Have you ever considered the negative impact of your home and design projects? Did you know that the construction industry significantly impacts the environment, accounting for 23% of air pollution, 40% of drinking water contamination, and 50% of landfill waste?
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything, and to be honest, as much as I know the irrefutable benefits of living a holistic life, I find the pushback and apathy incredibly frustrating. Perhaps I need to write with a little more conviction, or perhaps most people are merely wired to complain about things without ever really wanting to change.
In 2011, I completed my Diploma in Interior Design and decided to launch my very first interior design business, Eco-Fabulous Interiors. In the first couple of years, I spent countless hours going down the rabbit hole of sustainable design certifications, only to have these efforts met with criticism and ridicule. At the time, contractors refused to use the eco-friendly products I suggested, and most people rolled their eyes when I would mention indoor air quality, energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainability. So, begrudgingly, I gave up, gave into societal pressure, and launched Haute Decor Interiors.
This transition came with great success, I became the Home and Design Editor with a local magazine, had my work featured on television, and was a sought after speaker for many home and design shows. Sounds great, right? The only problem…I felt like I had sold my soul to the devil. Even though my designs were always crafted with the eco-friendly design principles I was so passionate about, these principles were rarely discussed. In retrospect, I like to think that it was because I was green before green was cool. ;P
The reality is, most people have absolutely no clue about sustainable design practices because, similar to the fashion industry, everyone wants the trendy ‘latest and greatest’ without any consideration for their health or the impact on our environment. Now that I’m older, wiser, and don’t give AF about what people think of my opinion, I hope that my candid blog posts will help shed some light on the catastrophic impact the ‘trendy’ home design industry has on our environment, our well being and better yet, what we can consider instead!
Here are 5 Tips that you can do to immediately improve the environmental impact of your home:
- Install energy-efficient (Energy-Star) appliances
- Use LED light bulbs
- Seal and insulate your home
- Incorporate renewable energy sources (consider solar panels)
- Implement water-saving (low-flow) fixtures
Please follow along if you are interested in how you can improve your built environment and implement sustainable design practices that will benefit our well-being and our environment for generations to come!
With Much Love + Light,
Brandelyn
Nourish Your Body, Mind + Soul 