Green Home Upgrades

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Beneficially Bright

Gilchrist also encourages homeowners to upgrade on the energy front. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use up to 75 percent less energy than their incandescent counterparts. Flood and porch lights, which shine for extended periods of time, are ideal CFL candidates, as long as the bulb you buy is designed for outdoor use.

CFL bulbs Look for bulbs with the Energy Star seal ($5 and up, available at most hardware and home-improvement stores). See "LightBulbs: Best and Brightest," GG #99.

In the Bathroom

Check for mineral buildups in showerheads, which increase your time in the shower. For those beyond repair, replace with a low-flow Oxygenics showerhead ($35-$55; oxygenics.com, 800-344-3242) or with Bricor showerheads (www.bricor.com, 719-522-0442).

Secure loose bathroom tiles by making them stay—for good—with AFM Safecoat's low-VOC 3-in-1 Adhesive ($15/qt., www.afmsafecoat.com).

Bid adieu to old vinyl shower curtains. Replace them with canvas ($36; www.realgoods.com, 800-919-2400).

What About Wood?

For shelves, save trees by purchasing used items through your local paper or check craigslist.org. Reclaimed wood, available at salvage, deconstruction and demolition companies, works well for garden edging (check local listings). See "Building Character with Recycled Wood," GG #108.

Another option is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified shelving from well-managed forests. You'll find Radiata pine boards or 3' and 4' shelving boards at most Home Depots (call ahead before visiting). If mounting shelves on wall brackets, screw brackets into joists for support; if assembling a freestanding shelf, be sure to use wood screws for strength.

Decks or play areas with arsenic-treated wood should be sealed every six months with a water-based sealant such as SoySeal Wood Sealer and Waterproofer ($16.99/gal.; www.soyclean.biz, 641-522-9559) or SoyGuard Premium Water Repellant & Wood Sealer ($29.99/gal.; www.biopreserve.com, 800-416-9511).

But when building new decks, fences and play areas, opt for the less toxic ACQ- (Ammoniacal Copper Quaternary) or CBA- (Copper Boron Azole) treated wood (treatedwood.com, naturalselect.com). For ultimate chemical-free peace of mind, purchase the more expensive pest-resistant woods, like redwood and cedar (www.forestworld.com).