Eco-friendly Interior Doors, Part II

As I’ve previously mentioned in Part I of this series of posts, there are many options for the environmentally-conscious shopper, even when it comes to buying interior doors.  I had focused on beautiful, reclaimed wood doors that add instant character and richness to any home.  Here, I’ll highlight residential and commercial doors made with recycled [...]

Affordable Solar Tube Skylights Brighten Up Interior Spaces

Want to shed some light on that dark area of your home or commercial building without turning on the lights and driving up your electric bill?  A great solution is to install solar tubes, aka sun tunnels, which are easily retrofitted into existing buildings.  In fact, depending on the Energy Star rated system you choose, [...]

How Green is Your Home Office?

If you’re lucky enough to work from home, you’re already doing your part to be green — reducing transportation impacts by not commuting.  Of course if you’d like to be even more environmentally-friendly, there are plenty of other things you can do. 

Green Your Real Estate Purchases with Historic Properties

Breaking ground and building new may be exciting, but it is rarely environmentally-friendly.  Not only is pristine land and wildlife habitat being destroyed at alarming rates, but the construction process generates a massive amount of waste, much of it not being recycled, even though 95% is typically recyclable.  Two to seven tons of waste, including [...]

Face it with Artificial Stone

Stonework on the exterior of a building adds a timeless architectural element to any home or building and makes a beautiful natural statement.  However, if you’re not fortunate enough to have the rocks originate right there at the site, then it can be quite expensive and labor intensive.  There are some innovative companies that manufacture [...]

Recycling Old Carpeting

Generally speaking, carpeting isn’t exactly the most sustainable flooring option since it is petroleum-based and needs to be replaced after only a few years.  Although, natural wool carpeting, like hardwood flooring, lasts for several decades.  So, what happens to all of the nylon, olefin, and polyester carpeting that does need replacement?  Does it just end [...]

Enhance Your Outdoor Spaces with Faux Stone Pavers Made from Recycled Tires

Flagstone patios, cobblestone walkways, and meadering stone pathways add a lovely natural look to any homestead.  But if you’re a do-it-yourselfer looking for a durable, eco-friendly and light-weight material for these kinds of projects, a great option is to use pavers made from recycled rubber tires.  With 242 million tires being discarded or burned every [...]

Green Roofs Tour and Conference in Atlanta

I wrote about the merits of innovative green roof systems in a previous post, including stormwater management, reduction of the urban heat-island effect, and habitat for migratory and pollinating species.  This June, industry professionals and the public can tour a number of these gardens atop various buildings in Atlanta, Georgia.  Workshops at the Green Roofs [...]

Recycled Paper Makes Cool Countertops

It may seem a little odd to make kitchen and bath countertop surfaces from recycled paper, but such materials are manufactured to be surprisingly durable and versatile for a variety of applications.  They can be used as countertops, tabletops, floors, and wall panels. These easy-to-care-for countertops resist water, stains and scratches, and do not offgas [...]

Alternative Building Expo and Green Building Tour head for Santa Monica

The 6th annual AltBuild Expo and Green Building Tour, both free events, will be presented by the City of Santa Monica, California, next month.  On May 2nd, the self-guided tour will highlight local green residences and commercial structures.  The Expo, where the latest and greatest in green building products and services will be on display, [...]

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