As many of you know, the Home Intel team spent several days in Las Vegas for the 2010 International Builders’ Show a few weeks ago. While we were at the show, we talked to representatives from a few of the industry’s top brands about their outlook for 2010.
Check out their insights in the following video clip. We’re happy to hear that many people seem to be cautiously optimistic.
We’d love to hear your thoughts too, so feel free to send us your expert opinion.
How to monitor savings – environmentally and financially - when conserving at home.
In today’s green landscape advanced technology allows consumers to conserve both financial and natural resources at home. Seeing a difference in your energy bill is one thing, but measuring the natural resources being conserved with the use of green products is less obvious.
We’ve taken a look at products that make savings by the numbers easier and answer the question:
How much money and how many natural resources does your product really save?
Some products communicate how much they save in the name of product model and feature.
There is also a wide range of tools that homeowners can use to measure the output of different energy sources throughout their home.
Online, there are also leading groups and organizations that quantify the benefits of purchasing conservation tools. Here at Green and Save they explain the ROI on purchasing a composter by providing the amount of mulching and gardening supplies used yearly that the compost will replace.
Then of course there are conservation products that have measurement and benefits that are much more obvious to the average consumer. For example when using a rain collection barrel there is a set amount of water that barrel is able to collect and every time a homeowner uses the water collected they know how much they are saving from their traditional water supply.
In order for a homeowner to get started on conservation they should first use a measurement tool to see where their house is producing the most negative output – whether that’s energy, water, or natural waste Once they find their household weaknesses they will have a better idea of how to reduce their impact and make the most efficient adjustments possible.
Disclosure: Black & Decker is a client of IMRE
Exploring the Products and Brands That Are Making It Easier for Consumers to Save Water
Practicing energy efficiency is one of the more popular ways that homeowners are diving into the green living landscape, and though conserving water is equally important and easy to do it’s often overlooked.
When it comes to water conservation, the key is to stop wasting. In their May issue’s “At Home in the Zone” feature, Dwell points out to readers that there is a big difference between the amount of water we actually need to accomplish every day tasks and the amount of water we are using to do those tasks.
The reduce, reuse and recycle principles all apply to our water supply, making conserving it one of the easiest ways to go green. Here are some products that are currently available to help homeowners cut down on their water use and waste:
Photo Courtesy of thrifyliving.net
Here are two angles to consider when it comes to marketing products that allow homeowners to better conserve water:
Features like Dwell’s and charts like this one are real eye openers for homeowners and consumers - just like the rest of the green movement, the key is to share the right information with your consumers and provide a product that will help them take that first small step towards living a greener lifestyle.
Note: See Kohler’s Save Water America video below.
Todd Weber of Kohler talks about how easy it is for homeowners to save water with today’s newest toilets, shower-heads and faucets. In addition, Todd addresses the latest trends in finishes and colors, including honed white and modern gold.
Take a look at the video below to learn more from the experts at Kohler.
