Often the most wasteful room in the house, follow these simple tips to make your workspace more eco-friendly and green.
From solar rooftops to kitchen composting to bamboo flooring, Canadian homes are rapidly changing to become more sustainable, more eco-friendly, energy-efficient and less toxic places.
But step into the home office and behold: cultural devolution! Computers and gadgets stay on day and night; toxic batteries, ink cartridges and old electronics get thrown into the garbage and pretty paper made from old growth forests lands itself in the printer.
We tend to fall off the green living and eco-friendly wagon when it comes to our home offices. On the whole, the trend of home offices is good from an environmental perspective: it eases gridlock and brings balance and common sense back into our lives.
But the power demands of home computers, internet, cellphones, printers, fax machines and myriad other home office materials still take their toll.
There are many ways to adopt a more eco-friendly lifestyle, and the best place to start is your very own home.
Follow these easy eco tips that you can share with the whole family.Water:
Conserving water is important - but so is protecting it from contamination. Purifying contaminated water can be difficult and very often results in wasted water.
To keep the water supply clean:
· Cut down on the amount of household chemicals you use and dispose of the ones you do use at local drop-off centres.
· Use biodegradable products whenever possible. Especially avoid using chemical pesticides and fertilizers outdoors.
· Store garbage properly and clean up paint or other chemical spills right away.
· Keep your vehicles in good working order, so leaking oil or gas doesn't make its way into the water supply.
To save water:
• Shorten your shower time to about six minutes, and, if you choose to have a bath, only fill the tub halfway.
• Never leave the tap running while brushing your teeth, shaving or lathering up during hand washing.
• Never throw garbage, such as tissues, paper towels or cigarette butts, in the toilet and flush. This wastes several gallons of water.
Energy:• Saving energy also means saving money, which is just another good reason to be kind to the environment. To save energy in your home:
• If planning on purchasing new appliances look for Energy Star models. These are high quality, widely available and some municipalities even offer a rebate incentive if you buy them.
• Only run your dishwasher when it’s full, and use the air dry setting rather than drying them with heat.
• Most of the energy used to wash clothes is wasted on heating the water. When possible, use cold water. Try a cold water detergent for best results.
• Install a programmable thermostat and lower your thermostat a few degrees at night or when you’re not home during the day.
• Apply sealant or caulking around doorframes and windows to prevent warm air from leaking out in the winter and hot air from getting in during the summer.
Air Quality:The quality of your air is directly related to the products you use. Synthetically scented products are rarely environmentally friendly and could even contribute to asthma and other respiratory disorders. To improve the air quality in your home:
• Use detergent and water instead of harsh disinfectants which tend to give off noxious fumes.
• Select unscented cleaning products, or go natural and clean with baking soda, vinegar and castile soap. These products often work better than commercial cleaning products!
• Avoid the use of aerosol sprays of any kind.
• Don’t use air fresheners. These products often contain harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde and phthalates. Recent studies have also found that air fresheners release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air - especially plug-in air fresheners containing pinene and d-limonene.
• Eliminate the need for deodorizers in your home by taking the garbage out daily. Rinse packaging and wrappers before throwing them in the garbage and freeze perishable wastes such as meat and fish scraps until garbage collection day.
• As an air freshener alternative, try burning a few drops of natural essential oil in a clay infuser.
Waste:In the age of recycling and ‘green’ bins, it just doesn’t make sense to produce a lot of waste. Here’s how to cut your garbage output down:
• Find out which plastics are accepted in your city’s recycling bins and don’t purchase plastic products that aren’t
• Head to the grocery store with a handful of reusable cloth grocery bags.
• Buy in bulk when possible. Store bulk food in reusable containers.
• Buy high quality, durable items. Don’t make unnecessary purchases.
• If your municipality has a composting program, participate by using your green bin or bag daily. You can also compost and use your own organic matter – and your garden will look gorgeous!
In the age of recycling and ‘green’ bins, it just doesn’t make sense to produce a lot of waste. Here’s how to cut your garbage output down:
• Find out which plastics are accepted in your city’s recycling bins and don’t purchase plastic products that aren’t
• Head to the grocery store with a handful of reusable cloth grocery bags.
• Buy in bulk when possible. Store bulk food in reusable containers.
• Buy high quality, durable items. Don’t make unnecessary purchases.
• If your municipality has a composting program, participate by using your green bin or bag daily. You can also compost and use your own organic matter – and your garden will look gorgeous!
You don't have to build a straw-bale house from scratch to show Mother Earth you care. Turning your home into a haven of environmentally conscious design is doable if you take a gradual approach.
Here are 10 small ways to make your home and the planet a more beautiful place to live:
Color Your World Green
Freshen up your walls with eco-friendly paint. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in conventional paints are bad for your health and contribute to global warming, so opt for low-VOC or VOC-free lines instead. Companies are becoming wise to the growing desire for eco-friendly paints and are producing low-VOC brands such as Benjamin Moore's Ecco-Spec brand, while others such as Pittsburgh Paint's PPG Pure Performance brand contain no VOCs at all. Other options: milk and biodegradable paints, which are nontoxic, and recycled paints, which reduce landfill waste.
