Go Green!

GREEN...

In todays modern society of interior design the practice of Green environments has been experiencing substantial growth due to the increased awareness of the importance.  This importance of interior spaces that are both healthy and sustainable, gives our spaces that stylish craze that we need in our homes. The need to use practices, products that are both eco-friendly, promote better health in our homes and the workplace is coming more and more clearer. Green designers create comfortable, healthy and environmentally conscious spaces in addition to providing the overall benefits of mainstream interior design. And since Green interior design trends are ever increasing in popularity it is very important to recognize that sustainable materials and alternatives are currently making our home safer as well as reducing harmful effects on the environment.  


There are so many different aspects of our home that we can turn and change eco-
friendly that we may not be able to recognize. 


GREEN PAINTS:

For example one important GREEN option that we can change very easily is our PAINT options. Green Paint options use low or zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints is a great way to become more eco-friendly within the home.  These paints remove many different hazardous toxins, that have been recently linked to cancer. These paints also have strived to accommodate low order guidelines, making them certified as asthma and allergy friendly. Good indoor quality is very important when trying to achieve a green interior environment.  
Examples of good Paints: 
-Valspar+ available at Lowes. Also asthma and allergy certified. 
-Natura by Benjamin-Moore. A zero -VOC paint that is odorless 
-ProMar200 Zero VOC by Sherwin-William is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design compliant. 
-YOLO Colorhouse- found at The Home Depot. Contains no VOC's This high latex paint is 
also GREEN seal certified 






GREEN Flooring:
SInce flooring is currently a large industry with endless options, however only a few can really be considered GREEN. One of the most eco-friendly standard flooring products around is Bamboo. The reason for this is because of its ability to renew and regenerate itself to quickly.  It is also a very contemporary style of design in todays interiors. 
Another type of flooring that is very ecofriendly is reclaimed wood. Many modern companies are not specializing in reclaimed timber from old structures that are refinished, re stained, and resold to others. 

Sustainable woods are available as well. The hard or soft woods are harvested and created under strict guidelines to eliminate depletion of resources and minimizes environmental damage and waste. This is probably the least green out of all of them.  Some other types of flooring are floors such as Linoleum, cork, and some carpet tiles as well. 

GREEN Lighting: 
Lighting is a great importance of GREEN in Interiors.  WIth light fixtures that are made from recycled, natural or sustainable materials are important; but not as important as the energy requirements. A Type of light that is not green lighting are halogen bulbs. Halogen lamps are used in most of track lighting, but they are frustrating because they use 250-watts of wasted electricity.  They also have a harsh and narrow stream of light best suited to be used as accent lighting. But with the halogen it has allowed us to look for another alternative. One great eco friendly bulb that can be used in track lighting are CFL bulbs.  Which only waste 75 watts of electricity compared to the 250-watts. 
An even better type of bulb that can also be used in track lighting are LED bulbs. LED bulbs last longer than any other.  THey last 50,000 hours compared to 2,000 of the 
halogen lamps. 

These three examples are only a few of the many sustainable products that you can purchase now a days. I just wanted to show the three easiest alternatives for GREEN interiors.