 |
|
 |
GREEN INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES |
 |
|
ABOUT "GREEN" DESIGN: issues, useful information, and FAQ's for articles & video by Carol Crawford, click on PUBLICATIONS]
"CONSIDER A TREE....WASTE=FOOD...it
makes oxygen, sequesters carbon, fixes nitrogen, creates
micro-climates, provides habitat for hundreds of species, accrues
solar energy as food, makes complex sugars and food, changes color
with the seasons, builds soil, and
self-replicates.. ." from a
narrative by William McDonough, architect, in
the film THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, 2001,
which he made with physicist Michael
Braungart. McDonough & Braungart, promote
a collaboration between nature and commerce aimed at creating an
environmentally-savvy approach to design and the manufacture of
products and processes that will preserve life and help correct
human harm done to our planet. WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM A
TREE? TAKE FROM THE EARTH ONLY WHAT WE CAN PUT
BACK; USE ONLY WHAT WE NEED FOR HEALTHY
EXISTENCE... McDonough describes a path to a more caring,
earth-sensitive modern existence in his now-famous book, CRADLE
TO CRADLE |
|
|
 |
"Biomimicry (from bios, meaning life, and
mimesis, meaning to imitate) is a new science that studies
nature’s best ideas and then imitates these designs and processes
to solve human problems." see http://www.biomimicry.net/ Janine Benyus, biologist and writer,
developed the concept and promotes its design principles via the
Biomimicry Institute. read about it at http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/index.htm :
NATURE AS MODEL, MENTOR & MEASURE:
natural construction...a leaf, a thistle, for instance...can
inspire and guide us toward invention and manufacture
of products based on nature's economy of means...its highly
efficient way of doing things. A leaf's ability to
convert sunlight into energy is being studied in order to
create better solar cells. A thistle's design which enables
it to stick to other materials inspired the invention of
velcro. The seemingly random pattern of leaves on a forest
floor inspired Interface Carpets to create pattern sets for
commercial carpet tiles which enable the tiles to be randomly laid
down or rearranged, thus avoiding the need for expensive matching
of replacements. |
 |
 |
FAQ's: - WHAT IS "GREEN DESIGN"? design which uses methods and materials which are ecologically safe and healthy
- IS IT THE SAME AS "SUSTAINABLE DESIGN"? not quite; sustainability is the entire concept of "living lightly on the earth", following standards and guidelines for construction which does no harm, and aims to preserve the planet
- DOES IT COST MORE? sometimes, and to a certain degree: however, there has been incredible growth in manufacturing safe, non-toxic materials, and in the depth of understanding of how we can build up without creating enormous landfill waste and using our natural resources irresponsibly. We are learning more all the time. In practical economic terms, the increased availability of materials, methods and skilled professionals has dramatically reduced the upcharge in building and designing green. LAs corporations see how they can make money by going green, they develop what is needed for sustainable, "green" design.
HOW DO YOU FIND "GREEN" MATERIALS TO USE IN INTERIOR DESIGN? First, inform yourself about standards of sustainability. There are websites which regularly provide information on the growing numbers of manufacturers who are producing materials and products that qualify as "green". You can join an email service which sends news and links, such as the Healthy Building Network, http://www.healthybuilding.net/ . It is also important to ask questions of sales people about any product you want to have in your interior, to discover what it is made of...and to read all labels carefully. Finally, select an interior designer who has the expertise to guide and inform you. ARE ALL CLAIMS TRUE? no, regretfully! There is a growing realization that it is a good marketing ploy to claim your product is"green"; that is why certain websites are helpful in sorting out firms whose products are truly green or sustainably manufactured from those whose claims are "greenwash"; and that is why non-profit organizations have grown up to certify materials, and organizations have emerged to set standards for design professionals. This website lists a number which will be helpful to you. - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A "GREEN INTERIOR DESIGNER"? A "green" designer is one who by training and practice is committed to designing the safest, healthiest interior possible, involving appropriate choices of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, lighting, structural components, material finishes, lighting, as well as furnishings. It requires constant research and self-education to keep abreast of changes and innovations, and includes attendance at annual conferences such as the U.S.Green Building Council's Greenbuild, where new ideas and inventions are exchanged. It also involves reading and developing a specialized library, insisting on full disclosure from fabricators and manufacturers of what goes into their products. But most of all, since it takes time and extra effort, it takes dedication and passion.
|
A GLOSSARY OF USEFUL TERMS: - CERTIFIED WOOD
- LIFE CYCLE COST
- INDOOR AIR QUALITY or IAQ can be improved by the choice of materials as well as by ventilation methods; The Greenguard Environmental institute http://www.greenguard.org/ is a non-profit certification organization which provides guidance in selecting appliances and products we can choose that will not put hazardous gases into the air we breathe in the workplace and at home
- VOC: Volatile Organic Compound. vapors, such as formaldehyde in glues used in common plywood, which can be irritating and sometimes toxic, if inhaled over time. That "new-car smell" or the strong odor present after wall-to-wall carpeting is installed over padding, or the odors in many paints, are "VOC'S"; these should be avoided, particularly in children's rooms, by choosing "low- or no-VOC paints and plywoods.
- PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride, or "vinyl", is a common plastic used in a wide variety of building materials, everyday items, wall-coverings, plumbing, flooring, furniture; the following is a quote from an article in Healthy Building News:
"PVC is the worst plastic from an environmental health perspective, posing major hazards in its manufacture, product life and disposal.
Toxic Manufacturing Byproducts:
Dioxin (the most potent carcinogen known), ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride are unavoidably created in production of PVC and can cause severe health problems, including: - Cancer
- Endocrine disruption
- Endometriosis
- Neurological damage
- Birth defects & impaired child development
- Reproductive and immune system damage"
read the full article on its harmful components and learn what substitutes can be used: http://www.healthybuilding.net/pvc/facts.html. It produces dioxin, a deadly carcinogen, when burned, - L.E.E.D. Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design
/
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
