So I Recycle But What’s Next? By: Audra Lewandowski
A S L Design

I get excited when I see my two, count ‘em two, recycling bins overflowing at the curb during trash day. I think to myself, “Look at all that stuff we’ve used that isn’t going into a landfill.” During this time of heightened environmental awareness, I can’t help but think to myself, “How do I take it to the next level?” In my business I have a responsibility to at least introduce my clients to eco-friendly ways to redo and decorate their houses. In interior design, it’s called Sustainable Design.There’s an old adage that says, many times your home can be more polluted than the outdoors. And, I know why! The carpet, paint and upholstery in our homes emit chemical vapors (called off-gases) that are harmful to us. The good news is there are lots of companies who make less harmful, environmentally-safe products. The next time you go shopping for something new for your home, keep this article in mind. Maybe it will help you make better choices.

Walls- Look for paint products with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some examples are Anna Sova, Sydney Harbor, Olympic (Premium), and Bejiman Moore’s Auro to name a few.

Flooring- Beyond cork and bamboo, there are many recycled products that may interest you. For example, Fireclay offers tiles made from granite dust and recycled glass in fabulous colors. And, Covering Etc. mixes recycled glass and granite with cement for a visually textured effect.

Appliances- Buy appliances with the Energy Star rating. In fact, all new models of dishwashers introduced in 2007 must meet stricter energy efficient standards. For the washing machine, consider a front-loading model. These models use less water. And couldn’t we all use a lower water bill! Check out the LG Tromm line.

Lighting- Florescent light bulbs bring down the electric bill. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) last up to 10 times longer and use two-thirds less electricity than incandescent. It may not seem practical to replace all the light bulbs in your house with florescent bulbs immediately. Instead, buy a stash now so when a bulb burns out, you’re ready. And these aren’t the ugly flicker things you’re used to. Look for “soft white” for the living room and bedrooms; “daylight” for the kitchen and baths; “full spectrum” for basements and offices; and “bright white” for outdoor areas.

Furniture- Recycled or reclaimed products. For example, the Iron chair from Louis Starck is made from 75 to 80 percent recycled aluminum. ABC Home has wonderful products and one line in particular relies on sustainable and non-toxic materials. Amish furniture is hand-made and sturdy. Which leads me to another point- buy durable furniture. It will be less likely to end up in a landfill and save you money in the long-run. Thank you Woodbine! Second-hand stores are recycling in the traditional sense and you may be getting something unique! (Should I dare mention garage sales?)

Window treatments- Try Ambatalia, Near Sea Naturals and Aurora Silk for reasonably priced fabric by the yard. Also, try black-out lining for rooms with a western exposure. Whew! Anything to reduce the air conditioning bill is a good thing!

Not only will many of these ideas make for cleaner indoor air and reduce utility costs, it will also mean leaving a better environment as a whole for our children. That would be a great inheritance! I can just image my daughter coming home on a biodiesel-run school bus, carrying her solar-paneled backpack, telling me about the latest discoveries on sustainable refuse and that the word “garbage” will be a term of the past. And while I’m thinking of it, I better go buy another blue recycling bin (made from recycled plastic, of course).

Great websites:

www.arborday.org: You can get 10 free trees. Happy planting!
www.treehugger.com: See for yourself.
www.tmi-online.com: Squak Mountain Stone has great products for your kitchen countertops.
www.shaklee.net/healthconnection: Great, non-polluting cleaning products!
www.itsrecycled.com: American Recycled Plastic offers good-looking outdoor furniture