Today, people spend more time indoors than ever before. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, on average we spend 90 percent of our lives indoors working, playing, sleeping, eating, learning, socializing, and exercising. This means that the quality of the indoor environment is critical to human health, especially because…
When designers and other building professionals page through materials for project specifications, there’s a lot of information to sort through. In particular, information about a product’s sustainability and health effects can be easily misinterpreted amongst a wide agglomeration of labels, certifications, and declarations. How should designers parse through this information…
A World of Chemicals In today’s world, nearly all of our material needs and resources are in some way derived from industrial chemicals. They are in the furniture we lounge on, the doors we open, and the appliances, cookware, and clothing that we use every day. And the list goes…
Carbon is often referenced in relation to climate change—it’s a buzzword that appears on news alerts about rising temperatures, carbon taxes, and energy plans. Carbon has come to be shorthand for carbon dioxide (CO2), a colorless, odorless gas that is released into the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels like…
The terms biodegradable and compostable can be a source of confusion on product labels. They’ve become trendy keywords and catchalls used interchangeably that give consumers the sense that these products are eco-friendly and will decompose quickly at the end of their life cycles. But it’s not quite that simple—there are…
A celebrated interior element, cork is a compelling renewable resource regarded for its tactile touch and timeless, organic appeal. The vast majority of cork is used in the production of bottle stops, while its other uses range from consumer goods to construction uses and transportation components. Ubiquitously used for design…
Photography Courtesy of Carnegie In the world of wallcoverings, vinyl has dominated the scene for decades. When searching for a different way to cover your walls, it is worthwhile to explore the array of alternatives also on the market. There are many contenders comprising unique materials that pack a punch…
Mountain Road Twists Through Dark Timber Pine Trees. Road in healthy green lush pine forest. Converted from 14-bit RAW file. ProPhoto RGB color space. Setting standards to safeguard the world’s forests for future generations, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international non-profit organization that that promotes responsibly managed forestry…
