The swanky housing is packed with renewable bamboo flooring, considered wall paneling, low VOC finishes, and regionally sourced siding with recycled content. It was also designed and engineered to minimize energy usage.

The housing was designed by architect Kyu Sung Woo, who recently won Korea’s version of the Nobel Prize - the Ho-Am Prize.

Source: worldarchitecturenews.com

Image source: © Coleong | Dreamstime.com

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What is the one thing that they probably have in common? Does it say somewhere “use in well ventilated area” or some similar warning? Well, that warning often accompanies many of the glue and adhesive products found on the shelf at the crafting supply store and in crafters’ homes. That warning is there because of the chemicals used in the adhesives. Chemicals that, if inhaled in concentrated amounts, can be bad for you, hence the “well ventilated” part.

EcoGlue is a new white craft glue that claims eco-friendly properties. It contains less than 1% of volatile organic compounds or VOCs, has virtually no hazardous air pollutants, contains no animal derivatives and does not carry a “well ventilated” warning on its label. In fact its packaging is made from 100% recycled content and carries a “non-toxic” stamp.

I got the chance to try out this new glue and ran it through some simple and highly unscientific tests to see if it the eco-friendly label still meant quality adhesive or if it was just some watered down glue.

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They weren’t kidding when they said living green ain’t easy. With all of the toxic home design products out on the market today, it’s often difficult to locate products that are environmentally-friendly, non-toxic, affordable, and importantly, aesthetically beautiful.

In the world of green design however, the times are a-changin’, and with the birth of Berkeley’s own EcoHome Improvement, a crucial green scene player is now giving us the gift of a centralized hub for green design products and education.

Featuring “Ecological & Healthy Home Improvement Products,” EcoHome Improvement specializes in non-toxic paints, formaldehyde-free finishes, FSC-certified wood for cabinetry and flooring, as well as bamboo, cork, natural linoleum and wool carpeting. The list goes on to include recycled countertops and tiles. Each of these products is, of course, only selected after making a high standard cut for overall performance quality and aesthetic appeal.

When I went over today to chat with co-founders Nina Boeddeker and Taja di Leonardi, I discovered that running a green design business like EcoHome Improvement has as much to do with the finished product on the showroom floor as it does with employee relations and a green business model. “It’s not just about what you sell,” said Nina. “It’s also about how you function internally. By working together for something you believe in, you help expand the field of something you love.”

For EcoHome Improvement, this means incorporating a structure of lateral management and making all important decisions collectively. “It’s about showing passion for what you do,” said Nina. “As well as making green products accessible to the public, we are interested in providing a aesthetically green experience for people to network, share in advice from an expert, or even just enjoy some tea at the paint bar.”

Personally, I’m thrilled with my EcoHome-painted green room (in color and quality!) that lets me sleep without breathing in air full of toxic fumes found so common in the harmful off-gassing of today’s paint products.

For more information on green home design practices or for Ecohome lectures and workshops that are beautiful inside and out, please visit: www.ecohomeimprovement.com.