| Until very recently, it was very difficult (if not | | | | paperstone, Richelite, and glass tile are all excellent |
| impossible) to find environmentally friendly products. | | | | options and don't contain adverse levels of |
| Even harder was affording them if you did actually | | | | formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). |
| find them. However, today "green" products are | | | | Insulation. Check out a product called UltraTouch. |
| rapidly becoming more mainstream as energy costs | | | | UltraTouch is made from high-quality natural fibers |
| continue to rise. Check out a few of our favorite | | | | and has maximum thermal performance. One thing I |
| green products being used today. | | | | just love about this product is that it doesn't itch |
| Water Efficiency. The averages home consumes | | | | when working with it! (Those of you who've worked |
| over 100,000 gallons of water every year. That's a | | | | with insulation can definitely appreciate that). |
| lot of water, folks. Combine that with perpetual | | | | UltraTouch is flame-retardant, safe to work with, and |
| droughts and warmer seasons, and it makes good | | | | an excellent alternative to traditional insulation. |
| sense to start paying attention to our individual water | | | | Paints and stains. Earth-based paint materials (clay and |
| consumption. Consider upgrading your appliances. | | | | lime, for example) are gaining in popularity for three |
| Today, you can get Energy Star-certified dishwasher, | | | | primary reasons: 1) they do not contain hazardous |
| clothes washers and dryers, and dual-flush toilets. | | | | materials, 2) they naturally combat dust and pollen, |
| Products like these make a big difference in our | | | | and 3) there are many great color choices available |
| aggregated consumption, as well as reducing individual | | | | today. When choosing a wood or concrete stain, |
| energy costs immediately. | | | | check out soy-based products as an alternative. |
| Wood Flooring Products. Wood flooring options are | | | | Products like these are much more friendly to the |
| getting a lot better these days, thanks to the drive | | | | environment. |
| to conserve our old-growth forests by using | | | | Going green means you save green. It's no mystery |
| products like bamboo, palm, or eucalyptus. Products | | | | that going green is more expensive upfront. Over |
| like these grow back very rapidly, and therefore | | | | time, it's safe to assume that this will change, |
| make great alternatives to oak, for example. | | | | however, as green supplies increase to keep up with |
| Countertops. New countertop surface materials are | | | | the growing demand. Finally, while you may pay more |
| exploding in popularity these days because they look | | | | up front for these products, you will not only realize |
| just like (and in some cases, better) traditional | | | | a positive return on your investment quickly, but you |
| surfaces but are made from eco-friendly materials. | | | | will also be contributing to the environment in an |
| Reclaimed wooden butcher block countertops, | | | | extremely positive way. |