In the last couple of years, a movement in green building. And when you see those lovely ‘green houses’ that invested in healthy materials and speak the language of sustainability, you instinctively KNOW this is a good thing. Something you wish you could do if you had the resources.
We can’t all afford (or are in the position) to build a ‘green house’, but you can ‘green your space’ one step at a time, and move toward a healthier home for you and the health of the planet.
Green Home Environmental Products
Green means the products you buy have been selected for their "environmentally friendly" qualities. These qualities include: reduced toxicity, reusability, energy efficiency, eco-responsible packaging, recycled content, manufactured with minimal environmental impact, and minimal or no artificial materials.
The Bay Area has a number of businesses that cater to ‘green’ products and services. As this section grows, look for specific businesses and Alice ‘A’ rated recommendations. For now, here are a couple of helpful ways for you to get your hands on some excellent ‘green’ business guides.
AAAAA 5-A Rating (meaning we love it) San Francisco Bay Area “Greenopia, the urban dweller’s guide to green living”, 1st Edition
Being green just got a whole lot easier with this comprehensive guide to an eco-friendly urban lifestyle. This cool little guide ($16.95) features over 1,200 independently reviewed green businesses and resources for what you need every day! Join the online greenopia community or just check out more about the book at www.greenopia.com
AAAAA 5-A Rating (meaning we love it) “Green Zebra, Local Savings for Sustainable Living”
This San Francisco 2008 Savings Guide (coupon book) has more than 275 exclusive offers worth over $10,000 in savings. Savings at organic restaurants and markets; eco-friendly retailers, green home services; spas; yoga and fitness studios; bookstores; and more. Check it out at www.thegreenzebra.org
AAAAA 5-A Rating (meaning we love it) Greenhome.com
Green Home, the online environmental store has all sorts of products for going green AND really useful information on going green. In fact, this website is the #1 top search result for ‘environmental products’ on Google. See for yourself at www.greenhome.com
Clean and Green
Find green cleaning alternatives that work for you! For most cleaning around the house, it’s not hard to add some green to your routine. For instance, vinegar and water does nearly as good a job cleaning windows as any ammonia-spiked spray, and borax and baking soda are your allies in the fight to keep your kitchen and bathroom spick and span. But some cleaning projects -- getting that tile grout in the shower white again, removing oven-baked grease or getting out laundry stains -- have even people with the best of intentions resorting to polluting chemicals.
There are a number of household eco-cleaning brands on the market. Experiment and see what works best for you.
Citra-Solv: Citra-dish, Citra-suds, Citra-clear and even Citra-drain are made from orange extracts, are biodegradable and not tested on animals. www.citra-solv.com
Ecover: This Belgian-based company sells its wide range of green cleaners -- from non-chlorine bleach to toilet-bowl cleaner -- in more than 20 countries around the world. The company’s environmental policy is that all products must biodegrade after you use them. www.ecover.com
Method: propelling household cleaning to the next generation of clean - hip, non-toxic and environmentally friendly products www.methodhome.com
Seventh Generation: Has been selling its green line (shower cleaner, toilet paper made from unbleached, recycled paper and much more) since the late 1980s. Its cleaning products are all VOC- and toxin-free. www.seventhgeneration.com
Bi-O-Kleen: Bi-O-Kleen has products that can replace most of the toxic cleaners in your home and offer products, quality, and environmental safety and standards to fit everyone's needs. www.bi-o-kleen.com
Building Green – Resources to Inspire
To have a home that’s more in touch with the earth, you don’t have to start from the ground up! It’s possible—and more environmentally friendly—to go green by renovating an existing home. With the help of Carol Venolia, an award-winning architect and bestselling author, and Kelly Lerner, a world-famous innovator in the field of sustainable development, even the least mechanically inclined person can make a difference in his or her dwelling…and to the planet. The two have produced a remarkable book—packed with information and photos, and the first ever in full color to cover the subject. It’s filled with motivational case studies and informative graphics, and completely user-friendly. You’ll love this book and guarantee that you’ll want to go green immediately upon reading. Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green-House by Carol Venolia and Kelly Lerner
Want to build responsibly, reduce waste, and help preserve the environment? Pick up copy of Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies, a friendly, step-by-step guide to every facet of this Earth-friendly method of construction. This practical, hands-on book shows you how to build or remodel conscientiously, whether your dream home is a simple remodel or a brand-new multimillion-dollar mansion. And this book also helps you find some green professionals to assist you in your venture. You’ll also learn to:
Understand the lifecycle of building materials
Choose the right system for your green building project
Put together a green team
Work within your budget
Use green building methods and sustainable systems
Speed construction and reduce energy use and waste
