What you sleep on 8 hours a night matters. New mattresses off gas harmful chemicals to you and your loved ones. As we lean towards finding more sustainable sleeping options, Avocado Green Mattress, the leader in organic mattresses, is proud to announce that the Avocado Green Mattress, Eco Organic Mattress, and Eco Organic Kids Mattress have earned the highly esteemed OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification. Avocado helps you get a sustainable night’s sleep.

The OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is a globally recognized, independent testing and certification system for raw, semi-finished, and finished textile products at all processing levels, as well as accessory materials used. For a finished innerspring mattress to be OEKO-TEX^® STANDARD 100 certified, every component, from the outer fabric to the threads, foams, and other accessories, must be tested and found safe from more than 1,000 substances known to be detrimental to human health.

Related: Here is our guide to understand organic mattress labels

“Mattresses can contain harmful materials, adhesives, and flame retardants. Given the intimate and prolonged exposure we have to our mattresses, it is crucial to consider their potential impact on health,” notes Mark Abrials, Chief Marketing & Sustainability Officer of Avocado Green Mattress.

Unlike some brands that only certify select components of their mattresses, Avocado Green Mattress has achieved STANDARD 100 certification for the finished innerspring mattress — and is the first in the United States to do so. This comprehensive certification means that every part of the Avocado Green Mattress, Eco Organic Mattress, and Eco Organic Kids Mattress, from the outer fabric to the pocketed innersprings, is tested for harmful substances and found to be within safe limits.

As Avocado Green Mattress looks to the future, the company remains dedicated to not only being the best in the world but also the best for the world. The company’s efforts to combat climate change, enhance social equity, and promote sustainable practices are more than just part of its business model; they are a call to action for businesses and individuals alike to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.

Follow their standards?

Are you a bed manufacturer that wants to do better? Avocado is “Best for the World” Certified B Corporation, Fair Trade Certified, Climate Neutral Certified, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified, meet MADE SAFE standards, a two-time winner of the Good Housekeeping Sustainable Innovation Awards, and are the Pinnacle Award Winner from 1% for the Planet. Fast Company lists Avocado as a “Brand that Matters.”

::Avocado

The post Avocado Green Mattress gets eco award, a first in the US appeared first on Green Prophet.

New landscaping tips, like xeroscaping to up your eco

Whether you’re beautifying a rental property or just improving your own front yard, landscaping has the power to completely change the look of your house and yard. Unfortunately, it also has the potential to disrupt local ecosystems – at least to a degree.

If you want to minimize your environmental impact while maximizing the function and image of your landscape, there are some important strategies you’ll need to follow.

The Many Benefits of Eco-Friendly Landscaping

You’re probably reading this article because you’re genuinely interested in making a difference when it comes to environmental impact. That’s great, but you should also know there are secondary benefits to practicing eco-friendly landscaping. 

As you’ll see, many of these strategies and habits allow you to reduce your reliance on energy and water, ultimately saving you money in the long run and potentially saving you time as well.

Hire the Right People

Your first responsibility will be hiring the right people. If you work with the right landscapers, who are familiar with sustainable landscaping practices, you’ll have an easy way to get recommendations for the best eco-friendly additions. 

On top of that, you’ll have reliable assurance that the job will be done properly. If you work with a property management company, they may be able to recommend an excellent landscaper in the area who can do sustainable work. 

As an added bonus, they’ll have professionals supervising the job to make sure it’s done properly – and they may be responsible for maintenance after the work is completed.

Focus on Native Plants

One of the best things you can do for your yard to improve its environmental friendliness is to focus on native species of plants. Native species are ones that have evolved in this specific ecosystem, so they do a much better job of supporting local wildlife. 

If you plant native species, you’ll never have to worry about invasive species disrupting the local ecosystem. You might even find medicinal plants growing in your backyard.

As an added bonus, because native plants are specifically acclimated to this location and climate, they generally require less care. These are hardier and less expensive plants, making them advantageous in many ways.

Consider Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping is a type of landscaping with the intention of allowing your plants to survive drought-like conditions. Originally developed for desert areas, anyone can practice this landscaping trend. Why is it considered environmentally friendly? The main reason is because it doesn’t require much water to thrive. And if they need a bit, consider re-routing the drip pipe from your air conditioner water to hydrate your cactuses. 

