Greening Your Nest
September 27, 2008
Over the last five years, homeowners and even renters have begun to look toward more eco-friendly products for their nests, hoping to keep style without sacrificing their environmental ethos. In fact, according to the National Association of Homebuilders, there was a 20 percent growth in green building in 2005. But, how do you find green design and home building materials?
Enter the age of the green home store. With locations across the country, these retail shops specialize in everything from green building supplies to recycled furniture made from railroad ties. Looking to remodel your kitchen? A green home supply will help you find formaldehyde-free cabinets, teach you about different counter materials, and ultimately assist you in creating the green kitchen you’re aiming for.
With the proliferation of home design magazines as well as the success of greener living titles like Natural Home, it’s obvious that consumers are hungry for green retail and looking for convenient outlets for their dollars. The products are out there but, until the last few years, it has been difficult to find them; especially under one roof.
The Environmental Home Center in Seattle, Washington, is one of the country’s larger green retail venues, offering everything from decking and flooring materials to bath fixtures, solar tubes, and low-VOC paint. They recently expanded their presence when they purchased the Environmental Building Supply chain in Portland and Bend, Oregon, creating an almost cult-like green business presence in the Northwest.
Across the country, you’ll find stores like Satara, Inc., in Madison, Wisconsin, which specializes in natural fibers for the bedroom and bathroom and carries an array of organic mattresses. In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, visit Home and Planet, a 5,000-square-foot mega store for greener living. Inside you’ll find unique wares from local artists, utilizing recycled materials. Their designs range from rustic to modern. Looking for a unique living room piece? Their gorgeous Floating I-Beam Coffee table is made from recycled vintage I-Beams and vintage wood. In Boulder, Colorado, you can either head to Planetary Solutions, which sells a variety of home-improvement products or to to Eco-Products, which even manufactures its own cleaning supply line. The Rustic Bohemian, in New Paltz, New York, not only offers an array of recycled and environmentally friendly products, they also offer workshops on greening your life. And, you don’t have to live in a bustling metropolis (or near one) to find green retail. In Bozeman, Montana, you can visit EcoTerric, which carries green and modern designs as well as baby and bath products. Back on the West, head to one of the Livingreen stores in California (they have two retail outlets, one in Culver City and the other in Santa Barbara). Owner, Ellen Strickland’s two boutiques feature recycled teak furniture, energy-efficient lighting, recycled glass tile, natural bedding, and more. So if you’re looking to create a green nest with style, you’ll not only find the products but the color, inspiration, and an environmental ethos worth bragging about at your local green home store.
If you can’t make it to one of these green outlets, check out these online retailers:
Stores across the country:
A Natural Home, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, www.anaturalhome.com
Eco-Products, Boulder, Colorado, www.ecoproducts.com
Eco Terric, Bozeman, Montana, www.eco-terric.com
Environmental Building Supplies, Portland, Oregon www.ecohaus.com
Environmental Home Center, Seattle, Washington, www.environmentalhomecenter.com
Future Green, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, www.futuregreen.net
Green Island, Traverse City, Michigan, www.gogreenisland.com
Home and Planet, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, www.homeandplanet.com
Home Eco, St. Louis, Missouri, www.home-eco.com
Linden Hills Natural Home, Minneapolis, Minnesota, www.lindenhills.coop
Livingreen, Culver City and Santa Barbara, California, www.livingreen.com
Planetary Solutions, Boulder, Colorado, www.planetearth.com
The Rustic Bohemian, New Paltz, New York, www.therusticbohemian.com
Satara, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, www.satara-inc.com
The Whole Buffalo, Northampton, Massachusetts, www.thewholebuffalo.com
written by melissa b. williams
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