At some point in their life, nearly everyone will take a step back to admire a newly painted or carpeted room in their home or that brand new car in their driveway. In fact, according to a recent survey, three-quarters of respondents admit that they love that “new car” smell, and more than...

More Americans might be driving hybrid cars and recycling, but their hardwood kitchen and living room floors can be just as critical to climate change. No one knows exactly how much illegal hardwood enters the United States, but estimates range from $250 million to $375 million worth per year —...

Faced with increasing demand for low-income housing, public housing authorities are finding that investing in green building solutions can make their homes more affordable and more livable. Seattle Housing Authority, one of the nation’s largest public housing agencies, has found a way to cut fuel...

Homeowners are happy to discover that a wide color palette is now available in environmentally sensitive zero-VOC paints. Being green has never been so colorful. That’s because one paint manufacturer now creates a zero-VOC paint in a rainbow of colors. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are solvents...

When Crystal Mountain’s new spa, the Crystal Spa, opens this winter it will be one of just six spa facilities nationwide to be LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and the only in the Midwest. LEED is a third-party certification program through the U.S. Green Building...

More builders should consider walking in the footsteps of VAST Enterprises, LLC. VAST is a material science research and manufacturing company that transforms recycled rubber and plastics into an environmentally friendly material: composite masonry. All VAST products are made from VAST’s engineered...

Creating a green building in today’s world is more important than ever. Not only does a sustainable building help protect our environment, but it can offer many advantages to the building owner and occupants. The United States Green Building Council, in an attempt to set standardization for green...

Looks can be deceiving -; what has a traditional look on the outside just might be “green” on the inside. Cliffs Cottage at Furman, a Southern Living Showcase Home, was recently built on the campus of Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina (www.furmancliffscottage.com). The showcase...

According to the Department of Energy, 80 percent of older homes do not possess adequate insulation. Poorly insulated homes require more energy -; and money -; to maintain comfortable temperatures. Luckily for homeowners, insulation projects are easy, inexpensive and can yield big returns. “Energy...

Home safety is a major concern for many Americans. But safety should mean more than teaching the kids to stop, drop and roll and double-checking the stove before leaving the house. Americans who are building, or looking to buy, a new home can implement safety from the start by considering the construction...