Chesapeake Home

Giramundo Chair, Environment Furniture

The brand name says it all: Environment. It’s a furniture company all about creating an environment with a focus on conservation of the environment–and we just got a sneak peak at their fabulous new collection.

Jean-Marie Massaud, new Creative Director for Environment Furniture, will be debuting his new collection at this year’s Salone Del Mobile Milan, April 14-19, 2010, but we’re excited to offer you an advanced preview gallery of some of our favorite pieces from the collection.

True to the Environment philosophy and the current collection, Massaud’s creations maintain the brand’s commitment to environmental responsibility and are crafted from sustainable materials. Whether using reclaimed materials (a common Environment brand characteristic) or designing pieces that use less material but still maintain quality (to reduce overall carbon footprint from sourcing to distribution), Massaud’s collection reflects the mind-set of a design- and environmentally-conscious consumer.

Says Davide Berruto, CEO of Environment Inc., “This collection is poised to completely reinvent the way we think about sustainable design.  We hope to leave a lasting impression of quality, functionality, and real purpose—I can think of no better way for Environment to premiere in Milan.”

Environment Furniture is available locally at Theodore’s in DC. CLICK HERE to visit the gallery.  To learn more about Environment Furniture, visit environmentfurniture.com.

Bulbrite, a leading supplier of innovative, energy-efficient light source solutions, just introduced Purify02 Compact Fluorscent Bulbs, that not only provide energy efficient lighting but break down household odors as well.  Musty smelling basement? Stinky room where the dog sleeps or you keep the litter box?  This new Purify02 bulb was developed to help you combat that problem.

This product is new, so I haven’t been able to test it out yet, but still wanted to let you know.  Company representative explain that a TiO2 coating on the bulb that helps purify the air and eliminate odors. Turn on the light and air purification begins in just 10 minutes!

For more info and to find retailers in your area check out Bulbrite.com, call 800-528-5555, or email info@BULBRITE.com

EcoDomos unique recycled leather is made from leather scraps taken from tanneries that produce leather for (among other things) BMW® car seats. The recycled leather is then shredded and bound with latex and tree bark. EcoDomos leather tiles have been installed in numerous residences and commercial installations, including staircases and hotel floors, and has unique abrasion and wear resistance properties.

This leather is now applied to composite stones mixed with left over material from stone quarries.

The M+E Collection offers:
• Twelve liner and decorative borders in a variety of colors
• Suitable for all areas including kitchens backsplashes and bathrooms (no showers!)
• A complete line of accessories to complement the installation
• Easily customized in sheet format or with any EcoDomo recycled leather
• Stocked and available in the United States

Green Features:
• Made from a minimum of 60% pre-consumer recycled materials;
• Recycled Leather is low-VOC & made of rapidly renewable materials;
• Composite stone backing is made from pre-consumer waste;
• Installed with low-VOC unsanded grout and mortar;
• EcoDomo buys carbon credits to offset the fossil fuels used in shipping;
• Packaged using recycled materials.

Available across the USA through Sunderland Brothers distributors and retailers, the M+E Collection™ will create a unique, luxurious and warm environment in your home or commercial space.

Text provided by EcoDomo.

Sometimes it’s the simplest forms stand out most.

Naturally inspired but contemporarily designed, Bruehl’s MOSSPINK sofa has been awarded the Focus Green Silver 2008 design prize and a 2008 GOOD DESIGN® Award by the Chicago Athenaeum.

Designer Kati Meyer-Brühl created the lines of the sofa to be reminiscent of objects found in nature, yet take on a modern shape. The arm and backrests, for example, are meant to emulate pebbles.

Don’t let the name fool you; the MOSSPINK line is very green. Low VOC foam is used for the cushions and FSC certified wood makes up the wood frame. Upholstery is available in an array of eco-friendly fabrics, so you can customize as you please.

For information on locations and pricing information, contact info@batinau.com, go to batinau.com, or call 888-521-9663.

Although it has officially been serving guests for several months now, the Baltimore Inner Harbor Fairfield Inn & Suites recently celebrated with a grand opening that I had the opportunity to attend.  The event was great, but what makes it noteworthy is the hotel itself. I have been following the progress of this hotel through construction because I knew that when it was complete, it would be a very special place.  A hotel of firsts and onlies, the Inner Harbor Fairfield is the first and only LEED Certified ‘green’ hotel in Baltimore, it is the first Fairfield Inn anywhere to have a full service restaurant (Tavern 101), and the first and only to use and feature a salvaged grain storage silo to capture and store rain water runoff to serve all the landscaping irrigation needs.

An adaptive reuse of the 1787 Baltimore Brewing Company where in one of the rooms Mary Pickersgill is said to have sown the star spangled banner, the completely renovated building is desinged to be 24% more efficient than what is required by code. According to General Manager, Patrick Leary, the hotel is also carbon neutral, thanks to the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates, which represent proof that electricity was generated from an eligible renewable energy resource.

A United States Green Building Council Maryland Chapter (USGBC MD) Platinum Sponsor, the hotel features such green elements as appliances & fixtures that reduce energy, waste & water usage; a green roof, which insulates the building while reducing the radiant heat and reduces the volume of storm water flowing into streams and drainage channels; fragrance free, all natural, biodegradable cleaning products and laundering, among others.

