“Om” Improvement

By Sophie Taylor

If you’re making home improvement plans, is there any other way to go but green? Better for the environment, more beneficial to your family’s health, stylish, durable and in-demand, green materials have also never been more affordable or a better bet for increasing your home’s value.

“These days, pretty much any home improvement project can be done in a green way,” says Alex Kennaugh, new mom and editor of www.simplesteps.org (the Natural Resources Defense Council’s newest green living Web site for parents). “And more often than not,” she adds, “sustainable improvements are more technologically advanced and last longer—making them more desirable in the real estate market. Whether it’s upgrading to a new energy-efficient A/C system or installing radiant heat flooring—these are high-tech, long-lasting improvements that enhance quality of life and lower energy bills.”

Cool Trends in the City of Trees
Even if you’re just looking to update your wall color, green options are generally healthier and more durable. Josh Daniels is the owner of Green Sacramento, which celebrated the Grand Opening of its new Midtown location last month. Daniels advises people to choose high-quality, low-VOC paints. “VOCs are volatile organic compounds and are often harmful to humans,” he explains. According to Daniels, most off gassing occurs in the first few months that a room is painted or a new carpet is installed, but chemicals can continue off gassing for several years. “AFM brand paints actually help seal in off-gassing chemicals,” says Daniels.

Looking to do more than just redecorate? “The biggest thing we’re doing lately is the recycled glass and concrete countertops,” says Daniels, who notes that the trend is popular even with homeowners who aren’t particularly green-minded. “People just like the style and look of these countertops,” he says. Replacing your cabinetry too? “There are a lot of chemicals and formaldehyde in cabinetry,” Daniels cautions, “so going with eco-friendly options significantly reduces that.”

Green flooring options provide yet another way to significantly reduce the level of toxins in your home. “Cork and bamboo are sustainable, easily harvested and are an excellent option for flooring. Staining concrete [sub-flooring] has also been really, incredibly popular, as opposed to purchasing a new floor.” New products now make this option both attractive and eco-friendly, and natural fiber area rugs can provide softness and warmth where needed.

More durable than conventional flooring materials such as carpet, these alternatives look like new longer, saving you money and lightening your carbon footprint in the long-term. “Products that don’t have to be replaced frequently put less of a burden on natural resources and landfills,” explains Daniels.

Marmoleum is another option. “An all-natural linoleum flooring made from linseed oil, wood flour, rosin, and limestone, with a jute backing, Marmoleum is easy to clean and stylish,” according to Daniels. “Its smooth surface also helps reduce dust, which means far fewer dust mites and significant relief for those with allergies.”

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat…
Green your interior and purify the air you breathe by incorporating houseplants into your home design. Certain plants are extra-efficient at cleansing the air of off-gassing chemicals and neutralizing radiation from computers, TVs and other electrical devices. Peace lilies, spider plants, gerbera daisies and ficus are good all-natural air purifiers. Heartleaf philodendrons are also outstanding (just take care around kids and pets—they can be toxic if ingested).