Upon moving into our new home last summer, Kristin and I admitted it was time to let go of our old sofa. A hand-me-down from years ago, it had reached a comfortably-broken-in stage. So we set about shopping for a new couch; and like most everything else in our new home, it would have to be as “green” as possible.

In researching any green-minded purchase, consider a few questions: What raw materials comprise the product? Where do these materials come from, and how are they processed? What are the environmental impacts of these materials and processes? What is the durability of this product? This assessment, called a life-cycle analysis, informs good green decision-making.

We purchased our new sofa a few weeks ago. From an environmental standpoint, we did well (t’s even greenish in color!). We selected a couch made by Lee Industries, which offers a line called naturaLEE. We were pleased to discover that we could buy our new Lee sofa from Dream House in Charles Town, owned and operated by Bonnie Kratovil and her daughter Cassandra Vaira. Bonnie said that while not all furniture shoppers come to Dream House with green in mind, they do get excited to learn there is an affordable green upholstery option available locally.

The naturaLEE couch we chose uses certified sustainable wooden frames with water-based wood finishes. The springs are made from 80% recycled metal. Cushioning is derived in part from a soy-based foam. The sofa back and pillows are stuffed with 100 percent recycled polyethylene fibers. Organic and natural fabrics cover the entire works. We chose one of Lee’s slipcovered pieces in the hope that this will add to the longevity of the couch. Our new couch is well-built, good looking, comfortable, and in alignment with our green leanings.

If you are in the market for new furniture, consider a few steps toward minimizing the environmental costs of your purchase. Certified sustainably-harvested wood products help preserve the world’s forests. Reclaimed or recycled content reduces waste streams and minimizes the environmental consequences of harvesting and manufacturing raw materials.  Alternatives to petroleum-based and synthetic foams, adhesives, and finishes decrease exposure to toxic chemicals.

Finding green furniture used to require an extensive hunt through specialty shops or online outlets. Now green furniture is becoming more widely available. With local shops like Dream House it is becoming easier to go comfortably green with furniture.

For information on green furniture, what to look for, and where to find it, check out www.greenhomeguide.com and www.treehugger.com.

Update on
Fluorescent Lights

There’s been a lot of press lately about the fact that CFLs contain mercury, and they do, though in very small amounts. The total amount of mercury in a CFL is about the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen. This amount is tiny compared to the amount of mercury produced by the coal-burning power plants supplying electricity to a standard incandescent bulb over the same life-time a CFL offers. In other words, environmentally, CFLs come out far ahead on the mercury issue. That, of course, doesn’t address your question, which has more to do with the safety aspects of a broken CFL.

Care should be taken when handling a broken CFL. Mercury vaporizes at very low temperatures and so any mercury released through a broken bulb will become airborne quickly. Experts are clear that there is no cause for alarm because we’re dealing with very small amounts.In the case of a broken bulb, you should open the windows, vacate the room, and close the door. Any airborne mercury will dissipate in about 15 minutes. The broken fragments from the bulb should then be swept up by hand, double-bagged in plastic, and either placed in the trash or, ideally, taken to a local hazardous materials collection site. For a fact sheet on CFLs, see www.EnergyStar.gov.

Jeff Feldman is a green building consultant. He and his wife Kristin live in a strawbale home in Berkeley County. You can reach Jeff at jfeld33@aol.com.