Green House Makeover : Eco-Friendly Hardwood Floors

When I purchased a 1920s Colonial for renovation, I wanted to maintain its original character yet use as many eco-friendly products and features as possible. The house had the original hardwood floors throughout; Douglas Fir on the first floor and Southern Yellow Pine on the second floor. Both were shabby. The first floor showed plenty of discoloration, large scratches and even a hump in the middle of the floor. The second floor was partially covered in hideous pink ceramic tiles, so we weren't sure what would happen. We knew that the green way to go was to salvage as much original planking as possible, rather than to scrap it and start new. But would it work?

Our plan of action was to hire the best flooring contractor in the area. That was easy. Dave Novak Flooring of Long Island is a real pro and knows his green products to boot. Dave helped us to determine whether or not the situation was salvageable or not. Miraculously, they were able to correct the major flaws, including the hump, some wide gaps, and the discoloration. The next step was to determine what product to use to restore the floor. He highly recommended BonaKemi products, for their quality, durability and environmental friendliness. In fact, Bona's extensive line of products are the only hardwood flooring system that is GreenGuard certified for Indoor Air Quality. With a combination of BonaKemi's water based stains and sealers, and Dave's expertise, our floors became absolutely flawless. Our Green House Showcase slide show pics at the top of this page show the gorgeous (and healthy) results.

When renovating your hardwood floors, talk to your contractor about the benefits of a water based treatment vs. oil based polyurethane. Or contact ours: Dave Novak Flooring at (516)-672-2413, and please visit BonaKemi.com. Read more!

Fuel Efficient SUV Alternative

So my lease is up and I'm looking for a new ride. Since the Aston Martin doesn't come in a fuel efficient model, I guess I need to keep searching. (As if.)

The real story is that I have been on the waiting list for the Toyota Prius for about 3 months now, and I don't get the impression that they will be calling me back any time soon. My battered ego is sad to report that low cut blouses, shameless flirtation and heavy batting of the eyelashes did absolutely nothing to speed up this lengthy process. But the good news is that I think I found the answer for all those moms out there that are not looking forward to parting with their beloved SUV but need a nicely equipped, spacious car.

The Volkwagen TDI Clean Diesel Jetta Sportwagen. The photo above is just the regular Jetta, but I am referring to the Sportwagen, shown at Volkwagon's site. I know, its a VW, which is not what you were expecting but hang on there, princess. First of all, the gas mileage gets about 29 city and 40 highway, and some say that these EPA estimates are on the low side. The emissions are very low and are expected to be lower than a normal car. Plus, the car has got plenty of pep (like Usain Bolt), sporty styling (like May-Traynor and Walsh) and plenty of room in the trunk (like Lo Lo Jones). Just kidding Lo Lo, you are lovely! And the car comes with some super cool add ons: an all glass panaromaric roof, navigation, satellite radio, Ipod docking station, as well as cutting edge safety features. Best of all, the TDI Sportwagen is available soon at a dealer near you!

Check out all the specs of this vehicle and more at TopGreenCars or VW of America.

Photo courtesy of VW of America, Inc. Read more!

Who are Today's Real Greenies?

Once you become involved in the green movement, it tends to do something to you. At least it did to me. It hypnotically lulls you into an obsessive state and suddenly, you find yourself weighing the green attributes and qualifications of just about everything that comes across your path. Thankfully, because this has been a great source of benefits for my family. The one exception? Shoes and bags, which I proudly maintain my original obsessive allegiance. My highly plausible argument is that the lifespan of quality goods is much longer than the "Made in China" equivalent, so you need to buy less overall. Case in point, I have a Gucci bag that is at least 10 years old and after lots of wear, it still looks as good as new.

In trying to determine who exactly might be listening to my rantings about green, I needed to learn who today's greenies are. Are they 95% ex-hippies from Sea Cliff and 5% the rest or what? Here is what I learned from my research:

Greenies are not just hippies who smoke pot regularly, tend to resists haircuts, sport tattered sandals and eat a diet of munchies. Although many are and they continue to smoke pot avidly. Not that I have any direct knowledge of these types of activities.

