I love glassware.  The kiddos use some plastic, but are gradually switching as well.  Perhaps it’s the taste (or lack of), maybe it is the coolness in your hands, the noticeable weight in your grasp.  Whatever the reason, we love to drink from glassware.  Currently we have a few different styles, yet all clear and without added color.  But my favorite glasses I’ve owned (all gone now), were blue and green glass.

Recently I saw some beautiful green glasses by The Green Glass Company, and wondered, “What other options are out there and those with policy/reputation I can feel good about supporting?”

So here is a list of 5 eco-friendly companies that offer reclaimed glassware:

The Green Glass Company- Since 1992, the Green Glass Company has been producing glassware with resource preservation in mind.  Instead of using the non-environmentally friendly method of acid etching., the glassware is sandblasted to create the “frost” look.  All of their products are made in the northwoods of Wisconsin, and are leading their industry.

Pristine Planet- A whole site of green-wares.  There are several reclaimed glass items offered on the site, but I loved those produced by Greenfeet(site hosts).  Reasonably priced and beautiful to boot.  Pristine Planet offers eco-friendly comparison shopping.

Bitters Company – A General Store based in Seattle, Washington.  They offer  These Essential Glasses are a must: hand-blown from recycled glass.  Their family-owned company offers free-trade items and is dedicated to sustainability by hand-crafting  with recycled materials.  They also have a store in Vermont.

Target – Surprise, surprise, but it looks as if Target, at least Target online, is offering glasses made of recycled glass.

Uncommon Goods- Based in Brooklyn, New York, uncommongoods.com offers a variety of green products.  Their sustainable and “uncommon mission” includes making a better workplace fore their employees, supporting the Forest stewardship council (FSC), offering hand-made, recycled, and organic products, and giving to organizations of your choosing at checkout.   These unique glasses are made from recycled car windshields.

Where have you bought glasses produced from recycled and reclaimed glass?

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Not too long ago I received a gift massage, from my husband, to our local wellness center: Balance.  I was immediately smitten by the look of their reception counter.  When I learned that it was created from Kirei Board, I was even more impressed.

Much like plywood, kirei is a composite material, though it is made from the reclaimed stocks of sorghum plant.  Sorghum are a species of grass that are widely used.  Some species of sorghum grasses are used to feed livestock.  Others are used in alcoholic beverages and bio fuel.  Many gluten-free eaters will recognize it as flour safe for their consumption.  Certain species of sorghum are considered a staple in Africa, South Asia, and Central America, as they are the fifth largest cereal crop grown throughout the world.

Sorghum is a drought tolerant plant and grown all over the world.  Instead of burning the stalks or disposing them in waterways and landfills, a new interior finishing material is created.  You’ll also be pleased to know that the Kirei is combined with non-formaldehyde adhesive.

The natural patterns and geometry are simply beautiful in various interior design projects such as furniture, flooring, cabinetry, table tops, wall covering and paneling.  Affordably found starting at around $7 a square foot.

Suppliers of Kirei board:

Kirei USA - find a dealer throughout the US, nearest you.

Straws Sticks & Bricks – showrooms in NE & MO, with additional product lines available in 6 other locations, including CO, and will ship nationwide.

Bettencourt – in Brooklyn, NY

Ecohaus – corporate center in Seattle, but will ship throughout the US.

Green Building Supply – in Iowa, and will ship from Iowa or California, which ever is closest.

(This photo was taken at Balance Massage & Wellness Center, located just outside of Park City, UT. The Owner, Marty, made ‘green’ choices when renovating the old home.  Balance is a wonderful example of green remodeling.)

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We brought your attention to the eco-friendly Knoll Systems GSZ67 whole house distributed music amplifier-controller a few months back.   Well if you are looking to have music delivered throughout your home as part of your remodel, and stay eco-friendly by reducing power consumption in the process, then you need to check out the new and even more affordable GSZ44!

