Company Name: Interiors by Victoria Sanchez
URL Address: www.victoriasancezinteriors.com

Tip: There are so many flooring options! DonÕt just look at the price of the product. Make sure to factor in the installation and labor fees.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to combine a variety colors and styles in a room!  It will help add a little sophistication to an otherwise blah space.

Name: Roberta Marcelino
Title: Designer Consultant
Company Name: SDE studio By Roberta Marcelino 
URL Address:   Owner@robertamarcelino.com

Tip: There's a big trend in decoratingÑthe use of cool metallic finishes! IÕve seen them on furniture, even fabric! Everyone seems to be incorporating metallics into their designs.
Name: Victoria Sanchez
Title: Interior Design, Principle
Company Name: Interiors by Victoria Sanchez
URL Address: www.victoriasancezinteriors.com

Tip: There's a big trend in decorating — the use of cool metallic finishes! I've seen them on furniture, even fabric! Everyone seems to be incorporating metallics into their designs.
Name: Victoria Sanchez
Title: Interior Design, Principle
Company Name: Interiors by Victoria Sanchez
URL Address: www.victoriasancezinteriors.com