These plants can survive with little to no water, so you won’t need to expend hundreds of gallons to keep them alive. Cutting back on your water usage is a great way to live a more sustainable life.

Mow the Grass Higher (and Leave the Clippings)

Consider mowing your grass higher and more frequently. When you’re done, leave the clippings on the ground rather than harvesting them. Grass clippings contain significant amounts of water, nitrogen, and other nutrients, making them excellent for the health of your yard. This way, you’ll end up using less water and less fertilizer – and your yard will look better as well.

Add Paved Areas

In pursuit of using less water, why not consider paving over certain areas of your yard? Most of us love the appearance of a yard filled with grass, clover, and other sources of greenery, but these can be resource intensive. Add some pavers where the grass can grow through or make an outdoor kitchen to cook while keeping the air conditioner off.

Install Solar Fixtures

Another way to make your yard more eco-friendly is to install certain solar fixtures. If you have the budget for it, you can install solar panels (or install them on the roof) and gain immediate access to a sustainable, clean source of energy. Read our DIY solar stuff here. 

If that’s not in the cards for you, you can install solar activated lights to illuminate your pathways without needing to expend electricity unnecessarily.

Harvest Rainwater

Assuming you’re permitted to do so in your city, consider using rain barrels to harvest rainwater. This way, you’ll have access to more water without tapping into your utilities. Not only will you be living a more sustainable lifestyle, you’ll also reduce your water bill, ultimately making this a universal win.

Compost

Home composting is highly valuable, both for you and the environment. You’ll get an easy way to get rid of most of your old food scraps, you’ll reduce your footprint in landfills, and you’ll end up with a rich material that you can use to fertilize your soil and grow crops. 

Best of all, composting is ridiculously easy once you understand the basic fundamentals – and you can continue practicing it indefinitely.

With these environmentally friendly strategies, you can make sure your landscaping has a minimal impact on the environment without affecting the appearance or resale value of your lot. 

Just make sure you work actively to maintain it so it remains as beautiful as the day you finished it.

The post How to Make Your Property Landscaping More Eco-Friendly  appeared first on Green Prophet.

Owning a home provides a sense of security, stability, and comfort. However, it also comes at a high cost. Apart from making monthly mortgage payments and spending money on repairs and maintenance, you also have recurring utility bills to deal with. 

At most, you will have to spend at least $400 on energy and water. If you have a growing family, the number could rise along with your utility consumption. Fortunately, there are a few ways that can help you save money on utility costs. 

1. Upgrade your lighting

If you have been living in your home for more than a decade, consider upgrading your lights to energy-efficient bulbs. For this, you have the option between CFL and LED bulbs which consume less energy but generate a brighter illumination. In addition, these lights last longer so you won’t have to spend on replacement bulbs now and then.

2. Install a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat offers a wide range of cost-saving features. It allows for greater climate control through zoned heating and cooling. Not only that, this piece of tech can adjust room temperatures automatically based on indoor conditions. This can be convenient since you won’t have to waste time bringing the indoor temperature to your preferred level.

3. Patch up any cracks and gaps

During the summer and winter months, you will have to rely on your HVAC unit to provide you with optimal cooling and heating. However, you could end up wasting money if there are air leaks around your home. To get the most out of your HVAC system without spending above your utility budget, consider weatherstripping your windows and applying caulk on gaps and holes where cables and pipes run through. By sealing up your home, you can prevent cool or hot air from escaping.

4. Shift to a more affordable energy plan

One of the best ways to reduce your electricity bills is to opt-out of your current energy provider. This would make sense if you notice that your monthly bills are going up even if you haven’t changed your consumption habits. You can shop around for energy plans at rates you can afford. If you are in Texas, consider getting a fixed-rate plan from companies like Energy Texas that offer 100% renewable energy at lower prices. 

5. Upgrade your appliances 

Although buying new household appliances seems counterintuitive, it could help you save more money in the long run. That’s because outdated appliances tend to consume more power. On top of that, they may not perform like they used to, so it’s better that you swap these for Energy Star-rated appliances. The long-term energy savings should outweigh the cost of purchasing them.

