Never Say NeverAbout seven years ago, in one of my first books called Conscious Style Home, I commented about the unhealthy aspect of wall-to-wall carpet. In the book, I showcased how I renovated my parents’ own home in Reading, Pennsylvania using environmentally-friendly techniques; one “idea” was to rip-up the old nylon carpet in the master bedroom and replace it with honey-colored bamboo floors. I said I could never see myself living with wall-to-wall carpet in my own home.Well, never say never. One of the chores dealing with hardwood and bamboo floors in your home is that you constantly have to be hunting for dust. And dirt. And more dust bunnies. Ever walk around with white socks on hardwood floors? Look at the bottom of your socks and, sure enough, you’ll have enough evidence of dirt to star in CSI: Homekeeping. But housekeeping aside, the health benefits far outweigh the inconvenience, right? Wall-to-wall carpet encourages the growth of mold, mildew and dust mites; if it gets wet, even more allergen build-up. But who would’ve thought the simple solution for healthy carpet would be as simple as flipping on a button: ultraviolet vacuuming. The Halo vacuum is the latest in healthy home technology that actually kills mold, mildew and dust mites as you vacuum. A built-in ultraviolet light at the base of the machine actually... Permalink
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Carpeting: It’s Green vs. Green!My fellow bloggers have done a great job pointing out the complicated issues associated with carpets. This category more than most highlights the occasional conflicts between the two types of “green”: green as good for the planet vs. green as good for the human!Take wool, for instance. Durable, renewable, and at least for the non-allergic healthy, right? But many animal rights groups are quick to point out the cruelty sometimes inflicted upon sheep during the shearing process, and the sheep themselves produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas with 20x the contribution to global warming compared to carbon dioxide. What about cotton? Well, unless it is organic, cotton is one of the worst crops when it comes to environmental issues - it uses huge amounts of water and is prone to all sorts of pests that require strong pesticides. Jute is better - it’s grown in areas where the climate is right, it’s rapidly renewable and it’s an important source of jobs in some of the poorest parts of the world. But 85% of jute production is in southeast Asia (meaning a long carbon-laden path to our markets), and the manufacturing processes can contribute to water quality and other pollution problems in sensitive habitats. Some of the newer renewable fibers (such as Sorona, produced by our hosts DuPont) seem to offer the best combination -...
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Carpeting For Kid’s Isn’t Child’s playWall to wall carpet is often the first thought parents have when it comes to flooring for a child’s room. Followed of course by the thought of clean up of all of the fluids, bodily and otherwise that tend to end up on it. But, no matter having a carpeted floor on which children can play is often of paramount importance.The problem with carpets is, well where do I start. They trap tracked-in dirt, animal dander, flea eggs, molds and fungi, dust mite droppings and other allergens and VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) from pesticides, cleaning products and any other toxis fumes from paints, glues, etc. that you use in your house. They even emit VOCs from the glues and padding used in the carpet itself. Which can cause dizziness, fainting spells and other ghastly effects. And, they typically are petroleum based synthetics (most carpets are made of nylon and olefin, both derived from petroleum) and difficult to recycle. Makes you long for hard wood floors…hmm, maybe sitting on a bare floor is better for a child’s back. But no, there are other options. One choice is to forgo the wall to wall and instead use woven scatter rugs that can be washed frequently to prevent allergen and toxin buildup. Select woven ones without glue that can omit VOCs. A second choice is to look for low VOC carpet and low VOC padding. Many manufacturers... Permalink
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Tips for Going Green Underfoot with CarpetsCarpets raise a green red flag for a host of reasons.Where to start? Do I start with the dyes? The chemical treatments used for stain proofing and fire retardation? The backing of the carpet? The adhesives used to install? The pads used? Oh, and then there’s the fact that synthetic carpets themselves are known to off-gas many chemicals. Should I keep going? Synthetics such as nylon don’t biodegrade. Look to minimize impact. By all means, avoid the synthetics and choose natural first. In addition to wool carpet, you could try plant fibers such as sisal or seagrass. Wool is naturally fire retardant, cleans well and looks beautiful longer than nylon, or any other synthetic. Modular wool carpet squares make an interesting choice, as well. If one section gets stained or damaged, simply replace a square instead of a whole product. Ingenious. There are a few vendors who offer completely untreated wool carpet. It’s expensive and the styles are a bit limited, but if green is your goal, it can be achieved. Looking for guidance? The Carpet and Rug Institute offers green label testing and certification to indicate products that emit low VOCs. Other companies such as Dupont have come out with products made from... Permalink
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Giving Someone Else a Chance to Carpet their HomeAs a magazine editor and TV host, one of the interesting perks in working in the media is the seemingly endless stream of party invitations for product launches in New York City. But living in Bucks County, Pennsylvania—far, far away from the glitz and glamour of these parties—I rarely get a chance to actually attend any of them.For the few parties I get a chance to attend, there’s a tendency for me to become somewhat of a wet blanket to my friends who come with me. Instead of being amazed how a party planner transformed a warehouse space into a magic winter wonderland, I sigh with disappointment as I sip my Pinot Grigio: What will happen to all this waste after the party is over? And I’m not just talking about the paper napkins and wooden toothpicks that skewered itsy, bitsy appetizers. I’m talking about the big picture stuff: upholstered “lounge” areas, wood art installation pieces, and roll after roll of carpet brought in specifically for a two-hour party.
After a Victoria’s Secret pajama launch party that was decorated in head-to-toe pink, pink, pink, I had to know: where on Earth did it all go the next day? Turns out—after a few phone calls—it doesn’t head to the trash, but to a reclamation... Permalink
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Abbey Koplovitz
Danny Seo
Frank Endrenyi
Jason Pelletier
MC Milker