greenkristine.com

NatGeo's Great Energy Challenge

2011-02-03T17:14:00.001-05:00

Challenge yourself and your family and see how you stack up against the rest of the world!
http://360energydiet.com/about-the-diet/

NatGeo's Home Heating Quiz

2011-01-31T17:07:00.000-05:00

Here is the quiz: Good luck!
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/energy/great-energy-challenge/home-heating-quiz/

Vinyl vs. Gunite Pool

2011-01-28T16:56:00.000-05:00

When planning an in ground pool, the big question is whether to go vinyl or gunite. Here are a few things to consider when making your big decision.
First, where are you putting the pool? Is it your primary residence or a second home? A pool in a beach community has more intrinsic value than one in your regular neighborhood yard. For the most part, buyers and renters at the "beach" want a pool. The same cannot be said for a pool in your primary residence and many end up being filled in. In fact, appraisers actually take off value if your home has a pool.

Second is cost. Gunite is more expensive than a vinyl pool, from 50-75% higher in some areas. If you are budget conscious and only have so much to spend, then vinyl might do the trick. On the other hand, gunite might cost more but dollar for dollar, may enhance value of your property more than vinyl can.

Third is maintenance. A vinyl pool will need it's liner replaced every 5-7 years and a liner can be punctured with something as small as a sharp toenail. Gunite needs to be re-marble dusted every 10+ years depending on calcium build up. (Side note: Use a reputable pool company to maintain your pool during summer months. Inexperienced pool guys can destroy the marble dust coating and require re-marble dust within 1-2 years.)

Lastly, focus on your vision of your pool and your likes. If you want a bluestone surround, then a vinyl pool might look a little cheesy. If pavers are your cup of tea, you could go either way. Spend the time to plan the design of your pool to come up with your dream pool and backyard landscape!

In our situation, although we were "gung-ho" for the vinyl for budget reasons, we ended up going with the gunite and I am really glad we did. Photos: Above, a Vinyl Pool. Lower, Our finished Gunite Product.

Planning our Hamptons Pool & Landscape Design

2010-06-18T16:57:00.016-04:00

After years of tackling interior renovations, I was fortunate to start my first full fledged outdoor design project. And it was a doozy.

The challenge was this: turn an overgrown, weed strewn jungle into a backyard paradise. The yard hadn't been cared for in several years. Approximately 1/2 of the yard consisted of a large sand dune, so in effect there was little usable space. That needed to change. Also present under a second floor deck was a dark, creepy looking stone patio with 3 massive beach stone "steps" leading out of the house. These steps were so large that the patio was unusable - there was no area for a table and chairs or anything else for that matter. We wanted less hills, more grassy yard and a proper patio/lounging area. A saline gunite pool, rock walls, ample patio space and privacy screening were the main features we would be adding. BEFORE.

The budget was moderate but we needed to keep it as low as humanly possible while still getting the results we were looking for. And we wanted to use and reuse as many materials and plants as possible.

First things first, I had to take into account the sun's exposure, the allowable buildable footprint based on town code, and which trees to save or cut (ugh). Only one tree would be affected.

Now that we know where the pool was going, I had to design the rest of the yard. The existing mammoth staircase needed to be modified smaller. Currently, it was L shaped and it ended almost in the middle of the yard. Because the size of the yard, we only had 2 options. Ideally, the staircase could come half way down and then switch back in the opposite direction, empting on the deck or patio. Several supporting columns would need to be moved in order to do this, so that was out. The second option was to direct it straight downwards - a rather long set of stairs for sure - but it did work within the building set back requirements. That would work.

The stone wall needed to be moved WAY back to accomodate the new plan. Currently, it meandered through the yard randomly, ending in the opposite corner of where it started. We need to push it back, with the dune, to accomodate the new staircase and the pool and stepping stone path we planned. And we wanted to reuse the old bluestone patio and use it in our new expanded wall.

