How To Go Green With Your Phoenix Furniture

With the hot climate and adequate amounts of solar energy in Phoenix, the notion of green living is widespread and easily perceived. If you desire to become a part of this earth saving trend you can start right away with your furniture. Here is a list of some green material and practices you can follow to help save the environment and promote an overall clean, non-toxic environment in your home.

The use of reclaimed or “used” wood began to increase in popularity in the 1980’s – 1990’s. Older wood rescued from long-standing structures and old factories and warehouses is refinished and re-used in newer construction. Some reclaimed wood is also dug up from the bottom of rivers in the form of logs that were floating downstream to the sawmills. The use of reclaimed wood greatly minimizes energy costs and prevents illegal forest mining. It also saves the life and habitat of these timeless forests. The beauty of reclaimed wood is seen in all who can sense its rich heritage. Unfortunately, reclaimed wood, though a great Earth-saving material, is not widely available due to its scarcity in some areas. Though it may require some effort to purchase these pieces, reclaimed wood will provide a rich and beautiful finish and feel to your Phoenix home.

Bamboo is a grass found in nature in varying sizes and colors. Because it grows so rapidly and can be formed into many different products, environmental enthusiasts have utilized this material for everything from flooring, furniture, veneers and everything in between. Bamboo is extremely versatile and desired also because it is grown with hardly any pesticides, if any at all. Look for bamboo furnishings in your local shops. You can also find beautiful home décor items made of this “green” material as well.

Most people consider wood as the main component of furniture especially for a Phoenix home. However, more and more people who are environmentally conscious are utilizing metal and plastic recycled products. Consider recycled metal chairs and desks or plastic tables for a clean, modern look in a den or foyer. With any recycled piece of furniture, you want to make sure you can disassemble it and recycle it once again. Once it is no longer of use, you should have the ability to separate it into its different materials and recycle each as needed. This practice continues the renewal of the Earth’s resources and promotes the growth of our precious resources.

Much of the wood today is created from composite or MDF. It is composed of the scraps left over from hard wood construction and glued together to form a structure or piece of furniture. Unfortunately, the glue that holds the particles together is made of formaldehyde and often offgasses the moment it leaves the factory and enters your home. VOC’s or volatile organic compounds are often found in synthetic materials and most homes contain high amounts of them due to the lack of ventilation and offgassing of synthetic materials and furniture. If you are concerned with the offgassing of VOC’s in your home, look for certifications that ensure the piece is certified for low toxicity. Natural wood finishes or solid wood pieces will offgas the least. You can also purchase older, antique furniture that has already finished most of its offgassing. For cloth products, utilize organic materials such as organic cotton or wool instead of foam products which offgas as well.

Buying second hand furniture for your Phoenix home is most likely the easiest way to “go green”. You are saving the environment by re-using pre-owned furniture and you are also saving landfills. You can easily refinish or reupholster furniture pieces but most will only require minimal cleanup. Additionally, used furniture is readily available from consignment stores, garage sales or local moving sales.

If you are focused on moving out your old Phoenix furniture, consider a “greener” option than throwing it in the trash. You trash just may be another man’s treasure. First, consider repurposing it into an item with another function. For example, move your old dresser into the garage and use it for storage or simply freshen it up with a new finish or paint. If you are looking for new décor, try altering the piece first before running out and buying new furniture. If you must get rid of it, try selling it on Craigslist or eBay or use free giveaway sites such as Freecycle. You can also put the piece out on the curb for someone to take. Going “green” with your Phoenix furniture is more than just buying reclaimed wood pieces. It is a way of life and an understanding of the Earth and how to save its resources. However you can, invest some time into researching the ways you can re-use what you possess or further contribute to saving these precious resources without making your environment more toxic. Your small contribution may seem insignificant, but it is one more step towards a cleaner environment.