Eco CHOICE Interiors BLOG
Check back often for product reviews, green tips, and to find out the latest at Eco CHOICE Interiors...
03-11-10:
Are you in the market for a new countertop?
Ask these questions when shopping for countertop materials.
1. Where is it made? It is always best to shop locally if possible. Work with a local designer or fabricator to find materials that are sourced and manufactured locally.
2. How will you use it? Will you be willing to pull out a cutting board everytime you need to chop something or are you willing to put a drip tray under a bottle of red wine or olive oil bottle?
3. Is it potentially toxic? Make sure it is non-toxic and not outgassing anything into your home. It doesn't matter how pretty it is if it makes your family sick!
12/01/09:
Look for our advertisement in Around LaGrange! December 2009
12/01/09:
Celebrate Green This Holiday Season
Look for this article by Jennifer Spears in December's issue of Around Lagrange
07/02/09:
One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure
We've all heard the saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure" and it couldn't be truer. There are many ways to find new uses for items that have finished serving their original purpose. Reuse your own stuff by giving it a new purpose, donate items that you're finished using and use someone else's unwanted items to freshen your space. Doing so can make a big impact on our landfills.
Studies show that the amount of waste created by each person has nearly doubled in the last twenty years, increasing from 2.7 pounds per person, per day to 4.4 pounds per person, per day. A lot of that "trash" could be reused instead.
The Reuse Development Organization says that there are more than 6,000 reuse centers around the country. Examples are salvage yards, Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and special programs for items like school supplies, electronics and sporting goods. A great local place to shop is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. There are stores located in Newnan, Ga and LaGrange, GA locally. They carry items from furniture, to appliances, to paint, to lighting fixtures. The items are donated and sold for deep discounted prices. The money is then put back into the community to help build Habitat for Humanity homes in the area. I recently purchased a dishwasher from the ReStore for $69!!! I also purchased wire shelving for my closet for only $1/ft. I saved a great deal of money and helped my community in one trip. What could be better than that?
For ideas on how to reuse items in your home visit www.reuserecycle.net or consider joining www.freecycle.org or www.reuseitnetwork.org. These are free organizations that organize people that are looking to give away and/or receive used items for free. *A special thanks for Greenhaven Daily for stats used in this article.
05/11/09:
Eco CHOICE Interiors Partnering with Greenhaven: Green Show Home in Marietta
Jennifer and EcoCHOICE Interiors is excited about partnering with Pace Homebuilders to be a part of the new showhome, Greenhaven Home. Greenhaven is
Atlanta’s newest model for green building and sustainable design. Located in Chelsea Landing, the first eco-friendly neighborhood community in East Cobb County, Greenhaven will carry the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and showcase the latest in green building techniques, sustainable design, state-of-the-art-technology, and energy efficiency, teaching that eco-living is attainable even in the suburbs.
Bringing together industry-leading local talent, Pace Homebuilders creates the ultimate Green Team to transform the house into a widely recognized green building model for designers, builders, and homeowners. Joining the Green Team will be top Atlanta designers, local vendors, consultants, and landscape architects, all with the same environmental initiatives as Pace Homebuilders. The team will work closely together to ensure that Greenhaven represents the future of green building and wows visitors as they tour the home upon its completion in Summer 2009.
04/27/09:
Green Interior Finishes...
Many conventional materials like adhesives, paint, sealants, and particleboard give off many toxins and chemicals that people may not be aware of. It is easy to actually see the benefits of a well-insulated, tightly sealed home in your energy bill savings. However, having green interior finishes is equally important to run a sustainable home. Choosing finishes with a low environmental impact as well as not causing illness or allergies is very important in green building and living.
A green interior is one that is made from sustainably harvested materials that have a low embodied energy and contribute to a clean, healthy indoor air quality. Less toxic materials should always be used in place of toxic ones. This may go as a given to some, however there are plenty that don't, but should, pay attention to the toxicity of certain materials. You will be surprised about what toxins are in your home! Let's rid your home of toxins today so you and your family can lead a healthier and more productive life.
04/20/09:
5 Easy Steps on Going Green You Can Start This Week… 1. Bag It
When you go out shopping, bring your own reusable bags. This preserves resources by cutting down on the huge number of paper and plastic bags that are discarded after a single trip. I love the “World Feed Bag”. The FEED bag is a product of the United Nations World Food Program, and was designed to raise awareness and funds for hungry children. Each FEED bag sold will provide a school year of meals for one child in need and give them 
the hope of an education and a regular meal. It is sold exclusively on amazon.com for $60.
http://www.amazon.com/World-Food-Programme-Feed-Natural/dp/B000M3OP6A%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquidooa145438-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000M3OP6A
If your looking for something less expensive… Most grocery stores carry their own version of resusable bags for .99 each. A single plastic bag takes 500 years to decompose in a landfill. Make a difference and spend .99 on a reusable bag!
2. Save Energy, Save $
There are many ways to trim those electric bills. Wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot, line dry your linens, and use a toaster oven for small heating needs instead of a bigger electric stove. Open windows to let the light in, turn off unneeded lights and appliances, and unplug unused electronics.
By now you've probably heard that lighting is responsible for about 11 percent of a home's energy bills. And you've probably heard that a compact fluorescent bulb uses about 75 percent less electricity than an incandescent. However, no bulb saves energy like one that's turned off. So flip the switch.
3. Save on Gas
Every gallon of gasoline you burn produces 19 pounds of carbon dioxide, so it pays to conserve (in more ways than one). Your car will work more efficiently if you obey the speed limit and avoid rapid, unnecessary acceleration. Keep your tires properly inflated and get regular tune-ups. We live in an impatient world, so we know it can be painful. But obeying the speed limit saves gas. So does maintaining a constant speed: Rapid acceleration and braking can decrease fuel economy by 33%.
4. Shop a Local Farmer
Shop at your local farmers market. This will help support farmers in your area, so they won't be forced to sell off their land for development, and it will decrease your food miles, meaning less fuel will be used to provide your daily meals. Your food will be delicious and better for you. Spending a Saturday morning at the Farmers Market or local farm is a healthy way to get the kids out of the house and let them be a part of the process. If they choose the foods, they will be more likely to try new and healthier products.
5. Get Smart on Water
Drink water from the tap, instead of buying single-use plastic water bottles. Individual plastic bottles require much more energy to produce, store and transport. Barely 20% of those plastic bottles are being recycled, and most are made out of petroleum. Use filters if you are concerned about your local water supply. Buy a reusable bottle to take with you on the go, so you can always refill it from a tap and avoid buying bottled water. Stainless steel is a good choice, because you don't have to worry about the potentially toxic chemicals that can seep out of many plastics over time.
Target sells Greenaid Water Bottle for under $20.