Keep Waste to a Minimum

Reduce

n Share project details and mea- surements with a salesperson or contractor to obtain material esti- mates and avoid over-ordering.

n Measure twice and cut once to avoid expensive material waste.

Reuse & Recycle

n When renovating, think decon- struction, rather than demolition.

n Require that a contractor’s bid include a plan for reducing, reusing or recycling construction waste and references from similar projects.

n Much of what is left over after demolition and remodeling can be recycled or reused. Use Earth911. org to identify such materials and businesses willing to take them.

n Save leftover paint, adhesives and scraps that can be used later for touch-ups and repairs.

n Look for a materials exchange, such as Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores (Habitat.org/env/restores. aspx), which may offer both new (surplus/overstock) and used build- ing materials and components.

Contributing Source: Union of Concerned Scientists at ucsusa. org/action

36 Collier/Lee Counties

Natural clay plaster

Plaster is a natural, environmentally friendly material, used in homes for thousands of years because of its strength and longevity. Its unrivaled beauty is now drawing the interest of modern home owners, notes Armin Croft Elsaesser, president of American Clay Enterprises, LLC. Plaster’s beauty is more than skin deep, however. “Plaster controls moisture, absorbs odors and doesn’t attract dirt,” he says, “which makes it the workhorse of wall coverings.”

Learn more at AmericanClay.com.

Plant-based wall coverings

Who knew that covering our walls with grass or coconut shells could produce such exquisite results? Papers, tiles and panels crafted from sustain- able plants and reclaimed agricultural waste will beautifully cover sections or entire walls, imbuing them with pat- tern, texture and color.

Design-worthy sources include PhillipJeffries.com and KireiUSA.com.

Add Architectural Detail

Architectural detail can be that special touch that really makes a room pop. Crown molding, baseboards, door and window trim, mantels, beams and wain- scoting are affordable details that add in- terest and value to a home. Planet-friend- ly products of recycled and reclaimed origin ensure that we get the look we want and keep a clear conscience.

Reclaimed wood

Reclaimed wood comes from a vari- ety of sources and species. Whether it’s heart pine from a 1890 Virginia warehouse or burgundy-stained oak from old California wine barrels, all reclaimed wood has a story—and the kind of character and richness not available with new wood. Choosing re- claimed goodies also keeps more trees firmly planted in the ground.

Recommended sources include VintageTimber.com, Elmwood ReclaimedTimber.com and Habitat. org/cd/env/restore.aspx.

swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com

Wood alternatives

Wood-like composites made from recycled plastics are as much or more effective as solid wood for interior decoration. Timbron International makes decorative moldings that are 90 percent recycled. “Our moldings can be cut, nailed, glued, sanded, caulked and painted, just like wood,” says Steve Lacy, the company’s president and CEO, “but, unlike wood, our product is more durable and impervious to water.”

Innovative sources include Timbron. com and PlasTeak.com.

Dress Up Windows

Window treatments should comple- ment décor, rather than dominate or dictate it. Earth-kind window fashions that come in soft, natural colors allow furnishings and decorative touches to be the star. Select natural window treat- ments that are easy on the planet and anything but drab.

Natural shades

Natural shades enhance any design aesthetic, from traditional to modern. Earthshade, a leader in natural window fashions made from rapidly renewable plants such as grass, reed and bamboo, produces shades in an array of styles and flexible options. Principal Craig Swanson promotes the rigorous quality Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64