SUSTAINABILITY
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As you plan landscaping for your yard, consider the potential of bringing it to the roof. The benefits of reduced runoff, improved insulation and longevity may b...
This year marked the tenth anniversary of BKLYN DESIGNS, an exhibition of contemporary design and furnishings held in...
Do you suffer from seasonal allergies? A natural remedy waits in your backyard: locally produced honey. To date, scie...
The demand for fresh water continues to grow, and the easiest way to meet that demand is simply to waste less of it. ...
Today of all days, take one step toward protecting the planet, and your monthly utility costs will benefit as well.
While our 50 Shades may not be as sexy as the blockbuster novel, these green tips for the home promise gratifying results and earth-friendly fulfillment.
Average Americans are flushing money down the drain. Oh, maybe not literally money—but most US homes still have one ...
From bicycles to home soda-maker systems, we've gathered 11 green gift ideas for the earth-minded person on your list.
In Milan, Italian apartment dwellers will soon have the chance to live in the middle of a forest, 20 floors up. After...
Before the advent of modern heating and cooling systems, home builders would design temperature control directly into...
Showers account for more than a fifth of the water Americans use every day. You can conserve more of this precious re...
Did you know that you could save 20% on your water bill just by replacing your toilet? Most conventional toilets hog ...
60 to 70% of the homes in the U. S. contain carpeting made from nylon, polyester, or vinyl—materials dependent on non...
Irrigating your yard can really be wasteful and expensive; clean water is a precious commodity, and not just in deser...
By now we all know that recycling’s the way to go, but to get your whole family on board, you need a system that’s ea...
It’s a great idea to shop for green products, but don’t forget to factor transport into the true cost of what you’re ...
In a bid to reduce waste and keep plastics out of the nation’s waterways and oceans, Seattle joins a growing number o...
For Paul Burns, Founder and Chief Ceramicist at Fireclay Tile, the deafening sound of crushing porcelain toilets is s...
In a major push to green its global operations, DuPont Building Innovations, the makers of Corian and Tyvek building ...
Here are five tips for achieving a fertilizer-free, greener lawn this spring.
Switch to low-flow showerheads and faucets to reduce your environmental footprint while saving money.
Purchase local and recycled products to reduce your carbon footprint.
Donate or auction off your old building materials to help you recoup costs and reduce your contribution to landfills.
The way to a young person’s conservation-conscious heart is through active learning—and maybe some candy. Kids love t...
Each year on Earth Day we pause to acknowledge and appreciate the majesty of nature and the gravity of the problems t...
In honor of Earth Day this Sunday, April 22, we're encouraging everyone to give back to Mother Nature. Make your corn...
Whether you're lucky enough to have once-weekly curbside service, or you have to transport your paper, glass, metal a...
Final countdown to spring! Time to park the parka and whip out the windbreaker. Don’t have one or looking to buy some...
Thanks to a new crop of thoughtfully designed Rubbermaid recycling products, corralling kitchen recyclables has never...
The actor's Make It Right Foundation continues to rebuild homes—and a sense of community—in New Orleans Lower 9th Ward.
Heat your home sustainably with a geothermal heating system that harnesses the earth’s temperature.
With the fun and excitement of the holidays behind us, it's time to do what seemed unthinkable only a couple weeks ag...
We'll tell you why you should get acquainted with this new term if you want to live in a sustainable and healthy building.
Eco-friendly thinking when buying for the home is not just for environmental activists anymore. You can also save money by shifting to energy-efficient appliances.
At the 19th Annual Canstruction Design/Build Competition—an art show and food drive benefiting City Harvest—some of N...
Read about this new seven-story green building, built for the community.
Consumers today must select from a growing list of green home certifications or builders claiming green homebuilder status.
Recycle your way to a cleaner environment for everyone.
The Florida Green Home Design Group strives for LEED Platinum certification with its 2020 Alton Road Project.
Programs and certifications are springing up countrywide, all aimed at legitimizing the home builder as a green home builder.
Learn about devices for controlling energy-saving home water systems.
Save money and the environment by lowering your water use, while still growing your dream garden.
In a new survey sponsored by Siemens and the Economist Intelligence Unit, San Francisco outpaced 27 other major metro...
Nature inspires creativity when it comes to building more sustainable homes.
Although roughly 75 percent of the Earth is covered with water, the reality is that less than 1 percent of that water...
As energy prices have risen and the green movement has become more mainstream, innovative materials, systems, and practices have become big business. Here are a f...
Interested in a green redesign for you home, but don't know where to begin? Focus on sustainable materials, indoor air quality, and repurposing items instead of t...
