Cork is one of the most environmentally friendly materials.

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of cork is the little plug that you use as a wine bottle stopper. It’s no wonder why, considering that the main commercial use for cork is the wine bottle stopper. The question is, can cork be used for other things? With its useful properties, the potential for other commercial uses of cork is wide and varied.

Check out these interesting facts about cork:

1. Cork is a renewable resource.
2. Cork can be harvested without damaging the environment. (Note: Bamboo, hemp, rattan, and water hyacinth also can be sustainably grown and managed, but the advantage of cork is that it can be harvested without killing plants or trees)
3. Cork comes from the cork oak tree.
4. Cork is made of a honeycomb structure that contains an air-like substance.
5. Cork is long lasting.
6. Ancient cork oak forests spread over two and a half million hectares in Italy, Spain, France, Algeria, Portugal, Morocco, and Tunisia.
7. Cork oak takes twenty-five years to reach maturity. Once it does, the bark can be peeled off the tree. When professionals execute this process, no harm is done to the trees. The cork bark grows back in nine years.
8. People have been living off the income generated from peeling cork oaks and selling cork for hundreds of years.
9. Cork oak forests have been protected by royal decrees and government legislation for hundreds of years.
10. Cork is one of the most environmentally friendly materials.

One unique use for cork is cork flooring. Cork flooring is light in weight but the material is strong and flexible. As far as using it for flooring goes, it is easy to stain and add patterns so it can be made to fit in with any style of interior decorating. It’s honeycomb structure gives cork flooring its soft and springy quality. When weight is removed from the cork flooring, it regains its original shape making cork flooring suitable for high traffic situations and heavy furniture. With proper care, it can last for many years.

Cork flooring contains suberin, which is a waxy substance that seals the flooring and makes it water and mold resistant, in addition to fire retardant. Cork flooring is also allergen free so it is perfect for people with dust and mold allergies.

Cork flooring is a much more affordable alternative compared to hardwood flooring for many reasons. The price of hardwood floors to purchase is higher. Cork happens to be a great natural insulator that can absorb heat in the cold winter months, thereby keeping the home warmer and requiring less energy. Another great quality of cork is that it is an acoustic insulator so it’s very quiet. It really is a wonder for anybody coming home late at night and not wanting to wake up the rest of the house.

Bamboo is stronger than most hardwood flooring options.

There are a variety of green ways to floor your home, which is not only good for the environment, but is also good for you and your family, roommates, and pets. Some of the options tend to cost more than conventional flooring options, but when it comes down to helping the environment, the benefits out weigh the higher costs.

One option is bamboo flooring. Bamboo is grass that grows fast. Bamboo is highly sustainable because it reaches maturity quickly and has the ability to replenish itself. Bamboo is stronger than most hardwood flooring options. In addition to bamboo’s strength and durability, it is available in a wide variety of earth tones and caramelized colors. Another added benefit is that bamboo flooring is water resistant which makes it a great choice for bathroom flooring. As far as pricing goes, bamboo is a little less expensive than hardwood flooring.

A second option is concrete flooring. Concrete flooring is on the rise in terms of going green with your flooring for a number of reasons. Concrete uses very little energy in production compared to the other flooring types, it requires no trees to be cut down to produce it, it is recyclable, and concrete floors do not contain any harmful volatile organic compounds. Many synthetic carpets do contain volatile organic compounds. Coupled with all of these pros, concrete floors are great energy savers. In the summer, you’ll need to use your air conditioning less because the concrete floors make you feel cooler. During the wintertime, concrete floors naturally absorb the heat from the sun, which will help keep your house warm.

Cork is a third option because of its durability, soft feel, its ability to provide thermal and acoustic insulation and its resistance to fire and rot. Cork flooring does not require professional installation.

