1. Keep the shades drawn during the day. When sunlight streams through the windows, it creates a miniature greenhouse effect in your home.

2. Insulate! You want to keep cool air inside, so grab that caulk gun and seal off anywhere that air might be escaping.

3. Get rid of incandescent lights. Not only do they use more energy, they generate a lot more heat than CFL or LED light bulbs.

4. Make sure your ceiling fans are running counter clockwise. Most modern fans will have a little switch on the side to reverse their direction. You want the fan to go clockwise in winter to push warm air down and reverse it in the summer to circulate cool air.

5. Avoid the stove and oven. Both of these will add unnecessary heat to the house. Instead, fire up that outdoor grill or whip up a salad or sandwich.

6. Try a buckwheat pillow. If the heat is preventing you from sleeping, switching to a buckwheat pillow can make a big difference, since buckwheat doesn't hold on to your body heat like conventional pillows do.

7. Plant a tree. If you can, plant trees on the side of your house that gets the most sun. The extra shade will protect your home from the sun's rays.

Great Deals

Oops Paint – Sometimes the wrong color is mixed, but that means that you can pick up healthy, non-toxic, zero-VOC paints for an amazing deal! These paints usually retail for $45 and we have gallons for $25 and quarts for $7. These are great paints in great colors so stop by the store to save some green on your paint today!

FLOR 15% off SALE – Starting Tuesday, July 6th – Saturday, July 24th receive 15% off these great modular carpet tiles. FLOR tiles are made with renewable and recycled content and they can be recycled right back into carpet tiles when you are finished with them. FLOR carpet tiles also meet or exceed the CRI's Green Label Plus certification for carpets so you can breathe easy knowing these tiles are low in VOC's. So whether you like stripes, solids or shag, there is a FLOR carpet tile that is right for you and your space. Stop by the store to see all of FLOR's styles.

State Fair Eco Experience Preview (Green Street Neighborhood)

This will be our 5th year coordinating all of the interior finishes for the MN State Fair's Eco Experience green building exhibit. In the past we have built a beautiful home in the middle of the Eco Experience building but this year (in true State Fair fashion) things are bigger and better than ever! Instead of one home we are constructing 5 structures that will make up the Green Street Neighborhood. We will have a commercial building, three homes and a solar carport! Be sure to stop by to learn everything about the green building process. We will cover certification programs, advanced framing, many solar options, gorgeous eco-finish materials and more! Be sure to stop by while you are at the fair! August 26th – Labor Day (September 6th)

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