The existing patio was grade level and made from broken bits of bluestone, really stone that was probably left over from the wall. Replacing it with pavers or bluestone would look beautiful but we ran into another problem. That same blue stone patio was also a 50 foot walk way from our driveway to our backyard. All that would have to be replaced as well. After crunching the numbers, we realized that this option was hugely expensive and out of budget. I decided on building a new raised deck directly under the 2nd story deck. Not only was this cost effective, but it increased our outdoor patio space by about 50% to boot. We could build it right over the existing beachstone stairs and gain all that extra square footage. Plus our existing bluestone footpaths could lead right into it and look great.

For the pool design, we really wanted to go with something simple. A blue stone perimeter known as coping and then grass - no patio. I was concerned that grass would get in the pool a lot and I can tell you that 3 months later, it is a non-issue; everyone walks on the coping around the pool anyway. TIP: Upgrade to the widest, thickest coping you can afford- ours in 16 inches. In the high traffic areas, I decided on strategically placing a few blue stone slabs as stepping stones between the staircase and pool and between the deck and pool.

In order to begin this project, the existing yard was going to be completely bulldozed and trampled on. That meant that one of our beautiful flower beds would be destroyed. I could not stand by and watch all our iris, montauk daisies, hosta, day lilies and so much more simply die. Over the course of 3 weekends, we successfully transplanted countless bushes, flowers and plants to other locations on the other side of the property, ultimately beautifying another neglected location. Those plants were worth hundreds, possibly thousand of dollars! And they are all native and deer resistant.

Now that we had a plan of action and the permits, we had to schedule this and get it started! We only had about 30 days to complete the entire process in order to swim by Memorial Day!

To be continued.....

Save Precious Water with Sprinkler Timers

2010-06-04T09:02:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure about the rest of the country, but here in the Northeast, summer has been fully upon us for a few weeks now. Things are so hot and dry that if I don't water the garden and flower pots for a few days, they will likely be up in smoke. Quite literally I'm afraid.

One challenge I have is watering the plants and garden on a regular schedule. Half the time, I end up watering them when they are half dried up and I am hoping that simple water will miraculously revive them. But when I do remember, I sometimes turn on the hose and leave it on too long as I tend to move onto another project and completely forget the sprinkler. Oops. Maybe it's a total lack of the a green thumb but probably just poor organizational skills. But good news for me as I found a solution!

A viable AND affordable solution. A sprinkler timer. It's so simple. If you visit your local home store, you will find a large variety to choose from. Some features include rain sensors, several zones, automatic shut off and even remote control. After purchasing the model that best suited my needs, I set it up in about 10 minutes. Now my lawn gets watered at 5:30am for about 6 minutes every other day, and only when dry. I save water, keeps my bills regular, and my garden never looked better!

Energy Star Appliance Rebates

2010-03-26T14:17:00.005-04:00

If you are planning a kitchen renovation project or are considering replacing your old appliances, your timing is perfect. The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority, through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act is providing millions of dollars in rebates for replacing and recycling old appliances with Energy Star models. All US states are involved with this program, however, many have exhausted their rebate allotment. New York State still has plenty of rebate dollars available for consumers.

Visit the New York Appliance Swap Out website to learn more and get the forms you'll need. Consumers are eligible for up to $105.00 rebate per appliance, so act quickly.

GREEN EXPO NYC 2010

2010-03-22T09:14:00.008-04:00

Last week, I was able to pay a visit to the very popular Green Product Expo in New York City. It is usually chock full of interesting products and this year was not disappointing.

Venetian Plaster is a beautiful, upscale look but it can be expensive. A green alternative? Variance Acrylic Finishes is a product that goes on like venetian plaster but is a high performance acrylic polymer based finish system that is low voc, dust free, crack resistant, easy to repair, it's super durable and it looks gorgeous. Plus it's 1/2 the price of Venetian plaster and it qualifies for LEED points.

