Green design on Hulu

Green Design e2 - The Green Apple


I've been meeting so many great people involved in greening up their lives, homes and businesses.  Since I am focusing on remodeling my kitchen this Spring, everyone (and the universe) seem to be sending me contacts involved in eco-friendly building & remodeling.

A good friend sent me info on Hulu's Design: e2 series.  Twelve videos in the episode, all about 25 minutes long, narrated by Brad Pitt...nice way to start the morning!  Might be worth some time to investigate.

Local green in O.C.

I went to a store called Laguna Green last weekend. Actually, it's more of a design studio situated on Pacific Coast Hwy in South Laguna Beach.  The owner, Pam Sterling, wasn't there, but I had a nice chat with Clarice, who was the substitute greeter that day. They also work with Laguna Bamboo, which is just down the street, for bamboo cabinets.  I keep loving how there are so many businesses sprouting up to provide us with these kinds of products & services!

Pam Sterling's Laguna Green has a system for rating eco-friendly design materials, which I really like.  Each product they carry has a LEAF® Rating from one to four. The more leaves, the greener the product.  Here are their criteria for getting a "leaf":



Locally Made – Is the product made within 500 miles of Laguna Beach?



Energy and Water Conservation – Does the product help to conserve energy or water? Is it Energy Star or WaterSense rated?


Air Quality – Is the product formaldehyde free and/or does it have low or no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)?


Formulation – Does the product contain at least 50% recycled content or is it reclaimed or made from rapidly renewable or carefully managed resources?

Although my area of expertise in the past has been mainly focused on how eco-friendly products relate to health, it seems like this provides a simple framework for evaluating more than just our design materials.  Ultimately, sustainability impacts the health of all living things on the planet, so all these criteria are important as we move forward.

If a product is high in toxins & damages our home air quality, locally made, energy/water efficient or using recycled materials doesn't seem as important to ME.  However, this is a great way to evaluate and decide your own priorities for sustainable, green living and use this set of criteria for evaluating any products you find you like. 

Working with the Sustainable Business Leadership Council in O.C., I'm learning how so many young entrepreneurs are taking the lead in developing products & philosophies that will be the standards for the future.  New certification organizations are already making it easier to evaluate all kinds of products for environmental impact.

There are other criteria to consider as well.  I like things that are hand made, like rugs.  Even though they aren't local, I love the idea of supporting crafts peope from all over the world.  An added bonus, they usually use natural materials & dyes, less "high-tech" (toxic) adhesives and sealers, and often are built to last for many lifetimes, saving on replacement cost and landfills.  By supporting their financial independence, I'm hoping this is contributing to making a positive difference in other ways, too.

We received our couch from DirectBuy this week, and then bought a Persian style rug, hand knotted in India & made with pure wool and vegetable dyes, to go with it to create my "nook", where the dining room is now.  More on that soon.

The couch has natural fiber upholstery, and was made from a company that has an Eco-line (Rowe Furnishings).  A bit of a compromise...we couldnt' find a sofa bed that met ALL our criteria that was also affordable, but at least it is made in the USA and doesn't smell of chemicals.  Nonetheless, it's "living" in the garage until any residual VOC's can off gas a bit.

My organic, waterwise garden is loving the rainy weeks we've had.  So are the slugs & snails, so I am putting out some coffee grounds this week.  I know they are one of Nature's creatures & must have a purpose, but my Dudleya's need a chance to grow bigger before they provide snacks for those guys!

The wildflowers are sprouting, too.  I almost feel guilty, since most of the country is buried in snow, while Spring always starts the hills turnig vibrant green in California's February.  Next week...some pix of my garden!