Category — Green Products

If you’re getting started on a green bathroom remodel, don’t forget to select sustainable materials when it comes to items like your medicine cabinet and bathroom vanity. Bamboo is always a good choice, because it’s plentiful, grows quickly, and it can withstand the moist conditions common to bathrooms. The medicine cabinet above measures 27″X8″X36″, and it’s available at Decor 66. It includes 3 polished glass shelves.

Even if you’re not taking the plunge for a full green bathroom remodel, you can always green your smaller bathroom accessories such as your clothes hamper, and other storage items. The bamboo bathroom collection above includes a toilet brush, plunger, clothes hamper, candle holder, toilet paper holder, and tissue canister. It’s available at Plow and Hearth.

Soy candles are an excellent idea for green Halloween decorations, because soy wax burns much cleaner than the paraffin wax used in traditional candles. This Halloween pumpkin candle, from Beyond Making Scents, is made from 100% soy wax, and has a lead-free wick. It is available in many scents, including candy corn and pumpkin pie, to really spice up your Halloween party.

Here are a few green living tips on burning candles:

Soy Wax vs. Paraffin Wax: Did you know that paraffin is actually a fossil fuel by-product and it releases chemicals when it burns? According to GreenSpace Candles, paraffin wax releases petrol-carbon soot, which introduces toxins to your home. Soy wax is a natural product, and burns cooler and cleaner than paraffin.

Soy Wax is Renewable: Soy wax is a produced from soybeans, which are a renewable resource.

Soy Wax is Water Soluble: If you end up with a spill of soy wax on a coffee table or countertop, it will clean up easily with just warm water.

Need a new mailbox? After last week’s post about how to reduce junk mail, these recycled mailboxes made from street signs are just irresistible, although a bit pricey. They’re individually hand-crafted by artist Boris Baley who actually crafts many recycled household products from street and transit signs, including tables, coasters, switch plate covers, side chairs, and serving platters.

Here are the side chairs.  What a modern twist on green home decor!  If you’ve ever picked up a street sign, you know how heavy and strong these chairs have to be.

I think these recycled switch plate covers would be great for a green bedroom for a child, especially one with a race car or train theme.  At $39.99, the switch covers are a bit more affordable than the other items too. All of these Boris Baley items are available at Green and More.

Here’s a side table that would work well with any living room furniture or as a nightstand. It’s made from a reclaimed wine barrels, something often tossed out by wineries. According to Viva Terra, more than 200,000 wine barrels, made from the seasoned lumber of centuries old trees, are thrown away in California each year.

The top of this recycled table is made from the top of a barrel, and the legs are barrel staves. It measures 22X25, and it’s available in both light and dark finish. The wine barrel table retails for $239 at Viva Terra.

Here’s another idea for putting recycled wine barrels to use around your green home. Used Barrels.Com sells used wine barrels for making your own green furniture, shelving or other household items.

Perk up your green home decor with this droopy table lamp. The “Droop Lite” has a base made from a recycled glass bottle that’s been heated in a kiln to give it that droopy look. Combine this table lamp with a bamboo end table and compact fluorescent light bulbs, and you’ll be on your way to creating a cozy little corner in your green home. The Droop Lite is available at 3R Living.

Want a table lamp that’s a little more formal? These Babette Holland lamps are made with reclaimed and recycled aluminum, and they’re available at Lamps Plus.

Even with all the popularity of hardwood flooring, I still think most rooms need area rugs to warm them up a little. Green area rugs are widely available in a variety of materials, including bamboo and hemp. If you like the traditional look of oriental rugs, take a look at the recycled plastic area rugs made by Mad Mats. They’re made from recycled polypropylene- the same plastic used to make packages for many common household items such as soda bottles, milk jugs, and juice bottles.

Since they’re made from 98% recycled plastic, these area rugs are water-resistant, which makes them a green home decorating option for both inside and outside. And, when they get dirty, you can wash them with soap and water. Mad Mats rugs are available in several sizes from 4′X6′ to 6′X9′, and several other styles including Pennsylvania Dutch area rugs, and garland rugs. I found them at The Garden Room.

It’s not just for socks anymore! Wool is often overlooked as a natural resource, but it’s making a comeback as a green living option. If you’re building a green home, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is how to insulate it.  Here are some of the benefits of wool insulation:

1) Non-Toxic:  Wool insulation is non toxic, in fact, it’s sometimes used to to clean up toxic buildings because it absorbs toxins. And, since wool fibers are naturally larger than those used in synthetic insulation, they don’t pose a threat to those with asthma or other respiratory problems.

2) Efficient:  Wool insulation has a higher R-Value than fiberglass insulation, and can absorb more than it’s weight in water without becoming wet to the touch.

3) Reusable/Biodegradable:  Wool insulation can be reused, and if discarded, it’s biodegradable.

You can find more information at Good Shepherd Wool, a manufacturer of wool insulation.

Don’t forget about the other ways you can use wool to create a green home, including wool blankets, wool area rugs, and wool upholstered furniture.

If you’re looking for green living tips, there’s still time to catch the Better Homes and Gardens Living Green home tour in cities across the US.  The exhibit showcases green home decorating options, including a kitchen with bamboo cabinets, recycled glass counter tops, a recycled mosaic tile back splash, and green kitchen appliances.

Designed by Libby Langdon, the Living Green exhibit also includes a green living room, bathroom, and laundry room.  If you go, check out the bathroom vanity made from a salvaged dresser, sustainable wood furniture in the living room, and a media cabinet made from a recycled baby changing table.

Although it began in June, the tour continues through October with upcoming stops in Boston, Washington DC, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and NYC.  Here’s more information, photos and the tour schedule for the Better Homes and Gardens Living Green home tour.

Are you frightened by the amount of waste that can be generated from Halloween? In addition to the amount of trash that comes from practically disposable Halloween costumes, plastic treat bags, and Halloween decorations, there is the issue of which Halloween treats you’ll choose to give to all the little ghosts and goblins that show up at your door. This year, consider giving up the usual individually-wrapped candies in favor of green Halloween treats that go a lot easier on the environment. Here are a few ideas:

Recycled pencils- These recycled pencils are available in recycled denim, recycled currency, and recycled paper.

Recycled stickers- A creative Halloween treat for trick-or-treaters. These recycled Halloween stickers are made from 30% post-consumer content.

Soy crayon rocks- These rock-shaped crayons, pictured above, are made of soy. You get 16 per package, so you can treat your Halloween visitors with one or two per person.

Sweet Halloween treats- If you really want to include a sweet treat for your trick-or-treaters, there are many options in both fair trade Halloween candy and candy that comes in recycled or biodegradable packaging. Here’s more information on green Halloween candy from National Geographic.

When I was a kid, I remember asking for a skylight in my bedroom just because I thought they were cool, not because I was interested in saving energy or natural lighting.  My parents looked at each other, then looked at me, and issued a resounding “No!”.  Too bad for me.  I bet I would have had a little better luck if there were Sun Tunnel skylights back then.

Sun Tunnel tubular skylights install in your roof allowing sunlight to shine through a highly reflective tunnel and then into your home.  On the inside, a Sun Tunnel skylight looks very much like a typical light fixture. These skylights are a green lighting option for small spaces like closets, and bathrooms, or anywhere you want to add natural lighting.  What a sleek looking way to conserve energy and live green!  Visit Velux for more information on Sun Tunnel skylights.