By David Hewitt
People are becoming more aware that we live in a finite and fragile world. There are constant natural disasters, wars over valuable resources, and environmental catastrophes. These things are all indicators that we, as consumers, need to be more environmentally responsible. We cannot continue to strip mine, cut down the precious rain forests, fight horrible wars over oil reserves, pollute and contaminate our precious drinking water, without it all having disastrous consequences. The first step we all can take is to “BUY ORGANIC”. Organic is not just about food anymore; it also applies to the home improvement materials we buy.
Organic is naturally sustainable living. Everything made with chemicals is not organic. Our living environments are literally filled with chemical-laden materials. One of the biggest polluting chemicals is PVC, or poly vinyl chloride, in our home vinyl flooring. Science has proven that PVC outgases micro-vapors of this highly toxic chemical compound. Most modern carpets are made using a chemical called chromate copper arsenate (CCA), which contains the arsenic compound. Arsenic has long been used as rat poison! Who wants to breathe in rat poison? Many homes use flooring, carpeting, and wall materials that contain formaldehyde, another deadly chemical. Modern paints are filled with lead, a very deadly toxic substance that causes neurological disorders.
Organic home improvement materials are those that are biodegradable and do not outgas toxic vapors. You may already have good organic materials in your home. Natural fiber wool, jute, or sisal rugs are organic materials. Board and lumber that are UN-treated are good, organic, home improvement materials. Treat your building boards with natural, organic oils, such as tung, hemp, or linseed oil. Mineral spirits will have harmful chemicals, especially if there is the “skull and crossbones” label on the can!
There is an entire industry devoted to “green building” materials and techniques. Whole books are written on how to build or add on to a home using straw bales (using organic straws like wheat, rye, or oat), and using clay, sand, and manure to form bricks or cob. The Orientals have used bamboo flooring for centuries. Bamboo is a beautiful, organic, and sustainable building material. People may not know that while bamboo is technically a grass, it is actually harder than maple wood! It is tougher than many hardwood floors, moisture resistant, and because of its natural growth patterns, can add incredible warmth to your home.
There are so many diverse areas where the eco-conscious home builder/buyer/remodeler can add to and improve their homes with biologically sustainable, organic products. There is tough “paper stone”, tumbled glass (which looks like crushed gravel, but is smoothed recycled glass that can be used on walkways, mosaics, garden mulch, and more), rammed earth, LED lighting, pellet stoves, and so much more.
Let’s all do our part in building a sustainable future. The first step is becoming environmentally aware of the diverse ecological issues facing us as a global community. Then take direct, individual action, by buying organic whenever possible, whether it is food, clothing, or home improvement materials. A biologically sustainable future is really the only sane choice we have!
People are becoming more aware that we live in a finite and fragile world. There are constant natural disasters, wars over valuable resources, and environmental catastrophes. These things are all indicators that we, as consumers, need to be more environmentally responsible. We cannot continue to strip mine, cut down the precious rain forests, fight horrible wars over oil reserves, pollute and contaminate our precious drinking water, without it all having disastrous consequences. The first step we all can take is to “BUY ORGANIC”. Organic is not just about food anymore; it also applies to the home improvement materials we buy.
Organic is naturally sustainable living. Everything made with chemicals is not organic. Our living environments are literally filled with chemical-laden materials. One of the biggest polluting chemicals is PVC, or poly vinyl chloride, in our home vinyl flooring. Science has proven that PVC outgases micro-vapors of this highly toxic chemical compound. Most modern carpets are made using a chemical called chromate copper arsenate (CCA), which contains the arsenic compound. Arsenic has long been used as rat poison! Who wants to breathe in rat poison? Many homes use flooring, carpeting, and wall materials that contain formaldehyde, another deadly chemical. Modern paints are filled with lead, a very deadly toxic substance that causes neurological disorders.
Organic home improvement materials are those that are biodegradable and do not outgas toxic vapors. You may already have good organic materials in your home. Natural fiber wool, jute, or sisal rugs are organic materials. Board and lumber that are UN-treated are good, organic, home improvement materials. Treat your building boards with natural, organic oils, such as tung, hemp, or linseed oil. Mineral spirits will have harmful chemicals, especially if there is the “skull and crossbones” label on the can!
There is an entire industry devoted to “green building” materials and techniques. Whole books are written on how to build or add on to a home using straw bales (using organic straws like wheat, rye, or oat), and using clay, sand, and manure to form bricks or cob. The Orientals have used bamboo flooring for centuries. Bamboo is a beautiful, organic, and sustainable building material. People may not know that while bamboo is technically a grass, it is actually harder than maple wood! It is tougher than many hardwood floors, moisture resistant, and because of its natural growth patterns, can add incredible warmth to your home.
There are so many diverse areas where the eco-conscious home builder/buyer/remodeler can add to and improve their homes with biologically sustainable, organic products. There is tough “paper stone”, tumbled glass (which looks like crushed gravel, but is smoothed recycled glass that can be used on walkways, mosaics, garden mulch, and more), rammed earth, LED lighting, pellet stoves, and so much more.
Let’s all do our part in building a sustainable future. The first step is becoming environmentally aware of the diverse ecological issues facing us as a global community. Then take direct, individual action, by buying organic whenever possible, whether it is food, clothing, or home improvement materials. A biologically sustainable future is really the only sane choice we have!
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