Erin Ryan asked:


Until recently the term tree-hugger was used as a derogatory term to imply that person was too concerned with the state of the environment. However it is now becoming increasingly trendy to participate in environmentalism and conservation. Going green has also spread into the Hollywood elite with being environmental responsibility being close to many celebs hearts.

There is an ever increasing awareness of the world we live in, with terms such as carbon emissions and carbon footprints regularly thrown at us. With this in mind people are now converting to into eco-conscious consumers. People are making a range of changes with their purchases, from low energy light bulbs to their choice of flooring.

When it comes to choosing flooring products, solid wood floors are by far the most environmentally healthy choice. This may sound strange, as it was common practice to hear environmentalists talking about the devastating effects on our forest resources, however there are in fact more trees today than there were in 1950, 98% more between the years of 1952-2002 according to the USDA Forest Service. As it is not just consumers who are becoming more eco-friendly, companies are following suit, and now trees are regularly planted to sustain the forests.

Some countries even rely on the revenue of timber for export, and it’s these countries where the biggest threat to primary forests is the conversion to other forms of land use. Because wood floors are such a high use of forest produce, the demand can in fact help sustain the forest as well as supporting poorer countries economy.

Another important factor is wood manufacturing is cleaner than the manufacture of other materials. For example the manufacture of Steel produces 40 times more pollutants than wood. Wood also results in far less solid waste than other materials. Wood flooring is recognised as an environmentally friendly, renewable and sustainable resource by NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. So not only can you have the beautiful luxury of a stylish wooden floor, you can rest safe in the knowledge that you’re helping the environment too. It is also recyclable, so your new solid wood floor may have one day been an old barn or warehouse.

Wood flooring is becoming more popular due to its new found affordability and DIY advantages. In todays popular market of wood flooring, you can expect to pay the same price as you would for a quality carpet.



HALLIE

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Gas fireplaces are affordable and practical solutions for today’s hectic lifestyle. As they have been designed with safety in mind they provide city houses with an easy way to enjoy all the advantages of a fireplace minus any hassle. They also offer owners of large houses and country farms an attractive, convenient alternative to the back breaking and time consuming task of chopping and hauling in wood to start a fire.

Historically, a traditional log burning fireplace has always played an important part in a family home. This wood fireplace serves as a place that provides heat, cooks food and provides a family or neighbourhood a meeting place. People can be found here exchanging daily events or discussing important matters.

Nowadays, with all the advantages of modern technology, difficulties in obtaining logs and time limitations, many families find conventional fireplaces unsuitable to their daily lives. Easier solutions like gas fireplaces are more preferred.

Natural gas fireplaces can often heat up to 1,000 square feet of space (depending on the model) at a very low cost. They can be installed in virtually any traditional fireplace. They come in a range of different colours, sizes and styles. This allows you to choose the model that suits your home the best.

Many gas fireplaces have additional features, warranties and accessories. These enhance the appeal of gas fireplaces to prospective buyers.

Remote controls, fans that distribute heat around the room and thermostats that turn the fireplace on or off at room temperature are features that people like to have. You will even ‘logs’ that contribute to the natural appearance of the fireplace. These have been added for practicality and efficiency. The owner’s enjoyment of their gas fireplace is enhanced in this manner.

Gas fireplaces are clean, environmentally friendly creations that run on electricity. Though most models can be turned on with the flick of a switch, manufacturers also offer models that have to be lighted manually with a match. This feature can be very useful during a power crisis.

Small, safe and immensely popular, gas fireplaces can now be found in previously unthought-of places like mobile homes, log cabins and even the odd basement or two.

This is possible primarily due to the introduction of the ‘vented’ and ‘ventless’ gas fireplaces. Vented models use a small chimney, flue or pipe for ventilation and emissions, while the ventless units (used in apartments and places with limited space and ventilation) have no chimneys or vents for emissions and generate more heat because of it.

Gas fireplaces can be easily installed by the owners themselves, if they have prior experience in installing appliances of this sort. However, it is always advisable to get a professional installer or certified retailer to install gas fireplaces as they would have the additional advantage of being able to spot problems with a gas fireplace.



COLTON

Rebecca Noel asked:


Modern oil-based paints, made with synthetic resins called alkyds, have less thinner and give off fewer odors and toxic fumes than their oil-based predecessors.

Still, thinner is an essential component of alkyd paint. Because the thinner content of latex paint has always been much less than that of alkyd paint, there has been a dramatic shift over the years toward latex.

In fact, some oil-based paints are now restricted or illegal in certain regions. The already low solvent content of latex paints (a maximum of 8 percent) has been reduced to zero in some cases. These paints are marked zero VOC (for zero volatile organic compounds).

While this is good news for the environment, zero VOC paint can be difficult to work with because it dries very quickly.

Being a responsible consumer when it comes to paint can be hard. Unlike organic greens, there really isn’t an “organic” paint. Green Seal certification doesn’t necessarily tell you what is in your paint.

Regulatory agencies don’t require paint companies to divulge all of their ingredients. So how can you as a consumer make careful choices when you don’t know what’s in the can?

In the US, zero VOC is gaining attention. (VOC refers to Volatile Organic Compounds). What this means is that per federal regulation, there is a reduction in the amount of material coming out of your paint as it dries. This is a good thing for the environment, as it is well known that these substances react with nitrous oxides in the air to form ozone.

The EPA determined that the off-gassing from architectural coatings is estimated to account for about 9 percent of the VOC emissions from all consumer and commercial products. It is important to understand that using the EPA’s test method for VOCs, any paint with VOCs less than 5 g/l or less can be called zero VOC so even paint labeled zero VOC may not actually be truly zero VOC.

The colorant that is typically added to these paints has VOCs, meaning that the paint you take home may not be zero-VOC, even if the base is.

The lesson is that it is insufficient to consider only VOCs when making paint purchasing decisions. The environmental footprint of a zero VOC paint can include all kinds of synthetic materials to control flow, skinning, settling, etc., that ultimately don’t support a vision of sustainability and goodness for the environment.

There are zero VOC paints available that use only simple ingredients such as clay, marble, titanium dioxide, soy resin, a phosphate salt, cellulose, mineral pigment, with small amounts of dispersing aids and preservatives.

So do a little homework first and find true environmentally friendly paint as there are several really great companies out there.



EMMITT