6. Keep track of your consumption 

It’s important to monitor how much energy and water you’re consuming every month. Reducing your utility bills boils down to your consumption habits. Even if you have bought the latest appliances and replaced your energy provider, learning to unplug electronics after use or adjusting your weather heater goes a long way.

If you want to save more money each month, consider these tips so you can bring your $400 utility budget further down.

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In today’s modern world, most people rely on a range of appliances for the home. We use all sorts of appliances on a regular basis, and most of us would find life very difficult with the products that we have become used to. Of course, in today’s high-tech world, the range of appliances we have come to rely on has become increasingly advanced. At the same time, you can now get ones that are increasingly energy efficient, which can benefit your pocket, your home, and even the planet.

If you are looking for new appliances for the home and you want to ensure you invest in something that is energy efficient, turning to the internet is a great idea. There are many reasons why it is important to choose energy efficient appliances. For one, they are far better for your home and will use far less energy than older, less energy efficient alternative. Second, it means that you will be able to save money on your energy bills because your energy usage will be lower. Finally, you can also do your bit for the green cause by choosing energy efficient appliances. In this article, we will look at why you should go online to find the most energy efficiency appliances for your home.

Benefits of Going Online for Your Appliances

There are many reasons why you should consider going online for your energy efficient appliances, and this is something that more and more people do these days. Some of the benefits of doing this are:

You Have More Choice

One of the key benefits of going online for these appliances is that you can look forward to tremendous choice, and this then boosts the chances of you being able to find the perfect appliance for your needs. There are lots of makes and models you can choose from these days no matter what sort of appliance you are looking for. Going online makes it easy to access the wide range of options you can select from.

You Can Cut Costs Easily

Another thing to keep in mind is that it becomes far easier for you to cut costs when you go online for your energy efficient appliances. For instance, you can easily access online promos and discounts such as eBay discount codes to help you to save more money on higher-cost products such as appliances. You can also easily access online sales and clearance deals to help cut costs.

The Ability to Research and Check Reviews

One of the other things to bear in mind is that you will find it far easier to research the appliances you need and even check out reviews from others when you go online. This makes it much easier for you to make the right decisions, and it means that you can learn more about how energy-efficient and reliable the appliance is.

These are some of the benefits of going online for your energy-efficient appliances. 

The post Why Shop Online for the Most Energy Efficient Appliances for Your Home appeared first on Green Prophet.

As a society, we are moving towards a more green way of living. But did you know that making a few key home improvements can make your home much greener but also save you money? We provide some great hacks below and some are many that won’t cost the earth.

1. Solar Panels

Solar panels have been mainstream in UK households for more than 10 years and whilst they may cost money upfront to install (around £6,000 to £8,000), they will save you around £270 on your electricity bills per year and also add £12,000 to the overall value of your home if you decide to sell one day. You can also consider installing solar panels yourself too.

Solar panels convert energy from sunlight into electricity, making your home greener by having to use less electricity. Whilst solar panels can run the electricity of your entire home, you will probably need some regular electricity too given the amount of sun in the UK!

2. Energy Efficient Windows

Installing double or triple glazing will keep the heat in your home far more effectively and save you money on your energy bill. Essentially, they create an insulating barrier that keeps the heat inside the building – and you can choose between uPVC or steel windows to be extra green since these are both recyclable.

Whilst this costs around £150 to £600 per window, you can get a discount by buying in bulk and it should reduce your energy bills overall by around 20% per month and year.

3. Make Your House Warmer, Naturally

Some very minor improvements can make your home warmer and therefore reduce the need for using your central heating. This includes covering any drafts under the doors or windows, with rugs, carpets or curtains. With some natural sunlight every day, consider opening your blinds and use this sun to heat up your rooms.

Consider filling up some common areas and rooms a bit more and create a better room communication with black steel doors – since the busier they are, the less drafty and warmer they can be.

4. Create Your Own Compost

If you like to garden and spend on fertiliser, you can save money by creating your own compost. Create a bed in the garden and add any leftover vegetables and fruit that you are not eating or have left over and this can be used to save you hundreds on fertiliser each year.

5. Use Efficient Appliances

From Energy Star ceiling fans, light bulbs and refrigerators, there are a number of clever and greener additions to make around the home.