The all new GSZ44 controller-amplifier (with keypads included) is just what you need if you want four separate areas of your home to have speakers and music flowing throughout.  With the GSZ44, your master retreat and master bath can be tuned to an Elton John CD, while outside the kids are playing in the yard to the sounds of High School Musical 3.   All the music coming from your single home stereo!  So you decide you’d rather tune to XM satellite, well just press the Source button on the keypad on your bedroom/bathroom wall.   Guests at parties can hear the same music throughout your home as they mingle.

For $999, the complete GSZ44 package enables whole house audio distribution in four separate areas of your home, and includes four keypads that are placed like light switches on your wall.  The keypads allow you to change from CD to radio to satellite to cable audio (and more), and adjust volume in the room you are occupying.

So what is so ‘green’?  Each GSZ44 controller-amplifier features award winning Eco-System™ circuitry, which offers twice the power and a tenth the energy consumption of its competitors.  This patent pending circuit determines which speakers are in use and delivers power only to those channels needing it. The channels that are “off” are truly off, not in “standby” or “mute”.

According to Knoll Systems, a typical homeowner will enjoy a savings of hundred dollars or more per year in electrical costs and that can be multiplied when taking into account the increased costs of air conditioning to extract unwanted heat produced by a typical multi-channel amplifier. A comparable amplifier without the Eco-System™ circuit  uses about 14 times (40 watts) as much power while idling in standby. By comparison the GSZ44 with Eco-System™ uses under 2 watts while idling!

We still haven’t seen a product like this for home audio at GetWithGreen.com.  If you are going to be including “distributed audio” or music in your home and want to get a bit more eco-friendly in the process then we think you should check out the GSZ44 at a Knoll Systems distributor!

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The eco-friendly view from Marvin Windows & Doors.

I was twelve when I ordered my first Marvin Window & Door brochure. I know, starting a bit early right? At the time I was obsessed with designing floor plans and loved to pour over my mother’s Better Homes & Gardens magazines. It’s been a while, but I believe they still have the pull-out tabs where you can request product information. So, for a long time, I would spec out my designs to include the Marvin Windows & Doors that I liked best. Almost 20 years later, Marvin products are still desirable, ever growing, and amazingly eco-friendly. Maybe all that childhood research will someday bring about a beautiful home of my own with Marvin Windows & Doors…till then, here are some green reasons to use Marvin:

Thinking Green: The Marvin green thought, “Always striving for improvement, Marvin Windows and Doors has introduced initiatives that rethink our value chain, improve resource productivity while lowering environmental costs, and implement green practices that make producing beautiful windows an environmentally-friendlier process.”

Good design and careful decisions make a difference in our environment. Marvin has one of the lowest percentages of wood-waste in the industry.

Energy Efficient: Marvin fulfills Energy Star requirements and standards. Click here to read more about Marvin Products and the Environment.

Reduce: The Marvin team is always looking for ways to reduce waste from their production process.

Reuse: Marvin Windows & Doors are built to last and be reused. If still in good condition and working correctly, feel free to reuse it.

Recycle: After your Marvin products arrive, recycle the packaging. Though not meant to be taken apart, if this should happen, the main pieces are made from materials that can be recycled (wood, glass, & aluminum). The windows are made from recycled material (15%-33% crushed scrap glass, aluminum is over 98% recycled, and wood is recycled by finger jointing and edge-gluing smaller pieces).

Forest Management: With properly managed forests, Marvin has found that not only do they have a continual supply of wood, but an excess in wood production. They are committed to supporting the conservation of natural resources.

LEED Certification: By using Marvin products, home owners can receive credits for LEED Certification.

Click here to see a list of green building organizations that Marvin Windows & Doors participate in and support.

For those of you looking to remodel your windows and doors, check out Marvin’s Remodel & Replace page. It has useful information as well as links to additional articles and answers to frequently asked questions.

