Here’s some good news: The Environmental Protection Agency announced this week that it has reached a milestone in its Energy Star program by qualifying its 1 millionth Energy Star home. That adds up to a lot of savings—for homeowners and the environment. Since the Energy Star home program began in 1995, it has saved Americans $1.2 billion in energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 22 billion pounds. 

Photo Courtesy Energy Star/EPA

To earn the Energy Star label, a home must meet strict energy-efficiency guidelines, which can be fulfilled through high-performance windows, efficient heating and cooling systems, high efficiency lighting and appliances, and more. The home must also be tested and inspected by an independent home energy rater to determine if it meets Energy Star efficiency standards.

More than 6,500 builders across the nation have constructed Energy Star homes in cities such as San Francisco, California; Austin, Texas; Las Vegas; Boston; Orlando, Florida; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Wondering what makes Energy Star homes so great? Check out Paul and Rabia Nagin’s energy-efficient home in New York and Chris Parlette’s solar-powered home in Berkeley, California.

As a kid, I was an avid bookworm—and more than once I was warned by concerned adults that reading in dim light would damage my eyes. The old maxim about reading in good light may be a bit of hooey, but there are plenty of reasons to have quality lighting throughout the house. 

With the right light, your rooms will appear bright, warm, and welcoming—day or night. Although your eyes might survive reading in dim light, the right illumination does make life easier.

The first step in reducing the environmental footprint of your lighting options is to choose the right bulb.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are widely available, energy-efficient and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit the many fixtures found in your home. Although a bit pricier, LEDs are worth considering too—they’re four times more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last much longer than CFLs. Learn about the pros and cons of different bulb options.

Replacing bulbs in your current fixtures is a great first step, but let’s be honest: Sometimes what a room really needs is a brand-new fixture. When you begin your search for the ultimate light, keep your eye peeled for these great green features:

The Energy Star logo

Fixtures bearing the Energy Star logo on their packaging meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy. Best of all, you aren’t limited to a ho-hum assortment of standard lights. Don’t believe me? Take a look at these terrific examples of Energy Star light fixtures. Whether you’re looking for a funky sconce or a sleek pendant, odds are you can find one bearing the Energy Star logo.

Natural materials

It should come as no surprise that the production of the materials used to create light fixtures can be resource-intensive. Fixtures with components made from natural materials—think a low-formaldehyde bamboo shade or a stone base—are a great option. Or look for fixtures like the created by MetaForm Studio, which are hand-crafted from Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods and coated with low-VOC finishes and adhesives.

This handcrafted light fixture from MetaForm Studio was made with Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood and low-VOC finish. Photo Courtesy MetaForm Studio.

Recycled or reused materials

Recycled or reused options abound. Eleek makes pendants, chandeliers, vanity lighting, lamps and more from recycled aluminum, bronze and steel. Fire & Water specializes in funky fixtures from recycled glass, plastic, paper, metal, wood—and even recycled glass pebbles and bicycle wheels.

You can even find pendants made from stoplights or wine bottles.

The new lantern pendant from Eleek is constructed from recycled metal and is made specifically for use with energy-efficienty LED lights. Photo Courtesy of Eleek.

Locally made lighting

Check around in your area to see if anyone makes light fixtures locally. You might be able to score a beautiful, hand-carved lamp base from a local woodworker or a striking, handmade paper shade from an artist in your area.

For more illuminating lighting ideas, check back soon—in my next post, I’m going to share some of the inspiring DIY lighting ideas I’ve come across recently!

Editor's Note: Natural Home does not recommend, approve or endorse the products/services offered by companies guest bloggers review online. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

When Cash for Clunkers, the government’s automobile trade-in rebate program, ended last month, it removed 690,000 inefficient, gas-guzzling vehicles from the roads. Now, starting in October, consumers can receive rebates for trading in their old, inefficient appliances.for Energy Star-qualified new ones.

What’s up next on the Cash for Clunkers agenda? Natural Home has some ideas. 

Old technology  

Constantly progressing technology makes computers, cell phones, printers and cameras obsolete very quickly, creating electronic waste. This e-waste often ends up in the landfill, putting toxic lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and fire retardant into the environment. 

We don't even want to guess what year these old cell phones came onto the market. Photo By Vaguely Artistic/Courtesy Flickr. 

It’s necessary to properly dispose of e-waste. Government rebates to fund purchases of more eco-friendly technology while recycling the old equipment would be a good next step in the Cash for Clunkers program. 

Land-line telephones  

Trading-in land-line phones for a rebate on eco-friendly cell phones, such as the Motorola Renew phone, would eliminate increasingly obsolete land-line infrastructure. 

