Green construction includes a category of building materials called rapidly renewable materials, which have a  harvest cycle of 10 years or less. Building components that are able to regenerate in such a short time include bamboo, cork, wool, wheat and rice straw, and even sunflower seeds and sorghum stalks. Linoleum is also considered a rapidly renewable material, since it is made from linseed oil, cork dust and wood fiber.

To qualify for the LEED points in building certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, 2.5% of the total value of materials in a project needs to be rapidly renewable.

Some of the materials in the rapidly renewable category are less green than others. Not all meet other sustainability criteria, like local sourcing. Most of the bamboo flooring comes from China, and most linoleum from Europe. There are also concerns about forestry practices, the toxicity of binders, quality control and worker safety.

However, architects and interior designers have to regard not only environmental aspects, but also performance, durability and cleanability of specified materials. Let’s see how we can use them in our own homes to make our space not only healthier for ourselves, but also less burden on the environment.

Bamboo is a fast-growing grass used in flooring and furniture construction. You can choose between different colors, patterns (vertical and horizontal), even hand-scraped textures. Strand woven variety, great for high-traffic areas, is 1.5 times harder than red oak. Bamboo plywood and veneers have been adopted by furniture-making companies to manufacture casegoods (e.g. kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, countertops, etc.)

Cork is impermeable, fire retardant, lightweight and flexible. It’s main use is in flooring. I love to specify cork floors in kids rooms, where the material provides warmth and softness underfoot, and the texture hides any surface dents and scratches.

Wool has been use in interiors since prehistoric times. Wool carpets are more durable than synthetic, they’re hypoallergenic, and have a natural water-repellent coating -  a fat called lanolin. Wool is fire-resistant and absorbs environmental contaminants. It also regulates interior humidity levels thanks to it’s hygroscopic nature. Wool is also used in construction as a wall insulation.

How many times you were trying to find something in a hurry, only to realize that there is too much stuff inside of your closet, in the kitchen cupboard, or on your desk? The clutter we keep prevents us from being on time, makes us procrastinate and requires extra time and money for cleaning. It keeps us in the past, makes us depressed and sometimes ashamed of ourselves. We feel disorganized and tired just by looking at the excess stuff we’ve accommodated during the years and can not part with.

We keep too much stuff because it makes us feel more secure, or because we believe the more we have, the better. In today’s world, where we have instant access to practically every item’s high and low price alternative, we buy to our heart’s content. This causes our homes to be filled with stuff, some of which is rarely or even never used. Our rooms and garages are filled up to the ceiling, and it’s still not enough. Want proof? Just look at the numerous storage rental businesses around you.

Are you one of the many who are paying mortgage for a very expensive storage space for their stuff? Is your home full of rarely (if ever) used items? Maybe you already have tried to get rid of some of this mess, but without success?

Here are some ideas on how to start:

Define “clutter zones” in your home and attack them one-by-one.
You can approach the clutter clearing in two ways: either schedule the whole day (weekends work best) for a given space (the fast way), or assign a certain amount of time daily, for example 30 minutes, to work on this task (slower results, but often the only way if you’re busy on weekends).
Use the “empty and add” method: remove everything from the cleaned room (cabinet or drawer in case you’re using the “slower method”), and clean it thoroughly. Then bring in only the essential items like the bed in the bedroom, the sofa and chairs in the living room, etc. Concentrate on the activities you perform in that space and items supporting those. Try to live with it for a day or two, and then bring in a few (and I mean a few) personal objects that will help to make the room your own. That’s it!
Sort the remaining stuff into 3 piles: the ‘Throw Away’ (you know what to do with it), the ‘Get Rid Of’ (sell, give away, donate), and the ‘Consider’ pile (you can’t or won’t decide what to do with it right now – return to it in a month or so).
If you are a collector, try to rotate your collection so there are always some fresh and interesting objects on display, and the rest (pared down to the minimum, of course) is stored safely so it won’t gather dust and block the energy flow inside of your home.
And the most important advice (this made a huge difference for me personally): do not buy any more new items if you don’t get rid of something beforehand. And before you buy anything, always ask yourself: Do I absolutely love it? Do I really need it? Is the quality good enough to withstand years of use, so I don’t have to throw it away soon, in order to buy a new one?

Getting rid of unnecessary stuff in your live will help you become more energetic, gain a new perspective and make a fresh start. It also will improve your overall health by minimizing the use of household cleaners for everyday cleaning of your innumerable possessions, as well as the health of the planet through frugal use of resources, and shrinking the mountain of trash produced by you every year.

Happy De-cluttering!

EcoSmart Aspect in private residence

The cold season finally got us here in Southern California. Shortly, there will be a fire burning bright in every family room, adding warm and cozy ambiance to our season’s spirit.

I have spotted recently a very cool (and eco-friendly) alternative to a traditional wood burning or gas fireplace: the EcoSmart fireplace line by Australian manufacturer The Fire Company. Those innovative, open, environmentally friendly fireplaces are fueled by denaturated ethanol (alcohol) and don’t require any utility connection for fuel supply. Denaturated ethanol burns clean, resulting in emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and steam (H2O). That’s why the fireplace does not require flue for ventilation. You can choose between freestanding portable pieces, in-wall or outdoor weather-resistant products. Stainless steel, fiberglass, glass, leather, different color options, and many shapes and sizes are definitely a big design advantage, in addition to the green aspect.

