Green home resources
GREEN GLOSSARY
Active solar energy: Energy created from exposure to the sun, captured through equipment installed in buildings; used to generate energy and heat.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs): Fluorescent lighting that uses up to one quarter the energy of incandescent bulbs, producing the same output with a lifespan up to 10 times longer.
Drip irrigation: Landscape watering through small, perforated underground pipes that deliver water to roots of plants, slowing evaporation.
Dual flush: Long popular in Europe and Asia, a dual flush toilet system reduces overall water consumption by providing two different flushing forces.
Energy Star: A government-backed program that encourages production and use of household products that use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment. To gain the Energy Star rating, products must meet stringent energy efficiency criteria set by the U. S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Engineered wood: A wood product derived from fast-growing, small-diameter trees as well as from wood strands, veneers, lumber, and other forms of wood fiber that might otherwise be discarded.
Fly ash: A byproduct of coal-burning power plants, which is usually dumped in landfills. Fly ash has binding properties similar to cement and can be substituted for the large portions of cement used when making concrete. Also used as an ingredient in brick, block, paving, and structural fills.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): A nonprofit organization that sets environmental standards for forest management worldwide. FSC-certified wood is sustainably harvested, helping to conserve old-growth forests and the ecosystems they support.
Gray water: Wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry that is reused for irrigation systems.
Low-E windows: Low emissivity glass has a clear coating that absorbs and reflects radiant heat and UV rays, helping to keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in the winter.
Low VOC: Volatile organic compounds (VOC) area chemicals that evaporate easily at room temperature. The term “organic” indicates that the compounds contain carbon which off-gasses and pollutes the air. Paints and materials with low VOCs have low levels of toxicity.
Natural fiber fabrics: Materials such as cotton, wool, silk, and linen that are biodegradable and require little energy to process.
Passive solar energy: Energy created from exposure to the sun, captured primarily through the design and orientation of a building.
Permeable pavers: Allows rainwater to rapidly infiltrate and enter the sub-base where it is naturally filtered, rather than run off into storm sewers.
Photovoltaic array (PV): Rooftop solar panel system that directly converts sunlight into electricity via an electrical inverter connected to your power meter.
Radiant barrier: A thin layer of metallic foil bonded to roof sheathing, reflecting up to 97 percent of the sun’s heat. Reduces indoor temperatures during peak summer days.
Rainwater harvesting: Storage of rain runoff from downspouts, gutters, and roofs collected in large barrels or tanks for use in landscape irrigation.
Tankless water heater: Up to 70 percent more efficient than traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand, reduce or eliminate standby losses, use less space, and last longer than conventional water heaters.
Title 24: Part of the California energy code, revised standards for new home construction require that 50 percent of light output in kitchens derive from high efficiency fluorescent bulbs.
Wheat board: Non toxic particleboard made from 60 million tons of straw waste produced in the U. S. each year and used for furniture, cabinetry, and countertop substrate. Bales of wheat straw are milled into fine particles, and then sorted, dried, and bound together with a formaldehyde-free resin.
Xeriscape: Low-water landscaping with slow-growing, drought-tolerant plants in order to conserve water and reduce yard trimmings. Xeriscapes generally require less maintenance, fertilizer, and pest control than traditional landscapes.