Books  

Trading in damaged books, outdated textbooks and old paperbacks for a rebate on an electronic reader, such as the Amazon Kindle, could stop books from ending up in the landfill. We can also donate old books to public libraries or schools and recycle the damaged ones.

TVs  

TVs that are five years old (or older) could be traded in for a rebate on more energy-efficient versions. Energy Star-certified TVs are 30 percent more efficient than conventional models. The specifications require that these TVs be energy-efficient when they are on, off and in standby mode. 

Do you have ideas for the next Cash for Clunkers program? I’d love to hear about it; leave me a comment.

My kids and I spent last week exploring the beautiful Okanagan region of British Columbia. There was so much to see and do—from touring wineries to feasting on the prolific organic produce that’s grown there. We covered a lot of ground, and when we needed a place to rest and relax for a few days, we were thrilled to find Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa in Osoyoos, a relaxed lakeside community just a few miles from the U.S. border. 

Photo Courtesy Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa.

Set in the Great Basin desert, one of Canada’s three most endangered ecosystems, the resort faces environmental challenges—and I was happy to learn during my visit that it’s facing them head on. Landscaping is done with native desert plants, and the resort takes as much care of the native animals as it does of its guests. The area is home to a significant number of gopher snakes, rattlesnakes and two species of endangered bats. Besides monitoring snake activity, raising money for research programs and promoting wildlife education, the folks at the resort have also built a deflection fence and a safe crossing corridor for the snakes as well as a roost for the bats. In deference to both critters and guests, the pools at Spirit Ridge are filled with salt water, eliminating the use of chlorine. 

Photo Courtesy Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa.

Spirit Ridge is built on tribal land, as part of a special partnership with the First Nations Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB), or NK’MIP. The winery is the first aboriginal winery in North America, and the NK’MIP Desert Cultural Centre, located at the resort, is a fascinating introduction to Okanagan First Nations culture. The center offers on-site cultural tours and self-guided nature trails as well as rattlesnake research and tagging programs. And its gorgeous multi-colored rammed earth wall is a must-see for anyone interested in natural building. 

Photo Courtesy Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa.

Our villa was equipped with Energy Star appliances, low-flow fixtures and compact fluorescent lighting—as good as it gets. A new Wireless Energy Management System) could detect when my kids and I had left the room, so I didn’t have to worry (quite so much) that we’d left the lights on or the air conditioner running. Resort manager Mohamed Awad told me the system has helped Spirit Ridge cut its energy use by an estimated 25 to 30 percent. (I wish I had this at home!) 

Photo Courtesy Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa.

“We’re the only resort in the south Okanagan that’s making this kind of green initiatives,” Awad told me. “And now other resorts are starting to follow suit.”

That’s something worth writing home about.

In the midst of all the gloom, we’re happy to report some very good news. Clayton Homes, a subsidiary of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, just announced its line of green prefab homes. These 1,000-square-foot prefab homes, dubbed “i-houses,” cost less than $75,000 to build. 

Clayton Homes' green prefab homes are affordable and luxurious. Photo Courtesy Clayton Homes.

The green prefab homes have enough eco-friendly features to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum rating. These green prefab homes include low-flow faucets; low-VOC materials; high-efficiency heat pumps; dual-flush toilets; insulated exterior walls, roof and floors; and metal roofs designed for rainwater harvesting. If those aren’t enough, homeowners can upgrade to bamboo flooring, Energy Star-certified appliances and solar panels.  

The i-house features spacious bedrooms and work areas. Photo Courtesy Clayton Homes.

The state-of-the-art green kitchen features low-flow faucets and Energy Star-certified appliances. Photo Courtesy Clayton Homes.

Despite the housing crunch, Clayton Homes is putting additional research-and-development funds into the green prefab homes, which CEO and president Kevin Clayton believes will keep the project thriving. 

Exact pricing is still being determined for the green prefab homes. The designs will be slightly altered to fit personal needs and specific regions. Once this is completed, the Clayton team will put thousands of these green prefab homes homes up for sale.

As I begin my foray into so-called "green remodeling," I found myself pondering some essential questions, mostly along the lines of "What the heck is everyone talking about?"

With the start of this project, I'm beginning to realize there are some key terms and words that I just don't know enough about. And that, my friends, is no way to begin a big project, especially with a budget of about $15,000, give or take, for this overhaul (minus appliances and furniture). (As you may recall, my family is distinctly unskilled when it comes to DIY construction which is why I feel it's my duty to learn as much as I can about everything else!)

Of course, this all occurred to me today, when everything was torn out of the condo except the drywall. So while it's a bit late for second thoughts, the need for an education has become quite pressing.  