Marvin Windows & Doors are eco-friendly, sustainable and beautiful. What kinds of experience do our GetWithGreen readers have with Marvin? Willing to share?

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If you’re looking for an eco-friendly  modern/industrial look, or just something different than what you’ve seen out there for countertops and other surfaces, check out the bold colors, and unique style that Alkemi’s has to offer homeowners and business owners alike.
 
These beautiful surfaces have earned SCS certification as well as LEED credits.   Aluminum milling scrap that would be burned into a heavy pollutant smoke, make up 60% of the surface volume.  There are three finishing styles available: classic, honed, and textured (depending on product chosen).  Colors are vibrant silver, gold, blue, green, red and bronze metal hues.  Surface thickness varies from 1/2″ to 3/4.”  Sheets can be bought in 36″ X 96″ or 36″ X 120″ sizes.   Custom colors, thickness and sizes can also be ordered.  Alkemi metal sheets are finished in the factory and do not require additional sealing before installation (unless cut before installation, then a sealant would be required for the edges).  Alkemi surfaces are versatile and can be used horizontally and vertically throughout your home (though it is not recommended for floors). 
 
Cautions – Though very durable, if abused, the surface may be damaged.  Most substances will not stain Alkemi’s surface, but acidic liquids such as lemon juice and red wine will have an adverse effect if left on the surface for too long.  Alkemi is not recommended for flooring and outdoor use.
 
When remodeling your kitchen, bath, or other surfaces, look into Alkemi’s beautiful material made from recycled metal.
 
For additional information and to order samples, contact a local design professional or fabricator.  Currently, Alkemi fabricators and showrooms are found within the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Netherlands, and Italy.  Click here for contact information.
 
Other Countertop products discussed on GetWithGreen:
 
Counter Top Materials – A review of 12 materials
EcoTop – EcoTop now in distribution, How to get your EcoTop
EnviroGLAS & IceStone – Intro, More Info
Terrazzo – Terrazzo installation video
Counter Intelligence – chart from Home Improvement Magazine
Concrete – Concrete Info,  Meld USA, VitraStone, Sonoma Cast Stone
–

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We have talked a lot about Watersense here on GetWithGreen.com.  The first WaterSense Partners of the Year are being recognized for encouraging Americans to tap into their water resources wisely over the last year.

“EPA commends these partners for being blue ribbon winners in water efficiency,” said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA’s assistant administrator for water. “These water stars are helping WaterSense transform the way Americans view and value our most precious liquid asset and, as a result, we are saving more and wasting less for future generations.”

While EPA’s WaterSense program depends on the efforts of more than 1,000 partners, these four exceptional partners earned this special distinction from EPA:

Promotional Partner of the Year: The Saving Water Partnership

Manufacturer Partner of the Year: Kohler Co.

Retailer and Distributor Partner of the Year: Ferguson

Irrigation Partner of the Year: Timothy Malooly of Shorewood, Minn.

These organizations and individual represent the best of WaterSense’s four partner categories. The Saving Water Partnership is a collaboration between Seattle Public Utilities and 17 participating local water utilities. Kohler Co. is a leading bathroom and kitchen product manufacturer. Ferguson is one of the country’s largest wholesale distributors of plumbing supplies. Timothy Malooly is a WaterSense irrigation partner and president of two Minnesota-based irrigation firms: Irrigation Consultants & Control and Irrigation By Design.

The 2008 Partners of the Year helped advance the WaterSense mission through a range of activities demonstrating creativity and collaboration, and promoting water efficiency from New York City’s Times Square to the Minnesota Zoological Garden. Three of the winning organizations have also worked together to educate plumbers and consumers on the benefits of WaterSense labeled products.

In 2007, WaterSense partners were responsible for labeling, selling and promoting more than 193,400 WaterSense labeled products, saving the United States more than 277 million gallons of water annually.

WaterSense, a partnership program launched in 2006 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water.