In fact, an Energy Star tankless water heater can save you over £1,600 over 5 years on your water bill.

How Can You Fund Home Improvements?

Funding home improvements can be very cheaper and even just being smarter with your furniture or appliances around the house.

Adding things like solar panels and windows can be an investment, but it can increase the value of your home too. 

There are a number of home improvement loans options available, starting from just a few hundred pounds to several thousands (if you are in the UK)- with the option to be unsecured or secured against your property. With low rates from 2.8% APR, you can weigh up the potential costs and the savings you would make each year and if you were to sell the house in the near or distance future.

The post 5 Green Home Improvements That Will Also Save You Money appeared first on Green Prophet.

It seems like the most trendy business models these days have something to do with eco-friendliness or sustainability. It entirely makes sense because the people are more aware of the problems with the environment, and they want to do everything that they can to be more eco-friendly.

Therefore, starting an eco-friendly moving company is a great idea. Most businesses need to have a unique selling point to make a name for themselves, but the eco-friendly thing can help. So, the rest of the things might include getting a Texas DOT number, trucks, equipment, and finding office space, among other things.

So, let’s get right into the details.

Create a Business Plan

Before you start doing anything, draft a business plan for your moving company. A clear plan can help you outline the goals and set a foundation that you can use later to properly allocate your resources and budget.

A plan should also include development, strategies, and solutions in case of problems. You should even think about eco-friendly practices that your company can adopt.

Look For an Office Space

While starting a company doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to have an office nowadays, having a professional space can be incredibly useful.

Some people prefer to talk to the company in person before they hire them. Having a company location also shows people that you are not running a scam. With an office, your customers can also look over the packaging and products you offer.

If you do decide to look around for an office space, you should make sure the location is easily accessible. Also, adopt as many eco-friendly office practices as you can. These could be going paper-free, finding ways to reduce electricity use, using organic cleaning products, and many more things.

Purchase a Truck and Equipment

The main parts of a moving company are the vehicles and the equipment that they have. These items need to be purchased initially and then charged to each job as overheads correctly to avoid losing money in the future.

Firstly, you should look into box trucks for your company. According to your budget and business, you can purchase new or used trucks. But make sure that the size of the truck will match the type of jobs you will be taking on.

Secondly, you need to look into equipment. You may require many pieces of equipment for every job, but not everything will be used everywhere. That is why you should go over the equipment moving companies purchase and find out what you need.

Offer a Range of Services

While providing moving services is your business’s heart and soul, it shouldn’t be the only thing. Moving companies make money by offering a lot more services.

If any of your customers wants to move to a different home, but they want to store their belongings for a few days before getting it to the final destination, you should provide storage space.

Similarly, suppose your clients are looking for packaging material and boxes. In that case, your company should be able to provide eco-friendly options that makes their move easier.

You can also provide your clients with a list of things that can make their move more eco-friendly to further show how seriously your brand takes the green initiative.

Look over the services moving companies generally provide, find out what your competitors offer, and also see if you can find the solutions to any other problems. You can then create a service list within your budget and get more business.

Get Insurance

Getting insurance for your cargo is necessary because your customers will hold you liable for any damages or losses to their personal belongings.

When talking to a customer, you should try to tell them that they need to pack everything properly before the move or allow your team to do it if you offer the services. You can also clarify to them that they should pay additional to get coverage for their items if they think anything can break during the move.

Other than that, you should get insurance for your trucks, office, drivers, and other things that the law requires you to get.

The post 5 Tips for Starting an Eco-Friendly Moving Company appeared first on Green Prophet.

Eco-friendly materials are one of the biggest and fastest-growing trends within interior design. If you choose to opt for a ‘greener’ choice when it comes to your home’s flooring, you’ll be helping to ensure the future of our planet as these types of materials is more sustainable compared with man-made textiles. Ceramic floor tiles are just one of the many green alternatives out there.

For thousands of years, builders and decorators have chosen ceramic tiles for their construction and DIY projects due to the many benefits they offer. You may also be surprised to hear that they are also one of the most environmentally-friendly products you can opt for when redecorating your flooring. 