A fourth option is natural linoleum, which is made from linseed oil and pine resin, both of which are natural and renewable resources. conventional linoleum contains harmful volatile organic compounds and other toxic chemicals, whereas natural linoleum does not. Some of the best qualities of natural linoleum include; stain resistance for easier cleanup, water resistance, and durability. A potential downside depending on your preference is that natural linoleum has a very distinct smell of linseed oil, which may irritate some people. On the positive side, natural linoleum is easy to clean and does not attract dust, so it’s a good choice for people with asthma and allergies.

Recycled rubber tiles are a fifth option for flooring, and a great one because it is recycled and it requires a minimal amount of energy to manufacture. Recycled rubber flooring is ideal for families with little kids because it is sound absorbent, durable, stain resistant, easy to install and easy to clean.

Terrazzo Flooring is a sixth option for flooring and has been used for hundreds of years, but is gaining popularity as more and more people are searching for eco friendly flooring options. Terrazzo flooring lasts a long time and is easy to maintain. 95% of recycled glass terrazzo is made from glass waste, and the left over portion is made of epoxy or cement, neither of which contains volatile organic compounds.

A final option is wool carpeting, which is a great option for those who want to be eco friendly and still have some form of carpeting. The manufacturing of most synthetic carpets yields toxic fumes as a result of the petroleum based ingredients and the volatile organic compounds that are utilized in their production. Wool is a natural resource that is sustainable, and is one hundred percent biodegradable.

NJ School of Architecture professor indicates how to build an environmental-friendly residence on a tight budget.

Author – Cynthia Booth.

Did you know that two NYC-based designers designed an asymmetrical home with a fixed budget of $250,000?

Architects and Jersey City residents Richard Garber (assistant professor at NJ Institute of Technology’s College of Architecture and Design in Newark) and Nicole Robertson of GRO Architects in NY rose to the difficult task of creating and overseeing the building of a single-family house that’s a genuine evidence of both revolutionary design and environmental-friendly technologies.

Not too long ago, Denis Carpenter purchased a compact vacant lot to attempt his interest for the environment – a house that was environment friendly and very easy to maintain.

What’s so exceptional about this home?

• Inside the home, on the ground level, radiant heating beneath the exposed concrete floor warms the full bathroom and two bedrooms.
• In the loft-like 2nd level, sleek aluminum and stainless steel railings accent the bamboo stairway to the mezzanine, family room and an artfully designed kitchen, outfitted with restored devices and cabinetry.
• Passive a/c strategies like ceiling fans and clerestory windows make it possible for occupants to be cool during summer and warm during winter months.
• The roof consists of 260 sq. ft. of photovoltaic panels that supply about 2,000 kilowatts of energy every year to a battery stored in the basement.
• The root have a 2-foot-square area planted with drought-resist to collect rain.

This single family 1,600-square-foot home was constructed in 6 months and won a 2009 American Institute of Architects merit award and the 2010 Green Building of the Year Award from the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency.

How can you transform your home into an eco-friendly home without spending too much money?

If you’re redesigning a home, conduct an energy audit first to help you identify what energy efficiency changes should and can be made to your home. In this way you’ll calculate how much energy your home needs.

My personal favorite eco-friendly technique is the passive solar cooling/heating design.

Passive solar usually means that your home’s windows, walls, and floors can be made to collect, store, and distribute power from the sun in the form of heat in the wintertime and reject solar heat in the summer.

Existing structures can be adapted or “retrofitted” to passively collect and store solar heat too.

The following five elements constitute a comprehensive passive solar home design:

1. The Collector – The area through which sunlight enters the building (usually windows).
2. The Absorber – The hard, darkened surface of the storage element – sunlight hits the surface and is absorbed as heat.
3. The Thermal Mass – The materials that retain or store the heat generated by sunlight below or behind the absorber surface.
4. The Distributor – The technique by which solar heat circulates from the collection and storage points to different areas of the house.
5. The Controller – Roof overhangs may be used to shade the aperture area during summer months or thermostats that signal a fan to turn on.

About Author – Cynthia Booth writes for the architecture careers blog. It’s a nonprofit web-site dedicated to offer help for beginning architects who need resources for their careers. With this she would like to raise the attention on eco-friendly home design and change the general public perception of energy efficiency.