Greenies are not clueless and caught up in a sea of misinformation. On the contrary, I find them to be learned intellectuals. They are as passionate about the plight of the manatee as they are in the boudoir. Again, no direct info on this!

Not all greenies are full on-junkies; many opt for a "lighter shade" of green. In fact, some even drive SUVs and wear leather goods including the latest Tory Burch ballet flats, available this fall. They choose to adopt green principals in some respects, but it's not an overall lifestyle choice. ( While we applaud this groups efforts immensely, further introspection into their materialistic lives might be a good idea. After all, its a recession and shockingly, even Paris Hilton is cutting back.)

Based on several Green Drinks International meetings that I have attended, today's greenie is much younger than I would have originally imagined. Many college aged, 30 somethings and Facebook/social networking types are heavily involved in the movement.

And believe it or not, Seniors are the spoilers here. Recently, I met an older couple at a Green House Showcase event, and by the looks of them, it is quite possible that they were present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence. All kidding aside, they were very interested in all of our green features and planned to implement many of them in a new renovation of their seniors condo. Very surprising!

The bottom line is that the green movement is gaining momentum amongst the young and old alike, and whatever you can muster is a benefit to your long term health, the Earth and most importantly these days, your wallet. Peace out.

For more information about going green, contact us at Klivesgreen@gmail.com. Read more!

Green House Makeover: Toilet Talk

Did you know that your old toilet (circa 1994 or earlier) uses up to 70% more water annually than a new dual flusher? In areas where water costs are high, replacing your old bowl can save you some significant coin! Since our fresh water supplies in parts of this country are dwindling and are expected to drop precipitously low in the future, dual flushing technologies are essential.

At our recent Green House Showcase in New York, reducing water consumption was one of our main objectives. One way to meet this goal was to install dual flushers. These toilets have been used for years in Europe and Asia, and they are slowly making their way to the US. Here's how they work: there are 2 flushing options, either 0.8 gallons or 1.6 gallons, depending on your uh, needs. And they come in all types of styles, from traditional to super contemporary, and best of all, most of them are affordable. The ones we installed cost about $250 each, made by Sterling for Kohler. See how the tank in the photos is so small? This makes them look so tres chic - ooh la la! (Both photographs show the same toilets in 2 different baths, fyi.)

Ok now let's talk functionality. Do they work and get the, er, job done, shall we say? The answer from my experience is a wholehearted yes! I have had many a construction worker over the house and let's just say that I didn't find any nasty surprises.

In conclusion, mon ami, adopting water saving features like dual flushers in your home are a fabulous way to reduce your consumption and save money in the process. Manifique! Read more!

Free Pass to The Best Green Gym

Once a month, my refined sugar intake requirements elevate quite uncontrollably. I find myself noshing on anything processed with a high sugar and chocolate content. Also, my emotional sensitivity borders on the psychotic. It's very possible to find me sobbing after a touching TV commercial or in last night's case, the presentation of the gold medal to adorable Shaun Johnson. Either I need to be committed or it's simply that time of the month. I need to hit the gym offset this bizarre imbalance pronto!

The Olympic coverage is not helping either. I find my eyes glued to the TV screen in sheer exhaustion night after night, even to watch rowing! Kudos to NBC's mesmerizing coverage.

I love sports. Not only watching them, but participating in them as well. When I can't run and cycle on the street, I hit the gym. In a high stress and high calorie world, it's a requirement as a part of my green lifestyle - for both mind and body. So I don't go totally cuckoo.

Luckily, I stumbled upon a fantastic gym in my area: Equinox Fitness. It's a beautiful facility with great trainers, awesome yoga, a fabulous spa, and spic-n-span locker rooms. As a green junkie, this is all very nice but what really hooked me in was their green initiatives. Some of them include: low voc products used in the design and building of the gym, plastic and paper recycling, the use of low-tox/natural cleansers in the gyms, the use of recycled paper at corporate, a shop offering organic clothing and reusable bottles, and soon-to-be-implemented technologies that improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality and reduce water consumption.

