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Products and Furnishings

Interior Furnishings and Products 

Looking for ways to refresh your home to be more sustainable and energy efficient? The EnviroHouse showcases numerous green products made from ecofriendly natural, recycled, reclaimed, and repurposed materials. Explore new ideas and resources where you see it come together in a local, residential setting. Displays include products, furnishings, and natural materials with interpretive signs noting sustainable features, product descriptions, manufacturers, and suppliers.

 

Sustainable Home Furnishings

 

Look for furnishing and products:   

  • Made with durable, natural fibers and materials. 
  • Produced with nontoxic substances (no VOCs) to improve indoor air quality.
  • Made regionally or in the U.S. to reduce transportation and environmental impacts.
  • Made by companies valued for environmental practices and stewardship.

Look for labels and descriptions of:

  • Wood products labeled FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified with sustainable forest management and replanting practices.  
  • Wood products (furniture, cabinets, flooring, doors, etc.) that are formaldehyde-free and assembled with non-VOC finishes and water-based biodegradable glues. 
  • Flooring products (wood, vinyl, linoleum, stone, tiles) that are formaldehyde-free, produced and assembled with non-VOC finishes and adhesives. 
  • Upholstered furniture fabrics made from natural fibers (cotton, linen, wool, silk, bamboo, hemp), nontoxic dyes, and foam padding made with soy or natural latex foam rubber. 
  • Eco-friendly countertop and backsplash options such as recycled glass, compressed paper composites, reclaimed and salvaged products. 
  • Energy Star appliances and LED lighting to increase performance and conserve resources.  
  • WaterSense bath and kitchen plumbing fixtures to reduce water use. 
  • Products made with recycled, salvaged, or repurposed materials. 

 

For maintenance and disposal:

  • Maintain with appropriate green cleaning solutions and techniques for personal health and safety. 
  • If replaced furnishing or materials can be reused, explore our resource lists for potential willing recipients to reduce landfill waste and benefit others.  

     

     

    Green Options  

    Appliances, Fixtures, and Lighting

    		 The average kitchen accounts for 20% - 40% of a home’s total energy bill. Look for Energy Star appliances, WaterSense plumbing fixtures, natural lighting and lighting with LED lamps to increase performance and conserve resources.   
    Cabinets & Flooring

    Ensure that wood products such as cabinets and flooring are formaldehyde-free to protect indoor air quality and are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council or SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certified to protect forests with replanting practices.

     

    Cork and bamboo are imported products considered renewable because of quick growth cycles. Look for sustainable harvesting, manufacturing (no/low VOCs) and transportation practices to reduce carbon emissions.

     

    Linoleum and Vinyl floor are both resilient materials. Linoleum is a naturally occurring product made with linseed oil (from flax seeds) and renewable materials such as pine rosin, wood flour or cork dust.  Vinyl is a synthetic material comprised mostly of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) that may have some level of VOCs that could off-gas.  Check the manufacturing specs to learn about product content and sustainability qualities.
    Counters and Backsplashes Select eco-friendly countertop and backsplash options that stand up to hard use, such as recycled glass, compressed recycled paper composites, or products using reclaimed and salvaged or repurposed materials. 
    Furniture and Textiles For upholstered furniture, ask for foam padding made with soy or natural latex foam rubber and fabrics made from natural fibers (cotton, linen, wool, silk, bamboo, hemp) and nontoxic dyes. Look for furniture frames made from sustainably harvested hardwood and assembled with non-VOC finishes and water-based biodegradable glues. 
    Paint and Window Coverings
    		 Fresh paint can bring a new look to a room, as can new window coverings. Read labels and look for natural fibers and paint and finish products, as well as window blinds and fabric coverings, with No VOC (volatile organic compounds) to avoid off-gassing. 
    Installation Ensure that installation adhesives are 100% solvent free and meet low VOC requirements (no formaldehyde). Choose water-based finishes over solvent based if possible.
    Care and Maintenance To care for your eco-friendly investment, maintain furnishings with appropriate methods and techniques. Follow manufacturer’s guidelines and refer to our green cleaning page for additional nontoxic solutions for personal health and safety.
    Disposal
    		 When replacing furnishings or materials, if items can be reused, repurposed, or recycled, explore donation options to reduce landfill waste. See our resource lists for suggestions.

     

    Visit the EnviroHouse to discover more resources, options, and sustainable features.

    For questions, email ehouse@cityoftacoma.org or call (253) 573-2426.

     



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