ACTIONS: Things We Can Do to Prevent Greenwashing

James Sheppard, president of Vetrazzo Recycled Glass Surfaces (vetrazzo.com) and a founding member of the National Green Chamber of Commerce, is doing penance. For years he developed decidedly "ungreen" strip-mall shopping centers. Restitution is through his company, which not only practices green manufacturing but adds to the beauty of this world by creating elegant, artful countertops, walls, and other surfaces made out of discarded traffic lights, Chardonnay bottles, and curbside trash (see photos, below).

He offers these tips to check the veracity of all product sustainability claims: 1. Find out where the product is made. How far was it transported? The hidden energy cost of transport wipes out many products' environmental claims. 2. Check manufacturing websites. Do they have a comprehensive environmental story? Is it believable? Trust your gut. 3. Google the manufacturer plus the word "environment." The worst greenwash offenders are easily caught online. 4. When a product claims to be made from recycled materials, ask "how much?" Many manufacturers add an inconsequential amount of recycled material just to put the claim on the label. 5. Pay attention to all the ingredients. Many products distract attention from environmentally unsound ingredients. 6. Evaluate the longevity of the product. How long will it last? Can it be recycled, reused, or repurposed, or will it end up in a landfill? 7. Look for third-party certification. Google to see what it stands for. EnergyStar(tm) (for energy efficiency), Green Guard(tm) (for chemical off-gassing), and FSC(tm) (for sustainably harvested wood) are respected certifications. 8. Even better, find out if the company is a Certified Green Business. Local agencies that certify businesses committed to the deepest level of environmental practices are sprouting up in most parts of the country. This is your surest sign of true commitment to planet in addition to profit. It's important to recognize the power that consumers have over manufacturers, says Sheppard. The simple act of questioning green claims will force all manufacturers to work harder to deliver products that truly respect the environment, rather than deliver hollow buzz words and empty rhetoric. Manufacturers make what sells, and they watch closely to see what consumers value. Betsy Robinson

Seven Ways to Modernize Your Home

Modern design, with clean lines and a good connection to the outdoors, will be the leading housing trend for the next few years. In response to a more complex world, homebuyers respond to spaces that are simple, light, and soothing. They watch home makeovers on television, get d�cor catalogs in the mail, and have a wealth of online resources. Homebuyers today are aware of current design trends, and they love the clean lines of modern homes.

The downturn in the economy and the trend toward green living has led to more efficient use of space in homes. There is an interest in livability, rather than showiness. Bathrooms are smaller and more sensible, but closets are still generous. Formal living, media, or exercise rooms that are unconnected to other core areas tend to not be used. These spaces may be converted to studies or home offices. Buyers who work on line are growing in number, and they need work space at home.Red and gold are out. Thick texture on walls is out. Heavy faux is out. White and off whites are in. Pastels are in. Taupe and grey are combined with white for a sophisticated look. Add a splash of deep color � turquoise, chocolate brown, plum � and you have today�s look. A soft organic pallet, such as cream, sisal, and raw wool is in. On wood, both the natural bare look and dark stains are used.More than ever, buyers want to experience the outdoors. Large, sliding glass doors and screened porches have made a comeback. On tight urban lots, glass walls open the interior to a private yard. Backyard gardens, covered patios with outdoor kitchens, and pools are all desirable to today�s buyers.Space for Living & WorkingA minimalist interior is the first step toward the modern style that today�s buyers love. Smaller spaces can be overwhelmed with stuff. Fewer things are easier to display and keep the focus on the architecture. Mid century modern furniture, with clean lines and functional design, is very popular. It is a perfect combination with a light, open interior. Sparse d�cor, hard surface floors, white walls, and lots of glass give a cleaner, simpler look.Hard Surface FloorsSimplify & De-clutterIn the recent past, to upgrade a house was to �granitize� it. Today, granite is moving aside in favor of new choices. Recycled glass and engineered stones are growing in popularity, in line with the green trend. Soapstone, long used in labs, is in demand. The organic look of limestone, concrete, and marble have a following. Stainless steel is a good fit with modern styles.New CountertopsGrey is the new NeutralUpdated mid-century modern homes are very much in demand. Geometric patterns and big flower designs from the 1950�s and 60�s are in. Marimekko, Danish modern, IKEA, Eames, and early modern furniture are a perfect fit with today�s styles. Older traditional homes can be updated with sleek finishes, such as industrial light fixtures, flat cabinet doors, hard surface floors, and exposed windows. Open shelving in kitchens are a good fit. Today�s flat screens fit in easily, and the trend is to have more of them in places like kitchens or baths. Modern design with a retro feel will be the leading edge in the next five years.Retro Is BackOutside is In

More than ever, buyers want to experience the outdoors. Large, sliding glass doors and screened porches have made a comeback. On tight urban lots, glass walls open the interior to a private yard. Backyard gardens, covered patios with outdoor kitchens, and pools are all desirable to today�s buyers.

Bay Area Company Vetrazzo Redefines What It Means to Be "Green"

Bucking a National Trend, Makers of Vetrazzo Recycled Glass Countertops Focus on "Triple Bottom Line," Keep Living-Wage Jobs in USA

The company's revolutionary commitment to the triple bottom line -- serving people, planet, and profit -- is the larger story.Even the company's daily operations are designed with the planet in mind. Vetrazzo operates on a closed-loop water filtration system, saving approximately 150,000 gallons per month. The factory will be 100-percent solar powered by year's end.Vetrazzo believes that a green product should do more than just use recycled materials or avoid release of dangerous airborne toxins -- it should solve an environmental problem. Vetrazzo does just that by creating a new market for waste glass, including glass that cannot be recycled into other products. Each countertop panel is made from 550 pounds of crushed recycled glass from traffic lights, windshields, and beverage bottles. In 2007, Vetrazzo transformed over 250 tons of recycled glass -- including 125 tons of waste glass not recyclable elsewhere -- into beautiful, functional surface products.SAN FRANCISCO -- In today's market where sales of green building products are growing by 30 percent a year, every company is trying to claim that their product is "green." The makers of Vetrazzo recycled glass countertops are redefining what it means to be green by producing the most eco-friendly surface materials on the market, and honoring the triple bottom line of "people, planet, and profit" in their everyday business operations.PLANET: Vetrazzo's most obvious commitment to the planet is the use of recycled glass that would otherwise go directly into landfills. Vetrazzo offers a "green alternative to natural stone" like granite and marble, which come with a steep environmental price tag.PROFIT: The socially responsible entrepreneurs of Vetrazzo wanted to do more than make a green countertop, they wanted it to be beautiful, durable, and distinctive. And they wanted the entire company to be sustainable with a focus well beyond economic profit. The community's economic health and the planet's environmental health are equally as important as the bottom line at Vetrazzo."Sustainability is achieved when you no longer have to sacrifice aesthetics for the good of the people or the planet," says James Sheppard, president of Vetrazzo. "People won't do the right thing if the right thing isn't gorgeous."Vetrazzo, LLC transforms recycled glass into artful home or commercial surfaces including countertops, tabletops, and walls. Invented and first produced in 1996 by Counter Production, Vetrazzo surfaces enable customers to showcase their individual sense of style and respect for the environment. Vetrazzo uses only recycled glass, in a patent-pending formulation comprised of 85-percent recycled glass by weight. Vetrazzo is made in the United States, with headquarters in Richmond, Calif., and dealers and fabricators across the country. For more information, visit www.vetrazzo.com.About VetrazzoPEOPLE: At a time when manufacturing jobs are outsourced all over the world, Vetrazzo is keeping living wage jobs at home. They offer full health and dental benefits while paying 50 percent higher wages than many other West Coast manufacturing jobs. With its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in a remodeled Ford auto plant, Vetrazzo focuses on local hiring in economically depressed Richmond, California. Workers enjoy natural light, safety equipment that goes well beyond what is mandatory, and a continuing education program. Vetrazzo believes this investment in their people produces highly motivated workers, greater retention, and a top-quality product.

Vetrazzo, LLC transforms recycled glass into artful home or commercial surfaces including countertops, tabletops, and walls. Invented and first produced in 1996 by Counter Production, Vetrazzo surfaces enable customers to showcase their individual sense of style and respect for the environment. Vetrazzo uses only recycled glass, in a patent-pending formulation comprised of 85-percent recycled glass by weight. Vetrazzo is made in the United States, with headquarters in Richmond, Calif., and dealers and fabricators across the country. For more information, visit www.vetrazzo.com.

Cutting-edge countertops: high style meets earth-friendly: an eco option for every kitchen

ECOTOP (shown in Concrete) This blend of bamboo, recycled paper, and wood fiber was originally used for skateboard ramps. COST $35/ Sq. ft- ECO-FRIENDLIness 100%water based resin, FSC-certified. info Klip BioTechnolo gies, Puyallup, WA (kliptech.com)

BOTTLESTONE (shown in Mocha) Made of kilnfired recycled glass and ceramic binders, it resists heat and stains. Can be custom designed using wine bottles. COST $68/sq. ft. ECO-FRIENDLINESS 80% recycled content; no VOCs.INFO BottleStone, Los Altos, CA (bottle stone.com)PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS J. STORYRecycling your countertop To keep old or outdated countertops out of landfills, look for a deconstruction (not demolition) service in your area, or contact a local salvage center for information on types of materials allowed. To find your closest salvage yard, visit buildingreuse.orgFUEZ GLASS (shown in jade) With recycled glass, fly ash, stone, and shells, it's more durable than marble. COST$8o/sq. ft. ECO-FRIENDLINESS 60% to 80% recycled materials, including beer bottles; made using 100% wind-generated electricity. INFO InFuez, Portland (fuez.com)SQUAK MOUNTAIN STONE (shown in Natural) An alternative to quarried stone, slabs are made of fly ash, post-industrial crushed glass, and low-carbon cement. COST $50/sq. ft. ECO-FRIENDLINESS 50% recycled content including paper, 1/3 less C[O.sub.2] produced during manufacturing. info Tiger Mountain Innovations, Woodinville, WA [squak mountainstone.com)

PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS J. STORY

AS CLOSE AS 2 COATS OF PAINT

Allyson Buck and Sarah Heinbaugh are taking an Earth-friendly approach to interior design.

The friends-turned-business- partners are the owners of Interi- Life, which opened in January at 301 E. Pikes Peak Ave., on the eastern edge of downtown. The store sells sustainable, eco-friendly interior finishes such as cork and bamboo flooring, recycled glass countertops and Mythic paint, a nontoxic, low-odor paint."She distributes to different dealers in Colorado, and a lot of them have a focus on green," Buck said. "So she thought it would be a great opportunity for somebody to do that in Colorado Springs. She thought of me, and I thought it was a great idea, and I thought of Sarah, and we just did it."But it's spring - a time when homeowners think about home projects, they said.She and Buck acknowledged that they had qualms about starting a business in a down economy."I really liked the product," Buck said. And in delving into it, Buck also got to know Hall.The two relied on savings to get the business going. As befitting a green business, they took a green approach. Their cabinets, for example, came from ReSTORE, which sells recycled building materials.Heinbaugh sees a demand for green products. The challenge, she said, is "we just need people to know that we're here."The showroom is located inside what was formerly part of Hall's Walls. Buck and Heinbaugh rent the space. Hall is not part of the business."We're the only dealer in the Colorado Springs area that has this paint," Heinbaugh said. InteriLife also offers services including interior design and custom millwork, and Buck and Heinbaugh are planning to offer workshops.Among InteriLife's lines is American Clay, a natural-earth veneer plaster - and a product that started Buck down the path to creating InteriLife with Heinbaugh.Contact the writer at 636-0272.Buck learned about American Clay from Deborah Hall of Hall's Walls, a distributor for the product.It was Hall who had the idea for the new business.And, Buck said, "We've got no way to go but up."

Contact the writer at 636-0272.

Repair Options for Plastic Laminate Countertops

In the early years of my career in the countertop fabrication business, I sold a large number of plastic laminate countertops. When I went into business for myself 17 years ago, I started out specializing in repairing and modifying solid surface countertops. My thinking at that time was that the potential for repairing plastic laminate countertops was limited, and I wanted to focus totally on my new specialty. Eventually, though, I developed an interest in new business opportunities.

REPAIR OPTIONSOccasionally, we would be asked to repair a plastic laminate countertop, but in most cases, we declined. My perception was that the repair options were limited and the countertops themselves were relatively inexpensive. As a result, most customers would choose to live with minor damage, or they would complete a do-ityourself repair, or replace the countertops with new ones. None of these options involved hiring a professional repair service.Accordingly, here's some information about a variety of products and services that allow plastic laminate countertops to be repaired and refinished.Michaela Harbert has perfected her own successful four-step technique for refinishing plastic laminate countertops, and now provides this service professionally in the Cleveland, OH area. She calls her process Countertop Transfauxmations, and she has produced and sells a DVD and manual that explains the entire process. The process involves faux finishing and is completed with hand tools such as rollers and sponges as opposed to spray guns. With proper preparation, her method can cover areas that have moderate burn damage as well as chips, nicks and gouges. I've ordered the DVD, which is available at ByYouLLC.com, and will report on the results in a future column.The company's second product is Giani Granite Paint for Countertops. This product is a complete kit with all of the ingrethents needed to create a faux granite finish on a plastic laminate countertop. Included is a black primer, three complementary colors of mineral paints that are applied in a specific order to produce a granite effect, and a clear protective top coat. The company says that the system is based on automotive grade polymers like those used to manufacture car bumpers, and that the surface is exceptionally durable after two weeks of curing, although the refinished countertops can handle light-duty usage after just 48 hours. Kits in six basic colors are available, but the final look can be customized by varying the proportions of the mineral paints, or by adding other colors of acrylic paints. Visit GianiGranite.com for complete information.One well-known company, Miracle Method, has been successful in refinishing plastic laminate countertops. Miracle Method originated in 1979 as a franchise operation specializing in refinishing items like bathtubs and porcelain sinks. With over 120 locations and an emphasis on quality and customer service, the company may be the best choice nationally for professional refinishing of plastic laminate countertops. Enter your zip code at MiracleMethod.com for a referral to a franchise near you.These products and services offer the promise that plastic laminate countertops that are moderately damaged or worn, or that no longer match the color scheme of the kitchen or bath, can be refurbished for many additional years of service.Thomas' Kitchen Art is a division of Eagle Specialty Products, a company based in St. Louis that supplies ingrethents for manufacturers of paints, coatings, inks, caulks, adhesives and metal working fluids. Thomas' Kitchen Art has introduced two products that can be used for refinishing plastic laminate countertops. One is called Liquid Stainless Steel, which is a unique paint composed of microscopic particles of stainless steel in a clear, automotive grade acrylic resin. Marketed primarily for appliance refinishing, it can also be used to simulate a stainless steel countertop. Visit LiquidStainlessSteel.com for complete information.I'm rethinking that opinion. Just because many people have failed to do a good job doesn't mean that it's impossible. The key to success is selecting the right products that will bond securely to the laminate, and result in an attractive, durable, sanitary surface.Burns from hot pots are a common form of damage to plastic laminate countertops, and this type of damage is usually too extensive to be repaired inconspicuously. Vance Industries in another company that has been offering a repair solution for decades. The Vance Built-in Surface Saver is a tempered glass cutting board with a stainless steel frame. The product is designed to be permanently installed as an insert into the countertop, centered over the damaged area. The product is available in two sizes measuring either 12"xl5" or 16"x20", and a variety of colors of both the glass cutting boards and the steel frames. Visit Vancelnd. com for more information.I'm now in the process of re-evaluating that opinion. In a recession, it seems unwise to ignore any reasonable business opportunity, and consumers will often consider repairing a product they may have replaced when times were better. If you Google the phrase "recession shoe repair," you will find dozens of articles about shoe repair shops all across the country that are swamped with business in the form of hundreds of pairs of old shoes stacked up waiting to be fixed. Shoe repair is a perfect example of a countercyclical business - one that improves when the overall economy is poor. Perhaps repairing plastic laminate countertops is a similar market niche.I've been frequently asked if it is practical to paint plastic laminate countertops in order to change the color or cover damaged areas. Over the years, I've seen some paint jobs that have held up poorly, and ended up looking worse than the original countertop. I've rarely seen a repainted countertop that looked really good. Consequently, I've tended to recommend against the idea of repainting countertops in the past.Since 1956, Kampel Enterprises has been manufacturing its Seam-Fil product. This product is intended to fill seams, nicks and chips in plastic laminate surfaces. Available in one ounce squeeze tubes in 20 standard colors, the product can be blended by the user, or Kampel will custom mix the product for an exact color match to a specific laminate. After it cures, the result is a very durable repair. Visit KampelEnt.com for more information, or contact one of their 700 distributors, or order online at AmericanTechnologyI nc.com.

These products and services offer the promise that plastic laminate countertops that are moderately damaged or worn, or that no longer match the color scheme of the kitchen or bath, can be refurbished for many additional years of service.

Brighten Your Home with Glass Tiles

A dark and dull home interior is not usually what homeowners strive for. It still occurs probably because of light-absorbing carpets and hardwood. For this reason, many people are deciding to integrate glass tiles in parts of the house. Glass is reflective, making areas seem brighter and larger. Adding radiance to a home is only one draw of glass tiles. It offers many other beautiful and practical benefits to a home.

Glass has extremely easy maintenance. Everyday glass cleaner will do the trick. Due to its recent increase in recognition and competitive availability, glass is very reasonably priced. Glass tile applications have seen an increase lately due to recent anti-slip products, making it more ideal for floor applications. Though glass is resilient, it can still break due to abuse. Floor-rated tiles are recommended in high-traffic areas. These are more resistant and less likely to crack. Upon deciding glass is for you, remember these specialty tiles require specific installation methods, so be sure to hire a professional. From design to finish, glass tiles make a beautiful addition to any home.Since glass tiles can withstand harsh conditions, unlike many other surface coverings, it is ideal for a multitude of applications. Fireplaces, wall backsplashes, kitchen and bathroom floors or countertops are just a few examples. Glass is even weather-proof enough for outdoor use. It is very popular as pool tile because of its strength and attractive mosaic design possibilities. From a �green� standpoint, the developing innovations of recycled glass make it healthier for the environment. Recycled glass is in no way inferior to non-recycled glass. It creates a unique and often sought after appearance that can resist the same conditions as any newly-created glass.

Glass has extremely easy maintenance. Everyday glass cleaner will do the trick. Due to its recent increase in recognition and competitive availability, glass is very reasonably priced. Glass tile applications have seen an increase lately due to recent anti-slip products, making it more ideal for floor applications. Though glass is resilient, it can still break due to abuse. Floor-rated tiles are recommended in high-traffic areas. These are more resistant and less likely to crack. Upon deciding glass is for you, remember these specialty tiles require specific installation methods, so be sure to hire a professional. From design to finish, glass tiles make a beautiful addition to any home.