“Marmoleum” is linoleum made by the Forbo company. Like all true linoleum, Marmoleum is made from natural, sustainable materials such as linseed oil, cork, resin, limestone, and natural pigments. Contrary to what some people think the name implies, Marmoleum contains no marble.

Linoleum itself is not a new idea. Victorian homes featured linoleum, and it was a popular flooring choice in the first half of the 20th century. It fell out of favor in the 1960s, when man-made vinyl flooring made its debut. As more people become eco-conscious, however, linoleum is making a comeback. Marmoleum is part of that rising demand for sustainable building materials. Read the rest of this entry

If you spill something on your counter or floor, you probably have some sort of “all-purpose cleaner” that you reach for, and it’s most likely in a spray bottle. But some of those chemical-laden cleaners are questionable at best and dangerous at worst – their labels are festooned with warnings about accidental ingestion, inhalation of fumes, eye contact, skin contact, etc.

However, you can use the empty containers of these cleaners to hold your own home-made, non-toxic cleaners. Just make sure that you dispose of the contents responsibly (contact your local EPA or solid waste authority) and wash out the bottle thoroughly if you choose to re-use. Read the rest of this entry

There are few things more rewarding than planning and building your dream home. If you are focused on making your home eco-friendly, the rewards can be even more satisfying. There are some specifics you’ll need to keep in mind if you decide to go the eco-friendly route in you house-building efforts.

First, you need to decide how far you want to go in being environmentally friendly. Do you want your home to be 100 percent green, or maybe only 75 or 50 percent? To help answer this question, ask yourself why you are wanting to build an eco dream home. Is it because you believe a natural lifestyle is healthier? Do you care about the environment and want to protect it?

You may want a house that is entirely natural and even primitive, or you may want a traditional home with green features. How you address these questions will help you to get a grasp on how far you want your eco dream home to go. Read the rest of this entry

Are you getting ready to remodel your home? Maybe you are uncertain about the cost and consumerism inherent in buying new items from major chain stores. Or perhaps you just want your home to have the character and charm that are enhanced with used items. One thing is certain – using salvaged items in your remodeling efforts is more eco-friendly than buying new. Read the rest of this entry

Saving water equals saving money, and toilets typically use a whole lot of water. In fact, about one quarter of a home’s entire water usage is from toilet use. Buying a low-flow toilet can get expensive, but you can convert your existing toilet into a low-flow one for very little (or for free!). There are a couple of ways to do this.

The first and cheapest way is to install some sort of weight in the toilet’s tank. The weight displaces the water, taking up space, which means that less water is required to fill the tank. Here’s one way to accomplish that: Read the rest of this entry