BENCHMARK

Inspired by antique Suzani tribal needlework from central Asian lands, the hand-embroidered covering on this modern-day upholstered bench is made of boldly patterned 100-percent organic cotton and eco-friendly dyes. Set on legs of sustainable sheesham wood, the piece comes in two sizes—the 31-inch-long version pictured, and a 51-inch-long bench that can serve as a coffee table. Pillows covered in the textile also are available. Order items from the Suzani Collection at vivaterra.com, or call (800) 233-6011.






REGREENING

Just when we got used to the notion of going green, along came regreen. The word means home remodeling with an eco-friendly sensibility.

The concept of regreening was lent momentum by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), which joined forces in 2008 to develop eco-friendly information for do-it-yourself homeowners and renovation professionals.

An integral part of the organizations’ REGREEN Residential Remodeling Guidelines concerns the selection of products that are genuinely green, explains Gilbert, Arizona, interior designer and ASID member Marci Dusseault. “Sometimes materials say they are green, but the question is, how have they been manufactured? Has the plant where they’ve been made been kicking out pollutants into the air, for example?”

Dusseault, in addition to being an ASID member, is a LEED-accredited designer. Overseen by USGBC, LEED is a program separate from the agency’s regreening effort. The acronym stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and accreditation indicates knowledge of best practices in energy and water savings, sustainability, and more.

Mick Dalrymple, whose Scottsdale business a.k.a. Green sells environmentally safe products, is a national board member of USGBC. He indicates that LEED and other efforts, such as regreening, are signs of an increasingly more eco-conscious time. “People realize we can’t do things the way they’ve been done,” he comments. “It’s killing the planet.”

To learn the right questions to ask regarding products that claim to be environmentally friendly—and other information—visit regreenprogram.org and greenhomeguide.org.