Carpet One Floor & Home's Guide
to Going Green

There is a wealth of information available online about going green.  We've pulled together a few simple tips that will help you get started.  Greening our homes can be a little overwhelming at first, because it could require a shift in the way we approach our daily habits.  Making small changes one at a time can make the greening process easier.  From your floors to your local recycling center, there are many things we can do to make a positive impact on the health of the environment.  Visit ngsd.blogspot.com to receive more tips for making your home earth-friendly.

Recycling
Probably the most important element of the green movement is learning the basics of recycling.  Most likely we can all give a basic definition of recycling, which is great!  We can go a little further, though.  Each region has a different set of rules for how to recycle.  Not all recyclable materials are recycled in each community due to different regulations.  The most efficient way to learn about the recycling practices of your municipality is to give them a call.  Asking questions will help put you and your municipality on the path toward a healthier community.

Unplug & Monitor Electrical Devices
To save money while saving the planet, unplug electrical devices when they are not in use and turn off lights.  Even when appliances are turned off they can use a significant amount of energy.  Taking a few minutes to unplug devices and turn off lights will save millions of tons of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere every year.   The average American home uses six times the amount of energy consumed by citizens of other countries.  The type of energy that American's use is also a problem.  The U.S. power grid uses 98% non-renewable energy.  Getting into a routine of unplugging unused devices will go a long way in making a difference.

Thermostat  Control
Turning down the thermostat is another great way of saving money while saving the environment.  Lowering the heat gradually will let you and your family adjust to the change in temperature.  You could eventually reach a temperature that is comfortable for everyone and that saves money and reduces carbon emissions.  A programmable thermostat will give you the flexibility to pre-set the temperature for different times throughout the day and in advance for days of the week.  Remember to turn thermostats down when you begin opening windows in the spring.  Controlling the thermostat is a great step toward being an earth-friendly home owner!

Reusable water Bottles
More than 4 billion gallons of bottled water was sold last year, and less than 23 percent of bottles are recycled.  The rest lands in landfills.  Drinking from a reusable bottle or from a glass will help reduce this excessive waste.  Carpet One Floor & Home is working to adopt the practice of using reusable water bottles for water consumption.  We have also developed an initiative to include recycling bins in our offices for employees who haven't upgraded to reusable bottles. 

Support Local Farmers
Supporting your local farmer's market or independently owned grocery store that buys from local farmers will mean that you and your family will eat fresh food, stimulate the economy, and reduce transportation costs.  According to climatecrisis.net, "the average meal in the United States travels 1,200 miles from farm to plate."  The site also states that local farmers markets "reduce the amount of energy required to grow and transport food to you by one fifth".

Car Pooling
The biggest contributor of greenhouse emissions is transportation.  Car pooling to work can make an enormous difference for the environment.  Many people live near co-workers and can easily play a direct role in reducing greenhouse emissions.  In addition to car pooling, you can combine trips so that you are out on the road less.  Rather than taking three trips to the grocery store over the week, you could plan ahead and make only one.  You could also stop at the grocery store on the way home from work to combine trips and reduce emissions.

Energy Efficient Lighting 
Lighting is important to the mood and style of our homes.  It can impact the way we see color and the general atmosphere of a room.  We checked with our friends at Lighting One and found that compact fluorescent light bulbs use much less energy than regular bulbs without sacrificing the quality of your lighting.  This means you can now reduce the amount of energy you use while maintaining the style you love. 

Energy Efficient Appliances
Scientists estimate that the world's fresh water supplies could be in serious jeopardy by 2050.  According to the U.S. Geological Survey Americans use about 500,000 gallons of freshwater per person.   In order to conserve water, consider using energy efficient washing machines, tankless water heaters, and taking shorter showers.  Tankless water heaters heat water only when it is needed.  Taking shorter showers will save water while reducing the amount of energy required to keep your shower hot.  These are simple ways of helping the environment by conserving water.

Greening Your Floors
Laying the foundation for greening your home just got simpler.  Each day we're finding ways to green your home.  An alternative flooring option that is earth-friendly and adds unmatched functionality is cork.  From fine wine to elegant floors, cork has a functionality that separates it from most contemporary flooring. It's low maintenance, absorbs noise, is naturally antimicrobial, and, even better, cork is a naturally sustainable product.  Montado(TM) cork, named after the Portuguese cork oak forest, has a quiet, stylish, eco-friendliness that works with all design tastes. Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree. Since the tree naturally sheds and re-grows the bark, the tree is not harmed when it's harvested.   

Community Involvement
Building relationships with your neighbors and local merchants can have great benefits for the environment.  When we come together as a group, we can accomplish anything!  Attending community workshops on how to make a positive impact will expand your environmental knowledge-base while giving you the opportunity to meet and talk with community members you might not otherwise meet.  Community events like National Green Select Day are great for making a positive impact while making friends.