Innovative Paint Technology Wins Award /  by Miriam

The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Sherwin-Williams' new paint formulation. The company's innovative new paint formulation, utilizing soybean oil and recycled plastic bottles, substantially reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by incorporating simple ingredients like soybean oil and recycled plastic bottles into a first of its kind paint formula.

This is an environmental triumph for consumers and the environment.  New eco-friendly paint formulas have eliminated 800,000 pounds of VOCs, according to the company. New formulation utilizing soybean oil and recycled plastic bottles reduces VOCs by 60 percent. 

Further reading: How dangerous are VOCs?

Going Legit /  by Miriam

Image by s_falkow on Flickr

In early March, the 11th United States Court of Appeals determined that the practice of interior design is valid and affirmed that "it is in the interest of the public to limit the practice of interior design to interior designers or architects who have design education and training."

An interior designer spends countless hours ensuring that interior design is recognized for what we do best of all: working with clients connecting all the dots.

The interior designer, perhaps more than any other building professional, has the ability to make the necessary connections between client and criteria, a skill especially important when change can mean chaos, confusion and even catastrophe.

Sharp-eye designer see the big picture from 30,000 feet, yet still manage details at the human scale. We educate and inform clients about best practices in order to guide them during times of change, defining potential outcomes to make the necessary decisions.

Save Our Trees /  by Miriam

Apply Common Sense to Forestry

Environmental and social considerations should be an integral component of operating philosophy. 

Responsible forestry is practiced with the following in mind:

  • On a daily basis, a forest plantation captures the CO2 emitted by 15,000 cars.
  • A forest plantation provides jobs for 250 workers, some in traditionally low-income areas.
  • A forest plantation plants on an average more than 3,300,000 trees and growing.
  • Renewable wood products store carbon, permanently removing it from the atmosphere.