Sustainable Design in Possible
The greenest step a home enthusiast can take is the first one—to be mindful of the steps to come, and realize your choices can and will make a difference. For example, if you buy something—whether it’s a hammock or a Herman Miller sectional—knowing you’ll only have it for a few years and toss it, then it doesn’t really matter how eco-friendly its materials are.
Renovations use up natural resources. Buy a house you won’t change as much. Or find a fixer-upper and save it from the bulldozer. This may mean living in the midst of your renovation for a time, with some rooms redone, some unfinished, some empty. And if you have to purchase items from a distance, try to resist the urge to get them here faster.