With the available information about design and green building practices, homeowners are becoming increasingly aware of the different certification processes for Energy Star, Earth Advantage, and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.) While there is value in pursuing these certifications, there are everyday opportunities to incorporate green features into your home just by looking in your own backyard. These two success stories reveal easy ways to add sustainability to a home improvement... more

Flooring Cork, bamboo, recycled and reclaimed fir, reclaimed Hard Rock Maple gym flooring and hardwoods are all examples of sustainable flooring products harvested from deconstruction or renewable resources. These products are available to installers from local sources. Some companies specialize in salvaged wood floors. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

In the past few years “green” eco-friendly buildings have been receiving a lot of notice. Most of this attention has been directed at constructing new green buildings. But those wanting to restore an older house or business are also finding more products and services available to them. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

What does a wooden covered bridge in Eugene have in common with a splintered stadium bleacher in Beaverton? Once deconstructed, nails removed, and milled, these “rescued” wood products make great floor boards…and are gaining popularity as an “exotic” wood. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

For three days in November 2007, over 900 vendors of green and sustainable building materials and services converged on Chicago’s McCormick Place. According to the US Green Building Council’s website (www.greenbuildexpo.com), the “USGBC’s Greenbuild Conference and Expo was an unparalleled opportunity to connect with other green building peers, industry experts, and influential leaders as they shared insights on the green building movement and its diverse specialties.” Many new products... more

Several companies manufacture rubber roofs from recycled tires. These products are durable (many come with 50-year warranties), as well as fire and wind resistant. Metal Roofing With a long life, metal roofs keep composite material out of our landfills. Also 100% of the material used is recyclable. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

What does it mean to re-build green? As with any other home improvement project, the answer comes down to the scope of work and budget. The material choice is where you get to decide how “green” is your garden, or in this case, the kitchen, bath, or other living spaces. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

There are many ingredients that make a kitchen overhaul or update successful, and texture tops the list. “I look at texture as the performance of a well-coordinated drill team; you want all the selections to coordinate in some way so they each play off each other,” explains Sandy Hendricks, owner of Ovation Design-Build, based in Lake Oswego, OR. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →