GLASS REBORN
Made of 100-percent post-industrial recycled glass, these color-rich tiles from Sandhill Industries are a cheery choice for a backsplash or a full wall. The 4-inch diamond-shaped pieces, shown here in the “Circus Blend” colorway, are available in glossy or matte finishes. The company reports that production of the pieces uses less than half the energy needed to make ceramic tile, and less than one-fourth the energy it takes to produce a cast-glass tile.

The tiles can be ordered through a.k.a. Green, (480) 946-9600, or Craftsman Court Ceramics Inc., (480) 970-6611, both in Scottsdale, or directly from the maker. For further information, call Sandhill Industries, (208) 345-6508, or visit sandhillind.com.



HOLEY-NESS
Some like to joke that even the holes taste wonderful in good Swiss cheese. An award-winning Swiss textile firm, Création Baumann, is giving holes a new distinction in Dotto, an eco-chic fabric line. Featuring a punched-out holey grid pattern in a blend of cotton, polyester and polyurethane, the unusual textile is reversible and designed with different colors on each side.

Seen here as a wispy room divider in green on one side and a neutral hue on the other, Dotto also can serve as a window curtain when filtered light is desired, and can be backed with a fabric underlay for privacy. The firm notes that the fabric is manufactured without toxic solvents, chemicals, formaldehyde or heavy metals, and it is certified eco-safe by various European agencies. The product comes in five additional colorways. Dotto is available to the trade at McNamara & Hirschman in Scottsdale, (480) 874-0707. To locate additional showrooms, visit creationbaumann.com.  



WORDS OF WISDOM
Sunshine may be one of the Southwest’s most appealing at-tributes, but direct sunlight in a home can make interior temperatures and energy bills rise significantly. This is one of several issues authors Stephen and Rebekah Hren address in The Carbon-Free Home: 36 Remodeling Projects to Help Kick the Fossil-Fuel Habit (Chelsea Green Publishing).

The book serves as a guide for homeowners who want to reduce or even eliminate their dependence on fossil fuels and their harmful carbon dioxide emissions.

Chapters range from Food and Landscaping to Renewable Electric Systems. A “Table of Projects” outlines the skill levels, time and money needed to finish various renovations. Step-by-step diagrams help homeowners visualize end results.

One eco-savvy project the authors discuss makes use of a “green” thumb by creating a living wall of seasonal vines. The plants climb a trellis, shielding the home from the hot summer sun. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), for example, thrives in hot weather, attracts hummingbirds, and is suitable for Southwest growing conditions. -Mary Modney