Think globally, act locally-this sentiment now applies to home building and interiors through sustainable environmental design. There is an ever increasing amount of green products available on the retail market which makes eco-friendly design easy and accessible.

Designers and architects are finding widespread interest in green design including those people who have ecological concerns, families with children, and businesses concerned about liability issues.

Eco-friendly does not stop with home building and design. Green home staging has become the logical next step in protecting the environment.

Why Choose Sustainable Design?

Green design is beneficial to the health of people as well as the environment. Safer products reduce incidences of chemical sensitivity in both the home and workplace. Natural resources such as fossil fuels and water are also conserved when you are designing for sustainability. The recycling of raw materials is also common in eco-friendly design which reduces landfill waste and the need to manufacture new materials.

When working with suppliers of sustainable design products, ask them about the chemical composition of their merchandise and request Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) which will detail any health or physical dangers. The main items to monitor are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are common indoor air pollutants. These chemical compounds are normally used as solvents in items like cleaners, paints, and dyes. Sources of VOCs include acetone, benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene.

There is typically a degassing period in which paint, flooring, or other materials release VOCs as vapor for a period of time. The manufacturer should be able to tell you the dissipation rate of any chemical emitting materials, so that the space can be ventilated accordingly.

Green Design Products

The marketplace is filled with suppliers and manufacturers who are thinking about sustainable environmental design. For example, Steelcase has received the first Cradle to Cradle Certification for a green workstation with their top-selling Answer^® office design system.

Similarly, Shaw Industries, the world's leading carpet manufacturer, has launched their Green Edge program which involves hundreds of initiatives that have beneficial impacts on the environment, economy, and society. Shaw has also developed a post-consumer carpet recycling and collection program which is ideal for sustainable design projects.

Zelfo manufactures a strong wood-like, moldable material made from natural fibers, recycled paper, or other cellulose materials. This versatile, biodegradable product is produced in a sustainable environmental design process and can be used for furniture, accessories, or lighting.

Another company designing for sustainability is IKEA who has established one of the most environmentally and socially responsible supply chains in the world. Also, many of their product lines contain biodegradable or recycled materials like wood chips. Their next challenge is eco-friendly design, low-cost housing called BoKlok which is already flourishing in Europe. Other retailers like The Home Depot are also making a difference by becoming the first in the industry to sell certified wood flooring from sustainable forests almost exclusively.

Italcementi is the world's fifth largest producer of cement and has developed a new concrete product which helps to clean the air we breathe. This photocatalytic cement reacts to the UV rays in sunlight, causing faster oxidation and breakdown of pollutants that come into contact with the concrete surface. Already used in Europe, this sustainable design product is now being manufactured by Italcementi's North America subsidiary, Essroc.