This week, I'm researching new vocabulary terms. First up: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), (from the U.S. Green Building Council, my new best friends.) According to USGBC, if your house is LEED-certified, it's environmentally sound and "a healthy place to live."

I desperately want to be certified.

Our LEED-certified architect and green consultant, Thom of McKinley Associates tells me we can't get LEED certification on our remodel, because we would have to replace the drywall, and even then, it's questionable as to whether the remodel would have to include the entire building of six units. But, he thinks we might be able to get an Energy Star certification if we do the kitchen right. 

Energy Star is a familiar term, but in this remote area, I'm a bit intimidated by the choices that lie ahead. Luckily, Energy Star offers lots of helpful tips and brands. I'll be spending quite a bit of time at Ferguson's Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery down the road in Charleston. I'm sure I'll be revisiting this issue in a later post. 

Of course, you can't talk energy without learning about your carbon footprint. I knew appliances played a big role in determining how our lifestyle affected the environment, but who knew flooring did, too? Bamboo, another word of the week, is the eco-choice of the moment, but the National Association of Homebuilders claims that wood flooring in general will last more than 100 years, so maybe I don't have to be limited. (I want whitewashed maple flooring, and am trying to find a green way to do it.)

This, of course, raises another philosophical question: Does lifespan and quality justify an initial carbon output? I tend to think it does. 

For help in sorting through all of this, I'm relying a lot on my floor guy at European Flooring. He has all the dust-free equipment by Nona, too crucial for keeping a healthy environment during the remodel. 

And what about tiles? I am attracted to handmade Italian tiles, but Italy is a long way off—that's a lot of jet fuel for a kitchen floor. On the other hand, tiles are green all the way, and grout and glue are environmentally sound, with low emissions. 

Since my head is packed full of new terms and questions, I'd love to hear what you all think. Leave me a comment below!

Last week I went down to Raleigh, North Carolina, to be a judge for the energy-efficient lighting design competition Lighting for Tomorrow. It was really interesting and kind of humorous, considering my lack of knowledge of the technical side of this business. Aside from one other magazine editor, most of the other judges were real lighting experts...not me. When they were talking about the mechanisms making a certain bulb work in a certain way, I was thinking “that one is pretty and really low energy!”. But the organizers want a broad range of judges for a reason—while the other judges were looking at these lights from an insider's perspective, my point of view was definitely closer to a potential customer's. 

I got to see a lot of interesting stuff while I was there. All the contestants were highly energy efficient (being Energy Star compliant is a minimum requirement for entry). There is a category for CFLs and a category for LEDs; some were dimmable and many could be made dimmable if installed properly. It was interesting that many of the fixtures were very conventional looking—very much your run-of-the-mill light. The manufacturers (well, the winners, at least) had worked hard to create lights with the tone and appearance of conventional lights. These lights didn’t look any different than the fixtures you’re accustomed to seeing for incandescent bulbs. And when they were on, they still didn’t look any different. A few still had the stereotypical poor qualities long (and somewhat falsely) associated with alternative light sources: glare, a blue or green cast, or low light output. But the majority looked great, showed colors clearly and were indistinguishable from their conventional counterparts. It really drove home the point that people no longer view the "energy efficient" category as a fringe or specialty subgroup. These are the lights that are going to be in Home Depot, in Lowe’s, in Target. And they’re using new forms of light that would have been considered revolutionary just a few years ago.

One thing was very disappointing, however: Not one single fixture used sustainable materials in the construction of the lamp and shade. They were all highly efficient, yes, but where were those lighting manufacturers creating gorgeous pieces with natural fibers, recycled materials, salvaged and reclaimed items? I was shocked not to find any, and all of the judges commented on it. A light that used sustainable materials would have been so over-and-above and garnered so many bonus points from the judges, it surely would have been a winner. So I encourage all of our eco-friendly lighting makers out there to enter this competition for next year and I encourage all of the more conventional companies to think outside the energy-efficiency box. Next year, if I’m lucky enough to participate again, I hope that amazing, contemporary-looking LED ceiling fan that we awarded this year is made with bamboo or SFC-certified wood. I hope those beautiful metal and glass indoor fixtures incorporate recycled materials. I will make sure to post the winners here when they are announced in a few months so you all can check them out. In the meantime, here are some efficient AND eco-friendly light makers for you to check out if you're in the market:

Rocky Mountain Hardware: fixtures made with 100 percent recycled bronze and sustainable business practices

Lightlink Lighting: artistic fixtures made with handmade Thai paper  

Eco-Lights: offers a wide variety of energy-efficient fixtures made with recycled, reused and sustainable materials

BuyGreen.com: offers a wide variety of fixtures, too. Check out this one made of recycled chopsticks!