Type, colour and space 

Tiles have been commonplace for homes across the world for centuries, but nowadays, more and more people are using them to decorate and add a splash of colour to a room. Instead of being used for just your home’s bathroom floor, trends in interior design have seen people using floor tiles to other rooms such as kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms. 

Aside from being used as flooring, tiles are now being incorporated onto walls such as hallways and even as splashbacks. There are a variety of options for your floor tile of choice. Tiles come in all sorts of different types and colours, and you also need to consider how they will fit into the room you want them placed in.

The type, colour and design of the floor tile you pick will likely depend on the room you are choosing to decorate. There are all sorts of different finishes you can apply, such as marble, wood and stone effects. Whatever look you want in your room, you can bet that there will be a type of tile to suit.

Durability

If you’re after a tile that is durable, keeps its pattern, but also has a funky finish, then it’s important to pick your choice of tile wisely, rather than throwing on any old random material on your floor.

For example, perhaps you want a geometrical type of finish on the flooring of your hallway, but one that will keep the pattern intact over the years of use. Encaustic tiles aren’t patterned in the glaze but instead in different colours of clay, meaning that the design remains, even as the tile wears down. Tiles are great for durability, but also longevity. Unlike carpet or vinyl, it’ll be a while before you have to replace properly installed tiles. They can last a lifetime when looked after!

Think outside the box with colours and patterns.

Tiles allow you to get creative with your flooring space! For example, creating a ‘rug’ using ceramic tiles can be a great way to create spaces in your home that will add colour and interest. Alternatively, floor tiles can also be a great way to create a waterproof area on a wooden floor, such as for a standalone bath in a bedroom. 

With tiles, the design possibilities really are endless!

Why opt for a more eco-friendly floor tile for your home?

You might be wondering why you should consider picking an eco-friendly ceramic tile for your chosen room’s flooring, over a carpet or laminate option? Take a look at just some of the benefits they can bring to your home and the environment.

Life cycle

As mentioned above, ceramic tiles are one of the more durable and long-lasting tile options you can choose for your floor. 

Because you are not replacing them as frequently as you would with a carpet, this longevity reduces time, money and resources spent on extracting raw material, manufacturing, transportation, installation, demolition and disposal requirements. All of these contribute to the effect we are having on our climate and natural landscape.

Air quality

Ceramic tile doesn’t absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other contaminants. VOCs contribute to a wide variety of health problems and are a significant cause of ‘sick building syndrome.’ Because ceramic tiles are fired in kilns to very high temperatures, there are no volatile organics that can be released into the air we breathe. 

Likewise, the lack of VOCs in ceramic tiles means that they inhibit the growth of mould, mildew and fungus! That’s why you’ll often find ceramic tiles in bathrooms where bacteria and fungus are natural habitats.

Maintenance

With ceramic tiles, there’s no need to use chemicals, waxes, strippers, solvents or shampoo that add to the level of toxic cleaning products being flushed down the drain and into the Earth’s ecosystem. They can be cleaned using nothing but warm water and pH-neutral cleaners.

Where can you buy eco-friendly ceramic tiles?

There are plenty of online stockists out there that are supplying eco-friendly tiles. One company that offers eco-friendly ceramics is Porcelanosa, who have created a ceramic parquet that is made from 95% recycled materials. Their tile is designed to reflect the textures and grains of natural wood with the technical properties of ceramic!

Lots of manufacturers are building better tiles today with processes that are greener and better raw materials. If you’re looking to make an impact on your carbon footprint reduction, then opt for a ceramic tile for your interior design!

The post Eco-friendly ceramic tiles appeared first on Green Prophet.

I grew up as a Dutch girl in Canada. Among part of our family’s storytelling and legends was the tale about the Dutch boy who plugged a dyke with his thumb to save his town, the country, the world? from an encroaching sea. The flatlands people of Holland or The Netherlands as you might call them are at home with the idea of climate adverse consequences.

The national psyche is built on man against nature or man with nature, and for that the Dutch people have been reasonably doing unreasonable things against climate change and for helping the environment. See our article on the extraordinary city of Rotterdam, the home to one of resident writers, or Boyan Slat, who boldly plans to clean up the seas with his plastic-corralling invention.

