Healthier Homes, Healthier You, Healthier Planet

September 11, 2008

Part I
Why all the hype lately? In the past several months I have come to realize the ease of the message. Being involved with eco-minded building design for nearly 10 years has been a struggle, but not as of late. Financiers, economists, and environmentalist have marked December 2007 as the BEGINNING of the green revolution. Oh and what a revolution it has become.
For more years than I can remember healthy building alternative materials and building it differently was taboo. Finding materials that did not contain such heavy levels of toxins were impossible! Distribution of building supplies by the BOX STORES became commonplace and cheap. Oh did I say cheap, and that means used by more and more people, fixing, repairing and renovating their homes, themselves. This is the perfect storm of sorts. Chemicals being sold to general consumers not technically savvy on how to use them; finding different purposes for the original intentions; and keeping the unused portions in their garage, basement etc around for years; continues to pose health problems for all of us.
No the other side, keeping your new stuff shiny. How do we clean our homes? How is our stuff maintained? Well if a product is on TV marketed to us as the next new and best thing, then found on our grocery store shelves we believe it to be safe. RIGHT? Not necessarily. Over 100,000 new chemicals have been introduced into our environment in the last 40 or so years, with less than 10% of them being tested and or reviewed by the EPA. Who is watching out for us?
Well I’m not really sure to tell you the truth. Working in the design and construction community for over 20 years, I have seen many ‘new’ products, new processes using traditional products and the swing to make everything old new again. The latest shift in the science of stuff seems to be swinging in all directions; eco-friendly, natural, bio-degradable, green, healthy. What does all this mean?
This new green revolution has made a tidal wave with all that we do, especially in my industry. The science is in: The momentum to save the planet is has begun, but going green isn’t just about finding a sustainable alternative to the way in which we live. It is not about reversing global warming either. For me it means creating a safer place for my kids to play, improving my own heath, and saving money.