Every green car on the highway is one less polluting vehicle.

As any car fanatic knows, the Kelley Blue Book is the United State’s largest automotive vehicle valuation company. For 2010, it has just announced the top green car picks with the Toyota Prius leading the pack.

Toyota Prius

The Prius offers a special powertrain combined with a hybrid electric motor and gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine. Because of these advanced features, the Prius delivers on higher fuel economy coupled with lower emissions in comparison with regular cars in its size and price range.

Honda Insight Hybrid

The manufacturers of the Honda Insight envisioned the car as the most cost-effective hybrid car in the market and, so far, it seems to have delivered on that vision. It has a combined mileage of 41 miles per gallon with a tag price of $20,000 – about $2,000 lower than the Prius.

Ford Fusion Hybrid

The best thing about the Ford Fusion Hybrid is its adept combination of class-leading fuel efficiency with top-notch cabin technology. You can have a great ride while knowing that you are also doing great things for the environment in your own commuter way.

Volkswagen Golf TDI

The Volkswagen Gold TDI uses a fuel injection system combined with an electronically controlled turbocharger, of which the end result is better fuel economy and performance in comparison with its standard model. Fuel economy is 30 city/42 highway miles per gallon on the 6-speed automatic transmission.

Mini Cooper

Despite its tea-cup sized dimensions, the Mini Cooper is a giant in the eco-friendly car field. At 32 miles per gallon combined, it is an absolutely economical choice for many single ladies.

Ford Escape Hybrid

When it comes to the SUV market, the Ford Escape hybrid is the most efficient in its category. Its 32 miles per gallon fuel economy rate is one of the best in hybrid cars although you have to pay a $9,000 premium for owning it over its gas-powered counterpart.

Honda Fit

With a combined fuel economy rate of 31 miles per gallon combined, the Honda Fit is also known for its versatile interior. It also offers navigation, iPod integration and multiple cargo arrangements although uts dated cabin tech is not exactly on top of anybody’s list.

BMW 335d

The diesel engine of BMW 335d delivers on excellent fuel economy at 27 miles per gallon combined. Very little compromise on performance can be experienced, thanks to its iDrive controller and topnotch cabin electronics.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The power of the Toyota Highlander hybrid comes from four engines – the 3.3 liter gasoline V6 engine, the two electric motors in the front and rear as well as the third electric motor operating solely as an engine starter. It has two driving modes – first, the EV modes functions only on electric power albeit at low speed and only for a mile; and second, the Econ mode limits throttle response to promote better fuel economy.

Chevy Tahoe Hybrid

The Chevy Tahoe hybrid’s powertrain is its 6-liter Vortec V8 with its patented cylinder deactivation technology. Basically, the car saves on fuel by shutting down 4 of the 8 cylinders when the additional power is unnecessary.

So, choose your hybrid car now and save the Earth from further emissions and fossil fuel use. Every green car on the highway is one less polluting vehicle.

First, have a party during the daytime. This way you can use the light of the sun. You won’t have to use electricity to light up your party this way. If you do have a party that goes into the night, consider going with some nice soy candles. They will give you light, you won’t waste electricity, and they provide a great ambiance for your celebration as well.

Another way to go green this Fourth of July is to go outdoors for your celebration. Instead of renting a big room that you have to decorate, just have the party outside. The landscaping can be the décor that you need. Choose an area where there is some shade, put up some tables and chairs, and have a great party to celebrate.

Instead of using paper items of plastic items for your party, go with nice dishes that are reusable. You can go with nice glass dishes for an adult party or go with plastic reusable plates if you are going to have kids around. Using reusable cups and silverware will help cut down on all the waste for that day.

If you want to decorate it, do it in an eco friendly way. Go with a nice centerpiece for your tables. Consider something like flowers in a basket or vase, some floating candles in bowels, or even purchase some small flags to display. They can be used again and again, so don’t throw them away.

