Whether you're moving into a new home or just in the mood to refurbish your current pad, going green does not necessarily mean spending green. By simply making a few appropriate choices, you can get a whole new look, that's both environmentally friendly and cost effective.
#1 New uses for old stuff- Before throwing anything into your recycling box, think of its recycling potential. A nice shaped wine bottle makes a perfect vase for a sprig of fresh flowers in the bathroom. Or a lamp-stand for the lampshade that you picked up at a flea market last year. Yogurt cartons can be sanded and painted to house your indoor herb garden and ceramic tiles can be broken to make a beautiful mosaic table top.
#2 Organic towels -If you plan to make just one investment in your bathroom, it has got to be organic towels or towels made in unbleached, un-dyed cotton. If you need color, stores such as California based Native Organic Cotton sells bathrobes and towels made from 100% organic cotton, woven in earth tones created with natural dyes.
#3 Add color not chemicals to walls- Before you slap on a fresh coat of paint, you should know that there are thousands of chemicals used in the mix. As a rule, alkyd or oil based paints are more toxic than water based ones, containing up to 60% VOC's. However, nowadays, most paint suppliers, even mainstream ones carry lines of low-VOC and even no-VOC paints and finishes.
#4 Eco wallpaper -If you are still keen on getting brighter shades and designs onto your walls, how about wallpaper? I know, you're gasping in horror! Wallpaper = glue =VOC's....Regular wallpaper is in fact produced by using one of the world's worst plastics, vinyl (PVC). Avoid them like the plague. What you can buy instead is wallpaper made of actual paper, bamboo, cloth, sisal and even cork. How cool would that be, to have a room decked out in one of the above?
#5 Try organic sheets-Want to go to bed with a clear conscience? Try sleeping on organic sheets. If there is no store near you, you'll find a dozen sites online that carry organic cotton. If you'd like to be a bit adventurous in bed, then how about hemp sheets or sheets made from bamboo?
#6 Buy the right wood - While wood is natural and biodegradable, buying a wooden piece of furniture is not necessarily the best choice. Apart from the various waxes and paints coated on it that do release VOC's, the actual piece of furniture may have been made for a 100 year old tree. When buying wooden furniture, look for a FSC label- Forest Stewardship Council to ensure it's made from renewable resources.
#7 Better yet, buy vintage -You can pick up some great vintage furniture at excellent prices via e-bay. Apart from the history and charm this furniture offers, it's also a great way to ensure trees are not being chopped down to make your bed.
#8 Window shades to control temperature- While all homes need some kind of cooling and heating equipment, you can make it easier by using natural light effectively for warmth and lighting. Blinds are an excellent choice to control your room's temperature. Just make sure they're not made of vinyl (PVC).
#9 Natural cleaners- Invest in or make natural, biodegradable cleaners for your home. If buying them, read labels carefully to ensure the products are what they claim to be.
#10 Recycle bin- And finally, install a recycle bin in each room. Not the ugly big blue box, but just about any basket that goes with your decor will do. Having a basket in each room will encourage its use regularly. Toss in unwanted magazines, bills, envelopes, kid's crafts and just about anything that can be recycled.
Now that spring has sprung here in San Diego County, it's time for the 24th annual San Diego Spring Home & Garden Show February 27 through March 1 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