If you need to tame those hormones, and look and feel great to boot, email me @klivesgreen@gmail.com for your 3 day free trial pass and I guarantee that you will love it! Read more!

Confessions of a Green Junkie

I admit it. I'm a Green Junkie. That's me. I'm a chronic recycler and a solar freak plus I can kick some organic ass. I grow my own veggies, compost, sleep on organic bedding, use natural beauty products, and I even WORK in the industry, I'm so hooked. Every time I need to buy something...anything...be it food, clothing, a new car, towels, or even soap...I morph into an investigative environmental reporter, rushing to uncover the impurities and toxicity of the synthetic, and search for the most suitable, all-natural fossil fuel free replacement that keeps my indoor air quality high, my carbon footprint low and ultimately gets me to that green euphoric high....oh- oh- oh- yeaaaaahhhh! It's almost as good as sex.

In addition to being hooked on green consumer products, I can't get enough information about climate change and the ever changing duration of our earthly existence. This video is part of the reason why I'm hooked:



It wasn't always this way....I can think back to my days of over consuming at the local superstore, when I was bored and wanted to kill time. After scoping out a shopping cart, I would wander aisle after aisle, piling up my cart with as many sandals, housewares, and other miscellaneous crap I could get my hands on. ( A shop-a-holic high, you say? I see a trend here!) Heck, it felt damn good, yet it was a foul display of wastefulness.

Another memory of my former self was my frequent high-end corporate dinners in NYC when I would order a full course meal, only to nibble on a little of this and that, and proudly declare, "Yes, I'm done," when each course was clearly untouched. Just throw it right in the trash. What a totally spoiled bitch! I can barely stand myself thinking about it.

Like Gwyneth Paltrow, motherhood was the turning point that made me realize (duh) that most of the things we eat and live with in our homes are bad for us and need to be replaced. It was time to take inventory and make incremental changes that improved the quality of life for myself and my family. The more I learned, the more outraged and ultimately addicted I became.

We all have choices in life and we need to really make better ones. I do not condone burning bras, growing out your arm pit hair or trading in your Tory Burch flats for hemp sandals (PLEASE, not that last one!) But if we are having a new baby, we need to take a look at surrounding that newborn with the purest products that do the least environmental damage. Or if our car lease is up, we need to explore hybrids and clean diesels, or at least downsize our vehicle from mammoth to medium. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to find your new green identity that resides somewhere between a landlubber hippie and a spoiled bitch over consumer- AND make a real impact towards the future!

BOTTOM LINE: All kidding aside, the green movement is real and its now and we all better get on board before we vaporize this planet and future generations! Oh yyyeaaaahhhh. Read more!

Green House Showcase 2008 Photos

 It doesn't look even remotely green, does it? Ha ha, yet it totally is! For those of you poor souls who didn't attended this event, watch the slide show attached to see the results. The home was completely renovated in a sustainable and environmentally sensitive way thanks to the consulting work by Kristing Livadas. Eh hem, that's me. My work on this project, coupled with my research and present study for the LEED AP exam enables me to successfully complete green minded projects, both commercial and residential.

Here's a listing of the green attributes we added to this 1920s Colonial Charmer: 1. Rhino Shield Exterior Paint (insulating and guaranteed for 25 years) 2. BonaKemi water based stains and sealers for the 90+ year old wood floors 3. Sherwin Williams Harmony no-voc paint 4. beeswax candelabra in WB fireplace 5. programmable thermostats 6. Energy Star rated windows with Low E coating 6. Energy Star Rated Exterior Doors 7. Globus Cork Kitchen Flooring 8. Moen water purifier kitchen faucet 8. Ice Stone recycled glass and concrete countertops 9. recycled glass and recycled porcelain tiles 10. Energy Star appliances throughout 11. low flow aerator faucets and shower throughout 12. dual flush toilets 13. Savvy Rest organic mattress 14. Feng Shui eco design throughout 15. organic bed and bath linens throughout 16. front loading Energy Star washer and dryer 17. new gas hot water heater 18. organic fertilizers and native plantings throughout 19. new cement fiberboard siding on garage 20. new natural pebble driveway (allows for natural drainage and minimal soil disruption 21. eco furnishings by Crate & Barrel.

