Green design has nothing to do with color

DEAR GAIL: What exactly is "green" design? I keep seeing it mentioned in ads and articles, but don't understand what it is all about. -- MaryLou D.

DEAR MARYLOU: What a great question as I know many people are hearing and seeing the term but don't know what it is. I remember when it was first being written about and someone asked me if it was about products that were made with green-colored materials. This wasn't a dumb question at all because if you never heard the term before it might be the first thing that came to mind.

Along with green design you're probably also seeing and hearing about sustainable design. The two terms are many times used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences in them. So what is green and sustainable design?

In simple terms, green design is about manufacturing products that are designed to protect our health and well-being. So, products that improve our indoor air quality or make environments safer for those of us with allergies or asthma are green.

One example that I'm sure you have seen is low VOC paint, which improves our indoor air quality. What is VOC? VOC stands for volatile organic compound, a highly evaporative, carbon-based chemical substance that produces noxious fumes and is found in many paints, caulks, stains and adhesives.

Another great product that has been introduced is a fabric called ActiBreeze by ADO International, a manufacturer in South Carolina. What it does is take air toxins such as cigarette smoke, exhaust, pet odors, adhesives, ammonia and kitchen odors and turns them into water vapor and CO₂,which improves air quality for all, especially those with allergies or asthma.

Sustainable design is about making products that meet our needs now but will not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. So, sustainable products are those that conserve energy and protect our natural resources.

Some examples of sustainable design products are: Energy Star appliances as they conserve energy as well as save you money on your utility bills; compact fluorescent bulbs as they give off less heat and are more energy efficient; renewable flooring materials like cork, bamboo and reclaimed/salvaged wood; countertops made from recycled glass slabs and metal or ceramic tiles; and fabrics made from recycled polyester, organic cotton or hemp.

Plus, did you know that light exterior paint colors will help lower your power bill in the summer? Paint has what is called light reflective value or LRV. The higher the LRV number, the more light the color will reflect. So chocolate brown with a LRV of 10 is only going to reflect 10 percent of the light and absorb 90 percent, where as beige with a LRV of 85 will reflect 85 percent of the light and only absorb 15 percent. Therefore, you save on your power bill.

The goal of designing green is to create places, products and services in a way that reduces use of nonrenewable resources, manages our renewable resources to ensure sustainability and minimizes environmental impact by eliminating toxic and harmful emissions into our environment. We then use less energy, water and natural resources, which reduces power and energy bills and creates less waste and a healthier and more comfortable environment.

In the articles you're reading, you may also see the U.S. Green Building Council and LEED mentioned.

The U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org) is a nonprofit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Its mission is to transform the building industry to sustainability.

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.

Now that you know more about green design, you'll be amazed at how much you'll see about it in ads and product introductions. There's even a program call "The Green" on the Sundance Channel if you want to learn more.

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.