Recycled tile is not just about glass anymore. I saw a bounty of recycled tile materials that were absolutely gorgeous, such as recycled leather tile, recycled aluminum tiles, recycled ceramic and more! The adjacent photo is recycled leather in a snake finish. Another new type of tile they features was a tile made from recycled MONEY! That's right - US dollars destroyed by banks are shredded and then used to create a recycled content tile in a lovely shade of green. Chelsea Arts Tile & Stone in NYC had an impressive display. Now that's a full life cycle!

Another trend I noticed (and loved!) at the adjacent Architectural Digest Designer Home Show was the use of natural forms and natural wood slabs for furnishings. Furnishings of all shapes and sizes were on display from many different vendors, including tables, chairs, art work, and even wood slab countertops.

A furniture design/maker for over 21 years, Jeff Soderbergh creates his custom pieces from all re-claimed materials, many of which are very old and historically significant. His designs are perfect for antique lovers and greenies alike! Shown: One of a kind Brooklyn coffee table made from floorboards of a Brooklyn Home; circa 1800s.

For more information on green furnishings, home products and interior design choices, contact us at www.greenkristine.com to learn more.

I Dream of Greenie BLOG Update

2009-10-26T21:20:00.008-04:00

OK so after 1 1/2 years of regular blog posts on IDOG, I got a little sidetracked. I mean, this blogging stuff takes a lot of your time, and with a thriving business and busy family schedule, something's gotta give. So I've been on a little hiatus and now I'm making a come back. With a face lift.

Yes I know, the whole world and my cult-like following is breathing a great sigh of relief on this news. And no, I personally did not get a face lift although it did cross my mind.

Here's the kicker: I Dream of Greenie blog is officially changing names to Green Kristine's Fab Green Homes and Interiors. After all, I am Green Kristine and that is my business. So after 1 1/2 years of preaching of every way possible of going green, I have fine tuned my calling and it all boils down to green spaces.

I know this might seems a little bananas considering my full blown green lifestyle and my cult following and all...but truthfully, how the hell did I managed all these topics? Now that's bananas.

As a home schooled interior designer and kick ass real estate guru (that's called confidence not arrogance, check it out!) for the past 10 years, I have learned by trial and error in both clients homes and my own, which areas to focus on in order to minimize energy usage and maximize human health benefits. Or gerbil, dogs, reptiles, whatever. All while making it fabu!

Now these tips can be yours on this blog and of course Twitter - like duh - everyone's on Twitter, even Alex Trebek... BTW I've gotten more crass in the past 6 months so get over it.
TTYL

Hot New Solar Technology

2009-02-27T19:54:00.003-05:00

The Stimulus: What's In It For You?

2009-02-17T09:05:00.002-05:00

There's been a lot of talk and build up of this stimulus package. What is it exactly? A combination of tax breaks, direct aid to the needy, and spending on various projects that will hopefully spawn job creation. In total, $787 Billion dollars will be signed into law today by President Obama. All tax breaks and benefits become effective immediately.

What's it in for the American people? Here's a quick breakdown of how you may benefit.

1. The unemployed may continue to see their benefits continue.
2. An extension or improvement in COBRA benefits, allowing for the continuation of health coverage after a layoff.
3. A Tax credit to individuals of $400, or $800 for couples filing jointly for 2009-2010.
4. AMT relief, with the exemption raised to $46,700 for individuals and $70,950 for couples.
5. First time home buyers receive a 10% tax credit on the purchase of a new home in 2009, up to $8000.
6. Plug in hybrid vehicle buyers will receive a $7500 tax credit.
7. Financial incentive to weatherize your home ( details coming soon).

Good news for power programs and the environment: there is lots of spending and tax breaks for energy investments and the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. Finally, a nod towards green!

All in all, a nice big package that hopefully has enough punch to jump start progress towards the future. Take full advantage of all these benefits and support the promotion of clean green technologies!

Is There Asbestos in Your Home?

