From Shandra Blackwell

Happy Earth Day!!!

I thought it would be fitting to test run the new blog feature of the new site on Earth Day!  What a great way to start off!  So many times I am called upon to help complete special projects for so many of our great clients.  Little do they realize that along the way, I make sure that what goes into their homes and offices are actually good for them.

In 2002, I read a study that suggested the planet was undergoing changes that really were not a direct result of vehicles we drive…..WHAT?  I thought for sure cars and SUV’s were the culprit to many things including global warming….?? Not so much.  In fact, last year during a Continuing Education class I was attending, I discovered that most of the problems with the environment had to do with…..Ready?  OUR BUILDINGS!!!!

All of the formaldehyde, lead paint, oil paint, junk HVAC systems, dyes in materials and carpets, finishes and stains on wood flooring, adhesives and sealants used in homes not only can make us sick, but they are destroying the world that we live in.  Most of the problems with the earth’s atmosphere is related to the off gassing of “stuff” in our homes….Ugh!

It was at this moment that I decided to make the “change” and in 2006 Shea-Noel Interiors, Inc.  became as “green” as we could be.  We no longer put paint in client’s homes that could make them sick – there are no or very low VOC content in the paint we specify for our projects.  We no longer use oil based paints and we try and specify “green” as much as we can. 

At first this was a big deal for us, then we sort of stopped talking about things like – “The frame of this chair is from an FSC certified forest”, and “Don’t worry, this paint has no VOC’s so you will not get sick when you smell the air in your house while we are renovating”, and my favorite – “Everything I picked for your kitchen is energy efficient and will actually save you money.”  Interesting how commonplace it became for me and my staff???

Today is Earth Day 2008.  Some say it is a hoax, a money maker, blah, blah, blah.  I think it is good for us to breathe healthy clean air.  It is good for us to set an example to our children to conserve the resources we have.  So here are a few things you can do to help out…

1.    Turn off lights….OR, install a motion sensor on your lights so they will turn off on their own when there is no activity in a room for a while.

2.    Turn the faucets off when you are done….OR, invest in a new BRIZO faucet that is motion detection technology equipped.  These are really cool!

3.    Buy energy rated appliances.

4.    Spend a few more bucks on a gallon of paint the next time you redo….Sherwin Williams, Porter, Pittsburgh, ICI and YOLO all have earth friendly products which contain no lead and contain little or no VOC’s.

5.    When you buy furniture – check to see if the wood it is constructed out of is from an FSC certified forest…This is a biggie…

6.    Carpet…in your office – buy carpet tiles.  This way you can replace one or two pieces that are stained instead of tossing rooms of carpet into a landfill.  In your home – you can also buy carpet tiles…great for kids.  There are also new green products available in broadloom carpets that are made from recycled materials.

Today is Earth Day 2008…Glad I thought about blogging!  I hope it made a difference in what you will put in your house the next time you redo.  Always feel free to email with questions to  Shandra@shea-noel.com

Until next time!  Shandra