Go Au Natural
If privacy isn't an issue, leave your windows unadorned. The airy look lets in light, which can warm a cold room, and also means you have one less item to dispose of when a drapery style becomes passé. If direct sun makes the room too hot or you're feeling shy about naked panes, select window treatments that are made of natural textured materials, like linen, bamboo or seagrass.
Say No to PVC
Instead of buying a vinyl shower curtain, choose a cloth one. The polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in most plastic varieties emits carcinogens (bad for your health) and is non-biodegradable (bad for the earth). If you're about to embark on a bathroom reno, consider designing a shower area with a glass door or partition, so you don't need a curtain at all.
Watch What You Toss
Take eco-friendly waste disposal beyond the recycling bin and compost heap: keep your renovation garbage and old furniture out of landfill. First, consider reusing items: Do you need new cabinets or just doors? How about reupholstering that chair instead of discarding it? If you can't use an item, donate it to a charity or used-building-materials supplier like Habitat for Humanity's ReStores. For unwanted refuse, it's surprising what's recyclable these days: most metals and plastics, yes, but did you know asphalt shingles, concrete and sometimes even drywall can find new life? Contact your local sanitation department to find out more.
Grow Your Decor
Not only does a little greenery make a room look more homey and lived-in, but plants also filter out harmful airborne chemicals. Add palms, ferns or potted gerbera daisies, which all have high ratings for their ability to remove chemical vapours, throughout your home and you'll find you'll breathe easier.
Tread Softly
Chemical dyes, stain-resistant treatments and heavy-duty adhesives in some carpets off-gas harmful toxins. Instead of noxious pile, roll out alternatives like sisal, seagrass or coir (made from coconuts), or rugs with recycled content. Carpet tiles are a smart choice, too: you can replace only the worn or stained sections, reducing the amount that goes to landfill.
Sleep Soundly
Ever wake up feeling a little stuffy? Your bed could be the culprit. To alleviate the problem, choose bedding made of organic cottons or linens; they're harvested responsibly and expose you to fewer allergy-inducing chemicals than ordinary cotton or wrinkle-free sheets. When it's time to replace your mattress, purchase an all-wool or natural latex model.
Furnish With Care
More retailers are taking up the cause, making it easier to find earth-friendly furniture. Look for pieces containing reclaimed wood or wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and organic fabric and upholstery fill. Avoid particleboard, plywood and other wood composites, which often contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde. Durability is also important—the better the construction, the less likely it will be tossed out adding to landfills. Also consider buying local furniture (which reduces transportation). Buying from nearby vendors will support the local economy and small craftspeople.
Lighting
CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) are a great alternative to traditional lighting because they use less energy and last a lot longer. The fact that they release less heat also means lower bills. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are another lighting option. They last even longer than CFLs and use even less heat. Both options are more expensive than regular lighting (with CFLs being more reasonable than LEDs), however as they become more prevalent in the marketplace their price point continues to drop.
Lay Down Friendly Floors
There are plenty of options underfoot; for instance, salvaged wood has a beautiful patina, and fast-growing bamboo comes in a variety of looks to suit different tastes. For new wood flooring, look for FSC-certified products. Other options: sustainably harvested cork, polished concrete, stone, recycled-glass tiles or old-fashioned linoleum.
Bamboo
Who knew that that a towering tropical stalk could prove to be such an extraordinary eco-chic material? Bamboo is the darling of the green design world, and its star deserves to shine that brightly because it grows at lightning speed and can be used in a variety of ways. It takes about 4 years to grow, as opposed to trees that can take anywhere from 25 to 70 years. And, although it isn’t wood (bamboo is actually a grass that grows in China), it can be turned into ply boards that match the properties of conventional wood. It can also be spun into fabric for upholstery.
Sustainable Forest Wood ...
If bamboo isn’t your thing you can use traditional wood furniture, but take an interest in where that wood comes from. We all know about the benefits trees provide: they keep the earth cool and they turn our carbon dioxide into much needed oxygen. So, why do we keep chopping down these wonder workers at such an alarming rate? When purchasing wood furniture, look for items that are specifically produced by sustainably harvested forests. Better still, try purchasing items that are made from reclaimed wood which makes use of wood from old furniture and houses.
Eco Chic Design Style
The most current design styles have always reflected what has been happening in the world ... whether it's be the fun and liberated look of the 60's or the cool slick modern of the later 90's these looks were always infuenced by the events going on in the world.
The newest look is certainly not one born out of trends but stems more out of a global concern.
Eco Chic has been fast becoming the look of the moment as the awareness of environmental issues grows. As with every previous decade designers and shoppers are eager to get them homes to fit in with the world around them. Going green has certainly not taken anything away from style. This current look has in fact challenged designers, manufacturers, suppliers and the consumer to think outside the box on how to keep style high and mother earth even closer. “Eco Chic”is all about bringing the outdoors in but also keeping it as natural and environmentally conscious as possible ... but it isn’t really just about the look, sure it's about mixing natural materials in a sleek and sophisticated way. But it's also about being responsible about the things we bring into our home. There is a responsibility that exists in all of us, weather consumer or designer, manufacturer or supplier. We should not only feel responsible but also proud to choose products that are designed to help conserve our planet, and with this new Eco Chic trend there's no fear that we can do it in high style