2008-12-06T09:44:00.001-05:00

There are hazards to consider when conducting green renovations or health home improvements for home and building owners. Among these is asbestos. While most asbestos products were banned in the late 1970’s by the Consumer Products Safety Commission and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency thereafter, these materials still exist in nearly 80% of structures built prior to 1980.

Asbestos is particularly relevant when conducting energy efficiency renovations, as most asbestos products are found in insulation, duct work, piping, and other construction compounds. As these materials become older, they become brittle and even more hazardous. If they are disturbed, it is all the more likely that hazardous asbestos fibers can be released into the air. Inhaled asbestos fibers have been the principle cause for the rare and aggressive cancer, mesothelioma, as well as a host of other respiratory conditions.

Fortunately, there is help for those whose homes and buildings may contain this material. Asbestos abatement and consulting companies can indicate to you where and if asbestos products have become a health concern. These firms can then safely remove and dispose of these materials in adherence with state and federal regulations. Through simple precautions, asbestos cancer and other health conditions can be avoided as a result of asbestos exposure. We can create healthy homes and buildings, while staying healthy ourselves.

This article was written and presented by Jennifer Miller, Awareness and Outreach Coordinator for Mesothelioma.com

Eco Friendly Holiday Lighting

2008-11-28T09:26:00.002-05:00

With the holidays upon us, and inflation surging, now is a great time to make smart, energy efficient choices within your home to lower your overall operating expenses. LED (light emitting diode) holiday lighting is a popular, eco-friendly option, since it's both long lasting and 90% more efficient than incandescent lights.

Here's a great vendor with some great green options: HolidayLED.com. Holiday LED.com offers traditional holiday lights in a full range of colors, popular icicle lights and even pre-lit Christmas trees, all made from energy efficient LEDs.

Better yet, this vendor offers a special recycling program. Send them your old incandescents holiday lights for recycling and they will send you a 15% off coupon for new LED lights! Sounds like a good deal right? There's more!

They are offering an additional discount exclusively for IDOG readers: an additional 10% off by using Coupon Code "GKRIST." Offer expires 12/31/2008.

Happy Holidays!
Photo courtesy of HolidayLEDs.com.

Green Kristine on the CW11 News!

2008-10-20T10:29:00.001-04:00

Steals & Deals: Viva Terra Eco Furnishings

2008-10-14T10:20:00.004-04:00

Good news for a change! I just saw that one of my favorite retailers, Viva Terra, is having a sale on one of their most unique and unusual pieces, the twisted stool/side table, and I just wanted to alert my readers. Aren't they really nice? These works of art are hand sculpted from sustainable monkey pod wood, have a variety of uses and are on sale for just $175 (for the tall size). When can you get a handcrafted anything for this price??

Click on this link, TWISTY, and enter the code "NT8101" when ordering. Offer good until 11/15/08. And don't forget to check out their other fantastic furnishings!

The Gilded Age Turns Green

2008-09-22T09:56:00.006-04:00

Don't blink. The world we live in is an unprecendented state of flux. First off, our planet is in serious trouble. Ice sheets are melting quicker than originally predicted. Stronger than usual weather patterns have caused a disturbing series of damaging storms. Without immediate intervention, the future is unknown.

Next is the U.S. economy, which is crumbling before our very eyes. Thanks to corporate greed and regulation "lite" from our government agencies, Americans are likely to experience a rather unpleasant recession in the coming months and perhaps years. We, the taxpayers are now financing the bailout to the tune of $700 billion dollars. The bright light in this is the fact that we, the people will not lose everything and jump out of windows like in 1929.

Lastly is government. We have all had the great misfortune of living under a joke of leadership aka the Bush Administration, and the upcoming election is a very serious one. Both candidates look vastly different from where I'm sitting. The one that understands the importance of investing heavily in green technology rather than offshore and Alaskan drilling is the one who can solve a host of issues in one simple shot. It is imperative that we ban together and make the right choice.

