photo credit: The Equinest

According to the World Health Organization’s report in 2002 on indoor pollutants, indoor air can be up to 12 times as polluted as outdoor air.  Volatile organic compounds, known as VOCs, released from paints, adhesives, varnishes, solvents, furniture, and clothing can all affect indoor air quality. Urea-formaldehyde, found in the resin of many pressed wood products and in some insulation, can also contribute to poor indoor air quality.  Both VOCs and formaldehyde can cause allergic reactions, illnesses, irritation, and cancer.

Luckily, many decorative plants can have a significant impact.  During a study at the University of Georgia, common indoor plants were tested for their ability to remove five common VOCs from the air.  Of the 28 species tested, the Purple Waffle Plant (Hemigraphis alternata), English Ivy (Hedera helix), Waxy Leaved Plant (Hoya carnosa), and Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus) were best at removing harmful pollutants.  Plants adapted to grow in low-light conditions, like many houseplants, have to efficiently capture the gases for photosynthesis, and this adaptation enhances their ability to soak up toxic products.  Plants are a cheap and effective way to improve indoor air quality while beautifying your home.

Sources: EPA, Telegraph.co.uk

At the TED conference, we filled our Kohler LivingHome with furnishings and products made by companies that share LivingHomes’ commitment to sustainability.  Seventh Generation outfitted the laundry and nursery with non-toxic products that are sustainable and healthy for the homeowner.

Seventh Generation is committed to reducing their reliance on natural resources, reducing pollution, reducing the emissions of toxic chemicals into the environment, and making the planet safer. With a wide range of cleaning, feminine care, paper, and diaper products, Seventh Generation is one of the first self-declared “socially responsible” companies in the US.

Many corporations claim to be contributing to sustainability, but Seventh Generation sets itself apart from the crowds with considerable transparency and loads of informative details about the ingredients, manufacturing processes, and packaging of their products. They disclose all ingredients and components because they believe we, as consumers, have the right to know what makes their products safe and effective.

Seventh Generation fosters sustainability in three ways: by educating this and future generations, by offering a complete line of non-toxic household products, and through their non-profit donations program.

Education
To help consumers make informed choices, Seventh Generation includes information on their packaging, website, newsletter, blog, and announcements by the company’s Executive Chairperson.  In the Learn section of the Seventh Generation website, you can find healthy living and cleaning tips, read the company blogs, ask questions about the products, or discuss in the forum. To learn about Seventh Generation’s commitment to corporate responsibility, read their Corporate Consciousness Report.

Non-toxic Household Products
Seventh Generation only offers products that they believe are safe and effective.  They disclose all ingredients, explain all components of each product, and provide material safety data sheets for each product.  Products include: 100% recycled, non-chlorine bleached paper towels, bathroom, and facial tissues, and napkins; non-toxic, phosphate-free cleaning, dish and laundry products; recycled plastic trash bags; chlorine-free baby diapers, training pants, and baby wipes; and chlorine-free, organic feminine care products.  Seventh Generation participates in the EPA’s Safer Detergents Stewardship Program and is recognized as a Champion, the highest level, for its use of safer, non-polluting surfactants that break down quickly.

Donations Program
Seventh Generation offers 10% of their profits to community, environmental, health, and responsible business non-profit organizations.

Seventh Generation partnered with LivingHomes and displayed their products within the Kohler LivingHome at the TED conference in Long Beach, CA in February 2009.  Find out more about Seventh Generation and its commitment to health and sustainability here.

Each LivingHome uses innovative, eco-friendly surfaces for your kitchen and bathroom counters. For a product to meet our strict sustainability requirements, they must contribute to our Z6 goals.  Countertops can be made of recycled materials that are both durable and beautiful, contributing to Zero Waste by reducing the demand for raw materials and/or for Zero Carbon when there is less or no energy requirement to create or transport the materials.  When the resins and glues that hold these aggregates together are low-emitting, they also contribute to Zero Emissions.

These are some of the products we’ve used in LivingHomes.

PaperStone

Made from 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard or paper, a non-petroleum resin made partially from cashew shell oils, and dyed with organic pigments, PaperStone has a low impact on the environment and contributes to the healthy air inside your LivingHome.  PaperStone is highly abrasion-resistant and absorbs very little water.

The PaperStone Certified line is Smartwood-certified by the Rainforest Alliance to FSC standards.  Additionally, PaperStone publishes its Environmental Impact Statistics here, so that we know exactly how sustainable it is.  In 2006, PaperStone was named a Top Ten Green Building Product by Building Green.

IceStone

IceStone countertops contain 100% recycled glass mixed with concrete.  They are VOC-free, non-toxic, and contain no petroleum-derived material.  The company follows a “Triple Bottom Line” policy that takes financial outcomes and environmental and social performance into account.  IceStone operates manufacturing and office facilities that aim for carbon-neutrality, water conservation, and waste reduction.  IceStone monitors the life cycle of its products by ensuring they can be recycled and encouraging suppliers to improve their own levels of sustainability.  Their mission statement addresses corporate ethics and social responsibility.

