If faced with obtaining new flooring in a remodel or new construction, I would never opt for new wood because of the sustainability issues, but these reclaimed floors are quite stunning and would be a great juxtapose for super sleek and modern white walls and furnishings. Ideally, you could find a local reclaiming mill so you're not paying for transport of wood for long distances.

[posted by kris]

Indoor air quality is become increasingly important to consumers as we become aware of the dangers of air pollution. One great way to reduce air pollution indoors is by using paints with no VOC (volatile organic compounds). You can get them in a number of color ways, and I like Freshaire Choice because the not only does the paint itself have no VOC's but the pigments also have no VOC's.

[posted by kris]

Densely urban environments have the runoff problems due to non-porous pavement--but there is a solution with something called pervious pavement, which actually allows the water to pass through at a very fast rate. If you are laying a new driveway or sidewalks on your property, this could be a good solution.

[posted by kris]

Audrey over at the Dwell Blog wrote a short article about green roofs that's worth a look. Installation is not as simple as I'm sure we'd all like to believe, but when done right, green roofs can have important economic benefits that add up into one smart investment.

When looking through some of the companies offering green roof systems, there was some impressive photos of Green Wall Panels by G-SKY that had me imagining my second floor patio walls completely covered in greenery. Might be just the thing for those of us who can't quite commit (or afford) to redo our roofs yet, but still want to scratch that itch of 'green-ing' our home a little bit more. Pricing depends on plant selections, wall type, and overall size.

There's also ELT Living Walls (not shown), which are a bit more accessible (and affordable, starting at $189.00).

(photo on upper left [via Dwell Blog]

[posted by katie]

If you haven't heard of planetreuse.com, it's worth checking out.

"Planet Reuse is the world's first website that connects buyers and seller of reused and reclaimed construction materials and equipment from around the world and allows them to purchase products online."

[posted by katie]

Holy. This is supposed to be available from DWR sometime this spring, which for some reason surprises me. I guess I'm impressed that something so seemingly useful will be available so soon (usually when I find stuff like this it's not available until the next year, if ever). The waterHOG Water Storage tank can be easily installed pretty much anywhere, not to mention un-installed, which means you can take it with you if you move. The Groundhog Thermal Mass (shown on right) is intended for in-wall or in-floor thermal mass.

"The rainwater from your roof represents a valuable commodity: with the waterHOG rainwater tank you can catch and store your rainwater for reuse in your garden and even in your house. Rainwater can be used for drinking, toilet flushing, laundry water and of course for irrigating your garden. Don’t let your rainwater go to waste - the waterHOG is functional, efficient and visually discreet rainwater storage!"

1800mm x 500mm x 220mm for a capacity of 183L

[via materialicio.us]

[posted by katie]

Neoporte is the industry standard for great modern doors.

Not only are they amazing to look at, but they're also green.

"All Neoporte doors are made from 100% stainless steel, a durable, recyclable
material that lasts a lifetime without the need for toxic refinishing."

For anyone interested in green home building, there's a couple documenting the construction of their home in the form of a blog called 'Green In Medusa'. You can share your own experience or take notes if you're planning a similar project.

"[The] blog is a joint effort of owners Baldomero and Stephenie Fernandez and architect Lynn Gaffney to document the design and construction process of an affordable green house in upstate New York. The aim is a transparent sharing of the triumphs and mishaps so that sustainable design becomes approachable for everyone."

[posted by katie]

Here's a rather well done site showcasing a home that "will serve as a laboratory for the...ongoing research into sustainable design." It's worth a look to see some ideas on integrating sustainable design into a home- there's an excellent section showing various building materials that are environmentally friendly as well as a plan of how air will circulate, cutting down on air conditioning costs, etc. You can also see a live web-cam chronicling the construction.

"The home's seamless integration of environmental systems and green materials is expected to make it one of the first in California to garner Platiunum Certification from the USGBC LEED for Homes Program. With construction beginning this summer, Sycamore House is scheduled for completion in 2008."

[posted by katie]

If you're needing some landscape lighting, this would be something to consider.

"Solar Cynergy's Solar LED lighting solutions exemplify the pragmatic and combine dynamic aesthetics with functional efficiency. From safety to pathway lighting, Solar Cynergy's Residential RSC Solar LED Series will highlight your home for lifetimes to come."

All RSC Series are made of Polycarbonite Resin and PC/ABS
Working Temp: -4 degrees to 158 F

- Made in Japan
- NO Battery! (capacitor technology)
- 10 Year Warranty, 25+ year life
- Weather resilient!
- Drive over them!
- Perfect accent for landscapes, pathways, driveways

[posted by katie]