Whether you are moving into a new home (perhaps into a net zero energy house) or just replacing furniture you already have, there are a few things you need to be aware of when shopping. When searching out new furniture, you need to make sure that you review the hang tags that all pieces of furniture have. You will learn a lot of interesting things from them.
The first thing to look at is to see if the hang tags have HDF or MDF listed. This means it is either high or medium density fiberboard. In cheaper furniture, manufacturers use sawdust and bind it using formaldehyde resin to make this fiberboard. The toxic formaldehyde gradually will start off gassing which basically means you will start breathing it at some point! According to the EPA, breathing the formaldehyde in can cause watery eyes, a burning sensation in the eyes and throat, nausea, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks, and cancer. Instead, choose furniture that is made with solid wood or bamboo. Sometimes you do get what you paid for and that is an important lesson to remember when shopping. With a more natural item, you have the peace of mind that you are keeping your family safe and healthy.
Another worry is polyurethane foam. That is the cushioning you will find in most couches and mattresses. The good news is that though the components are toxic at the factory (because they are petroleum based), the foam is usually inert by the time it gets to you. However, if you want to go truly green, you can get 100% natural latex foam. It is harvested by hand from trees in Indonesia. If this something you would like in the bedroom, the Vivetique Eco-Luxe mattress (which runs about $3,700) may fit the bill for you. It uses more than 60 pounds of certified organic cotton, 30 pounds of merino wool, and has a two inch layer of natural latex. When it is time to get a new mattress, the company will pick it up, shred it, and use it again as carpet padding. If that is a little out of your price range, a bamboo mattress is another great choice. Prices tend to be more in line with regular mattresses and bamboo’s natural moisture managing and thermal properties help to create the perfect sleep environment. Bamboo’s anti-bacterial properties also act as a natural deodorant which will keep your bamboo mattress smelling clean and fresh. (Of course, you will have to get a set of bamboo sheets queen and a bamboo bedspread to go with a mattress like this!)
Soft Bamboo Sheets
We all can’t go out and buy a new house to make our lives greener. However, when we are making changes in our existing home, it is the little things that count. By reading the tags on furniture that you buy, you can make your life more green and be very comfortable doing so.
Related posts:
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Our company was founded on the furniture and furnishings are often sent to countries that are sourced from our quality, thanks.
Now a days, many real estate developers offer eco friendly homes by using eco friendly construction material and utilization of only renewable energy sources. Eco friendly homes provide greenery and healthy environment. Incorporation of recycling, reuse, effective waste disposable system and solid waste management leaves you a eco friendly environment to your dream home.
Humankind has sought to shape nature’s gift of forest materials to his own ends since long before the wheel. It is conceivable that the first tool was actually a whole tree, pushed over a ravine or precipice to enable a crossing, the first bridge was made. It is also possible this happened before we even learned to control fire.
The removal of topsoil brought on by deep depressions formed by swiftly moving waters
in turkey eco friendly furniture is not so famous as other countries as i think.
{ 1 trackback }