ACCESSORIES
Bamboo Trays
Esque
503/289-6392
Fitzsu Society
323/655-1908
Mi-Workshop
619/231-7985
One Earth One Design
888/270-7005
Bedding
Fold Bedding / 100 percent wool Wave Wool
510/232-5018
Home Accents
Branch
415/341-1824
Esque
503/289-6392
Fitzsu Society
323/655-1908
One Earth One Design
888/270-7005
Resource Revival
800/866-8823
Recycled glass drawer pulls
Spectra Decor
800/550-1986
Recycled glass plates
Viva Terra
800/233-6011
APPLIANCES
Energy-star-rated
Electrolux
877/435-3287
GE Appliances
800/626-2005
Jenn-Air
800/536-6247
Whirlpool
866/698-2538
AWNINGS
Motorized
408/629-3740
CABINETS AND SHELVING
Cabinet maker
Neil Kelly Cabinets
503/335-9207
Nontoxic laminate veneer
Abet Laminati
800/228-2238
Reclaimed wood
Certified Forest Products
800/993-9113
Historic Woods
801/835-3476
Yankin’s Reclaimed Materials
530/587-3700
Recycled teak storage shelves
The Wooden Duck
415/453-0345
Resin panels
3form / EcoResin, a 40 percent recycled polyester resin
800/726-0126
Lumicor
888/586-4267
Wood substitute
Kirei Board
619/236-9924
COUNTERS AND SINKS
Bamboo
Smith & Fong Plyboo
866/835-9859
Teragren
800/929-6333
Concrete with fly ash and porcelain
Designed by Michelle Kaufmann Designs / from recycled toilets
510/271-8015
Built by Concreteworks
510/534-7141
Concrete with recycled rice hulls
Concreteworks
510/534-7141
Concrete with stones
Mark Concrete
831/632-0845
Crushed quartz
CaesarStone
818/779-0999
DuPont Zodiaq
800/906-7765
Paper and phenolic resin
Richlite
888/383-5533
Reclaimed wood
TerraMai / reclaimed teak
800/220-9062
Recycled cast aluminum
Eleek
503/232-5526
Recycled glass
EnviroGlas Products
888/523-7894
Syndecrete
310/829-9704
Vetrazzo
510/234-5550
Recycled metal
Renewed Materials
301/320-0042
Recycled paper
PaperStone
360/538-9815
Sustainable wood
Endura Wood Products
866/263-3939
Windfall Lumber
360/352-2250
DECKING
Composite wood
Evergrain Decking
800/253-1401
Latitudes Decking and Railing
800/598-9663 or 877/463-8379
Trex
800/289-8739
DRIVEWAY
Pervious driveway stone
Pavestone
530/795-4400
EXTERIOR WALL SURFACES
Fiber cement
Cembonit from Cement Board Fabricators
800/366-5378
James Hardie Building Products
866/442-7343
FIREPLACES
Alcohol-fuel, flue-less burner
EcoSmart Fire
213/382-5656
Marin Outdoor Living
866/854-2649
Logs
Duraflame / AnyFire log, made of bio-wax and is clean-burning
209/461-6600
FLOOR COVERING
Nontoxic adhesive backing
Mohawk Flooring
800/266-4295
Seagrass matting
Cost Plus World Market
877/967-5362
FLOORING
Bamboo
Gammapar
800/283-5667
Smith & Fong Plyboo
866/835-9859
Coconut Palm
Smith & Fong Durapalm
866/835-9859
Cork
Expanko
800/345-6202
Natural Cork
800/404-2675
Nova Distinctive Floors
866/576-2458
Dakota Burl
Environ Biocomposites / bio-based material created from sunflower hulls
800/324-8187
FSC-certified wood (Forest Stewardship Council)
Beronio Lumber
415/824-4300
Linoleum
Forbo Linoleum
570/459-0771
Available from ecohaus, 800/281-9785 and Eco Design Resources, 650/369-5001
Reclaimed wood
Black’s Farmwood
877/321-9663
TerraMai
800/220-9062
Wood
EcoTimber / certified hardwood and engineered flooring
888/801-0855
Wood substitute
Teragren
800/929-6333
Recycled tile
Terra Green Ceramics
765/935-4760
Tile
Crossville / EcoCycle, recycled porcelain
931/484-2110
Fireclay Tile / Debris series has 50 percent recycled materials
