Our lives are more hectic than ever. In addition to working more than eight hours a day and caring for others, the average person (ages 25 to 54) spends approximately one additional hour per day on household activities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use survey. With everyday maintenance tasks depleting your free time, you may think it’s impossible to fit in bigger home improvement projects.

It’s time to change your mindset and reevaluate your home improvement to-do list. While it may seem overwhelming, one weekend is the perfect amount of time to tackle a few cost-effective and eco-friendly home-improvement projects that can add style and functionality … and even save a little ‘green’ as well. The following projects will help to ‘greenify’ your home:

Kitchen convenience

Decorative details, such as faucets and fixtures, can go a long way to improve the style of your kitchen, but what about functionality and eco-friendly options? Wave “hello” to your answer with MotionSense from Moen. Imagine the convenience of having a kitchen faucet that can sense what you’re trying to accomplish, and with a simple wave of the hand, immediately responds to your needs.

MotionSense utilizes advanced sensors to detect a user’s movement in two sensing zones, immediately setting water flow in motion. Simply place an object — like a cup or your hand — near the base of the faucet to turn the water on and off automatically, significantly reducing water usage and eliminating the possibility of leaving the faucet running when not in use. Or, simply wave your hand above the faucet to start water flow — and a second wave to stop. You can also adjust the faucet’s temperature and flow the traditional way, using its convenient side handle. MotionSense faucets are easy to install and can be purchased at your local home improvement retailer or wholesale showroom.

Warm up with cool savings

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Did you know that yearly heating and cooling costs average more than $1,000? Installing a programmable thermostat takes only a couple of hours and can significantly help reduce your energy costs. And, programmable thermostats have come a long way with new, sophisticated technology. New systems resemble mini-computers and offer users an interactive experience. After answering questions about your preferences and usage, programs are set accordingly, letting you adjust settings from any room in the house. Not going to be home? Programmable thermostats are available to control settings from smart-phones, giving you complete control over your heating and cooling, and helping to reduce wasted energy.

Shower in the savings

Any homeowner would agree that saving water to help the environment and lower their water bill is a great idea. However, many may not agree if these savings interfere with the enjoyment of their daily shower. Luckily, the Moen Caldwell Four-Function Eco-Performance Showerhead is an ideal solution that offers water savings without sacrificing a quality showering experience. Installing in just minutes, you can shower in the savings, as Caldwell has a flow rate of 2 gallons per minute (gpm), 20 percent less than the industry standard of 2.5 gpm, and meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense criteria.

Freshen up

Paint can add an instant facelift to any room. For as little as $20 per gallon, you can add some color, refresh the walls and help pull the room together. Painting an accent wall is also a great idea to add “wow factor” to your room while also saving time and money. And today, many paint manufacturers offer non-toxic paints with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) formulations to reduce these pollutants in your home.

Although you may not be able to add more hours to your day, in one weekend you can easily tackle environmentally friendly projects

This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.

More sustainable remodeling tips

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One of the hottest trends in home improvement is remodeling with sustainability in mind. Going “green” means using building methods and environmentally friendly building materials that reduce your home’s environmental impact on the planet, and enhance the health of your home for you and your family.

Here are some tips on how to make your home more green from APEX Siding:

Go green today. Start small and replace all of your old incandescent light bulbs with florescent or LED bulbs, or install rain barrels under your gutters to capture rain water, which you can use to water your flower or vegetable garden, while reducing your water bill.

Experience in green remodeling and building. Hire a remodeler or design/build firm that is experienced in green building techniques or holds a certification from a reputable organization such as the National Association of Home Builders.

Stamp out moisture. Keep moisture out and increase the air flow of your home with low maintenance siding such as APEX Siding System. APEX is a pultruded-fiber-glass siding with Ultrex, a long-lasting, durable material designed with a unique airflow system that reduces the occurrence of moisture and mold problems.

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This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.