Buying used furniture can be awesome or not so awesome. IMO, some folks think their used couch is worth way more than it is. There’s a big difference between buying cool vintage furniture or antique furniture and buying some used “cheap-in-the-first-place” items. Another reason to seek out used furniture is if you need some quick, …
More and more, the masses are becoming curious about topics like homesteading, Earthships, food preservation, and permaculture. The earth cries with joy any time another person googles “what are sustainability practices?” When it comes to permaculture, the literature can be rather dense. Permaculture encompasses so much more than just sustainable food production practices, which is …
Architecture and Interior Design: Rodwin Architecture Contractor/Builder: Skycastle Construction Based in: Boulder, CO Contact: Scott Rodwin, AIA (mailto:scott@rodwinarch.com) Head of Construction: Brandon David, LEED AP Project Manager/Designer: Cecelia Daniels and Jocelyn Parlapiano Landscape Architect/Design: Green Landscape Solutions Kitchen and Bath: The Artisan Shop HERS Rating by: Scott Home Inspection Mechanician: Perfect Temp Sustainability Coordinator: Sustainably …
I get kind of overwhelmed when I go to the grocery store. It’s baffling to think about all of the industries and processes that are in place that can so successfully fill such a giant warehouse. It’s especially overwhelming to walk into the cereal aisle — dozens of options, huge cardboard boxes filled with plastic …
If you’ve ever driven through New Mexico or Arizona, you may have journeyed through neighborhoods that are reminiscent of the planet Tatooine from Star Wars. Not only due to the desolate and striking desert biome, but because of the unique structures that are seemingly built into the landscape. I myself experienced this when road-tripping from …
Builders, interior designers, and homeowners all gush over granite. It resists scratches and handles heat, and it looks great. Granite is a favorite material for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanity tops, and other surfaces throughout the home. But granite has a porous surface that can gunk up with grease, grime, dirt, and bacteria that can dull …
Cleaning products often fall into one of two categories; they’re either highly effective but incredibly toxic, or they’re great for safety but bad at cleaning. Eco-friendly cleaners are becoming increasingly more effective and far easier to find, but now the trouble is sifting through which ones are worth buying. I personally invested in a whole …
Toronto-based design and development company baukultur/ca recently completed the construction of two new build contemporary, highly sustainable homes. Strictly modern in its design, the building complements the existing neighbourhood, yet provides two-family homes on an infill lot and footprint which would be conventionally occupied by a sole single-family house. The building, with two 4-level residences, …
Cleaning products have come a long way in the last thirty years, and that’s particularly evident in the “all-natural” category. People have begun to shy away from harsh chemicals, strong detergents, and caustic solvents, opting for more non-toxic cleaners. While your best bet for a “natural” cleaner was just vinegar and soap for a long …
Stainless steel abounds in our homes these days. Our kitchen is loaded with stainless steel – large appliances, small appliances, pans and then our Weber grill on the patio. We also have young kids who simply cannot help themselves from touching and smearing their dirty hands on everything all the time. While we don’t clean …
Specs: Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1.75 Sq. Ft.: 1,100 Year built: 1926 Source: Redfin
Specs: Bedrooms: 3-4 Bathrooms: 3 Sq. Ft.: 2,498 Source: Architectural Designs
Specs: Bedrooms: 5-6 Bathrooms: 6 Sq. Ft.: 5,797 Source: Architectural Designs
Specs: Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2.5 Sq. Ft.: 2,639 Year build: 1930 Source: Redfin
Specs: Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 4 Sq. Ft.: 2,710 Year build: 2008 Source: Redfin
A container guest house is a brilliant idea. One 40′ container is the perfect size to squeeze in a living area, small kitchen and small bathroom. Jim Poteet of Poteet Architects did it right. The one he designed and built offers plenty of windows, colorful color scheme, rooftop garden and it really looks great on …
Solar lights use solar cells which converts sunlight into electricity. The first photovoltaic cell was developed in 1839 when French scientist Edmond Becquerel recognized the potential of harnessing solar energy for generating electricity. He and his French compatriot Augustin Mouchet proceeded to create the first solar-powered generators in the 1860s which were able to power small …
You know that winter’s at hand when dry air becomes an issue. The winter season brings with it low humidity as well as a string of problems from worsening allergies, parched nasal membranes, dry skin to nosebleeds and static electricity. The humidifier fixes these issues by regulating the moisture in your home. On the other …
