ecofabulous

Looking Smart and Sexy, Chicago

We raved about the mkLotus at West Coast Green last September, and now we're going to do the same with the mkSolaire. This fabulous prefab from Michelle Kaufmann Designs just opened its  sustainably-minded doors at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) exhibit, Smart Home: Green + Wired. The fully functioning modular home gives museum-goers the opportunity to learn about the future of green building! With environmental considerations taken through and  through, the mkSolaire showcases the latest and greatest technology. Using smart design, a range of eco materials and striving for the best in energy efficiency and water conservation, this is 2,500 square feet of eco-goodness. For all the juicy details, click here. The mkSolaire is taking the windy city by storm...so brace yourself!

I'm Nuts About This Wall Solution

Palm Woven is a recent (and my favorite) addition to Smith & Fong's Durapalm repertoire. This un-wood comes from plantation grown coconut palms which grow abundantly throughout the world. After a palm's useful life (about 100 years for nut production), they are replaced by younguns. Smith & Fong utilizes these felled oldies but goodies (otherwise generally discarded) while also providing  supplemental income to the farmers. With non-toxic adhesives and formaldehyde-free finishes, Durapalm also meets LEED criteria for low-emissions. Palm Woven comes in easily interlocking panels for a unique textural surface that makes a serious statement. I can see this as an accent wall or a back splash, but I would love to hear your ideas for use!

LoVo Launches

It would be a vast understatement to say that there was a lot going on this Earth Day but C2's LoVo launch is worth noting. LoVo stands for low-VOC (volatile organic compounds), which are dangerous additives found in most paints. What sets LoVo apart? A virtually limitless color palate for one, more specifically 496 handcrafted colors (that makes for infinite options!). Gone is the excuse that you couldn't find the perfect color in low-VOC form. And LoVo doesn't want you to waste or regret anything, so they've introduced 16 oz samplers for clients to try out before committing, even in customized colors. What's more, LoVo is a luxurious, boutique paint with depth and luminosity.

Power Me Green

Going solar often seems out of reach, considering the initial investment to get things up and running. Gone is that dilemma and here is Clean Power Finance, a program dedicated to assisting home owners in financing clean power. They’ll work with you to replace your electric bill with 100% renewable energy that will not only improve the energy efficiency of your home, but save you money and increase your property value (not to mention give the environment a big gift). Check out their easy-to-use website that features a case study, a Savings Calculator and information on finance options and solar technology. CPF will also help you find a qualified local installer, such as Sun Power. With Clean Power Finance, that sexy, sustainable green home of your dreams can now become a very cozy, green-savings-all-around reality.

 

Building Bloxes

Get creative with Bloxes. Interlocking pieces of corrugated, recycled (and recyclable!) cardboard, Bloxes are easily pieced together. The folding system provides a strong support system, so they’re sturdy enough to use as a stool or a table. Reminiscent of construction toys we had growing up, Bloxes can connect to other pieces on each of their six sides. Let your imagination run wild and build anything and everything you can think of. Doesn’t work? Simply take it apart and try again. Bonus – Bloxes muffle sound, so feel free to build a wall to separate you and your noisy cubicle mate. Or, your noisy children, though it may end up the cause of new boisterousness.

Photograph: Rachelle Bowden

A Brush With Freshness

You know that fresh paint smell that so many people love? But as we know, some love affairs just aren't good for you! The "fresh" smell can be attributed to VOCs, which can ultimately lead to headaches, nausea, respiratory illness and a host of other health risks. So if you’re about to tackle the walls of your castle, check out Freshaire Choice Paint, a new line exclusively available at Home Depot. The product contains zero VOCs (in the paint and in the colorant). Choose from 65 colors in four collections – Waterscape, Earth, Atmosphere, and Botany – for the perfect shade. Freshaire Choice Paint is certified by the Greenguard Environmental Institute and applies eco practices to its packaging. The cans are made from 100 percent recycled materials, and the chips, brochures, and labels are made from recycled materials as well. So paint the town green!

Deliciously Danish

Danish architect Knud Kapper, the man behind Hansen Living and the gorgeous Instant Kitchen, is introducing his eco-islands to the US. Not only does this island garner blue ribbons for innovative design, but it's a greenie's culinary fantasy. The Instant Kitchen is built to incorporate a stove-top, oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, etc. in any combo you desire. You can literally transform any space into a kitchen over night; just add the water...and the gas or electric. They're available in plantation-teak, walnut, ash and oak, all from sustainably-managed forests and paired with all natural finishes from renewable plant sources. Food just got a lot faster...or at least its home did.

Urban Ore

Urban Ore is a magical place in Berkeley, CA with beautiful values. Dedicated to reducing waste, Urban Ore “wants to recycle as much as we can figure out how to and to end the age of waste by advocating and developing total recycling.” Amen! Make a trip to Urban Ore when you’re embarking upon a remodel - I scored cabinet hardware, door pulls and decorative items for remodel. You can also find period perfect lighting, windows, tubs and sinks. On the flip side, you can send less to the dump and offer your unwanted household bones to Urban Ore. Be inspired. When you walk into Urban Ore, you never know what you’ll walk out with.

Wood You Like Some Protection?

To make sure your exterior woods are sustainable - meaning protected from water, swelling, warping and weathering - you need a good finish, and by "good" we mean a safe alternative to the toxic, flammable ones generally employed to do the job. That's where Soyguard water repellent and sealer - free from harsh solvents and harmful VOCs (less than 50/L) - comes in. It utilizes a natural solvent, derived from soybean oil, to deeply penetrate the surface and encapsulate wood cells with a protective resin coating that's safe for kids, pets and the environment, and is impervious to termites. Soyguard has the added effect of slightly darkening the wood, thereby enhancing its natural beauty. That's getting the job done right!

Totally Tubular Lighting

From sun up to sun down, you could avoid ever having to flip a switch - that is if you invest in the daylighting technology of the Solatube. It's quite the little marvel: it captures sunlight from the rooftop, redirects it down a reflective tube and naturally brightens interior spaces (even on cloudy days). Choose the appropriate hue of your light, add a diffuser for even distribution, go for the aesthetic that compliments your decor and then go for the easy install (no structural modifications needed). And beyond energy savings, the Solatube filters natural light into your spaces, something that has been shown to improve mental and physical well-being. Even if you're cooped up indoors (like the Ecofab writers), the sun can still brighten your day and your mood.