Yes, the world is changing quickly, and we are headed back to basics. The Gilded Age of corporate greed, excessive lifestyles and lavish spending will slowly but surely come to a crawl. Over the next decade, I believe that we will witness a shift among corporate leaders towards global corporate responsibility. We have seen it already with T. Boone Pickens and he is just one of the first to emerge. With the failure of Lehman, Bear, Fannie, Freddie Mac, AIG and others, executive pay will be more closely scrutinized by shareholders, regulators and the press. At long last, corporate leadership will be held accountable and will earn a fair wage, not the lottery. Wall Street as we knew it last week, won't exist. The jury is still out in terms of what it will look like, but the huge bets, the huge amounts of leverage and the complete lack of regulation will be things of the past.

The current economic climate already negatively impacts families across our great country. Many jobs have been lost and consumer spending continues to decline rapidly. As a result, and purely by default, the main tenants of green living such as saving money, saving energy, reducing, reusing and others will be adopted. Consumers will look to cut corners, and by doing so will embrace green living more than ever. SUV's are being exchanged for smaller more fuel efficient vehicles, travel has been cut back and we (me too!) look to break out last season's fall handbag rather than buy a new one. Simple pleasures are back in style...a rainbow, a sunset, and an afternoon with your family. Count your blessings, not your cash.

Our new goverment leadership should be working for the people and leading us towards energy independence. This road will bring untold riches to our country in terms of jobs for both the white and the blue collars, the savings from being "off" foreign oil, and the ultimate benefit of seriously reducing greenhouse gases. The U.S. can and should be the world leader in green technology, and by doing so, help other nations adopt clean energy and ultimately, protect our planet.

Mc Mansions are Out and Prefabs are In

2008-09-17T09:06:00.003-04:00

There was a time when prefab housing of any type was frowned upon. It was always cheap, sometimes tacky and worst of all, a major faux pas. However, times are a-changing. With surging inflation and the increasing popularity of "green", reducing your carbon footprint and downsizing is becoming positively chic. Whether you are on the market for a little cottage or an entire house, pre-fabs come in all prices, shapes and sizes.

Several home designers and architects are catching onto this and are releasing their own pre-fab designs. One is these new fangled manufacturers is Kithaus. Kithaus has created several designs that are compact and easy to install due to lightweight construction materials. Furthermore, they offer homeowners the option of adding a small backyard office/retreat/playroom without permits and contractors, which is a huge plus. Some of their models are priced from $29,000+ and work for a variety of uses.

If you are interested in something a little more complete, consider this: the ASAP House. ASAP stands for a house "about saving a planet." Architect Laszlo Kiss has developed plans for a contemporary, modular net-zero energy house. It's a complete home with all of the modern conveniences you would expect yet it is truly green. The architect has plans to expand on the ASAP house by introducing additional new design modules - everything from a 700 sq ft studio cottage to a 3100 sq foot home. Visit ASAP to learn more.

Eco Floors: Natural Cork by Globus Cork

2008-09-15T09:32:00.001-04:00

When renovating my "green" house this summer, I chose to do the kitchen floor in a natural cork material. I wanted to use something durable, beautiful and sustainable, and cork was a perfect solution.

I looked to a local New York manufacturer, Globus Cork to provide the product as well as an education in cork flooring. First off, cork is a renewal material - it gets harvested from the bark of cork oak trees every 9 years and it then grows back. Even so, the cork tiles themselves are made from the scraps of the wine cork manufacturing process, so they are truly a recycled product. Folks, you really can't get much greener than that! Once the tiles are formed, depending on the color/style, they get a coat of voc-free stain and sealer. Cork tiles come in either the glue down or the floating variety, and either one provides a beautiful outcome! They are offered in a wide variety of patterns, shapes and colors and the good people at Globus Cork can help you either design your floor or make suggestions based on your ideas.