On hand at the grand opening were guests of the hotel, green building professionals, builders, developers, suppliers, architects, engineers, members of USGBC MD, representatives from hotel partners like the National Aquarium, and more. For additional information visit greenfairfieldinn.com.

Recently, I attended a presentation with home and garden industry professionals who spoke on the subject of green innovation with respect to sustainable buildings. One of the most interesting segments of this event was presented by a representative of LiveRoof® on their prevegetated green roof system. I was only tangentially aware of the prominence and significance that green roofs play in today’s environmentally conscious world.

Basically, LiveRoof® has created a simple, effective, efficient and modular system that gives you the look and function of a conventional green roof. In a nutshell, you grow plant life on top of your home or building in a very simple, easy-to-care-for, carefully as well as skillfully thought out system.

At first, this may seem a little eccentric like a 70s-hippy movement initiative aimed towards creating an environmentally conscious society. But LiveRoof® has created a system for commercial, industrial, governmental and residential applications that make a lot of sense. Here are some of the core benefits of integrating a LiveRoof® on the top your next or existing projects:

•    Green roofs protect the roof from the sun, wind, heat, and cold and can extend the life of the roof by up to 40 years.
•    Reduce air conditioning costs by 25% or more (for the floor under the green roof)
•    Reduce or eliminate storm water discharge fees
•    Allow building owners to sell or rent their properties more easily
•    Help to reduce the effects of Global Warning
•    Release oxygen and absorb green house gases
•    Earn LEED credits
•    Keep pollutants out of lakes and streams
•    Absorb sound and reduce noise

LiveRoof® makes the whole process of getting a green roof more manageable and just plain old easy to do. They use pregrown flowers and vegetation and modular containers that they install on the top of your home or building. Green roofs should only be applied to appropriately engineered buildings, and LiveRoof® professionals can determine whether your home roof can sustain the weight.

For those die-hard green doers, this is an exceptionally good idea to look into and for those of you just getting your feet wet in the eco-friendly movement, you just might find this information useful.

For more information on LiveRoof® call 800-875-1392 or go to liveroof.com.

The first Windspires in Virginia were installed in a neighborhood backyard in the city of Chesapeake on Wednesday, June 17. The energy output of the combined units helps provide clean renewable energy to the home and defers usage from the local utility. This latest Windspire installation offered Virginia residents and community leaders the first opportunity in the state to see this new wind energy technology.

Blue Sun Renewable Energy, the mid-Atlantic dealer for Windspire, had the units up an running by the afternoon. At only 30 feet tall and silent, the sculptural Windspire is a good choice for residential and more urban areas. The slender vertical design can catch wind from all directions and also allows Windspires to be installed close together–perfect for smaller backyards or urban rooftops.

CLICK HERE for a video of the installation

The US Green Building Council awarded a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes Gold certification to Kensington, Maryland-based Alexander Group for their renovation of a 1960s rambler in Oxon Hill. An early adopter of green building practices, CEO and President Alex Dean, has been an advocate of energy conservation and solar and alternative energy resources since the 70s and has various green certifications from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and The US Green Building Council (USGBC) to prove it.

What makes the Oxon Hill Project green?
-  Low VOC Plywood and construction glues and low VOC hardwood floors
-  Low VOC Green Seal GS-11 certified paints used inside the house
-  FSC certified, no VOC, no formaldehyde cabinetry
-  Open cell foam insulation
-  Mold resistant drywall throughout the house
-  High efficiency HVAC system with UV bacteria killing light, Merv 13 filter and separate ERV system
-  Landscape Elements: drought tolerant turf & plants
-  80% of waste from construction diverted from landfills to recycling

I don’t know about you, but I am definitely feeling the pressure to go green. I often travel on the weekends with my family, and I have noticed random stationary solar panels dotting the landscape. It seems like such an incredible idea to have a small non-obtrusive panel that does so much good for the environment and allows us to be more independent.

So what are those panels, exactly? Solar electric power, known as photovoltaic (PV) technology, makes use of the abundant energy from the sun. It can be used in a wide range of products, from small consumer items to large commercial solar electric systems.

Few power-generation technologies have as little impact on the environment as solar power. It quietly generates electricity from light and produces no air pollution or hazardous waste. It doesn’t require liquid or gaseous fuels to be transported or combusted. And because its energy source—sunlight—is free and abundant, it can guarantee access to electric power.

So I am always wondering why doesn’t everyone have at least one solar panel in their backyard? Well, I suspect the answer is price. Depending on the size of your house, you have to purchase a system that can convert the sun’s energy using these solar panels and the price ranges from $10,000 to $60,000. I guess in comparison to our monthly electric bills, those amounts seem a little steep.

For me, I think there are two very good reasons to consider the possibility: one, it protects the environment and two, it makes me less dependent on the electric company and their fluctuating costs. I think if I ever do build that dream house with my husband that we’ve been talking about for over 12 years, I would definitely consider rolling that high price tag of solar energy into my new mortgage.