Green
at Home
• Bathroom -Green Bathroom Items
1. Recycled, processed-chlorine-free toilet paper and tissues. 2. PVC-free shower curtain. Your cheapest alternative
to conventional PVC curtains are polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA)
liners, as durable as PVC without the hormone-disrupting, asthma-inducing
phthalates. Or you can splurge on the eco gold standard, hemp, which
also resists mildew. 3. Low-Flow showerhead. 4. Petrochemical-free personal care products. Read
ingredients lists diligently and watch out for the chemicals listed
in The Dirty Dozen Chemicals in Cosmetics. 5. Organic cotton bath linens. These can be pricey,
but you can build your collection slowly. 6. CFL vanity bulbs. Repeated on-and-off use of compact
fluorescent bulbs and the humidity of bathrooms will reduce their
lifespans by a few months, but switching to CFLs still cuts energy
use considerably. 7. Green Cleaners. If you don't want to make your
own cleaners using baking soda (a non-abrasive scouring powder), vinegar
(a natural disinfectant) and tea tree oil (an effective mildew killer),
choose least-toxic alternatives.
• Bedroom
Conventional blankets are often made from a blend of cotton
and petroleum-based synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and
nylon. As a crop, cotton is responsible for up to 25 percent
of the insecticides used worldwide, even though it takes up
a mere 3 percent of the world's farmland. Once the cotton goes
through bleaching processes, which release carcinogenic dioxin
into the atmosphere, manufacturers treat blankets with finishes
and dyes, some of which can emit the probable human carcinogen
formaldehyde.
Fortunately, organic cotton alternatives seem to be cropping
up everywhere we turn. No longer is it just for the wealthy
or those greener than thou, as commercial retailers like Bed,
Bath & Beyond, Pottery Barn and West Elm now offer their
own certified organic cotton bedding, which is better for the
planet and healthier for you. "You're not breathing in
chemicals for over a third of your life, the estimated time
you sleep in your bed," says Erin Johnson of ABC Carpet
& Home.
• Living Room
In looking for furnishings, employ the same principles used
when buying organic food: start by going toxin-free, avoiding
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (flame retardants that can be
harmful to developing brains) and resins and glues containing
carcinogenic formaldehyde and other neurotoxic, volatile organic
compounds. And wherever possible, try to buy local. It's wonderful
what you can find right in your own region—or parents'
attic.
• Kitchen
Concrete, a mixture of cement, sand, gravel and water, is the
chic, new green decorating material.
Concrete flooring may conjure images of the garage, but in your
home it can be elegant, cost-efficient and green. It provides
a low-maintenance, smooth surface that won't offgas unhealthy
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or collect allergens. With
the help of low-VOC sealants and polishes, concrete floors keep
a water-resistant, attractive shine. They can also be tinted,
patterned or even stamped to look like natural stone or tile.
"Green" concrete should
contain at least 20 percent flyash, a waste product from coal-burning
power plants; its production results in less CO2 pollution.
Concrete also can be mixed with blast-furnace slag, cinders
or recycled crushed concrete, giving your contractor more eco-friendly
options. Under direct sunlight, concrete acts as a "thermal
mass," absorbing heat and radiating it later, keeping indoor
temperatures constant while outdoors the mercury rises and falls.
It also holds warmth well from radiant heating systems installed
beneath the floor.
• Laundry Room Suggestions
for a Lighter Load
1. Greener Laundry Detergent
Laundry detergents without problematic chemicals. Opt for "fragrance
free" alternatives where available, as even essential oil
fragrances can irritate sensitive skin. 2.
DIY Detergent Concoctions 3. Chlorine-free
Bleach 4. Efficient Washer/Dryer 5.
Outdoor "Dryers"
Abundant Earth's drying racks are made with wood scraps and
new wood from second-growth, not old-growth, forests 6.
Natural Fiber Baskets
Choose non-synthetic, petroleum-free laundry baskets and bags.
•
Whole House
Green building advocates admit that installing some green products,
such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood from
well-managed forests, can cost up to 10 percent more. The Environmental
Home Center in Seattle has received so many questions about
cost that it has responded with a green-budget brochure (see
Resources).
But Derek Long, of Sustainable Connections in Bellingham, Washington,
which promotes local green building, notes, "Very often
you will find that a number of 'green' features for a home have
a strong financial payback over time that makes them right for
anyone with any budget." Long points to groups like Habitat
for Humanity, which helps its low-income clients by installing
efficient appliances and lighting and super-insulating homes
that are usually smaller and demand fewer resources to begin
with.
