While in the process of renovating/updating our bedroom closets, the need for interior closet lighting became a must. After some searching, I settled on a fairly new product from GE – an LED based plug in light fixture, a $60 solution from the local Home Depot.
I re-wired the main light switch the room to accommodate an additional switch, then wired the additional electric line to a newly installed outlet in the interior of the closet. After plugging the unit in and mounting it accordingly, we were thrilled to see the results. Not only did GE choose to use ‘warm’ coloured LED’s in the fixture, but the brightness is remarkable.
As the LED’s produce virtually no heat, the solution is ideal for a closet as we wanted to avoid any potential fire hazard as well as reduce the amount of energy consumption. I am not sure that the additional cost would justify it’s use in every area in the house as the energy consumption is similar to CFL’s, but for this particular application where excess heat would be an issue, this is a fantastic solution.
An interesting article posted on Discovery’s Planet Green site listed several indoor plants that can drastically improve the quality of indoor air. Three plants, in particular, were tagged by a study at Green Spaces which work to not only create oxygen, but remove VOCs and other toxins as well. We’ve already got a few of these around the house as they really worked with the mid-century look we are going for, but the green aspect is purely a bonus!
Here’s some video from this year’s TED conference on the topic.
Paint. The next material for green renovation. There’s lots of options out there, but Benjamin Moore’s Natura paint offered the best option for us, as they will provide any colour in their arsenal in a zero-VOC wall covering. It’s dries with ease, even with the windows closed since there is virtually no odor. We’ve used it in the guest bedroom and the bathroom so far. A highly recommended product…
Benjamin Moore’s breakthrough new eco-friendly product, Natura, gives you a virtually odorless, zero VOC option, without sacrificing style or performance.
Natura® — Recycling, buying organic, using energy-efficient products – these are just a few of the choices made every day to help the environment. With Natura paint, you have an environmentally friendly option when it comes to painting the interior of your home, and you can count on the beauty and quality you expect from Benjamin Moore.
We did some research to find what were the latest technologies used in energy and water efficient dishwashers. Asko was not only among the highest energy efficient machines, but also uses less than 4 gallons per wash, where most others use 5 or 6. It’s also pretty nice to look at.
Aquia dual flush toilet, by Toto. One flush for pee, one for poop. So far, it’s working beautifully. Thanks to the low flow toilet rebate program from the MMWD, we ended up saving some money too!
Paired with a super cool soft-close seat, the dual flush lets you to choose between 1.6 GPF or 0.9 GPF…green AND cool!
Here’s some pics of the house before we moved in. Obviously, there’s lots of work to be done to bring it up into this century, but looking at these pics right now, I don’t even recognize the place anymore — even after a few short weeks!
While in the process of renovating/updating our bedroom closets, the need for interior closet lighting became a must. After some searching, I settled on a fairly new product from GE – an LED based plug in light fixture, a $60 solution from the local Home Depot.