The first WaterSense Partner of the Year awards are being presented at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nev., the first national water-efficiency conference for an interdisciplinary audience.

WaterSense Partner of the Year awards: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/awards.htm

Information on the WaterSense program: http://www.epa.gov/watersense

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For a long time now, I’ve been in love with the beauty of bamboo flooring.  The fact that it is considered “green” is another bonus.  Yet, I’ve heard many negative things about bamboo floors as well.  Hopefully the items listed below will help answer questions you may have and rectify any possible bamboo misconceptions as well.

• Though bamboo flooring is categorized with wood floors, it is actually a grass.

• Bamboo flooring is considered ’green’ because of its ability to rapidly regenerate.

• Just because bamboo itself is ‘green’ doesn’t mean that your floor is green.  Has a forest disappeared because it was cleared for the growing of bamboo?  Have panda bears relocated because of the harvesting of the manufacturer’s bamboo?

• Ask yourself how ‘green’ you and your pocketbook are willing to go.  Check with a manufacturer and do your homework to make sure you’re getting the “green grade” you desire.  Make sure you know what you’re getting before you pay a “great deal” for it.

• What about the finish?  If your product is considered ‘green’, but a finish was added to the wood that gives off VOC’s from formaldehyde based glues and finishes, your bamboo floor is no longer as ‘green.’  Look for manufacturers that offer water-based, solvent-free finishing.

• Do you live in an arid region?  Because bamboo is used to high humidity, you will need to be sure it is properly finished and sealed to assure its durability.  The less expensive bamboo flooring may not offer the moisture resistant finishing.

• Buying pre-finished bamboo panels will reduce its susceptibility to moisture.

• The Pattern in your bamboo floor depends on the direction the grass was laid and then glued, commonly named Vertical and Horizontal grain flooring.

• Strand Bamboo flooring is a third pattern, created as the bamboo is mashed up and bound.  It is much denser than either the Vertical or Horizontal grains and said to be nearly indestructible.

• Another common complaint is that bamboo floor colors have been know to fade.  To ensure the installation color, make sure the sub-floor is cured before installing the flooring.  Also, installing blinds and keeping the humidity in your home consistent, will also protect your bamboo from fading.

• Buying pre-finished bamboo panels will reduce its susceptibility to moisture.

• Strand Bamboo flooring is created as the bamboo is mashed up and bound.  It is said to be as hard as an oak floor.

• Some believe bamboo to be a soft wood because it has been known to show dents more than the traditional wood floor.  In general, bamboo floors are slightly harder than oak flooring.

• Not all bamboo floors will perform the same.  Depending on proper installation and the product used, some will lose their color, warp, delaminate, and even split.

• Bamboo that is harvested after 4 years will be considerably softer than that harvested and milled after 6 years.  Another way to check the age of your bamboo is to measure the plank length.   According to Mike at the Green Building Center, “The ideal height is approximately 6 ft. Before that it hasn’t reached its maximum hardness, and after that it starts to soften again. So when you see flooring that only comes in 3 ft lengths you should be suspicious.”  Make sure you are buying the appropriate grade for your project.

• There are two types of bamboo flooring.  For areas with low humidity, solid  (or traditional) bamboo will help avoid some of the potential problems as there are less materials glued together.

• The other type of bamboo flooring is the engineered click system (also called plank board, floating, or wideboard), which is much like many of today’s laminate floors.  They are fairly easy to install, especially if you are DIY savy.  The long, wide boards can glide over an imperfect subfloor, making them a great choice for a renovation.

• If you’re installing your project yourself, make sure you allow enough time for your bamboo to acclimate before installation (several days), and have the temperature/air conditioning set to what you expect the normal condition to be.  This should help avoid warping, later contraction, and expansion.

• There is a range of pricing available.  I’ve seen clearance flooring at Simple Floors for a couple dollars a square foot.  There are other suppliers out there selling at more than $7-8 per sf.  My preferred local ‘green’ supplier, Green Building Center, advertises $5-6.25 per sf for Plyboo bamboo flooring.  An easily accessible supplier, The Home Depot, offers an engineered click bamboo for $3.29 a sf.

