42 CHATELAINE • APRIL/MAY 2019
home NOTES
Second life
A fresh coat
Toronto-based Homestead House takes a holistic approach to
sustainability. Its Fusion Mineral Paint line consists of more than
50 non-toxic, odourless and VOC-, lead-, ammonia- and
formaldehyde-free formulas that come in stunning colours, including
ultra-pretty pastels and shimmering metallics, all derived from
natural minerals. And for its milk paint products, the company recycles
100 percent of its waste water. Fusion Mineral Paint, approx.
$48 per litre, homesteadhouse.ca.Recycle what you can
“It takes a lot of energy,
not to mention expense, to
build something new,” says
Matt Daigle, who founded
BuildWithRise.com, a site
that helps homeowners live
more sustainably. If you are
gutting a space, recycle
what you can by donating
to a charity like Habitat
ReStore. “You might not
like your kitchen cabinets
anymore,” he says, “but
someone else might.”Pick your shade of green
Sometimes there’s no clear
winner in terms of which
is the greener product to
use. For instance, bamboo
is highly renewable and
relatively inexpensive, but
because it’s mainly grown in
Asia, a lot of energy is spent
getting it here. Hardwoods
take a ton of resources to
grow and can be expensive,
but they’re found locally. The
least expensive option is
often the most sustainable.
Exposed concrete has
terrifi c thermal properties.
And particle board — which
is essentially reconstituted
wood waste — can be a smart
option for countertops. “It
all comes down to priorities
and doing a bit of research to
understand the best option
for you,” Daigle says.While working on his PhD in forestry at the University of British Columbia, Felix Böck started
experimenting in the lab with bamboo chopsticks left over from takeout orders (he was eating
a lot of sushi at the time). He soon found a way to transform the single-use utensils into coasters
and wall panels. Two and a half years later, his company, ChopValue, picks up some 350,000
used chopsticks from more than 100 restaurants in the Vancouver area each week and has
added yoga blocks, tables and lighting fi xtures to its product line. Wall decor, $195, chopvalue.ca.Volatile organic compounds:
(^) What gives a room that new paint smell but can also cause headache
s and nausea.
UNCOMMON
CLOTH
Refi ning petroleum can be a
messy business. But chemists
have found a very soft and
attractive use for one of its
by-products. It turns out that
olefi n, a polymer that had
previously been discarded,
makes an incredibly durable,
stain-resistant and
supple fabric—perfect for
pillows and upholstery.
Camino indigo fabric,
$30 per yard, tonicliving.ca.
A B.C. company has a chic use
for discarded chopsticks
So far, ChopValue
has upcycled
11 million chopsticks.
Paint:
Seaside
Find effi ciencies
Water heating, which
makes up 30 to 40 percent
of a home’s energy costs,
is a good place to improve
effi ciency. Insulating water
pipes costs next to nothing
and saves a lot of energy.
Daigle also suggests
investing in a water heat
recovery system, which
recycles the energy
from the hot water that
would otherwise just go
down the drain.
HOW TO
Green-ify
your reno