As a consumer of commercial products, you may be wondering what the term “green” consumer means.

In this article, we will show you how to practice eco-friendly shopping with the following five tips which will help you become a savvy consumer and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.  Making conscientious “green” shopping choices can have an impact on our earth’s ecosystem and what you purchase is a tangible representation of societal values, needs and wants.

If people began purchasing “green” mattresses and bedding for example,

it would be incumbent upon the bedding industry to yield to consumer preference.  We, as consumers, have the power to change the world by making eco-friendly purchases and utilizing our consumer dollars to work for us.  One by one, the things we buy and the products we select can improve our quality of life and health, which is why it is so important to be selective and make the right choices.

What is Energy Star?  Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products which originate in the US.  Devices and products which display the Energy Star logo generally use 20-30% less energy than what is allowable or required according to governmental standards.  Upgrading appliances, computers and televisions sets to Energy Star will be more energy-efficient and cut the cost of your utility bills.  This is just one small way of doing your part to conserve energy and is a great way to do your part to “green” your lifestyle a little bit more.

Another way of following the “green” concept is to purchase organically grown and local foods as much as possible.

By purchasing locally grown foods, it cuts down on chemical pesticides and fertilizers which result in upsetting the agricultural environment.  There is no need to transport the foods, which means it is less expensive to grow locally and helps reduce carbon emissions.

By switching to natural fibers for clothing, blankets and bedding, you are making a powerful “green” statement.  To make synthetic clothing, manufacturers must use harsh chemicals and excessive water which means introducing these toxins into the environment.  Very few people realize that using clothes organic cotton, wool, and bamboo, hemp and flax products do not require the use of harmful chemicals to manufacture, which means it is much better for the environment.

Using less energy is another way to go “green,” and because America is one of the biggest users of fossil fuels, every little bit of conservation.  To conserve energy you could pack a lunch, carpool or ride a bike to work, using public transportation, and turning off your lights, televisions, computers and other electrical appliances when not in use to reduce the amount of wasted energy.  Environmentally friendly shopping also extends to vacations and leisure activities; you can go camping, take a float trips and do other activities which do not require wasting precious natural resources.

Going “green” is a life changing choice and it not only benefits the environment, but everyone involved.  When we use less fossil fuel, fewer chemicals and waste less of our resources, and improve the quality of life we have and make the air we breathe cleaner.  If all industries are forced by consumers to adhere to a higher standard and people made conscious choices as to what types of products and services they used, the world would be a cleaner place and we could easily reduce our carbon footprint.

Who’s to blame for people not Buying Green Earth Friendly Furniture?

The Industry as a whole: The furniture retailers, furniture manufacturers, and interior designers must not blame anybody but ourselves. We’re not educating the public and making them aware of products that are available right now items like earth friendly safe mattresses, furniture, and accessories.

Interesting note, most manufacturers aren’t building alternative products. They say it is because retailers, designers, and the consumers are not asking for them. So we are leaving it up to the consumers to be our industry innovators? Really, we as an industry are going to wait for the consumer to ask for something they no nothing about? We are the ones with the means,  industry experience, and industry knowledge to bring these inovative product developments to market to buy.

3 years ago STL Beds took the lead in St. Louis Missouri by offering green alternatives in mattresses, bedding accessories and soon will offer bedroom furniture, with a goal to do it for about the same price as non earth friendly products.

We believe the public’s desire to be educated in the area of home furnishings. This belief has been backed by the Sustainable Furnishing Council’s own study which stated that 75% of the general public cares about indoor air quality to varying degrees. They went on to say that 60-70% of us are already purchasing environmentally safe cleaning products, paper products and energy efficient light bulbs. 25% are buying energy efficient appliances, yet only 8% are buying green home furnishings.

Primary reasons why consumers are not buying green home furnishings is due to consumers lack of awareness. They also believe that some products may not be available in stores to see or concerned their that green goods may be too expensive. This accounts for about 73% of those that would consider purchasing sustainable products.

It essentially all comes down to education. It seems that what we do not know will not hurt us, at least not until it is too late.
A number of things have been made available over recent years to make green furniture environmentally friendly.

