Green living not only helps the environment, it helps your pocketbook. When making upgrades to your home – whether it’s replacing a light bulb or a total living room makeover – incorporate energy-efficient and repurposed materials to make your living space more environmentally friendly.
Emily J. Reynolds, an interior design faculty member at The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham, a campus of South University, encourages green living through reuse of existing materials.
“There is a special feeling you get when you see a piece of furniture by the side of the road, fix it up, and put it to use again,” she says.
Reynolds locates used furniture at resale stores including Goodwill and the Salvation Army, or at yard sales. “When you are searching for furniture, know that it does take a little patience to find the right piece.” Reynolds says it’s important to pay special attention to the form of the piece and to look for high quality construction.
If refinishing pieces sounds like too much work, professionally restored furniture is also available and fits in with today’s trend toward distressed looks in furniture.
“Prices are often much lower for these pieces than if you purchased brand new pieces, plus you cut down on the negative effect of transporting new furniture to your doorstep,” Reynolds says.
Reusing old pieces also fits into the current trend toward eclectic interior design. “Pieces of different styles can be mixed in imaginative ways to create a harmonious space,” according to Reynolds.
When updating your home on a smaller scale, little changes can make a big difference, according to Sofeeka Hasiuk, one of the interior design faculty at The Art Institute of Philadelphia. “For instance, use no-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints for walls, furniture, or accessories,” she says. This keeps potentially harmful chemicals from getting into the air and into your lungs.
Shine the light on your green living space with LED arrays – an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional light bulbs. “They last longer and consume significantly less energy than incandescent bulbs,” says Hasiuk.
Other simple tips from the experts include:
* Use a programmable thermostat to increase energy efficiency. This will have a positive impact on the environment and your wallet.
* Replace traditional cleaning products with eco-friendly products or baking soda, lemon juice or vinegar. Plus they cost a lot less.
* Choose sustainable hardwood or tile flooring over wall-to-wall carpeting. They last longer and are easier to clean.
Once your home is greener, keep the trend going. As you purge pieces from your collection, be sure to recycle them properly or donate them so that they may be used again. “Sell or donate those pieces so they can continue being used. Avoid placing items in the landfill if at all possible,” says Reynolds.
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.
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You and your referrals will be provided with a great team of professionals to help with each step of the process. We are committed and passionate about negotiating the best possible terms and serving our clients at the highest level. Our goal is to create memorable real estate experiences where our clients become raving fans.
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Whether a person is looking to buy or sell a starter home or a multi-million dollar estate, Debbie Woolard produces great results for her clients. She gives clients what they expect and deserve, an experienced realtor skilled in marketing and negotiations.
With Debbie Woolard, you will receive personal service as well as exceptional professionalism. She is well qualified for her work with her strong background of sales and marketing. Having been born here and continuously living in the area, she is familiar with the entire Hampton Roads region.
She has earned the professional designations of Certified Negotiation Expert, Certified Residential Specialist, and e-Pro. In addition she is also a Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource with extensive training in short sales and foreclosures. This uniquely positions her to help those in danger of losing their home to foreclosure. It has also proven to be beneficial to the buyers that are seeking to purchase a short sale or foreclosure.
She is well qualified to help professionals, business owners, military personnel and other clients with their real estate needs. She has been selected to work with both the Military Team and Relocation Team. She is consistently producing outstanding results in real estate.
Her first year in real estate she was awarded Listing Rookie of the Year as well as Sales Rookie of the Year. Her sales and loyal following of satisfied clients have grown each year she has been in business. She is in the top 1% of the agents in the area based on sales volume. Her practice continues to flourish thanks to clients recommending her to friends, family members and business associates.
Her clients state that her actions and attitude are best described with the word “integrity”.
Realtors with the Debbie Woolard Group service Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News & Portsmouth with specialist in seller representation, buyer representation, military relocation, first time home buyers, short sales and real estate investment.