Think green when it comes to the refreshments for your Fourth of July celebration as well. Go with fruits and vegetables that are organic to serve all the guests and go with dishes made of whole foods. Try to avoid going with pre-packaged foods so you don’t have as much waste and you cut back on calories too. The environment will thank you and so will the waistline of all of your guests.

These are some simple things that are easy to do on the Fourth of July. Use these tips and ideas this year. You will avoid having a negative impact on the environment. It is also a great way to help teach friends and family members about the green lifestyle that you have chosen too, so you can pass on great information about living an eco friendly life.

Protect the planet as well as your family's health by reducing your consumption of chemical cleaning agents.

Detergents, degreasers, and solvents are the common chemical cleaners used at home. Ordinary detergents contain phosphates, which cause oxygen depletion and localized suffocation of aquatic life. Cleaning products that contain chlorine, potassium hydroxide, solvents and ammonia are equally hazardous to the aquatic life. Degreasers such as those regularly used on boats tend dry out the natural oil needed by fishes’ gills to take in oxygen. When safer, chemical-free and cheaper forms of cleaners can be found in our kitchen counters and cabinets, why must you continue to use hazardous toxic cleaning kits?

Using simple ingredients like water, baking soda, white vinegar, and tea tree oil, you can keep your home stain-free, dust-free, mold-free, and sparkly clean.

Replace your bottles of commercial window cleaners with a mixture of vinegar and water. Put it in your spray bottle and scrub the glass off using old newspapers. For cleaning up your oven, use baking soda instead of your usual powdered cleansers. Wipe up the grease with this white powder and flush it off with water to leave your oven stain-free, grease-free and without traces of dish smell.

Polishing your furniture with homemade solutions is a little bit tricky. Still, try some of these simple recipes to stay far away from chemical-based polishers and cleaners. First recipe, create a mixture of a cup of olive oil and half a cup of lemon juice. Put the mixture in your spray bottle and spray it on the surfaces of your furniture. Buff it off with a soft cloth and you are done. Recipe number two – if olive oil is not available, use jojoba or a liquid wax. Instead of fresh lemon juice, you may use white vinegar to create the mixture. Dab a soft cloth into the solution to remove the grits, dust, and dirt on the surfaces of wood furniture.

If you are in the habit of using laundry fresheners, try using your vodka for a change. You have read it right. Spritzing pure vodka on your clothes helps freshen up worn jeans and jacket in between washes. A spritz or two of vodka over your clothes will evaporate not only the booze scent of the vodka but also the noxious odors of worn clothes. On the other hand, if you wanted to deodorize certain areas in your home, more like in the kitchen, a five percent solution of vinegar in water can be used as a homemade deodorizer. Spray some on your cutting board or bathroom to eliminate the odor.

If you want to remove molds and mildew from your home’s tiled surfaces, especially in the bathroom and kitchen, put 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil into 2 cups of water and use this solution as your cleaner. Also, straight vinegar is equally effective in killing molds.

It is a fact that traces of the chemical ingredients if commercial home cleaning kits are found in our water sources. These chemicals may contaminate the streams, rivers and lakes from which the water in our local water treatment plants may be sourced. Contaminated food and contaminated water equate to disease. By using homemade and non-toxic cleaning solutions, you get the personal gratification of protecting the planet as well as your family’s health by reducing the world’s consumption of chemical cleaning agents. Also, using more earth friendly cleaning kit does not only help the planet recuperate from the pollution and damage caused by chemical wastes, but also yields huge savings on your grocery budget.

It’s the Packaging
Let’s start with the materials used to package these hair products, which are often colorful to attract the consumers’ attention. You will find plastic cans, sachets and spray bottles, all of which takes hundreds of years to decompose.

Thus, you will read reports of plastic residues poisoning the soil and ground water. In a way, when you become careless with your hair products because you were too engrossed in beautiful hair, your future grandchildren will pay the consequences of non-potable water.