Cork flooring offers even more benefits. Cork is very soft under foot and is easy on your joints and back. It's also super durable, water and stain resistant (within reason), and maintains its freshly laid appearance over time. One of my green contacts tells me that her cork kitchen floor of 5 years still looks fantastic. And cork flooring is not hugely expensive either, unlike many other "green" products.

The images you see show the cork floor I used in my own kitchen project. Please email me if you need any details...I would be happy to share them with you. For further information about the environmental aspects of cork, the many color/design options, and more, visit Globus Cork.

World of Good by Ebay

2008-09-12T11:24:00.004-04:00

Whenever I travel abroad, I usually like to buy a little something from the region to remind me of the trip when I get home. When I went to Greece, it was these leather sandals ( I called them Jesus sandals) or in St. Johns, it was a small sculpture made by a local artist. Usually it's something a little funky and indigenous to the region, although in Italy, I opt for Furla, Fendi and Ferragamo. Hey, I'm human and I'm female- what can you do.

Anyway, you don't have to travel all over the place to find special treasures from around the globe. Check out Ebay's own, A World of Good. World of Good.com connects the purchasing power of developed nations like ours with local artisans world wide. They offer products in just about every category imaginable and each purchase makes a positive impact to people, places, animals and of course, the Earth.

Looking for a Peruvian hand loomed alpaca shawl, a real Indian pashmina or a sparkly dog leash made of recycled materials? They've got that and then some. And talk about finding unique and unusual gifts too!

Visit A World of Good to find your treasure while helping to do a world of good to others.

Back to School Basics: Reusable Water Bottles

2008-09-10T09:31:00.001-04:00

If you are providing your child with bottled water each day, you are potentially adding 200 water bottles to the landfill annually. Multiply this by 800 kids in my local elementary school and it makes 160,000. Yes, some schools have recycling programs, but is your 6 year old disposing of it properly? You see where I'm going with this. A much better alternative, a reusable water bottle. I recommend Sigg aluminum water bottles.

Of course, Madonna and Cindy Crawford's kids already use them, but who cares about them. The benefits of Sigg bottles are as follows:

1. Reusing is better than recycling and/or creating waste.
2. Aluminum bottles don't leach plastic bottle chems into the water over time.
3. Aluminum bottles actually keep the water cooler.
4. They come in about a million varieties - designs, colors and sizes- so that kids can find the one they love.
5. Your child will be setting a good example to others. Monkey see, monkey do.
6. The spill free design keeps things clean, and kids love to use them.
7. The flip top cap keeps the drinking spout germ free.

The only bad news is that they are next to impossible to find, due to high demand. I lucked out at the local Whole Foods and found one Paddington Bear bottle. It's so cute and my daughter loves using it. The price of the small bottle was $17.99 which was high but reasonable considering how much you could save on bottled water, plus the benefits to Mother Earth.

Visit the Sigg website, or go to Whole Foods, Dick's or other retailers. Try EBay if you are out of luck locally.

Recycled Bags a la Stella McCartney for LeSportsac

2008-09-08T09:30:00.000-04:00

Among the top designers in the world, Stella McCartney is clearly a leader in the green movement. First came her line of Organic Skin Care, and now this: Functional and super chic bags, rucksacks and luggage designed with recycled materials! Finally, my theory that "green" is not just for crunchers anymore is proven once and for all. Oh contrere, eco chic is headed our way like a Category 2 Hurricane.

Case in point: Her new Fall line for LeSportsac, made from 100% recycled nylon and other recycled materials. You go girl! These are the it-bags for the stylishly eco-conscious. There are plenty of varieties such as hobos, totes, travel bags, and even a convertible rucksack ( a personal fav.)Stella's smart designs can be found at top retailers, but for more information and a look at every bag, go to the LeSportsac website.

I'm wondering which celeb will be photographed with one first? Stay tuned.

