Dream Green

I recently bought a cervical pillow for my neck and touted to be the only genuine cervical pillow recommended by the American Chiropractic Association. The online description guaranteed the cloud like feel from the soft molded foam will cradle my head and would have me sleeping like baby. I was sold. Faithfully I entered a credit number and waited patiently for my new cloud like pillow. It finally arrived and the anticipation of putting my weary neck to rest was high. Once the much-awaited box was opened, a stench that is comparable to the odd smell of a city dump when the wind is blowing hit my nose faster then the speed of light. My dreamlike fantasy came to a complete and pathetic halt. This wasn’t going to deter me from my heavenly slumber. A little airing out was all that was needed. Seven days later, after airing the pillow and washing the pillowcase (twice) it went back to its maker. As it turned out, the pillow had serious off gassing. Off gassing usually refers to the tendency plastics and other solid synthetic compounds that release toxic gasses long after they’re manufactured. The ironic thing was, the pillow was ordered from a website called Wisdom and Health.

The reason for this little tale is to share a movement in interior design industry that is gaining popularity among the general population and many multi
million-dollar business. It’s called Green Design, Sustainable Design or Environmentally-Sensitive Design.
What ever you call it, it’s a term for a growing industry trend within the fields of architecture, construction, and interior design. The broad philosophy of green design are fairly simple: choose energy efficiency wherever possible, work in harmony with the natural resources surrounding the project, and use materials that are sustainably grown or recycled rather than new or manufactured materials from non-renewable resources.
LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design has set an industry standard for green building design. Through extensive seminars, education and a growing number of sustainable resources, interior designers have the opportunity to design and furnish homes with environmentally friendly products and materials that can actually have a healthy impact on clients and the planet.

Below are some guidelines to go by when considering your next home improvement project.

1 Make a more ecologically sound choice of wood from a supplier who can verify through a chain of custody that the original trees came from an ecologically sustainable forest managed under guidelines of the Forest Stewardship Council.

2 Specify “green” paint and other finishing materials that have low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Specify paints and finishes that do not contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

3 Use rapidly renewable flooring products such as bamboo or linoleum to help reduce the amount of land and resources dedicated to producing construction materials.

4 Specify energy-efficient appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators with the EnergyStar

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