You want to stay environmentally conscious, but can that really extend to your cleaning habits? Turns out, it's as easy as opening your pantry door.
If you think environmentally-friendly products aren't strong enough to clean the grime off your house then think again-- green cleaning is tough on dirt and soft...
With the increased emphasis on saving the environment and costs, there is renewed interest in “advanced framing” construction techniques, which were proven effect...
Create an eco-friendly building or remodeling plan to ensure success.
Bob introduces homeowner Howard Brickman. Steve Ivas, an environmental engineer, describes the area wetlands, which must be accommodated. Innovative building tech...
The new addition's footprint is essentially a whole other house, yet it will integrate visually with a matching roofline to the existing house. New technologies h...
Work is being done on the roof—laying Deck-Armor and installing metal roofing and photovoltaic panels. Bob talks with Jeff Wolf from GroSolar about the photovolta...
In West Palm Beach, FL, the American Lung Association has sponsored a designer showhouse that highlights a healthy home. Bob’s house tour focuses on the baby’s ba...
Bob visits the South Bronx, NY, where Habitat for Humanity has partnered with private developer Les Bluestone to create a green oasis for low-income families that...
Architect Mary Kennedy and Bob tour her Georgian Colonial family home in Westchester County, NY. After a flood ruined the house, the challenge was to salvage and ...
Bob visits with architect Alan Shope who has built a unique earth-bermed house at his farm in Upstate New York.
Bob reviews the bathrooms, discusses the importance of carbon monoxide detectors, and highlights some fun touches in the basement, such as his mini wine cellar an...
Bob asks about the benefits of water purification and tours the Kinetico plant just outside of Cleveland to find out how the quality of the water is improved.
Bob discusses the best ways to discard debris and unwanted items before starting a renovation.
Old gutters are replaced and external landscaping continues with the trimming of a tree, installing a front garden, and creating steps from recycled granite.
Angela Polo and Ken Micklow shows Bob how to work with native plants, discuses fertilizers and pest control. They also discuss how to plant to protect from high w...
Ken Micklow and Trent Culleny talk with Bob about native, storm-resistant gardening. Then Carm DiBella shows Bob an environmentally friendly termite protection s...
Cindy O'Reilly is on site with Bob to install the natural bamboo, sliding-panel shades.
Bob does a walkthrough of the finished Punta Gorda home. He discusses sustainable gardening, water conservation and low-maintenance plants. Then he joins Leslie...
Bob meets with Lenora Campos of Toto USA, the largest toilet manufacturer in the world. Campos introduces Toto's Mercer line of residential fixtures, giving speci...
Bob meets with Lenora Campos from Toto USA, a leader in water technology and the largest toilet manufacturer in the world. Campos introduces Bob to the dual-flush...
Robert Kirkpatrick from Rinnai joins Bob to explain the tankless hot-water system being installed in the Manhattan Brownstonel.
Bob talks with Ron Holen from Georgia-Pacific as the finishing touches are completed on the redwood front porch deck. Bob also visits with farmers at Cedar Mounta...
Bob explains how the Kinetico water purification system works and reviews the A.O. Smith ProMax 75 gas-fired water heater.
Bob talks with Deane Evans (from the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing) and Ren Anderson (from the National Renewable Engergy Laboratory) about phot...
Bob takes a helicopter tour of the major reforestation efforts underway on Mount St. Helens.
Bob tours Civano, a housing development in which a variety of earth-friendly construction approaches have been utilized.
Bob tours a model home in the Civano development, keeping his eye out for special features and decorating ideas.
Janet MacIlvaine and George James (from the Department of Energy) show Bob how they conduct a blower door test.
Bob checks in with Greg Rockland, the plumber installing a marble countertop in the loft conversion unit.
A high-efficiency Buderus boiler is installed, and Steve Offutt (from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) explains the national Energy Star program.
Bob visits the Yestermorrow Design Build School in Warren, VT, which espouses a unique philosophy on architecture. Bob meets with students and discusses their pro...
The roof types of surrounding homes are discussed, together with the possibilities that exist for the project house. As roof demolition begins, Bob addresses the ...
Bob reviews the framing before heading inside to meet environmental specialist John Picard, who explains some of the features that make the Malibu beach house env...
Two recycled windows are used to create one large window. Once carpenter Bob Ryley demolishes the old frame, supports are installed to hold up the new combined wi...
Flooring contractor Leo Boudreau shows Bob how to recycle hardwood flooring. First, the floor must be salvaged. A pry bar is used to lift and remove the wood, pie...
The crew lowers the recycled "ell" onto the new foundation with a crane.
Bob talks with David Cross (formerly of Tampa Armature Works) about the future of home construction with steel shipping containers.
