July 2010

List of things I am personally done to green my home.

Green Materials:

Recycled content deck: Recycled wood/plastic composite lumber is one of the prime uses for recycled plastic trash bags and waste wood fibers. The composite material is used to produce building products such as decking, door and window frames, and exterior moldings. Manufacturers claim that products produced with recycled wood/plastic lumber are more durable than conventional preservative-treated lumber. Also, these products contain no toxic chemicals such as those used in conventional treated lumber.

Cork Floors-The cork oak tree is not destroyed and then replanted but rather the bark is trimmed from the tree every 9 years, leaving the tree and the forest undamaged. Its not unusual to have a 200 year old tree still producing cork bark. Cork flooring is actually made from the waste of the cork wine stopper manufacturing process so cork flooring is a recycled product.

Bamboo floors - Bamboo flooring can give you the natural beauty of wood in your home without you having to feel that your choice in home improvements is having a damaging affect on the environment. As one of natures greatest gifts to mankind, bamboo has been used in many useful ways since the beginning of time. In modern times it has become the wood of choice for making both decorative and practical items that are aesthetically pleasing as well as environmentally friendly.

Low VOC Paint - New environmental regulations, and consumer demand, have led to the development of low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and finishes. Most paint manufacturers now produce one or more non-VOC variety of paint. These new paints are durable, cost-effective and less harmful to human and environmental health.

Local Made Hardware –  I purchased locally made hardware that is also lead free!

CFL’s – Compact Florescent Lamps - An ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.