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. Carpeting can be manufactured from a variety of sustainable materials, such as wool, cotton, sisal (agave), sea grass, and jute (burlap.) Recycled-content padding made from wool... 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. Cork flooring was used extensively in mid-century homes and is popular again today as a green alternative.Photo courtesy of Arciform LLC Refurbishing older cabinets, rather than replacing them... 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. In this instance, exotic refers to the story behind the wood, not its country of origin. “Exotic doesn’t have to mean out of this country. Not when you think about what the reclaimed wood used to be, not what kind of wood it is,”... 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. Solar-Powered Attic Fan Make your home more energy effcient and save money too. Attic fans operate by solar power from sunrise to sunset at no extra cost. It’s possible to reduce the workload on... 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. Recycle Materials Any environmentally conscious change you make to an existing house can be considered “green.” The goal, as you proceed, is to deconstruct (not demolish) the existing space, reuse or recycle materials wherever... 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. Above kitchen design by Stephanie Johnson of Arciform LLC. A kitchen can be monochromatic and still be rich in texture, with its dram a drawn from the... more