408/275-1182
FURNISHINGS
Armchairs
Kenneth Cobonpue (for distributors) / La Luna armchair made of handwoven rattan vines over a sustainably harvested mahogany wood frame
888/889-9005
Area rugs
BPSRugs / online rug collection contains a minimum of 10 percent recycled content; mill operates with 100 percent renewable electricity
800/423-4709, ext. 3
Branch / round floor mat handmade of recycled vintage leather belts at TING Studios in the United Kingdom
415/341-1824
Merida / Festival from the Woodstock Collection, 53 percent wool and 47 percent paper
800/345-2200
Patricia M. Baun / hand painted canvas rug
604/879-7775
Beds
Maria Yee / Bamboo Timbre Mondo bed
831/457-2900
Room & Board / sustainably harvested cherry Anders Bed
800/301-9720
Chairs
Palecek / Seagrass Havana Slipper Chair
800/274-7730
Coffee tables
Alex Suvajac / bamboo, water-based glue, non-VOC coating
778/836-1328
Dining tables
Designed by Michelle Kaufmann Designs / made of concrete and rice hulls
510/271-8015
Manufactured by Concrete Works
510/534-7141
Foot stools
Kenneth Cobonpue (for distributors) / made of bamboo and recycled plastic
888/889-9005
Lounge chair
McGuire Furniture / Copenhagen Lounge Chair with recycled industrial materials
800/662-4847
Sidetables
McGuire Furniture / Ironwood Stump Table, hand-carved from fallen ironwood trees
800/662-4847
Sofabed
Janus et Cie / Maui Sofa Bed, kraft paper twisted around steel wire
310/652-7090
Stool-side table
Kenneth Cobonpue (for distributors) / Chiquita Stool, natural rattan poles and molded steel base
888/889-9005
Throw pillows
Branch / Hoodoo pillow of reclaimed Ultrasuede filled with down and feathers by Galya Rosenfeld
415/341-1824
INSULATION
Formaldehyde-free insulation
Johns Manville / EasyFit insulation, fiberglass strands that improve heat resistance and sound control
800/654-3103
Radiant-barrier sheathing
Bonded Logic / UltraTouch, recycled denim
480/812-9114
Louisiana Pacific / TechShield, prevents radiant heat from entering an attic
888/820-0325
KITCHEN AND BATH PLUMBING FIXTURES
Bathroom faucets
Kohler / Kohler Stillness® widespread lavatory faucet, #K-942-4
800/456-4537
Kitchen faucets
Kohler / Kohler low flow “Coralais”
800/456-4537
Shower
Kohler / Kohler MasterShower Ecofficient showerhead with mixer – Kohler Stillness thermostatic valve trim
800/456-4537
Showerheads
Danze
877/530-3344
Delta
800/345-3358
Hansgrohe / Axor Terrano
800/334-0455
Kohler
800/456-4537
Moen / Showhouse
800/289-6636
Ondine
800/423-9485
Oxygenics
800/344-3242
Rohl
800/777-9762
Toilets
Kohler / Kohler, dual flush, “Escale”
800/456-4537
LANDSCAPE
Lighting
Environmental lights / LED lighting
888/880-1880
Mulch
Building REsources / Red Shovel Glass Company, recycled glass mulch and recycled ceramic shard gravel
415/285-7814
Building REsources / tumbled recycled glass
415/285-7814
Green Waste Recycle Yard / from salvaged and reclaimed urban forests
510/527-8733
Pits in Pieces / recycled peach pits
303/562-7080
Plants
Berkeley Horticultural Village Nurseries
866/874-4443
North Coast Native Nursery
707/769-1213
Pacific Nurseries
650/755-2330
Succulent Gardens
831/632-0482
Suncrest Nurseries
Available from Sloat Garden Center
415/566-4415
Synthetic lawn
SYNlawn / artificial turf made using soybean oil, post-industrial waste, and recycled plastics.
