Green and Sustainable Design

Green Design focuses on increasing the efficiency of resources while reducing a buildings impact. The efficient use of energy, water, and materials will improve human health and the environment during a building's lifecycle. Green design is reached through better building footprints, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal.

Sustainable Design is the philosophy of designing physical objects in the built environment and systems to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological balance. For these elements, balance helps maintain processes, diversity and productivity into the future. The intention of sustainable design is to eliminate negative environmental impact. Sustainable design requires no non-renewable resources, has a minimal impact to the environment, and relates people with the natural environment. It is not a supplement to standard design, but integration.

The Difference Between Green and Sustainable Design.
Green is a term to describe something physical. Sustainable refers to the implementation of that object. Green Design protects people’s health and well-being. For example, indoor air quality is improved with the use of (green) non-toxic cleaners. Through the use of natural products you can work towards living a green lifestyle. Sustainable Design implies reducing the environmental impact. For example, using alternative energy sources will help protect our forests. It is important for manufacturing processes and use of products to be sustainable. Another important aspect of Sustainable Design is that it meets the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations. Green Design focuses on health and Sustainable Design places a strong emphasis on the environment. Both work towards an improved future for all.

Healthier Paint

Painting is a main ingredient when it comes to building, renovating, and maintaining a home. An increasing consumer demand for Eco-friendly products force paint manufacturers to produce with fewer dangerous and smog-producing compounds. These new toxic free paints are not only safer for humans and the earth than conventional paints, but more durable and better performing than previous products. The high levels of volatile organic compounds, or V.O.C.'s, that were emitted as gases proved to be hazardous. However, current manufacturing leads toward low- or no- V.O.C. paints. This eliminates the release of harmful vapors and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that can cause headaches and dizziness, can potentially exacerbate asthma and other health conditions, and can even cause kidney and liver damage if exposure is extremely high, according to public health experts.