What are the characteristics that make a house “energy-efficient”?  According to the United States government there are four main criteria.  First, a thermal envelope that is tightly sealed.  Second, effective insulation (high R-value).  Third, efficient ventilation.  Fourth, lower than average utility bills for heating and cooling that result from the other three factors.  Let’s take a brief look at each of these.

First, what is a thermal envelope?  It’s all the exterior components of the house, and the additional materials that are used to protect the house from the weather outside.  This includes the roof, the framing, the exterior siding, the insulation, the vapor barrier, the windows and the foundation.

Second, let’s look at energy-efficient insulation and R-value (which measures heat transfer).  Most local building codes have a minimum requirement for insulation.  Usually, only the walls and ceilings are required to be insulated.  But an energy-efficient house will have insulation in its floors and foundation, too.  And the R-value will be higher than the building code requires.  For instance, instead of R-11 insulation in the walls, R-30 would be used.

Third, what is efficient ventilation?  It’s a way of controlling the air flow so that the thermal envelope maintains its seal, but moisture does not build up and create mold.  Ventilation is important not only to maintain the integrity of the building materials, but to maintain a healthy indoor environment.  It affects air quality and indoor pollution.  If the house is not properly ventilated, poor air quality can create health hazards.

Fourth, let’s take a look at how the first three items can lower your average utility bills for heating and cooling.  The thermal envelope includes effective weather stripping and insulated windows, as well as energy-efficient siding and roofing materials.  The quality of insulation has a direct effect on how much heat escapes on cold days or how much cool air escapes on hot days.  Controlled ventilation maintains a balance between healthy air flow and the escape of too much hot or cold air.  When all of these elements are working as they should, smaller energy-efficient furnaces and air conditioners can be used.  This translates directly into lower utility bills and less impact on the environment.

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Green gardening in the home follows the same principles as outdoor gardening. The aim is to avoid using pesticides, to make the best use of natural resources such as water and light, to recycle where possible and to make sure that anything purchased is as environmentally friendly as possible - both in its production and distribution.

Apart from using natural pest control, one of the main ways in which you can make a difference immediately is to avoid peat-based potting composts for your house plants. It is possible to make your own potting compost or to buy peat-free compost suitable for house plants.

Worm compost can be used for planting house plants and a liquid feed made up of compost and water in equal measures can provide a boost to ailing house plants.

Apart from improving the look of your room, house plants can provide a variety of functions, such as reducing pollution by filtering the air - particularly useful in your home office.

You can also grow food at home by planting indoor window boxes of herbs, starting garden vegetable seedlings off indoors or growing sprouting seeds. Home-grown sprouting seeds are a great way to garden indoors; they are fun for children, easy to grow and incredibly nutritious, plus they will save you money on store-bought sprouts.

To harvest your own regular supply of delicious sprouting seeds all you need is a sieve, a glass jar, some muslin (cheesecloth) and some filtered water. Start by soaking the dried beans or seeds - the choice includes mung beans, alfafa seeds, lentils, chickpeas, adzuki beans and pumpkin seeds, - overnight. Rinse and drain them in a sieve, then transfer them to a glass jar and cover it with a square of muslin held in place with an elastic band or string before putting it in a warm, dark place such as an airing cupboard.

All you then have to do is to fill the jar with water and tip upside down to drain through the muslin before putting them back into the covered jar. Repeat this process twice a day until the sprouts are nearly ready to eat (it should take three to five days). Just prior to eating, the sprouts should be put on a windowsill for a couple of hours. Then wash and eat them as soon as possible.

You could also try growing wheatgrass on trays. You will need a mixture of organic compost and top soil spread on a tray and moistened. Then sprinkle with seed, which should have been soaked and left to germinate for 12 hours, and lay another tray on top to keep in moisture. After three days lift the top tray off, water and place the sprouts in sunlight. Four days later you should have a crop of wheat grass that can make a power-packed juice.

TIPS

• The minerals in cold tea are said to help flagging pot plants, so mix some in with your water.

• The water produced from leaving egg shells soaking for several days is also said to revive indoor plants.

• A few drops of almond oil on a damp cloth can help clean the leaves on shiny-leaved plants, such as mother-in-law’s tongue.

• Make your own plant pots from old yogurt and ice cream pots. Remember to put drainage holes in the bottom and use the lids as saucers underneath.

• To maintain steady watering, even if you are away, place one end of a length of thick wool in a saucer of water and the other in the plant pot. The water will steadily drip from one to the other.

• Save water from your bath and washing up to use on your indoor plants. Also remember to use the water left over in the kettle or the waste water produced when installing a new water filter.

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