866/796-5296
LIGHTING
Fixtures
Alexander Lighting
206/624-7357
American Fluorescent
Available from Lamps Plus
847/249-5970
Fluorescent bulbs
MaxLite / MiniCandle
800/555-5629
Sylvania Dulux
978/777-1900
LED
Progress Lighting
864/599-6000
Pendant lamp
Allsop Home and Garden / solar lanterns
866/425-5767
Greenlight Concepts
415/702-5655
Propellor Design / Furrows Pendant Lamp from reclaimed wood
604/682-6665
Sensors and dimmers
Lutron Electronics Company / Maestro IR remote-control dimmer
888/588-7661
Watt Stopper / Vacancy Sensor switch
800/927-9287
MODULAR
Prefabs
Glidehouse by Michelle Kaufmann Designs
510/271-8015
mkLotus by Michelle Kaufmann Designs
510/271-8015,
Sunset Breezehouse by Michelle Kaufmann Designs
510/271-8015
OUTDOOR FURNITURE
Concrete furniture
Concreteworks
510/534-7141
Deck chairs
Loll Designs / Emmett Chair, 80 percent post-industrial recycled plastic
877/740-3387 x 106
Reclaimed redwood furniture
Tom Schot Benches
831/462-0730
PAINT
Clay-based
Benjamin Moore Aura / low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints
800/344-0400
BioShield Paint
800/621-2591
Kelley-Moore / E cote, recycled paint products
888/677-2468
Yolo Colorhouse / no-VOC paints
877/493-8275
ROOFING
Living roof
Rana Creek Living Architecture Division
831/659-3820
Metal roofs
ASC Building Products / steel roofing and siding
800/272-7023
Custom-Bilt Metals / TITAN Cool Roof, highly reflective coatings to minimize heat gain
800/826-7813
Metal Roofing Alliance
360/275-6164
Metal Sales / metal roofing and siding products
800/759-6019
Organizations
EcoroofsEverywhere / information on green roofs
503/740-2051
Greenroofs.com / information on organic green roofs
888/477-1326
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities / green roof industry infrastructure association
416/971-4494
Northwest EcoBuilding Guild Green Roof Project / an organization for sustainable building
206/575-2222
SOLAR
Organizations
American Solar Energy Society
303/443-3130
California’s Solar Living Institute
707/744-2017
DSIRE / Database of State Incentives for Renewables, a project of the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council & Efficiency
800/336-2786, North Carolina Solar Center
Panels
Kyocera Solar
800/544-6466
Sharp
800/765-2706
SunPower Corporation
408/240-5500
Photovoltaics
Akeena Solar
888/253-3628
Kyocera Solar
800/544-6466
SunPower Corporation
408/240-5500
SunTechnics Energy Systems
888/786-8321
Solar fountain pump and photovoltaic panel
Gaiam Real Goods
877/989-6321
Solar frame
Ready Solar
877/817-3239
Solar modules
Find Solar / directory of renewable energy professionals created through a joint partnership between the American Solar Energy Society, Solar Electric Power Association, Energy Matters LLC, and the U.S. Department of Energy
303/443-3130, American Solar Energy Society
GE Solar
866/750-3150
STRUCTURE AND FRAMING
Engineered wood
Arxx Building Products / insulated concrete forms
800/293-3210
Louisiana Pacific / I joists, Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), and Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
877/744-5600
Lightweight concrete
Syndecrete
310/829-9704
Rammed earth
Rammed Earth Development
520/623-2784
Structural insulated panels (SIPs)
Insulspan
800/726-3510
TILE
Concrete
Smith-Laredo
866/581-5748
Sonoma Cast Stone
877/939-9929
Recycled ceramic and lavastone
Fireclay Tile
408/275-1182
Recycled glass
Bedrock Industries / recycled glass tile
206/283-7625
Fireclay Tile / Debris series
408/275-1182
Oceanside Glasstile
Available from Ceramic Tile Design
415/575-3785
Sandhill Industries / mosaic blend tiles
208/345-6508
Tree Street Design / handmade tiles
650/879-9027
WATER
Wonderwater / Wonderwater Rain Catchment Systems
530/926-5050
WATER HEATERS
Tankless hot water heaters
Noritz
866/766-7489
Rinnai
866/746-6241
WIND
Southwest Windpower
928/779-9463
WINDOWS AND DOORS
Closet doors
3form / recycled plastic resin Bear Grass
801/649-2500
Low-emissivity glass
Andersen Windows
800/426-4261
Marvin Windows and Doors
888/537-7828
Milgard Windows & Doors
800/645-4273
Pella Windows & Doors
800/374-4758
Sierra Pacific Windows
800/824-7744
WINDOW COVERING
Roman shades
Hartman & Forbes / painted handwoven bamboo ColorWeave shades
888/582-8780
Solar shades
Solar Shading Systems
866/432-4353