Plus, you cannot deny the fact that plastics are made from crude oil. This is the same industry that has wreaked havoc with the planet although we must also acknowledge the important role it has in modern life.

Now, imagine how many people have thrown away the plastic packaging of hair products into their trash bags with nary a second thought. The landfills will soon fill up with these plastic products and then we would all suffer in one way or another.

It’s the Contents, Too
But the problems do not stop with the packaging either. The ingredients contained in said hair products are in themselves very toxic to human health and the environment, if not now then in the future. Just to name a few of these ingredients and their adverse effects on humans and animals:

• Butane and propane are toxic to human beings especially in large doses.
• Cyclopentasiloxane and dipropylene glycol affect the sense organs of wild animals even in moderate doses.
• Polybutene is widely used in pesticides. Now, it comes into contact with your scalp and skin.
• Diazolidinyl urea poses toxicity issues for humans and acts as a neurotoxin in animals.
• Polyquaternium-11 is a possible carcinogen with the added danger of becoming a respiratory toxin.
• Benzyl nicotinate and phytic acid has broad systemic toxicity on animals (and in people, too, if that is the case)
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone is known as an immune system toxicant in humans.

The names may twist your tongue, yes, but these can turn your life around for the worst from long-term exposure. Are you ready to sacrifice your long-term health for short-term beauty?

It’s the Alternatives
If you are not willing to do so just because of hair products, then we recommend going for eco-friendly alternatives. You need not worry as efficacy is not sacrificed because these alternative products are just as good as their mainstream counterparts.

You can find these alternative hair care products in many online sites and health food stores. Of course, this does not necessarily mean that you should forego reading the labels. You should still do your research even when the products are labeled “natural so-and-so”.

So, when you start reaching for the hair beauty products, think of their environmental effect and think twice. You should not go the way of the days when human beauty came at the expense of the environment and your health.

It will take hundreds of years for a single discarded pen to decompose - switch to a refillable pen.

Even with the advent of the so-called paperless society, thanks to computers and the Internet, there are still many things, transactions and technologies that need the old-fashioned pen and paper to complete. You have to sign documents ranging from credit card authorizations to formal contracts and everything else in between of various values.

Unfortunately, the use of pen and paper also has a negative environmental impact. Since many articles have already been devoted to the impact of paper, let’s focus on the mighty pen. It is mighty not only to effect change in societies through ideas put to paper but it can also change environments via waste filling up our landfills.

Consider the Statistics
In September 2005, Bic announced that it has sold its 100 billionth disposable pen. If that boggles your mind, just think of the billions more of disposable ballpoint pens manufactured by other companies. To place 100 billion in perspective, think of placing the pens end to end. Now, imagine that the world is literally in your hands. You will discover that the arranged pens can circle the globe 348 times!

And to think that Americans alone purchase a staggering 106 billion disposable ballpoint pens on an annual basis. We shudder to think of just how many pens the world’s two most populous countries – China and India – spend on said pens.

Consider the Impact
In our society where the hunger for instant satisfaction is only matched by the need for instant disposal, pens are thrown away like so much trash just about anywhere. Pens are thrown in drawers, in garbage bags and even by the wayside. And we are not talking about used pens with zero ink in them because most full pens are disposed for no reason at all. Admit it – you have been guilty of such an act many times before and with no thought as to its environmental impact.

So, what is the environmental impact of our careless disposing of pens? Well, think of it this way: The disposable pens will end up in landfills, waterways and in other unforeseen areas where a ticking time bomb will start counting down. Keep in mind that pens are made from plastic that many of us know by now to be non-biodegradable. This means that it will take hundreds of years for a single discarded pen to decompose. Now, when you add 105 billion pens used and discarded per year from the American population alone, you are looking at polluted groundwater and soil.

Unfortunately, there are no known ways to recycle the discarded pens. You can transform them into works of art but it will still be thrown away sooner or later. And the cycle of environmental destruction continues – all because we love our disposable pens. So, what is an environment-loving individual with a liking for pen and paper to do? Well, you should shift to refillable pens.

