It’s not easy being green, but David and Kristi Johnson seem to have perfected the art. As the owners of one half of a brand new über-green duplex — the Riverdale Net Zero Home — their household produces all its own heat and power. And while the interior looks like it has been pulled from the pages of a design magazine, every decorating choice has been made with the environment in mind.
“We’ve tried to maintain the theme of environmental sustainability,” David explains. Every element has been carefully selected. The appliances are energy-efficient, the kitchen backsplash is made of recycled tiles and the hardwood was once the Stony Plain High School gymnasium floor.
The couple also strives to buy high-quality furniture that will endure the test of time, and they try to buy local. Even the art in their home is courtesy of talented relatives. In fact, one family member — Nolan Herbut, an industrial design student at the University of Alberta — created the home’s biggest conversation starter, a bench made entirely of keys from old computer keyboards.
While you may not be in a position to buy a net-zero home, there are plenty of things you can do to green your space. Stephani Carter, a building consultant with local company EcoAmmo, says one of the easiest things you can do is switch your paint. Traditional paints off-gas toxic air-borne chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). But there are now more varieties of low-VOC paints on the market that provide consumers with healthier options.
“[Low-VOC] paint is something that’s super easy to change because it’s already available on the shelf, doesn’t cost much more and is really much healthier for you,” says Carter. Most hardware stores carry a version, but she says consumers should look for third-party certification that confirms the paint has been lab tested.
These days, homeowners can find a variety of green flooring options, too. Cork can be a great choice. Since it’s essentially harvested tree bark, cork is a rapidly renewable resource. “A tree can live for hundreds of years if you harvest it properly,” Carter says.
But cork is not always harvested sustainably. As well, many shipments come from Europe, which creates a high environmental cost of transporting it great distances. Carter suggests consumers research the product to verify its eco-friendliness, as well as to ensure that it won’t expand or contract at local humidity levels.
Another green flooring choice that has become popular is bamboo. It’s a grass, so it’s easily replenished. However, despite its popularity, it’s not the best product for some parts of Canada because it can crack at humidity levels below 40 to 50 per cent.
One interesting option is recycled leather flooring, made from off-cuts from the garment industry. The leather is ground into particulates which are glued back together (without harsh chemicals), then it’s pressure-bonded to create a solid, durable material. Several local retailers carry a product manufactured by Torlys.
As far as accessorizing your home, consider buying something second-hand, from a thrift store or flea market, for instance, or purchasing a locally made item at a craft sale.
Carter stresses that making environmentally sensitive choices shouldn’t be an exercise in guilt. There’s no such thing as green perfection, after all. “Do what you can, and the next time do some more, and then do some more, and it will become easier.”
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