KBIS-Kitchen and Bath convention

I recently came back from Chicago after spending a long and eventful weekend at KBIS-Kitchen and Bath convention. It's the worlds largest convention of suppliers of new and trendy things.

It was a lot of fun and also a lot of walking. My mission was to find as many green/sustainable/recycled products I could. And boy did I. Matter of fact the whole convention was geared towards Green design. I found products made of bamboo, mesquite, linoleum, recycled glass tiles, etc. With all the choices of energy efficient appliances and plumbing there are today in the market, manufactures are showing they are doing something about our environment.

I found ranges, fans,hoods, ones that looked like cool colorful buttons on the wall. Toilets with dual flush, two buttons; one for liquid and one for "waste" :) will improve water efficiency by nearly 50%. According to manufacturers, approximately 40% of household water is used for the toilet. I saw sinks,faucets, energy efficient water tanks and much more. "Setting The Tone" was the motto for the convention, and it did.

Todays tip: Next time you need a new appliance or a new toilet. Check out the new energy efficient ones.

Paint

Have you ever thought of when you're painting, why you always need to open the windows to be able to breathe?
If not, you'll get a headache or feel nauseating. Well, its because of the VOC-Volatile Organic Compounds. These compounds are linked to headaches and nervous-system damage and offgas even after paint dries; harsh ingredients in regular paints (such as benzene and formaldehyde) can trigger asthma and allergies.

One gallon of conventional paint that's not properly disposed of can seep into the earth and pollute 250,000 gal of drinking water.

But now there are alternatives, Eco Friendly Paints. Contains no VOC, or very low VOC, and you can get all kinds of paint swatches to fit your personal taste. You can even bring your favorite standard paint swatch and most hardware stores will create a color mix based on the swatch number.

• AFM Safecoat - www.afmsafecoat.com, offers one of the widest-ranging lines of eco-paints, stains, and sealers ($36/gal).
  
• American Pride Paint - www.americanpridepaint.com, indoor and outdoor paints and primers developed for use by the Department of Defense ($22/gal).
• YOLO Colorhouse - yolocolorhouse.com, simple, nature-influenced palette with shades that work together well (simplifying the color-selection process); new exterior line too ($40-$42/gal).
• Benjamin Moore- www.BenjaminMoore.com, Eco Spec,paint ($35-$40/gal), and AURA ($40-$43/gal Low VOC
  

• Earth911 - find out where to recycle paint.
  
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• Todays Tip: Look for the Green Seal, which means the paint's certified ECO. Bad = EPA, OSHA, or DOT seals, which mean the paint contains hazardous chemicals that the government has to monitor.

Source: Ideal bite.com

Happy April Fools Day!

I just got back from a vacation in Mexico. Boy, is that country behind in the knowledge of Green Design. Don't take me wrong, I love the country and people, but for what I saw the environment there needs help. Then on the other hand, we just need to look in our own back yard. :)

Speaking of Green Design, in London according to an article I found, the terms often associated with earth-friendly products "going green" have been labeled passé in favor of a new saying..."buying blue."

A trend report out of London which had Ann Mack, director of trend-spotting at JWT, suggesting that "Some eco-fatigue has recently set in." It's true that the earth has been a huge topic of late--mostly because of of the formidable facts that suggest it's fragility--but also because saving it is beginning to generate serious selling value. And with all things profitable comes a burgeoning market and so on and so on.

It makes sense that the consumer is weary of the term "green." The idea, says Mack, is that the word has been so overused and misused that it has ceased to mean anything. That's partially the reason why in 2008 consumers will be seeing environmental messages arrive via the color blue.

So what does blue have to do environmentalism? A whole lot actually. Take climate change clean water for one. Blue stands for clean air and water--two fundamental aspects of a healthy earth. A healthy earth, as so noted by many of today's home decor leaders like Method and Bambu, is trendy and important. Which is why marketers hope that consumers relate to the color blue as standing for something pure, fresh and sustainable. Something worthy of buying in response to the movement.

So keep your eyes and ears open for the new saying "Buying Blue"