I am very excited to let you all know that Benjamin Moore's newest line of eco-friendly paint, Natura, offers no volatile organic compounds (VOC's). Volatile organic compounds are the chemicals, usually found in paint, that toxify your indoor air quality. I've been waiting for this day because while other no-VOC paints are available on the market, I don't think that you can beat the quality of Benjamin Moore.
Eco-friendly hardware can certainly be a challenge to find, but Eleek Incorporated of Portland, Oregon offers a hip line of recycled metal hardware for your home. Their offerings include door handles, door pulls, switch-plates, house numbers, and signs in addition to unique lighting options and beautiful recycled metal sinks for bath and kitchen.
Meyer Wells Furniture, based in Seattle, Washington, is an impressive model of sustainable business practices. Owners John Wells, a furniture designer, and Seth Meyer, a master craftsman, teamed up to start this company which produces beautiful furniture from reclaimed local wood. This reclaimed wood has a unique story -- it comes from "urban trees".
Mesa Del Sol will be located just outside of downtown Albuquerque and is comprised of twenty square miles of land, 3,200 acres of which are said to remain as open space. Albuquerque is famed for it's 300 days a year of sunshine, was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the best places for businesses and careers in the U.S., is just under a three hours drive from world class skiing in Taos, and is a short two hour flight from L.A. Mesa Del Sol's New Urbanism approach means that virtually everything you need will be within walking distance -- stores, work, schools, homes, and parks etc.
The Lucida, located in New York City's Upper East Side, is the first LEED condominium building in the neighborhood. If the Upper East Side wasn't rich enough for your taste, this building certainly adds to the allure. With 110 units, the smallest of which appears to be around 2,000 square feet, this building is certainly not for the average buyer, but it is beautiful.
GreenPod, a company run by architect and environmentalist Ann Raab, designs and builds compact modular homes that are sustainable, healthy, and energy efficient. The amazing thing about this company is their full-circle design approach, which aims to help clients create a complete green home right down to their bathroom towels and artwork.
In conjunction with Design Philadelphia and National Design Week 2008, Minima Gallery in Philadelphia is hosting a prefab exhibition titled A Clean Break from October 17-30. The purpose of this event is to promote "clean development -- aesthetically and ecologically." The exhibit is described as an "exhibition of modern prefab architecture and high-design, low-waste innovations for the urban environment." Pretty cool.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Stardust Glass is offering recycled glass tiles with a hip style. The company is owned and run by artists Megan and Jason Coleman. Their mission is to protect the earth's resources by creating tiles from 87%-100% recycled glass while producing completely hand-made, boutique-style pieces.
Country Living Magazine's October issue highlights an eco-friendly, modular home constructed in just 60 days by New World Home. The home's design is traditional and used a 19th century home as a model. The highly energy efficient home uses 50% less energy than the average home and their modular process allows them to use less wood in the building process.
In Chicago, Illinois, The Residences at 900 have something unique to offer their residents, a lush green rooftop garden. This environmentally friendly rooftop, designed by renowned landscape architect Douglas Hoerr, offers nearly fourteen thousand square feet of garden paradise.