•Low VOC finishes, sealers, and glues are safer alternatives such as clay based paints, whey, tung or linseed oil, bee’s wax
•Conserve by reducing waste and conserving materials while saving energy in the process
•Use of reclaimed woods
•Choose woods that are plantations grown, or rapid renewals these species grow to full maturity in approximately 10 years or less
•Consider water based finishes using 50g/L vs. EPA limit of 350. They dry faster and clean up is non toxic.
The removal of formaldehyde from furniture is a major health factor. It is claimed by researchers to be a major cause of childhood asthma by major studies. Minimal exposure can cause eye and skin irritation. Major exposure can cause death. Government is taking major steps to eliminate formaldehyde from furniture and even mattresses, and upholstery fabrics.
•PCB’s contained in many furnishings are a known carcinogen as well as plasticizers which make plastics softer and less brittle.

Simply offering consumers these environmentally and healthier choices instead of shoving the old ways of doing things down their throats will give the them the chance to show their interest by supporting these products with their hard earned dollars. If we educate the consumer in the ways of safe sustainable business practices and manufacturing methods, if we teach them that there are sustainable methods for growth of timber and harvesting textiles the educated public will recognize inflated costs from profiteers who are only green washing. They will choose competitively priced healthier earth friendlier and safe products instead.

There are many dangerous and toxic chemicals released from traditional mattresses,

which makes it a significant source of indoor pollution, sleep disorders and health-related problems. With the increased focus being placed on going “green,” many consumers are interested in ways to go about decreasing indoor pollution in the home and finding out ways to improve the environment. Many manufacturers are hearing the consumer cry for more environmentally-friendly products and organic bedding products are easier to find and more affordable, than in times past.

As adults, we spend a third of our lives in bed, and this is mores so true with infants and children. When we lay down to sleep at night, most of us assume our blankets, sheets and bedding are safe and clean. However, what most people do not realize is that during our sleep time, toxic chemicals, fumes and vapors, are absorbed into our body through the skin and lungs when we breathe. Our bedrooms can be one of the most toxic rooms in the home, which is why people need to check into the advantages of organic bedding.

The conventional mattresses sold in America are manufactured using petroleum based products

such as polyurethane foam which has been saturated in antimicrobial solution, chemical dyes, stabilizers, fire retardants and surfactants. These chemicals release gases from the mattress into the air and when inhaled and absorbed can cause such health problems as cancer, nausea and vomiting, allergies, chronic bronchitis, impaired lung functions and headaches. By removing any external toxins from your bedroom, you are doing your part to be healthier and also supporting the market for organic products as well.

One way to “green” up your bedroom is to purchase an organic mattress, which is made from all natural cotton and free from synthetic materials and petrochemicals. Organic mattresses breathe better, which means a more comfortable night’s sleep and a stable body temperature. An organic mattress offers more pressure relief than memory foam, which means better spinal alignment and comfort. Natural organic bedding contains naturally antibacterial properties, is resistant to mold and mildew and is resistant to dust mites, which are known to be a trigger for asthmatics.

Organic mattresses are equal in cost to premium quality traditional mattresses

and are a good value, not only for your health and comfort, but also because of durability. Many organic mattresses will last for up to 30 years, while a conventional mattress will generally last for a maximum of 10 years and will break down. People that have switched from using a traditional mattress to an organic one are impressed with the quality and agree it was well worth the bit of extra money spent.

Organic cotton mattresses are non-toxic and contain no harmful, synthetic chemicals

which is both better for your home and the environment. An organic mattress is a natural alternative to petrochemical based mattresses and will cause less of a chance of an allergic reaction in those with a sensitive respiratory system. When looking for a healthier, more comfortable night’s sleep, checking into the benefits of an organic mattress might be just what you need.

Going green is no longer just a catch phrase or passing trend, but more of an important concept that is in all areas of a consumer’s life. Because medical science cannot uncover the hidden reasons behind autism, hyperactivity and asthma and other developmental delays, it is important to explore the toxic chemical environment in which we live and sleep. Chemicals used to control pests, fight germs and grow food leave the air around us compromised and potentially dangerous and can be absorbed into the body.

The most powerful place a consumer can go “green,” is in the bedroom where we spend much of our time relaxing and sleeping. Consider the mattress you sleep on and the bedding you use to cover yourself up with at night. When we sleep, we breathe in and out deeply and this can make us vulnerable to the toxins and chemicals in our bedding and mattress. Particularly infants and small children, the lungs are vulnerable and still developing, which is why it is so highly important to use the safest bedding and mattresses available.
Our bodies come into direct contact with our mattress, for hours at a time and we can possibly absorb toxic chemicals while sleeping. A mattress made of natural fibers and cotton helps “green” our bedroom and makes for safe sleeping. A natural mattress surface helps prevent allergies and gives natural support to the spine and body contour which makes for a more comfortable night’s sleep.