EcoSmart Fires are not only beautiful, but their thermal input is 14 Mj/h – 13,000 BTU – 3.5 Kw/h – which is equivalent to 2 electric heaters, able to heat up to over 350 sq ft of living space. One 1-1⁄4 gallon (5 liters) of fuel would last from 7 hours on the maximum setting up to 20 hours on the minimum setting.

Countless design awards are a proof of this product line’s superiority in almost every aspect of green design. I hope I will soon report a successful installation of one of the EcoSmart fireplaces.

Everyone is talking about VOCs and non-toxic paints, but what exactly does it mean? How can you be sure that your next paint project will be safe and healthy for  you and other inhabitants of the space you’ve just made pretty?

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that evaporate at room temperature , causing (according to the EPA) headaches, nausea, allergic skin reaction, upper respiratory irritation, and even organ damage and cancer. Paints, stains and varnishes release low level toxic emissions into the air well after paint is dry. The levels of VOCs in indoor air average 2 to 5 times higher than outdoors.

When shopping for paint, it makes sense to choose the type containing low levels or no VOCs at all. Even though many paint manufacturers offer low VOC (maximum 50 g/l) or zero VOC (less than 5 g/l) products, the choice between paint performance, price point, and green aspect is rather tough. The adding of pigment to the paint base at the paint store can add 2-5 g/l of VOC. Lowering VOC levels can affect other “green” aspects of paint, like coverage and addition of other synthetic materials for flow control and settling.

Fortunately, there are some fail-safe options for buying low VOC paints. One of them is to go with the larger paint company. Benjamin Moore, Dunn-Edwards, and Sherwin Williams all have low or zero VOC type paint lines. At Bozena Studio, we usually recommend Benjamin Moore Aura paint (great coverage, low VOC) and Natura (zero VOC – according to manufacturer remains zero VOC even after tinting, which means it’s virtually odorless regardless of color).

You can also use more expensive and less readily available non-toxic or natural paints, mostly manufactured by alternative paint companies. Their ingredients are all natural and include among others plant oils and dyes, natural minerals, milk protein, etc. Some manufacturers include Bio Shield, Livos, FreshAire, Yolo Colorhouse, and many more. The bottom line: look for the paint cans that display the Green Seal mark (it certifies that they meet at least the GS-11 Standard for Low VOC content).

Here are some additional suggestions to minimize exposure to VOCs in paints: provide good ventilation during and right after painting, buy paint with a great coverage to bring the number of coats to a minimum, use the right equipment (don’t forget the mask), read labels, and take special care of children and pets.

How did you sleep today?
I myself got woken up at 5:30AM to the Santa Ana winds blowing noisily through the palm trees outside (I really don’t like those winds – there is always a fire scare and people act weirdly, especially on the freeway.) But that’s not how I wake up every morning. Mornings are mine to take in and enjoy. Every morning brings a promise of a great new day. It took me a while to get to that point, and I strongly believe it happened because of the bedroom environment I have created.

Let me take you on a tour through my bedroom, pointing out what I do to wake up rested and happy every morning:

• My bedroom has a rather small footprint, so it provides a cozy, “embracing” feeling to the occupants. I rather dislike huge, palatial-style bedrooms because they make me feel lost and small, and also the drafts from open windows are very annoying.
• My bed is positioned as far away from the entry as possible, with the head of the bed in “protected” position. This way I subconsciously feel safe from anyone entering the room.
• There is a clean and empty space under the bed, so the air (and energy) can flow freely. If you have any clutter stored under your bed, get rid of it – ASAP!
• I prefer to keep bedroom furnishing at a minimum: low bedside cabinets and a wall of clean-lined wardrobes with solid doors (so everything is enclosed) are sufficient.
• I have chosen simple and natural fabric drapery panels and a sun-blocking roman shade (always multi-layered: for privacy and sun-protection, as well as for allowing light into the room during the “waking” hours.)
• Other than my favorite book, bedside lamps and alarm clock, there are not many other accessories in the room. They only gather dust and make the cleaning harder (no matter if it’s you or your housekeeper who does the task.)
• The bedding consists of washable down duvet and pillow inserts, enclosed in protective casings and 100% (organic) cotton or linen covers, and sheets of the same material.
• There is always a reed infuser with natural lavender oil to give the air a relaxing and unobtrusive scent.

As you can see, it does not take much to make a big difference. The easiest way is to remove everything and just bringing in the most essential items, and the most natural and cleanable materials possible. You don’t want to bring any work into your bedroom (computer, PDA, etc are a big no-no). I don’t tolerate having a TV in the bedroom, but if you have to have this distraction in yours, put it far away from your bed to protect yourself from harmful electromagnetic radiation (the same applies to AC-powered alarm clocks, your cell phone and other gadgets.)  When using washable and easily cleanable materials, you make sure that you are not spending the night with  harmful (and often carcinogenic) cleaning substances.

Do not forget about fresh air! There is nothing worse than headache-inducing stale air in the morning and more annoying than the neighbor who runs the air conditioning the whole night long (while it’s  70F outside) and the greatest solution, both environment- and bank-account friendly, would be to simply open the window.

Have a good night’s sleep!