While Americans might rather escape to Mars with Elon Musk, the Dutch are battening down the hatches and are offering more reasonable approaches to dealing with Mother Nature, or an angry Mother Nature. It was an ongoing fantasy in my home that if we won the lottery we would invite all our family and rent a boat and take them all on Caribbean yacht charters. We didn’t know about this luxury houseboat option then. Consider the Dutch firm who has designed a solar powered yacht that can lower stilts for a more permanent mooring.

Like the modern trailer also known as the #tinyhome or #vanlife, this yacht appeals to a certain eco personality that might also want to settle like the barge dwellers in Amsterdam. It is not your father’s houseboat.

The solar powered boat is created by the Dutch architecture studio Waterstudio.NL for the yacht maker Arku in Miami, with an option of it becoming an off-grid home.  

The craft is 75 feet long, is fully solar-electric, mobile and self elevating. This turn-key vessel is furnished and decorated in style by the acclaimed Brazilian furniture company, Artefacto.

The first one is for sale at a cool price of $5,500,000.

Arkup is a Miami, US-based company founded in 2016, to pioneer next-generation floating homes. The company rethinks life on water with its fully solar-electric, mobile and self-elevating livable yachts they call “future-proof blue dwellings.”

Weather and future proof, rain harvesting too

These livable yachts feature zero emission and silent electric propulsion which provide mobility and maneuverability. An automated hydraulic lift system, allowing the vessel to put down a stable foundation in up to 20 feet of water, ensures stability and hurricane resilience.

The livable yacht has four bedrooms in 2,600-square-feet of indoor space, with 4,350-square-feet in total, including its terraces and balconies. To achieve its sustainability objectives, the Arkup design is 100 percent solar-powered and has systems for harvesting and purifying rainwater, for complete independence.

With Covid and potentially other climate change disasters facing us, let’s start saving? The other option might be our collective thumbs in the dyke.

The post Solar powered yacht – sails and moors for off-grid escape appeared first on Green Prophet.

We all want to live in a home that is warm, comfortable and relaxing, and being able to keep temperatures at the right level forms part and parcel of your home environment. However, there are many people who end up spending a fortune on their energy bills, not just in terms of heating their home but also with their various other appliances and devices.

If you want to reduce the amount of energy you use at home, there are various ways in which you can do this. It is important to remember by reducing your energy usage, you will not only be able to do your bit for the environment, but you can also slash the amount you pay on your energy bills. So, this is something that is well worth doing. In this article, we will look at some of the ways you can cut your energy usage.

What You Can Do

The good news is that there are various ways in which you can reduce your energy usage at home, as the infographic shows. A lot of different things contribute to the amount of energy that you use each day, and by looking at these, you can then make cutbacks. Some of the ways you can reduce energy usage include:

Getting Insulation

One of the ways in which you can make a big difference in energy usage is by getting insulation. It is particularly important to consider insulation in areas such as your crawl space and your attic, as this can slash the amount of energy you use considerably by providing you with enhanced thermal efficiency. This means that you will not have to use your heating or air cooling systems as much in order to maintain a comfortable temperature in the home as seen in this guide to efficient heating and cooling.

Turning the Thermostat Down

Another thing you can do during the colder months is to turn down the thermostat, even if it is only by a little. Turning down the thermostat by just a couple of degrees can make a big difference to your energy usage as well as your energy costs. In order to keep warm, make sure you layer up instead, and you will be able to reduce your energy usage and reduce your bills.

Getting Double Glazing

If you do not already have it, it is well worth considering double glazing for the windows and doors of your home. These provide you with a great way to reduce your energy usage and maintain and comfortable temperature in your home. In addition to helping to cut your energy costs, double glazing can provide other benefits such as reducing noise pollution from outside and giving your home a modern new look.

These are all ways in which you can reduce the amount of energy you use in your home. By doing this, you will be amazed at how much you can save as well as being able to do your bit for the green cause.

The post Tips to Reduce Energy Usage at Home appeared first on Green Prophet.

Summertime, and the green outdoors beckons. It’s tempting to go for a healthy walk outdoors. But what if you live in an apartment, a bus ride away from a park? Or spend the best part of daylight hours in an office building? Most of Western humanity is already living in units stacked up one on top of another, where sidewalk trees and the occasional weedy empty lot is people’s only exposure to plants.