With proper care, your refillable pen will last for many years to come in your hands. Thus, you will not be adding to the waste in the landfills, not to mention that you can save on the cost of numerous pens bought over the years. Now, that is what we call harnessing the power of the refillable pen for the benefit of the environment, in a manner of speaking.

Don’t Throw Away those Old Mattresses
Think of the many uses from that old mattress. If you don’t want it, there is somebody who wants it. Donate it or give it away. Just don’t dump it anywhere. You can sell it to junk shops buying recyclable items. The wooden frames can still be salvaged and used as fuel, the springs can be converted and the cotton still has practical uses in industrial applications.

Dumping it improperly poses hazards to the environment because mattresses are loaded with flame retardant chemicals. These chemicals can seep into the ground, poisoning the soil and the waterways. Imagine a landfill with millions of old mattresses; that should be enough to jolt you awake to the hidden dangers of improper disposal of mattresses.

Recycling programs can help you with your old mattress. In the US, try Earth911.org; in Australia, there is the Dreamsafe Recycling Program, and in Canada, they have MattCanada. To dispose your old mattress you have to pay a small fee – this is nothing compared to what you can do save the planet. If you are living outside of these places, Google the recycling programs in your country.

Old Tires
Look around for recycling programs in your area and sell them your old tires. Old tires are transformed to flower pots, building blocks, and roofing. A car tire yields four liters of oil, and a kilogram of steel and reusable combustible gas.

Paints
Avoid spilling left-over paint on the ground. Paint is loaded with lead that poisons the soil and the chemicals eventually reach water sources deep down in the soil. Paint brushes should not be washed in the sink, these should be treated correctly. You can ask your recycling program center what to do with your paint. Call the manufacturer; these companies have recycling programs to recycle or reuse paint. If you have a clump of paint, wrap it and throw it to your trash without putting the lid back on.

Batteries
Used batteries are considered hazardous waste. Once your batteries lose power, wrap it. Don’t place it in your bag because it may rupture and leak. Oftentimes there are no drop-off points for old batteries. Write to the manufacturer and inquire about their disposal program. They can advise you and this information must be passed on to your friends and to the community.

Button batteries for hearing aids, watches and greeting cards, batteries for video cameras, wheelchairs and power tools, vehicles, metal detectors, and cameras are classified as hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly.

Knowing what to do with your old stuff can help you help the environment and that is what matters most in these environmentally critical times.

There are three distinct types of PBDE products out there. They are penta, octa, and deca PBDE and you need to be on the lookout for them when you make a purchase. The problem is, however, their presence is not mentioned on any products you purchase. That means you need to perform a little research that is certainly more than cursory in order to avoid purchasing such items you wish to avoid.

The presence of such PBDEs in the environment can cause harm to plant and animal life. This is why it is so important people discover its presence in so many products. Understanding that the chemical exists is the first step towards making sure it is disposed of properly. Again, you want to reduce the potentially negative impact the items will have on the environment by reducing the unsafe exposure of the products when they are discarded.

Also, it is important to note that any exposure to PBDEs comes with certain risks. For example, studies have linked the exposure of such toxins to liver and organ damage. As a result, you might wish to be very wary of the presence of these items in the home. Your exposure to them could lead to chronic illnesses over time. The sad part is that many people that suffer from such exposure are not even aware of the origins of the exposure or that it has even occurred. Rather, they are left with the end result which is certainly not pretty.

There are certain steps that can be taken to reduce your potential exposure to the chemicals in your home. Making sure to keep your home clean and free of dust is always a positive step. You also need to make sure that it is properly ventilated which will further add to the ability to reduce exposure and other such problems. Granted, these are minor steps but they come with big potential safety rewards. We are talking about your health here so there are no steps that can be considered small in this regard.

Increasing your education and awareness level would be another positive step in this regard. When you have serious concerns about a product’s impact on the environment, you need to learn as much about the product as possible. Awareness and activism go hand in hand.