| Dream Green | | | | LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design |
| I recently bought a cervical pillow for my neck and | | | | has set an industry standard for green building design. |
| touted to be the only genuine cervical pillow | | | | Through extensive seminars, education and a growing |
| recommended by the American Chiropractic | | | | number of sustainable resources, interior designers |
| Association. The online description guaranteed the | | | | have the opportunity to design and furnish homes |
| cloud like feel from the soft molded foam will cradle | | | | with environmentally friendly products and materials |
| my head and would have me sleeping like baby. I | | | | that can actually have a healthy impact on clients and |
| was sold. Faithfully I entered a credit number and | | | | the planet. |
| waited patiently for my new cloud like pillow. It finally | | | | Below are some guidelines to go by when considering |
| arrived and the anticipation of putting my weary | | | | your next home improvement project. |
| neck to rest was high. Once the much-awaited box | | | | 1 Make a more ecologically sound choice of wood |
| was opened, a stench that is comparable to the odd | | | | from a supplier who can verify through a chain of |
| smell of a city dump when the wind is blowing hit my | | | | custody that the original trees came from an |
| nose faster then the speed of light. My dreamlike | | | | ecologically sustainable forest managed under |
| fantasy came to a complete and pathetic halt. This | | | | guidelines of the Forest Stewardship Council. |
| wasn't going to deter me from my heavenly slumber. | | | | 2 Specify "green" paint and other finishing materials |
| A little airing out was all that was needed. Seven | | | | that have low levels of volatile organic compounds |
| days later, after airing the pillow and washing the | | | | (VOCs). Specify paints and finishes that do not |
| pillowcase (twice) it went back to its maker. As it | | | | contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. |
| turned out, the pillow had serious off gassing. Off | | | | 3 Use rapidly renewable flooring products such as |
| gassing usually refers to the tendency plastics and | | | | bamboo or linoleum to help reduce the amount of |
| other solid synthetic compounds that release toxic | | | | land and resources dedicated to producing |
| gasses long after they're manufactured. The ironic | | | | construction materials. |
| thing was, the pillow was ordered from a website | | | | 4 Specify energy-efficient appliances such as |
| called Wisdom and Health.million-dollar business. It's | | | | dishwashers and refrigerators with the |
| called Green Design, Sustainable Design or | | | | EnergyStar(TM) rating. |
| Environmentally-Sensitive Design. | | | | 5 Consider the recyclability of all materials used to |
| What ever you call it, it's a term for a growing | | | | redirect their "next life" away from landfills. |
| industry trend within the fields of architecture, | | | | One more thing- read labels when outfitting your bed. |
| construction, and interior design. The broad philosophy | | | | Try to use the basic textiles, wool, cotton, silk and |
| of green design are fairly simple: choose energy | | | | natural latex. Find out exactly what you'll be inhaling |
| efficiency wherever possible, work in harmony with | | | | when you are ready to snooze. After all, the last |
| the natural resources surrounding the project, and | | | | thing you want to dream about is off gassing of |
| use materials that are sustainably grown or recycled | | | | toxic chemicals. |
| rather than new or manufactured materials from | | | | Sweet Dreams! |
| non-renewable resources. | | | | |