It wasn’t all that long ago that the word green simply referred to a color. But the dictionary now offers one definition of “green” as “a social and political movement that espouses global environmental protection, bioregionalism, social responsibility, and nonviolence.” In other words, the word green is now synonymous with design efforts that honor and respect the environment and the world we live in. As the study of green design improves, what can we as homeowners do to make our homes a little more eco-friendly?
Renew, reuse, recycle
This has been the mantra of environmentalists green designers for many years. Simply stated, reusing or recycling items eliminates waste, preserves natural products and supports local economy. There are literally hundreds of products on the market today that are made from recycled glass, paper, plastic and rubber. For example:
● Colorful magazine pages are being turned into decorative picture and mirror frames, handbags and knick-knacks.
● Plastic is turning up as chairs, tables, lamp bases and other functional items.
● Glass waste is being used as kitchen and bath counter top material. If you look closely at these products you can see shards of colorful glass embedded in the resin or concrete used.
● Builders are recycling plywood, drywall and other materials rather than hauling it to the landfill.
Air quality
For several decades already, our outdoor air quality has been an important issue. Experts have determined that the particles found in “dirty” air are harmful and steps have been taken to reduce those particles and clean the air. We have been rather successful with this so now attention is being paid to indoor air quality. Paint manufacturers are offering a wider range of low and no VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints to reduce the amount of toxins introduced into your home.
Energy efficiency; solar, wind and water power and more recycled items being introduced into the home are all things we can look forward to in the coming years for interior design. After all, the responsibility of preserving this earth for future generations belongs to all of us.