ecofabulous » Green Building

Slice of Life

Date: September 11, 2008 | Category: Green Building, Home Furnishings, Kitchen

We found a beautiful way to add a slice of intrigue to any style of abode. At $78 and $148 these gorgeous Cheese Trays are a lovely way to display muchies from vegan dips to free-range kabobs. The trays are fashioned from petrified wood (fossilized oak tree to be exact) that was found in the volcanic areas of several Asian islands (dating back to the Jurassic era), then simply cut and naturally polished. Keeping a few on hand could be an easy way to add a little panache to a party.

Join the Club Chair

Date: August 15, 2008 | Category: Green Building, Home Furnishings, Office, The Home

Marrying a love of sleek contemporary design with a reverence for the earth, Animavi has created a line of iconic chairs and ottomans that celebrate the timeless appeal of the curve. Fit for a museum (with a price-tag to match), the sinewy set is apt to run more than $6,000. But if your castle is in need of a new throne, the Animavi is the kind of heirloom you are unlikely to outgrow.

Available in a broad palette of elegant colors and three textiles-organic felt, vegetable-dyed leather and cow-hair- Animavi uses soy-based foam and wool liners. The cushions are fully biodegradable, which means they require less time to decompose in landfills and significantly cut carbon emissions. The metal frame and other stainless steel parts can be recycled. Animavi prides itself on supporting a triple bottom line (modeling their business on economics, sustainability and social responsibility). If you’re looking for a reason to rationalize this exquisite indulgence, keep in mind that a purchase could earn you points toward LEED certification!

Shower Power

Date: August 12, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Green Building, The Home

Ecofabulous is all about loving the environment. But secretly we also all love an invigorating shower. Thankfully the two need not be mutually exclusive. The new Mira Eco showerhead allows us to stay clean without wasting precious energy. (more…)

All Decked Out

Date: August 7, 2008 | Category: Green Building

Throwing an elegant, al fresco soirée just got a little greener thanks to alternative decking company, Trex. Transforming millions of pounds of recycled and reclaimed plastic into beautiful outdoor flooring and fencing, Trex salvages 1.3 billion plastic grocery bags each year from landfills. Not only do we appreciate their quality products, but we applaud their environmental efforts. (more…)

Home is Where the Hearth Is

Date: July 31, 2008 | Category: Green Building, The Home

I have to admit that I’m a huge fan of fireplaces. In fact, I’ve spent many an afternoon searching through salvage warehouses for the perfect vintage oak mantle to enhance the antique charm of my1920s home. But up until now, I’ve had to settle for decorative charm, since burning wood at the hearth is not a particularly clean or fuel-efficient.

The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowing in the Wind

Date: July 24, 2008 | Category: Green Building, The Home

Over 200,000 homes across the United States currently use solar power to offset carbon emissions. But the winds of change forecast a new player on the green scene. The US Department of Energy projects that by 2030, wind power will provide 20% of our energy.

If you live 100 feet above ground level with winds of at least 12 miles per hour, a wind turbine can convert this endlessly renewable resource into carbon-free energy. Keep in mind that in order to accommodate a backyard wind turbine, you’ll need over an acre of land and a clearance of 800 feet from existing building structures. You should also check your local zoning board, since this green giant is more than 34 feet tall. Basic kits enable do-it-yourselfers to build a backyard wind turbine for around $5,000, which can provide over 70% of the power required to run your home. A fully assembled turbine starts at $7,500. If you’ll be implementing solar panels too, it will likely run you $10,000 to $15,000. For more information, check out awea.org.

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Waste Not Want Not

Date: July 17, 2008 | Category: Green Building, The Home

Greening your home is good for the planet, but not when your old appliances and building components wind up rotting in landfills. That’s where Building Materials Resource Center (“BMRC”) comes in. Salvaging materials valued at $1.3 million each year, BMRC accepts and resells donations of “high-quality new and used building materials to spare the environment from needless waste, but also help people repair and improve their homes.” With storage and distribution facilities located in Massachusetts, BMRC is a great local resource for homeowners and businesses who are interested in donating unwanted building materials for repurpose. They also provide an online shopping center for homeowners and nonprofits, with a discount available for low-income families. A quick scan of their current inventory yielded magnificent slabs of white marble, wide plank pine flooring and a curved cherry wood bar.

Co-sponsoringthe upcoming Greenbuild 2008 International Conference, BMRC is committed to reducing “the construction industry’s burden on the solid waste stream by diverting perfectly good materials from landfills and delivering them into the hands of homeowners and nonprofits.” So before you chuck your perfectly good oak flooring for bamboo, do the earth a favor and repurpose.

Re-Build it Green

Date: July 8, 2008 | Category: Green Building, The Home

Homeowner’s insurance is not exactly ecofabulous - nor are the circumstances under which one needs it. However, we thought it was worthy to mention that Fireman’s Fund introduced the first green insurance coverage plan in the country. Their Green Upgrade allows policy holders to rebuild according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) specifications, should their home be damaged. They pay for a LEED accredited consultant, replace all appliances with Energy Star rated ones, use sustainable materials and provide energy-efficient upgrades, among other things. And in the event of a total loss, the plan pays for eco-sensitive demolition and debris removal. While we certainly hope our homes are never destroyed, we feel better knowing an insurance company would go the extra mile to build it back better (the premium is higher, though: $70 per $1 million in insured value). Interested? Check it out here.

The Wave of the Future

Date: June 24, 2008 | Category: Green Building, The Home

Many of us are taking steps to conserve water and energy in your homes and offices, because after all, commercial and residential buildings account for 40% of U.S. energy usage and droughts are increasing. But we never really know just how effective our efforts are. It’s like being on a diet and not knowing what the high calorie items are so you can cut down on them. Imagine the possibilities if you were able to gauge and monitor a building’s carbon footprint. You would know which lights should only be turned on for parties and which ones could be used as night lights. The Resource Monitor from Agilewaves is one very cool futuristic answer. Read on to hear how it works….