How about fresh air? Everyone’s walking around with their tongues hanging out from he summer heat, worse these days due to global warming. Why open windows when air conditioning offers instant relief?

Our urban work places and homes are like sealed environments. And in them, thousands of everyday objects subtly release chemical gases. Formaldehyde, for example, is present in grocery bags, waxed papers, facial tissues, and paper towels; cleaning products, cigarette smoke and cooking fuels. So is trichloroethylene, a chemical used in manufacturing ink, paints, lacquers, varnishes, and adhesives. Benzine is present in gasoline, inks, oils, paints, plastics, and rubber. Consider that every time you blow your nose, you come in contact with formaldehyde. When you print documents out, you’re unconsciously inhaling minute amounts of benzine.

Long-term exposure to these, and other common pollutants, takes a deadly toll on our health.

No one’s going back to using cloth handkerchiefs or hand-copying papers. But we should look for ways to get pollutants out of the enclosed environments we live in. A partial solution lies with Mother Nature – green your space.

Back in 1989, NASA did a joint two-year study with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America on how to clean the air in entirely sealed environments, that is, spaceships. They concluded that to maintain good air quality inside a space ship, astronauts should grow living plants to absorb and synthesize pollutants, in effect “scrubbing” the air. The researchers write,

“Since man’s existence on Earth depends upon a life support system involving an intricate relationship with plants and their associated microorganisms, it should be obvious that when he attempts to isolate himself in tightly sealed buildings away from this ecological system, problems will arise. Even without the existence of hundreds of synthetic organic chemicals off-gassing into tightly sealed environments, man’s own waste products would cause indoor air pollution problems. The answer to these problems is obvious. If man is to move into closed environments,
on Earth or in space, he must take along nature’s life support system.”

This study generated others on air quality in submarines, and “sick buildings.” The interest hasn’t stopped there. A study conducted across America by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital concludes that women who live among plants live longer, by 12%, than those who don’t. Green women stay mentally healthier, too. The study was done over 8 years between 2000-2008, and involved 108,630 women.

“We were surprised to observe such strong associations between increased exposure to greenness and lower mortality rates,” said Peter James, research associate in the Harvard Chan School Department of Epidemiology. “We were even more surprised to find evidence that a large proportion of the apparent benefit from high levels of vegetation seems to be connected with improved mental health.”

More impressive statistics that emerged from the Harvard study: Women living in the greenest areas had a 34% lower rate of deaths related to respiratory diseases. Women’s deaths from cancer were 13% lower in homes where there was plenty of contact with trees and plants.

“We know that planting vegetation can help the environment by reducing wastewater loads, sequestering carbon, and mitigating the effects of climate change. Our new findings suggest a possible co-benefit — improving health — that presents planners, landscape architects, and policy makers with an potential tool to grow healthier places,” said James.

Women were the focus of the Harvard study, but clearly the green factor benefits men as well. Researchers suggest that cleaner air, the noise-buffering effect of large plants like trees, and “opportunities for physical activity” – meaning gardening – are the life-prolonging elements here.

I add, anyone who’s had pleasure in tending plants knows how therapeutic the gentle toil is. Gardening also provides opportunities for social interaction; getting together with other gardeners, having something valuable in common with all kinds of people. And even if you’re not a people person, caring for plants gives you the satisfaction of living things that respond to your attention with flourishing green beauty.

NASA recommends using plants set over a carbon filter system fitted with a fan. This may not be convenient for most home owners, but here’s their list of plants that effectively scrub out the environment:

Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
Aloe Vera (Aloe vera or A. Barbadensis)
Areca palms (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata v. Bostoniesis)
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
Devil’s Ivy or pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Dracaena “Janet Craig” (Dracaena Deremensis)
Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix Roebelenii)
English ivy (Hedera helix)

Ficus/Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
Flamingo Lily/Fleur (Anthurium andraeanum)
Kimberly Queen Ferns (Nephrolepis obliterata)
Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Philodendron
Pineapple plants
Rubber plants (Ficus elastic)
Snake Plant/Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 
: NASA, Landscape Plants For Indoor Air Pollution Abatement 

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