A Cradle to Cradle Gold certification ensures that the IceStone uses safe and healthy materials designed for reuse and recycling, efficiently uses energy and water during production, and institutes strategies for social responsibility.  IceStone Countertops won the 2009 Green Log Home Awards

Caesarstone

CaesarStone quartz surfaces utilize post-production recycled quartz reclaimed from the fabrication process and post-consumer recycled glass and mirrors. Quartz, the main component of the countertops, is a plentiful natural resource used to create durable, non-porous, non-toxic surfaces. CaesarStone’s environmental agenda includes a commitment to ecologically responsible production practices, the use of recycled materials, and the implementation of recognized sustainable industry standards.  The company works to reduce their ecological footprint by saving water and energy, re-using post-production industrial materials, using recyclable packaging, and reducing soil pollution and CO2 emissions.

CaesarStone surfaces are designed to comply with international environmental protection standards.  CaesarStone surfaces are GREENGUARD-certified, so they reduce indoor air emissions.

Eco-Cem

Coverings ETC produces a line of Future Friendly ECOverings for glass slabs, concrete slabs, porcelain tiles, and terrazzo tiles and slabs that utilize reclaimed, recycled, recyclable, and naturally occurring materials.  Eco-Cem slabs are a mix of flyash embedded concrete and wood pulp.  Made with post-consumer and pre-consumer content, Eco-Cem saves trees, reduces landfills, and lessen greenhouse gas emissions.  Eco-Cem is also non-toxic and formaldehyde-free.

Coverings ETC’s social responsibility statement includes sustainable practices in their offices and facilities, the production of sustainable products, implementation of green initiatives, and participation in education and charitable programs.

DuPont Zodiaq

The DuPont Zodiaq Terra collection consists of durable, non-porous, GREENGUARD-certified quartz countertops.  These surfaces contain 25-50% post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled content.

DuPont strives to achieve zero emissions and zero waste generation at the source.  A set of 2015 sustainability goals guide DuPont’s efforts to sell products that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use more non-depletable resources, and help make people safer globally.  DuPont commits itself to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air carcinogens, improving water conservation, and introducing fuel efficent fleet vehicles.  The company also shows its social responsibility through community outreach and education.  DuPont publishes reports of its performance on its website; their 2008 Sustainability Progress Report can be downloaded from here.

All these products play a role in LEED certification for a LivingHome.

We’re always interested in new materials that meet the demands of our environmental program. That is, they must contribute to our Z6 goals: Zero Water, Zero Energy, Zero Waste, Zero Emissions, Zero Carbon, and Zero Ignorance. We look for materials that are produced from recycled or reclaimed materials, are manufactured with sustainable practices that reduce the building’s energy, water, or carbon consumption, and that are durable, recyclable, and beautiful.

These are some of the products we’ve used in LivingHomes.

Plyboo

Bamboo flooring is more sustainable than ordinary wood floors because it is harvested from a fast growing grass instead of slow-growing, old-growth trees. Thus, it takes only 1/10 of the time to grow to harvestable size. And It is durable and resistant to insects and moisture.

In 2008, Plyboo was selected as a “Top 10 Green Building Product” by Building Green. It is the first non wood-based material to achieve FSC certification. PlybooPure is made of FSC-certified bamboo and is now completely Urea and Formaldehyde-free.

Durapalm

Durapalm is a hardwood timber harvested from palm trees. It is produced on plantations, offering an alternative to rainforest hardwoods.

Coconut palms bear fruit until they are 70 years old, so aged trees are felled to make way for young ones on coconut plantations. Historically, this wood has been wasted, but it is a great source of underutilized wood that can be made into flooring, structural lumber, and furniture. Additionally, palm trees lack the imperfections of ordinary wood, like growth rings and branches, and is Urea-Formaldehyde-free.

Durodesign Floating Clic Cork

Cork is harvested from the bark of living cork oak trees, so it is completely renewable. Durodesign’s manufacturing process adds no PVCs or formaldehydes to the cork tiles. Cork also has excellent acoustical and thermal properties, so it dampens sound and is always warm— perfect for bedrooms! It is naturally hypoallergenic, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal.

Sealed Concrete

Originally Uploaded by twinsparc

LivingHomes adds fly ash content to our sealed concrete floors. Fly ash is an industrial byproduct from coal power plants. Fly ash is an abundant, cost-effective material, and it makes concrete stronger, easier to work with, and more resource-efficient! Fly ash enables concrete to flow better in its formwork, so it can reduce water in the concrete mix by 10%. A chemical reaction with the lime in the concrete mix makes concrete with fly ash stronger over time. Fly ash replaces some of the cement used in the mix, and the less cement that is used allows less cement to be produced.

All these products contribute points to LEED certification for a project.

If you haven’t heard of Mission Motors yet, you have to check out their prototype electric motorcycle! Mission Motors debuted their design in the bonus room of our Kohler LivingHome at the TED Conference in February.

Mission Motors believes that they will revolutionize the motorcycle industry with a sleek, new electric vehicle that outperforms gasoline while emitting zero tailpipe emissions. The motorcycle runs off a lithium ion battery and a high performance electric motor. Regenerative braking recaptures kinetic energy and converts it back into electrical energy to power the bike longer. The vehicle is also wireless-enabled so most settings can be changed with a computer instead of a wrench. Fittingly, the battery pack is modular for easier maintenance…just like a LivingHome!

We love having Mission Motors as a LivingHomes partner, and we can’t wait to see the motorcycle come out in 2010. Reserve one to match your LivingHome!