Read more!

Should I Use Pesticides on my Lawn? NO!

Jogging around the neighborhood is one of my favorite things to do. I get to listen to my music, in peace, just me and the road. I particularly enjoy the slide show of homes and manicured lawns as I trot by. On my route, I noticed a disturbing number of those mini flags that alert you to the presence of a recent pesticide spraying. Not just a few, a lot. I am completely amazed by this. How is it, that in this day and age, that people are more concerned about the look of their lawns than the impact of synthetic pesticide use on humans (especially children), plants and animals, and the environment? It's either ignorance- or ignorance in my book. Since the EPA and government continue to allow corporations to create and sell products that harm us in the name of $$, we have to take matters into our own hands. Here are a few key facts that should make you give up the flag, at last!

Fact: There is no registered pesticide that is safe. In the US, it is a violation of Federal law to state that a pesticide is safe. (Which means it's harmful, people!)

Fact: According to the Journal of National Cancer Institute-1987, children whose homes and garden have been treated with pesticides have 6.5 times greater risk for leukemia than children living in untreated environments.

Fact: Besides sensitivity and toxicity, other dangers to humans include decreased fertility, cancers, leukemia, asthma/allergies, low sperm count, genetic disorders and more.

Fact: Only 5% of sprayed pesticides reach their intended target - the rest drifts to unintended areas such as water or the air. ( Like on that swing set, or on your shoes, then in your house, where that baby is crawling on the floor!)

Fact: Pesticide use is one of the top pollutants of our water, it degrades our soil and it harms wildlife.

"Chemicals have replaced bacteria and viruses as the main threat to health. The diseases we're beginning to see as the major causes of death in the latter part of this century and into the 21st century are diseases of chemical origin." -- Dick Irwin, toxicologist at Texas A&M Universities

The proliferation of pesticide use has only occurred over the past 50 years, yet for centuries farmers used natural methods to protect their crops. Alternatives are available! Reach out to your local village, Chamber of Commerce or environmental non-profit to learn about organic methods to treat your lawn at home.

Some of the information in this post was found at the link below. For more information, go to http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/environment/RATE/pestfact.html

NOTE: When I say 'pesticides', I mean any poison meant to kill a certain target. These include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Read more!

Eco Furnishings Found Locally at Crate & Barrel

After renovating a house recently with all environmentally friendly features, it was now time to look at furnishings. Of course, I wanted to go eco friendly. Home furnishings can be toxic and negatively impact your indoor air quality. I learned this first hand last year.

I made the incredibly stupid decision to purchase some bedroom furniture from a major national furniture chain. A few hours after it arrived, I noticed a heavy "new car/furniture" type of scent in the room. I figured it was just new and needed some time to air out. After a day, the odor was still there. After 4 days, the odor was still there. After 10 days straight with the windows opened, the odor DID NOT dissipate AT ALL! I was having visions of those poor people in New Orleans in their FEMA trailers! With the windows shut, I could only tolerate 5 minutes in the room before a headache would set in. I knew I had to take action and removed the furniture immediately.

My guess is that the wood frame and drawers were constructed with plywood that contained formaldehyde and heaven knows what else. In other types of furnishings, upholstery can be treated with flame retardant chemicals (and stain resistant chems too) that off gas into your home, and your family get the breathe it in! So going eco friendly makes a lot of sense for a lot of reasons.

The next challenge is to find these types of furnishings, which are few and far between. Luckily, I stumbled onto a national chain that offers eco friendly furnishings and housewares, as a part of their Eco Initiaves Program - Crate & Barrel. They carry everything from Bamboo Dining Tables, to chairs with Soy foam cushioning, to recycled glass dinnerware. Some of the pics on this post are from their line. I was lucky enough to get some of these lovely pieces for our Green House and everyone loved them, especially me.

For more eco furnishings, take a look at:
Fernwalla
Cisco Brothers
Read more!