What we use to cover our mattress with is also another component of “greening” the bedroom. The covering of a mattress should be made of organic cotton and wool, in order to pass the new flame retardant standards and to prevent you from coming into contact with toxic gasses released from some of the older synthetic covers. A cotton mattress pad also offers superior qualities of wool which transports moisture and helps regulate body temperature, helps distribute body weight and relieves pressure points and it is also resistant to mold, dust mites and bacteria.

Chemical free bedding is the next step to take when “greening” your bedroom and now it is easy to find 100% organic cotton labeled sheets and comforters. Wrinkle and stain free sheets are not a good choice because they are often treated with chemicals that can include formaldehyde and other toxings. Looking for bedding materials made without bleaching and organic cotton is not only better for the environment, but also health as well.

There is no plausible reason as to why someone must allow questionable chemicals to come into contact with skin, or be used in bedding, sheets or mattresses. Because our bodies are like big sponges, the chemicals given off by synthetic bedding can be toxic and dangerous and the cumulative effects on the health are unpredictable. When “greening” the bedroom you should make sure you are safe and not breathing in any dangerous chemicals while sleeping, for both your health and that of your family, it is important to find comfortable, all natural, organic bedding and mattress materials.

When summer utility bills start soaring, many homeowners will wonder how to cut expenses.

There are ways to shave money off of your monthly utility bill and you do not have to sweat it out and be miserable in the heat. The following article provides room-by-room tips to help you save money and go “green” at the same time.

Outside the home, a good way to reduce energy costs is to plant shrubbery and trees so the exterior of the house is shaded. On the sunnier side of your home, plant some tall, full shade trees and for a quick fix, having blinds or shades is another good way of keeping the home cooler in the summer sun. Having trees planted in specific spots around the property provides shade, wind barrier and protects from the elements of winter, as well as summer.

Make sure your air conditioner and furnace filter are changed regularly, which will ensure it is functioning effectively and will help avoid any serious problems down the road. If you need a new air conditioner unit, shop around for an energy efficient model and you may qualify for a tax credit. Look for a unit with an energy ratio of 16 to 21, which is the highest and check into a geothermal heating and cooling system which uses a stable, ambient heat.

A homeowner should make sure the house is leak-free and fill any cracks or hole in the foundation and caulk around exterior and interior doors and windows. Something else to be considered is to find a local Energy Star auditor and have them come into the home to do a check for areas where energy maybe escaping. The auditor can do a blower door test to check for low air pressure and take a picture of the home with a geothermal camera to check for areas that need better insulation and sealing.

In the living room, it is a good idea to shut down the entertainment center via unplugging it from the wall or using a power strip, which cuts down on power loss when things are not in use. For people considering a new television set, there are some great energy efficient models available on the market so it pays to shop around and find one which uses less energy than an older model. On average, you can save approximately $50-150 per year when you shut things down that are not in use, so it saves to turn off appliances like stereos, televisions, computers and coffee pots.

When baking cookies or a cake in the summertime, it will force your air conditioner unit into overdrive. However, as a result, you can enjoy a variety of foods which are grilled outdoors and you could even use a toaster oven to cook small meals. You can even bake cookies in your car at temperatures of 95°F, for 2 ½ hours, check the internet for recipes and more instructions.

Perhaps the room we spend the most time in is the bedroom, in this room we sleep, read and relax so it is important when greening the home to pay special attention to our personal sanctuary. Water bed owners should consider changing to a well insulated soft side water bed or upgrading their existing water bed heater to a solid state energy efficient model.  Installing room darkening shades and using plants in the room will help keep out the heat and keep the room air clean and using an overhead fan will help circulate air around the room and make it more comfortable.  It is also a good idea to close doors to rooms that are not in use and it will also help to lessen the load on your air conditioner unit.

By following the above mentioned tips and ideas, it is possible to save a little or a lot on your monthly utility bills. Through incorporating some “green” tips into your routine and changing a few things around your home, you can do your part to protect the environment and save money at the same time.