Green Articles

Yes, there are earth-friendly wallcoverings available for homes and workspaces that reduce both the amount of natural resource necessary for manufacture and the pollution produced. There are no industry standards yet for making “green” wallcoverings, but there are some companies working to provide materials that meet design expectations while surpassing safety compliance and environmental concerns.

One collection we have found offers Type II 54” wide wallcovering that is washable, scrubbable, and breathable. They use water-based inks that contain no heavy metals, the colors and textures are both rich and vibrant, and the papers themselves are interesting combinations of cellulose, natural fibers, and recycled materials.

There are grasscloths made from honeysuckle vines, natural corks in random blocks colored with metallics from mica on cellulose backing. There are sisal coverings from recycled sisal carpets, an organics line made from green tea, coffee, or mugwort. There are lines made from hemp cloth in combination with cottons, rayon, viscose, cellulose, and plant skins.

The inks used in green wallcoverings are water-based, containing no heavy metals such as chromium, mercury, lead or cadmium. There are no VOC’s and consequently no harmful off-gassing. Many are breathable, which aids in reducing mold and mildew on the wall, an excellent solution for areas of high humidity or for people with allergies and chemical sensitivity.

Bamboo is a favorite renewable resource at Livingreen that lives up to its promise as an attractive alternative building material. Timber bamboo is a fast growing grass that can grow to heights of over 40 feet with a harvest cycle of 4-7 years (as opposed to 120 years for hardwoods). Once mature, a bamboo forest has an extensive root system that is capable of producing new timbers for decades. It is harvested by hand, which minimizes environmental impact. No pesticides or irrigation are required, and it grows well on difficult sites, such as steep hillsides.

We are always looking for unique bamboo applications, and tambour is just that.

Tambour is a flat paneling material made of kiln-dried strips of bamboo that are laminated to a thin jute or cotton cloth backing. It is sold in 4’ x 8’ sheets that bend and are flexible. It is 3/16” thick, but gives the appearance of solid wood when glued down. There are two color choices: natural (green aging to a honey color within a years’ time) and amber.

It is available in three finishes: raw, unfinished and pre-finished, which comes with a urethane finish. Both the unfinished and pre-finished have been stripped of their bark. All have the distinctive bamboo nodes or knuckles that mark growth.

We need to mimic nature and create environments as whole systems of interrelated parts. The materials we use for building and finishing are part of this whole network of systems that combine together to create healthy home and work spaces.

Energy systems run lights, water, heating and appliances. The material we use to create those parts also affect the amount of energy required to run the system. Solar panels, tubes and skylights end up saving energy and money down the road. Water purification systems save water and money in water purchase. Insulation and updated technologies improve the heating efficiency of the home which in turn saves money. Innovative new system designs are enhancing the look of the home while improving costs.

The flooring material we select should be chosen not only because it looks good and wears well but because it retains heat better than other materials, or is made from a recycled material. Cork holds more heat than tile. Tile can be made of recycled material. Bamboo is a renewable resource. Thinking of the flooring as part of the whole system can again save money, improve performance, and environmental impact.

Sustainable design and building means looking at projects as whole systems of design, landscape, building orientation, and materials that interrelate. The materials we choose, how they are produced, how we get them to the site, what we do with the waste– these decisions all impact our network of relationships.

Buy recycled. Buy natural. Use less toxic material. Think of each piece as a part of the whole–in design, look, performance, and environmental impact. It matters to all us.