Thoughts about the Conventions

2008-09-07T08:26:00.001-04:00

I know this is a green blog but I just have to give a shout out to my former fav Presidential candidate, Senator Hillary Clinton. As a woman, I can really appreciate her accomplishments, especially as a champion for the rights of women and children. She has the unique ability to understand the needs of our nation, government and world, all while raising (quite successfully I might add) a lovely daughter. She delivered a kick-butt speech to the Democratic delegates last month and I am sorry to see her off the ticket, as I'm sure many others are as well. I smell a prominent cabinet position, probably related to universal health care, and a campaign debt reduction deal to boot. Thankfully, the party seems fully committed to reducing our dependence on foreign oil and developing green collar jobs and that guy, Barack is not such a bad choice either. He may be a "freshman" but he seems to exercise good judgment when important decisions need to be made. His selection of a running mate certainly helped combat his weaknesses of lack of experience and foreign policy. Anyway, with or without Hillary, he's a heck of a lot better than the crypt keeper and his freshman.

Eco Beauty: Scrub-a-Dub Dub

2008-09-04T20:21:00.005-04:00

Have you ever tried one of those super-rough exfoliating facial scrubs? You know, the kind with some sort of microscopic roughage that feels like you are rubbing #300 sand paper on your face?

For years, I endured those grueling treatments in the hopes of that pure, baby soft porcelain skin of yesteryear. The fact is, using harsh scrubs are unnecessary and the need for them is a misconception amongst many women. "No pain, no gain" should not be the motto for facial cleansing. Luckily, I found a natural, chem-free skin care line complete with a wonderful exfoliator!

It's a skin and hair care line from Noah's Naturals. The company's eco-friendly products were carefully formulated with the help of Aveda creator, Prakash Purohit. One of them is the Exfoliating Face Scrub with Jojoba Beads and it's lovely! While rubbing it on my face, I noticed that the beads were soft to the touch, yet they did their job to gently and effectively exfoliate. The product also left my face feeling fresh, soft and moisturized. And the best part was that it was free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates and propoylene gylcol. Furthermore, all Noah's Natural products do not test on animals, are made from the purest ingredients, and use fully recyclable packaging.

It is definitely a product I felt good about using, and it worked really well. Check out some of their other great organic products at Noah's Naturals.

Find Noah's products on their website, or search for a local participating retailer.

Green House Makeover : Eco-Friendly Hardwood Floors

2008-08-25T22:10:00.016-04:00

When I purchased a 1920s Colonial for renovation, I wanted to maintain its original character yet use as many eco-friendly products and features as possible. The house had the original hardwood floors throughout; Douglas Fir on the first floor and Southern Yellow Pine on the second floor. Both were shabby. The first floor showed plenty of discoloration, large scratches and even a hump in the middle of the floor. The second floor was partially covered in hideous pink ceramic tiles, so we weren't sure what would happen. We knew that the green way to go was to salvage as much original planking as possible, rather than to scrap it and start new. But would it work?

Our plan of action was to hire the best flooring contractor in the area. That was easy. Dave Novak Flooring of Long Island is a real pro and knows his green products to boot. Dave helped us to determine whether or not the situation was salvageable or not. Miraculously, they were able to correct the major flaws, including the hump, some wide gaps, and the discoloration. The next step was to determine what product to use to restore the floor. He highly recommended BonaKemi products, for their quality, durability and environmental friendliness. In fact, Bona's extensive line of products are the only hardwood flooring system that is GreenGuard certified for Indoor Air Quality. With a combination of BonaKemi's water based stains and sealers, and Dave's expertise, our floors became absolutely flawless. Our Green House Showcase slide show pics at the top of this page show the gorgeous (and healthy) results.

When renovating your hardwood floors, talk to your contractor about the benefits of a water based treatment vs. oil based polyurethane. Or contact ours: Dave Novak Flooring at (516)-672-2413, and please visit BonaKemi.com.