About 60 percent of areas are still using fluorescent lights on the high bay or low bay ceiling, according to a US study. This does not mean, however, that there is a scarcity of options when you want to use a more energy-efficient light. There are plenty of lighting sources in the market today that …
It’s about time we break our reliance to plastic wrap for food storage and opt for sustainable alternatives. They’re undeniably convenient to use but each usage leads to serious and long-lasting consequences for our health and the environment. A recent study revealed that out of the 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste, only 9 percent …
When you think about it, all forms of energy are essentially solar systems. Coal is a result of plant matter. Oil ultimately comes from algae. Natural gas comes from both. In fact, plants and algae are the foundation of the food chain and are a result in part of solar energy via photosynthesis. For more …
Paper towels are convenient to use, but they’re not eco-friendly. Since they can’t be recycled, about 6 million pounds of paper towels end up in landfills each year. Paper towel production also requires an estimated 110 million trees and 130 billion gallons of water. Sure, paper towels don’t cost that much, but when you consider how often …
We can all do our bit for the environment whether it be taking out the recycling, turning the tap off while brushing your teeth or not leaving the lights on when you nip out to the shop. But how can you take your home from being environmentally friendly to a fully sustainable eco home? Even …
Food scraps, dead leaves, twigs and animal waste are just some of the most common organic waste that can be converted into fertilizers through composting. Composting does a lot of good for the environment and we can all do it at the comforts of our own homes. With the right composting bin, composting at home …
It has become a bit of a cliché as it has been said so many times – water is one of the most precious resources to sustain life on earth. In 20thcentury, the world’s population rate has tripled and the water consumption increased at twice at the same rate. The problem with water overconsumption these …
Saltwater pools aren’t that common. They’re usually on resort grounds, but some people do have them built in their backyards. There’s something special about swimming in saltwater which mimics the ocean. There are other saltwater pros, but also cons which we set out below. We then list out alternatives to saltwater pools. Saltwater pool pros …
Organic gardening is the staple of the healthy nutrition and life without illnesses, problems, and complications. The difference that organic food makes is more than big – the level of nutrients and antioxidants, the processing of the food, its durability and lifespan, and much more. If you’re aware of your health, you should get into …
While your home may not smell bad, it’s likely that you want to find ways to improve the aroma of your home or bring some of your favorite smells to your home. The fact is smell can have a very powerful effect on one’s mood. It’s nice to create a fresh-smelling home for you, your …
Welcome to our gallery featuring the best eco friendly products and options for smart homes today. We love smart home devices and products, anything designed to improve your life and bring your home into the future. Sometimes smart means new functionality, and sometimes it simply means sustainable. We’re looking at products designed to do both. …
Welcome to our gallery featuring a spectacular array of green roofs, one of the most innovative yet natural roofing solutions ever. We wanted to bring you a collection of roofs that covered the wildly varied and intriguing constructs also known as living roofs. A living roof is a roof of a building that is at least partially or …
Welcome to our gallery featuring this Eco-Friendly Modern Hawthorn Residence Project by Chan Architecture. Here, we find a home that underwent a renovation in 2014. The themes don’t constrict themselves to an exclusively modern aesthetic, or focus strictly on empty spaces and sweeping angles. Rather, the design allows itself to breathe. The choice to use predominately …
Welcome to our gallery featuring a waterside home by Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects. The above photograph was taken by Matthew Carbone. The home’s overall design was directly influenced by a variety of environmental regulations, site constraints, solar orientation, and specific programmatic requirements. The resulting home is a two-story building with a pavilion that acts as a breezeway …
Welcome to today’s gallery, highlighting the fantastical ecoPerch Music Studio, a unique creation by Blue Forest Treehouse Design and Construction. Located in Essex, the ecoPerch Music Studio was purpose built for the client, with Blue Forest crafting a striking yet inviting space for music recording. The building is decked out with cedar lining and a zinc facade. The wide …
Welcome to our gallery featuring the beautiful Net Zero home designed by 2e Architects. Designed for clients Judy and Craig, this brand new home has been designed top-to-bottom with their preferences and environmentally-friendly mentality in mind. This home is a Net Zero home, meaning that the energy consumed by the home is equal to the amount …