Recently I was asked to define the meaning of “green”. The generation for which this concept will be as obvious as, for example, “cloud computing” or “vook”, is probably still to young to read this. We hear it everywhere and often wonder if everyone has the same thing in mind when they say “green”.

So, for all of us in doubt, here it comes:

I know, I know, it says “ecology” and not “green”, but what’s the difference? What really matters is the approach: “WE” instead of “ME”. I try to make all my everyday actions responsible. Before acting, I ask myself: will this hurt someone or something? Will my children be able to show this to their children? Will the next generations’ lives be as long and beautiful as ours? Where will this product I’m buying end its life?
Those are very simple questions, coming straight from the heart. Does it matter if you know EXACTLY what “green” means? Stick around – I’ll try to show you here on this site. I don’t know all the answers, but I do know a lot. I don’t think there are many “green purists” out in the world. I’m not one of them. But I know how to teach my children how to respect the Earth and future life. Would this be a definition of “green”?

P.S. Please show this cartoon to your children and grandchildren. I’m sure they will enjoy it. Mine did!

You will not perform well and won’t stay healthy without an adequate amount of daylight. We feel better when provided with natural light for work and play. We cannot change the orientation of our house to provide it with the most beneficial sun exposure, but we can take some measures to control the amount of light we’re getting while inside, without risking UV damage to our home’s interior.

Tasks for improving natural light conditions:

• for particularly dark rooms, use light-colored or shiny interior surfaces (walls, ceilings, flooring, furniture) to reflect daylight, making these rooms brighter (you can use mirrors, too)
• choose the right window treatments for each window in your home
  you should have an option of opening the window treatment completely in order to let more light inside during gloomy days, and to close it to provide protection from the bright afternoon sun or while sleeping
• automated light filtering roller shades  are a great choice for easy UV protection
• safeguard your valuable interior furnishings and floor/wall surfaces by installing low-E windows
• shield silk draperies from the harms of the sun – always have them lined with UV-resistant fabric or choose a synthetic fabric that won’t deteriorate too quickly in the sun.

Every space should have a proper lighting scheme for all the functions it fulfills. Think of what are the tasks you perform in each room, and provide proper light levels for each of these activities.

Tasks for improving interior lighting:

• walk from room to room, writing down all tasks performed in that space by each family member – use a separate sheet of paper for every room
• assign an existing light source for each task (e.g. chandelier over the dining table for having a meal, floor lamp by the sofa for entertaining, lamp on the office desk for reading)
• make certain that you have adequate amount of light for each and every function performed; if not, bring in more, or figure out a way of using one light source for multiple tasks
• provide a general illumination for every room (usually any type of ceiling-mount or recessed light) so you’ll be able for example to  find something tiny that you just dropped on the floor
• to reach a certain mood for the room with one push of a button (so-called room lighting scheme), seek the help of professional lighting designer or licensed electrician.

The text above is a chapter from “10 Steps to a Healthier, Happier Home” special report by Bozena Studio. You can download it by clicking on the link below:
10 Steps to a Healthier, Happier Home. How to Find a Perfect Balance of Comfort, Luxury and Wellness for the Space You Live In.

Danish company Sort of Coal makes it possible for us to try a natural purification agent known for centuries in Japan and Korea: white charcoal.

Unlike common charcoal, white charcoal does not leave dust or residue. It is made by heating pieces of oak and bamboo over a seven-day period in an oxygen-lacking environment. The resulting product retains the original shape and unique beauty of the real wood.

White charcoal has been always used to purify air, water, and body.
Its great absorption ability makes it useful for getting rid of air pollution, unwanted smells, and moisture. When added to water, it will remove chlorine and other impurities, softening the water and improving the overall taste. Soap made with white charcoal powder cleans pores, absorbs impurities, and removes dead skin, helping to take care of acne-prone skin.
Charcoal pieces can also be placed near the computer or TV – they create natural anions, reducing harmful ionization.

White charcoal is reusable and recyclable. Its purification qualities can be reactivated through exposure to boiling water or direct sunlight for a few months up to a few years.
Once it is no longer functioning as a purifier, the charcoal can be broken into pieces and used as a soil amendment.

Some air and water purification products by Sort of Coal are available on the US market through Design Within Reach.
The Sort Of Coal website offers a full array of products: sticks for water and other liquid purification, charcoal cubes, stems and panels for air purification, white and black soaps, and Chi balancing jewelry.
My favorites are white charcoal sculptures, made from Korean oak. They refresh the air in living or commercial spaces (offices and restaurants) and help to balance Chi energy, positively influencing both our well-being and the environment.

Designed for Herman Miller by Yves Behar, creator of  such remarkable designs like the Aliph Jawbone headset or red Toshiba laptop, the Leaf personal light is setting its own standards on the lighting market.

It is the first LED fixture that can provide both cool and warm light. As such, it uses only 8-9W (40% less than a 13W compact fluorescent lamp). It allows for 60,000-100,000 hours of use, which is about 8 times more than a conventional light bulb.
The LEDs usually generate significant amount of heat, but the Leaf is cool to the touch thanks to a special heat distribution system in the body of the fixture.

You can switch between cool light (task lighting) and warm light (mood lighting) and adjust the level of light by just sliding your finger. The Leaf will even remember the last selected setting for the next use.

The unique body that has a 37% recycled content and is 95% recyclable after the end of its lifetime, can be adjusted to folded position for reading and the arm can be straightened to lit up the whole room or illuminate the wall. And there are several colors (black, white, red, nickel and polished aluminum) to choose from, to coordinate with your decor.

Recently I stumbled upon a book in my library that I bought a while ago with an intention to read immediately, but never accomplished until now.  The title says it all: “Good Green Homes: Creating Better Homes For a Healthier Planet” by Jennifer Roberts, with beautiful photography by Linda Svendsen.

This book is a great read for everyone wanting to find out what makes a home green. It explains the principles of green building in a way which I find easily understandable, and from now on I will use them to explain the concept to my design clients. I would also like to share them here on my blog.

So how do you approach the green building process in your own backyard? Here are the 7 paths to a good green home, according to the book’s author:

1. “Know where you are” – your surroundings play a very important role when trying to find a starting point for your green project.
2. “Size matters” – bigger isn’t always better when it comes to homes. The size of your living space should be dictated by your needs, not by the amount of stuff you own.
3. “You have the power” – take charge of how much and what kind of energy you use. Be smart: use natural heating and cooling, and find out where you’re wasting energy.
4. “Build for today and tomorrow” – plan for a well-built home that will accommodate to your changing needs, and will be tough enough to withstand for many generations.
5. “Clean living: protecting our air and water” – be aware of air and water pollutants, and know ways to protect your environment from them. Know how to conserve water indoors and outdoors.
6. “Build a better wall” – know the alternatives to conventional building methods and materials, and their advantages.
7. “Use the right stuff” – find out what questions to ask when selecting products to use in your home.

I encourage you to read this book, especially since it is beautifully illustrated with photographs to show the different shades of green building.

As the author says: ” The goal is not creating a perfect home, but creating a better home. Small steps and the right attitude can lead to big changes.” Couldn’t agree more!