Eco-Friendly Living
Eco-Friendly and Healthy Living
Interior Designer: Emily Roose of Emily Roose Interiors
Photographer: Paul Hamill
Chandelier was made from old bicycle parts. The artist upcycled old bicycle parts into a glamourous and unique chandelier.
Eco-friendly, sustainability, green building, re-purposed, and the list goes on with terms we have all heard for many years now. When the idea of the movement of eco-friendly first came about I remember a lot of people thinking it was not going to catch on or turn into something that the average person could not afford. It has taken years of developing to provide even more products and to be offered at fairly reasonable prices. Many states have adopted some kind of green building codes that are required for new construction or remodels. California is still leading the way with their Title 24 which has the strictest water and electrical codes to save on water consumption and energy usage.
If your interested in living more eco-friendly and want a healthier home then check out some ideas below.
The simplest and least expensive change to any home is paint. When selecting a paint pay attention to see if it says low VOCs or no VOCs. What are VOCs? VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. What is the big deal you might ask about these VOCs? Well these Volatile Organic Compounds can have a long lasting negative impact on your health. They can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, asthma, loss of coordination, nausea, and even damage to the kidneys, liver, or the central nervous system. VOCs are found in more than just household paint. Numerous manufactured items can have these gases like furniture, rugs, wallpaper, carpet, wood stains, and so on. By being mindful and looking to see if the products you are selecting note VOCs and if there are low to no VOC options then you may want to purchase that product. Another way to help with products off gasing after you purchase and install them in your home is to make sure you have plenty of ventilation/air flow or use an air purification system that removes these gases from the air. As discussed in one of my previous posts many houseplants also help with purifying the air and they bring nature in to your home which helps to reduce stress and anxiety as well as calms our senses and grounds us with nature.
Repurpose old things like furniture, art, or other household items which helps keep items out of the landfills and reduces the impact on the environment with fewer carbon emissions if it is something that you find locally rather than something that has to be transported across the country. Plus, packing materials are not great for the environment or wildlife as well so reducing packing materials is much better for our environment.
Products made from recycled materials also reduces the impact on the environment by reducing what is going into the landfills and can give new life to something old. I am sure you had seen Coke had made T-shirts that were made from recycled plastic soda bottles. Some carpeting and area rugs are also made from recycled plastic bottles. Many playgrounds have rubber around the play sets that were made from recycled tires. Parking curbs have also been used from recycled materials and countertops have been made from recycled glass bottles, stone from old countertops, and even cardboard. It can be pretty amazing to see what one product can be turned into after its life cycle has ended. Barnwood is another great example of taking something old that was used for one purpose and finding new life for it. Plus, with old pieces you may have a fun unique story to go with it which adds some character and a fun conversation piece to show to your friends and family.
Using products that are made from renewable sources like bamboo or eucalyptus are great ways to reduce the impact on our planet by using materials made from woods that regenerate much faster. Bamboo is technically a grass and it can grow several feet in just one day. Eucalyptus can be a great selection for flooring because it is a tough wood that can resist dents. It is naturally resistant to rot, decay, and insect damage. Another benefit to Eucalyptus is that it contains antimicrobial agents that prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms like dust mites and mold. Cork is another fascinating wood that actually is the bark of a cork tree. The tree is not cut down in fact. The bark is only harvested every few years and the tree keeps growing. Some benefits of cork is that it is great for flooring or an underlayment because it is cushy so it is easier on our joints by reducing fatigue, it is more comfortable to walk on, and stand on for those that have to stand for long periods of time. It is resistant to liquids, cracking, and abrasion. It has a natural self-healing process so small punctures will disappear. Cork can last up to 40 years or longer as long as it is properly maintained. Another great fact about cork is that it is naturally resistant to mold, mildew, termites, and is anti-microbial. Those with allergies will also love cork because it can help alleviate dust and allergens for those that are sensitive to them. Lastly, cork is a natural thermal and acoustical insulator. When sourcing products made from wood you may see a tag FSC certified. This means that the wood was harvested from a forest that is properly managed and forested responsibly to avoid deforestation issues. Once they cut down the trees the forest is replanted. They also have strict guidelines on the age of the trees and the locations that they harvest from.
Eco-friendly cleaning and beauty products is another way to reduce your impact on the environment and your health. By doing your research you will find many companies on the market that offer better solutions that are made from natural ingredients. I have used Mrs. Meyers cleaning products for many years now. They are eco-friendly, smell great, and work great as well. There are numerous other options on the market today to give you plenty of options to select which one works best for you. Beauty products are known for being full of bad chemicals. I have tried to avoid using the ones riddled with chemicals as much as possible. Bare Minerals still has a great line, but thankfully there are more brands coming out on the market that are sustainable and better for your health like Ilia Beauty, Axiology, 100% Pure, Elate Cosmetics, and more. We should not have to jeopardize our health to have a clean home or to feel beautiful. For self-care if you like to relax with candles there are also some candles out there that are non-toxic to humans and pets and does not reduce your indoor air quality like Fontana Candles, Plant Based Candles, Salt & Stone, Organic Chix, and more.
If you want to make some adjustments to your lifestyle to live more sustainable, eco-friendly, and healthy there are plenty of low cost ways to get started. Small changes can make a big difference to living healthier and happier. Saving the environment and our health are big wins for everyone in the end.