• Find additional information at the following bamboo supplier sites:

Green Building Supply
Green Building Center
Plyboo
Bamboo Flooring Biz
The Home Depot

(The photo was taken at Balance Massage & Wellness Center, located just outside of Park City, UT. The Owner Marty, made ‘green’ choices when renovating the old home.  Balance is a wonderful example of green remodeling.)

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Can’t say that any of us on the GetWithGreen team used a DirectBuy membership for our remodels, but I will say that some of us definitely were solicited to do so.   This week DirectBuy issued a press release saying that their members have the opportunity to purchase a variety of green products and save by paying manufacturer-direct prices.

According to the announcement, some of the green products available to DirectBuy members include:

• Faucets and plumbing fixtures tat offer low consumption
• Natural cork flooring and underlayments
• Flooring made of renewable natural bamboo
• Lighting and ceiling fans with Energy Star ratings
• Energy Star compliant kitchen appliances, washers and dryers
• Cabinets treated with low-voc, LEED-compliant stains
• Bedroom, dining room, living furniture manufactured by members of the Sustainable Furniture Council; many of these pieces are made from natural fibers, use eco-friendly foam, and contain organic, halogen-free fire retardants.

Being in an urban area doesn’t mean you can’t make ‘greener’ purchases. Living in the city is probably an even better reason why people should be buying green. Unfortunately, there’s no real road map as to where to make these purchases and whether those purchases are truly green or not,” said Mark Brandt, owner of DirectBuy of Manhattan.  The green products our members can buy through DirectBuy have been rated by recognized authorities like Energy Star, LEED or the Sustainable Furniture Council, so you know the green purchase you’re making is part of the solution.”

‘We all know we should be making greener purchases, particularly when it comes to products we use in our everyday lives like lighting and appliances. Unfortunately, making those wiser choices can be quite costly. By making all these green options available at DirectBuy, we give our members the choice to save money and valuable natural resources,” said Michael Wiseltier, owner of DirectBuy of Brooklyn and Queens.

Give your local DirectBuy a call and see what they will tell you about their category offerings, and if you’ve you used DirectBuy, let us know!

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Just this past week I sat down with Joel Klippert, the creator of the ‘green’ EcoTop countertop .  I’d been anxious to talk with Joel about how things were going with his business, and the availability of EcoTop – the beautiful, practical, and affordable eco-friendly and green countertop material you’ve read so much about on GetWithGreen.com.   Joel is calling it “Sustainable without sacrifice.”

As I expected, Joel is moving full steam ahead.  The company has now made EcoTop countertop available nationwide through a master distributor in Denver – Designer Building Solutions.  If you are interested in purchasing the product, you can contact Peter Colburn in the Eco Building division of DBS directly at 1-206-321-1823.  The product is available in 10 colors, with leadtimes that vary depending on the color you select.

Supporting this distribution effort, EcoTop countertop is now being produced in two plants: Scranton, PA and Tacoma, WA.   Expanding beyond Designer Building Solutions, the company is now building a network of kitchen and bath suppliers across the US.  Unlike so many eco-friendly green products that are hard to find, EcoTop is truly going national with scale which will makes it affordable and available for all of us homeowners.

Distribution is the dirty little secret of what is missing for so many of the other eco-friendly product manufacturers on the market today, and later this month we will be talking directly to executives at The Home Depotabout this.  We are all interested in green products, but acquiring them in an eco-friendly way (instead of having to drive one hour to buy them) is extremely difficult today.  GetWithGreen.com believes that manufacturers with distribution will eventually separate those who live and those who eventually get “recycled”.

Read More About EcoTop Countertop on GetWithGreen.com

• Paperstone, now EcoTop
• EcoTop delivers sample kits

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