Fuel Efficient SUV Alternative

2008-08-25T13:50:00.000-04:00

So my lease is up and I'm looking for a new ride. Since the Aston Martin doesn't come in a fuel efficient model, I guess I need to keep searching. (As if.)

The real story is that I have been on the waiting list for the Toyota Prius for about 3 months now, and I don't get the impression that they will be calling me back any time soon. My battered ego is sad to report that low cut blouses, shameless flirtation and heavy batting of the eyelashes did absolutely nothing to speed up this lengthy process. But the good news is that I think I found the answer for all those moms out there that are not looking forward to parting with their beloved SUV but need a nicely equipped, spacious car.

The Volkwagen TDI Clean Diesel Jetta Sportwagen. The photo above is just the regular Jetta, but I am referring to the Sportwagen, shown at Volkwagon's site. I know, its a VW, which is not what you were expecting but hang on there, princess. First of all, the gas mileage gets about 29 city and 40 highway, and some say that these EPA estimates are on the low side. The emissions are very low and are expected to be lower than a normal car. Plus, the car has got plenty of pep (like Usain Bolt), sporty styling (like May-Traynor and Walsh) and plenty of room in the trunk (like Lo Lo Jones). Just kidding Lo Lo, you are lovely! And the car comes with some super cool add ons: an all glass panaromaric roof, navigation, satellite radio, Ipod docking station, as well as cutting edge safety features. Best of all, the TDI Sportwagen is available soon at a dealer near you!

Check out all the specs of this vehicle and more at TopGreenCars or VW of America.

Photo courtesy of VW of America, Inc.

Who are Today's Real Greenies?

2008-08-22T09:17:00.000-04:00

Once you become involved in the green movement, it tends to do something to you. At least it did to me. It hypnotically lulls you into an obsessive state and suddenly, you find yourself weighing the green attributes and qualifications of just about everything that comes across your path. Thankfully, because this has been a great source of benefits for my family. The one exception? Shoes and bags, which I proudly maintain my original obsessive allegiance. My highly plausible argument is that the lifespan of quality goods is much longer than the "Made in China" equivalent, so you need to buy less overall. Case in point, I have a Gucci bag that is at least 10 years old and after lots of wear, it still looks as good as new.

In trying to determine who exactly might be listening to my rantings about green, I needed to learn who today's greenies are. Are they 95% ex-hippies from Sea Cliff and 5% the rest or what? Here is what I learned from my research:

Greenies are not just hippies who smoke pot regularly, tend to resists haircuts, sport tattered sandals and eat a diet of munchies. Although many are and they continue to smoke pot avidly. Not that I have any direct knowledge of these types of activities.

Greenies are not clueless and caught up in a sea of misinformation. On the contrary, I find them to be learned intellectuals. They are as passionate about the plight of the manatee as they are in the boudoir. Again, no direct info on this!

Not all greenies are full on-junkies; many opt for a "lighter shade" of green. In fact, some even drive SUVs and wear leather goods including the latest Tory Burch ballet flats, available this fall. They choose to adopt green principals in some respects, but it's not an overall lifestyle choice. ( While we applaud this groups efforts immensely, further introspection into their materialistic lives might be a good idea. After all, its a recession and shockingly, even Paris Hilton is cutting back.)

Based on several Green Drinks International meetings that I have attended, today's greenie is much younger than I would have originally imagined. Many college aged, 30 somethings and Facebook/social networking types are heavily involved in the movement.

And believe it or not, Seniors are the spoilers here. Recently, I met an older couple at a Green House Showcase event, and by the looks of them, it is quite possible that they were present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence. All kidding aside, they were very interested in all of our green features and planned to implement many of them in a new renovation of their seniors condo. Very surprising!

The bottom line is that the green movement is gaining momentum amongst the young and old alike, and whatever you can muster is a benefit to your long term health, the Earth and most importantly these days, your wallet. Peace out.

For more information about going green, contact us at Klivesgreen@gmail.com.