Marnie Oursler is the star of the new hit DIY Network show “Big Beach Builds” where she focuses on conscious, resourceful remodels. Building sustainably is a basic tenet of Marnie’s home building business: She uses locally sourced, eco-friendly, and energy-efficient materials and practices as often as possible, and repurposes and recycles whenever she can (and even built the first LEED-certified home in Delaware). Building materials for construction can be difficult to find sometimes, however, there are commercial sellers, like WR Meadows, that could sell the materials needed for your build.
But you don’t have to build your home from the ground up, or spend tons of time and money, to increase its energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. Here are Marnie’s 18 easy ways to make your home healthier and greener is just one weekend (or less!):
1. Heat and cool efficiently. Heating and air-conditioning account for nearly half the energy we use at home, so every little bit less used makes a difference. Adjust your thermostat by one degree for eight hours a day, and you could save 1% on your monthly heating bills; do it for 24 hours and save 3%. If you’re having consistent problems with your heating, it could be a problem with air and/or dirt getting into the system. If you are not as skilled in the DIY department and are asking yourself, “Where does this Hollow Section of the pipe go”?, it may be best to leave it to the professionals who know exactly what they are doing and can get your heating working in little to no time at all. Especially in the winter months, you don’t want to be sitting around without any heating and the same goes for the hot summers and air conditioning. There are products available to tackle this such as the Air Dirt Separator from StourFlex, to help eradicate this ongoing issue for you.
2. Start a compost pile in your backyard. It’s a great way to dispose of and then reuse vegetable scraps, lawn trimmings, dead leaves, other organic trash, and even fireplace ashes.
3. Fix that leaky faucet or toilet. A dripping faucet can waste up to 74 gallons of water a day, while a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day. Repairing your leaky toilet or faucet may seem like just a drop in the bucket (terrible pun intended), but it can save up to 73,000 gallons of water a year. Consider a new kitchen faucet as well.
4. Cover your pool when you’re not using it. Not only does this simple change keep your pool water cleaner, but it also keeps it from evaporating – saving you the headache and water waste of having to refill it.
5. Change to energy-efficient bulbs. (10,000 hours as opposed to 1,500), consume 75% less energy, and come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. LEDs (light-emitting diodes), another great option, last even longer.
6. Turn down the temperature of your water heater. Just reducing your water heater temp from the standard 140 degrees F to 120 degrees F will save money and make your tank more energy efficient.
7. Add power strips throughout your home. We often forget that computers, printers, DVD players, TVs, phone chargers, coffee makers, and microwaves (and just about any modern device) draw power even when they’ve been switched off. By plugging these devices into a power strip and then turning the entire strip off when not in use, you can save up to 10% on your energy bill.
8. Switch to green cleaners (or make your own). This simple change reduces air pollution both indoors and out, and minimizes exposure to asthma and allergy triggers, as well as chemicals that can be harmful to your health.
9. Properly insulate your home. Adding insulation to leaky ducts, walls, windows, and doors can improve your home’s energy draw by up to 30%.
10. Test the temperature of your cold food storage. Put an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the center of your refrigerator, or between frozen goods in the freezer. Let it sit overnight and then check the temperature.
11. Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes. The average American family of four washes about 540 loads of laundry a year, which consumes up to 21,000 gallons of water, and more than 150 loads of dishes, which uses about 1,500 gallons. Most of the energy consumed goes toward heating the water – about 90% in the clothes washer and 80% in the dishwasher. Combining half-loads, choosing short cycles, and using cold or warm water instead of hot in the clothes washer is not only more energy-efficient, but also saves time and money.
12. Harness the power of the sun. Opening your shades, blinds, or curtains to let in natural solar heat on cold days, and closing them once the sun sets, can reduce your heating bill by up 10%.
13. Plant an edible garden. This is a super simple – and fun – way to not only be reminded of where our food comes from, but also reduce your carbon footprint. The less you shop for food in supermarkets, the less gas you use driving back and forth and trucks use shipping groceries from farms to stores.
14. Invest in Energy Star appliances. Sponsored by the EPA and the Department of Energy, the Energy Star program guarantees that products with their label are energy-efficient. A household with Energy Star products uses about 30% less energy than the average household (which comes to an annual savings of about $570).
15. Let your lawn grow. Most grass species fare best when they’re kept at least 2.5 inches tall. At this length, there is more surface area to absorb sunlight, leading to thicker turf and deeper roots, which means you won’t need to water as often.
16. Collect rainwater. Instead of using potable water from your hose to water your lawn, landscaping, and garden, use collected rainwater. Set up a rain barrel so that water runoff from the gutters of your house, garage, shed, or other structure is directed into the barrel via the downspout.
17. Skip the clothes dryer. Instead, take advantage of the warm, sunny, and often breezy spring and summer days by drying your clothes outside on clothesline. If a clothesline isn’t an option (or the weather isn’t cooperating), try an indoor drying rack.
18. Become a plant person. Not only does indoor greenery breathe life and color to your home, but it also cleans the air. Many of the furnishings, carpeting, and paints we use indoors release chemicals that we then breathe in. Luckily, cleaning the air can be as simple as decorating with plants. Many species are especially adept at removing pollutants and purifying your air, like the ones on this list.
Innovative use of materials, impeccable craftsmanship, and a brilliant sense of design have propelled Marnie Oursler from building beach homes as a hobby to presiding over a thriving custom home building business. Marnie is revolutionizing the industry with her fresh approach to established building practices and processes. Marnie is dedicated to doing the right thing whether it’s building practices that are good for the environment and promote domestic jobs or helping students gain field experience to launch construction careers. Marnie has been nationally recognized by as Professional Builder Magazine’s “40 Under 40” – a recognition of entrepreneurs to watch in the building industry – and received one of the world’s most distinguished business honors, the Gold Stevie® Award as Entrepreneur of the Year for Women in Business. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Cross Continent MBA program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. She has been featured in Fortune, Business Insider, Marketwatch, Washington Life, and more. Marnie stars in beach home renovation show Big Beach Builds, which airs on on DIY Network on Mondays at t 9:00 PM EST and 9:30 PM EST.