By now you have probably realized that on this site, and particularly in this
series of articles, we think that greener living means paying greater attention
to every area of our lives, no matter how small it may seem. In fact, it is
the lack of attention paid to everyday details that is responsible for the current
mess our planet is in. This ranges from people taking a car to go to a store five blocks away to using high temperature tape to try to fix a leaky window instead of replacing it.
This series has taken a look at some cheap green changes that can be made in
everyone's lifestyle to ensure that we are keeping our environmental impact
to a bare minimum. We are not suggesting that we all move into longhouses; instead,
that we take advantage of the options open to use when it comes to reducing
our consumption habits.
One of the big changes we can make in our lives that will positively impact
the environment is in the type of products and furniture we choose to buy for
our homes. Whether you live in one of the luxurious King west Condos or in a cottage home on the shores of Lake Superior, we bet that your residence is chock
full of furniture to make it feel like home and products that help you live
the life you want.
When it comes to environmentally friendly living, there are two ways in which
our choices in products and furniture can help. The first is in paying attention
to what those products or furniture are actually made of.
For example, there are unique homes all over the world which have been built
on environmentally friendly principles, and that include interior designs as
well. The show World's Greenest Homes, on Planet Green, details homes
in Chicago, Sierra, and Los Angeles filled with furniture made entirely from
recycled materials. The furniture is neither tacky nor really remarkable; it
is simply designed with re-use in mind.
You don't have to go that far to make some cheap green changes, either.
There are certain items that are simply better for the environment than others,
because of what they are made of. A modern glass vanity, for example, is a greener
choice than a vanity made from wood. Glass is easily renewed, easily re-used,
and will last for a much longer time (particularly in appearance). Likewise,
bamboo flooring is better than that made from hardwoods (and it's a lot
less expensive too!).
The second thing which needs to be looked at when it comes to environmental
products and furniture is the way in which the products have been produced.
You may be under the impression that similar products are made using similar
processes, but that is not so. Strainers made in China, for example, are likely
manufactured in plants following minimal environmental regulations (if any).
The output from these factories can do a lot of damage to the global ecosystem.
It's better to buy products manufactured by companies located in areas of the
world known to regulate better environmental practices.
Paying attention to the materials the products we fill our Georgia home or Mississauga condo with are made of and the places (and
processes) by which they are created is an important step when it comes to green
living on a personal level. The best thing about this lifestyle choice is that
it doesn't cost anything but time, and you will usually learn a thing
or two along the way.
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