The Woodlands Design Firm: Doing The Right Thing Four Our Environment and Our Futures

Doing the right thing for our environment and our futures. How do you know whether a product is eco friendly when it's become popular to put the "green" label on so many products. What is the difference between Trendy Green design vs Sustainable design? Sustainable design is a kind of design meant to yield products that are made only of renewable resources, are intended to not seriously impact the environment either when they are being created or when they are being used. These products are also often designed to allow the users to feel more connected or to relate more closely to the natural environment. Common types of sustainable interior design methods include the use of alternative energy systems, energy-reducing design, and the use of low-pollution, recycled, or sustainable materials. Some interior spaces may use one primary type of sustainable interior design, while others may incorporate several components to create a fully green space. Sustainable design is good for the environment, saves money and reduces health issues. The labor employed must be treated fairly and provided safe, healthy conditions in which to work.

Green design products are those that "undergo minimal treatment, or those certified as low-emission products."(source:wisegeek.com) Green design incorporates recycled materials for interior and exterior walls, countertops (concrete countertops with glass chips embedded)for example. When shopping "Green" you should purchase items from the most local source possible in order to cut down on fuel costs and the carbon footprint. Choose building materials that do not deplete the natural environment more than necessary, for example, using plantation-grown timbers and recyclable building materials. Improve your indoor air quality by choosing low volatile organic compound, waterborne alkyd, latex or recycled paints. Designing for sufficient airflow such as using passive design for ventilation and cooling, and lowering the need for mechanical ventilation are also ideas for your construction project. Consider using passive solar energy and windows and floors designed to retain and maximize sunlight to reduce energy costs. Where possible strongly consider the placement of the house and overall good house design. Furniture recycling is another way you can have a positive impact on the environment. The old side table you picked up at a garage sale can be updated with a fresh coat of low VOC paint. And don’t throw out that hand-me-down bookcase. Give it a healthy, new finish and re-use it in your décor. "interior-design-tutor.net" Some products you can purchase for your home Remodeling or New Construction project are energy star appliances, and tankless water heaters (which are a good choice because they heat water only when you need it thus are energy efficient and water conserving). Compact flourescent light bulbs, halogen or LED lights, and other energy efficient lighting solutions are green. Organically grown cotton for home products (which doesn't require chemicals or leakage into water supplies),cork, bamboo, recycled and reclaimed fir, and reclaimed Hard Rock Maple gym flooring are all examples of sustainable flooring products harvested from deconstruction or renewable resources.Cork can be harvested and re-harvested repeatedly over time without destroying the tree it comes from. Bamboo is very durable, easily sustained and looks really great in interior applications. For any wood flooring product, check to see if it’s FSC-certified. The Forest Stewardship Council designation ensures that it has been grown and harvested in a way that protects woodlands. "interior-design-tutor.net" Carpeting can be manufactured from a variety of sustainable materials, such as wool, cotton, sisal (agave), sea grass, and jute (burlap.)

With the droughts we are facing each year it is crucial to conserve water and with high energy costs it is important to use products that result in lower utility bills. High efficiency 1.28 gallon vs 3.5 gallon toilets to save up to 16,500 gallons of water per year.There is evena toilet by Separett which is a urine diverting composting toilet which uses no water and keeps solids seperate from liquids. It makes it possible to use the waste for composting and fertilizing. Purchase products with the WaterSense Logo, they have significant water savings and meet strict guidelines. Replace 2.75 gpm showerheads with 1.75 gpm showerheads to save more than 7,700 gallons of water per year.Purchase faucets with water saving aerators or hand free technology to prevent water waste.Using water economically such as installing a tank to collect rainwater for irrigation and flushing the toilet, and installing systems to recycle waste water.

A great source to find Green and Sustainable products is www.homedepot.com where they have a large database featuring more than 2,500 products geared toward green home building, many of which can contribute towards earning points for the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED for Homes rating program.