Recycled Glass Adds Pizazz to Landscapes

Pictured here, tumbled, recycled glass creates a striking and unique landscape with a “river” that winds through the yard.  Imagine its use in fountains, firepits, fish ponds, pathways, mulch beds, and gardens. How beautiful it would be in desert-scapes to bring in color without the use of thirsty plants!  From post-consumer bottles to post-industrial window [...]

Light Fixtures Crafted from Recycled Materials

If you’re looking for unique and eco-friendly light fixtures, you’ll be happy to learn that there is a wide variety of styles available.  A few innovative companies are integrating recycled metals and glass, as well as sustainable woods, into stunning new designs, many of which accept energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.

The Green Side of Drywall

A common element in today’s homes and buildings is the use of drywall as the finish construction of interior walls and ceilings.  Drywall is typically comprised of a common mineral called gypsum which is mixed with fiber, sandwiched between two thick sheets of paper, and then kiln-dried.  It provides a thermal resistance R-value of 0.32 [...]

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 [...]

Recycled Glass Makes Beautiful and Durable Countertops

It’s amazing how crushed glass mixed with a binding agent can create such cool countertops for the kitchen and bath.  The companies that make these solid surfaces not only divert waste materials from landfills, but many use sustainable manufacturing processes as well.  These eco-friendly alternatives to granite and quartz  are offered in a wide variety [...]

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 [...]

Let’s Face It, Brick Adds Historical Charm

Whether you’re restoring an historic home, re-facing your fireplace, or adding a meandering walkway through your backyard, nothing denotes a ”classic” look like brick.  Plus, brick is fire-resistant, lasts for centuries, has thermal mass characteristics, and aids in stormwater management in outdoor applications.  Keep it “green” by using antique bricks or bricks made from recycled materials including iron [...]

Deck out your Outdoor Spaces the Eco-friendly Way, Part I

Thinking of building a deck to enjoy your outdoor spaces to the fullest?  These days, decking materials come in all sorts of eco-friendly materials, from recycled plastic and composites to FSC-certified lumber and reclaimed wood.  Here, in Part I of my series, I’ll reveal the merits of composites that contain recycled polyethylene plastic (non-PVC) mixed [...]

Eco-friendly Outdoor Furniture, Part II

Whether you’re looking to furnish your patio, deck or backyard with a new table & chair set, benches, Adirondack or lounge chairs, accent tables & planters, or perhaps a porch swing, there are plenty of durable, eco-friendly options for your outdoor spaces.  In part 1 of this series, old skis and snowboards were shown to [...]

You’ll be Floored by these Eco-friendly Outdoor Rugs!

Looking for that perfect area rug to add some pizazz to your patio or terrace?  These days it’s easy to find great weather-resistant rugs that are made from eco-friendly materials, such as recycled soda bottles, flip-flop remnants and recycled plastic & packing materials.  Whether you need a new doormat or want a beautiful accent for [...]

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