Green Decor & Interior Design

My Initiation Into The Green World

2007-11-17T10:42:00.000-08:00

As my semester comes to an end with graduation in a couple of weeks, I wanted to convert this blog into a personal piece relaying my time spent in the green world-- how I was welcomed, how I learned beyond my imagination, experiences I had, the green people I met and what I intend to do next.

Introduced to the green world by fault of my senior journalism capstone (thank goodness), the Cat Scan, I never knew its wide and large extent, alongside its effort in trying to educate the non-green world members. Thus, I was initiated into this alternate lifestyle for the past 4 months and I've enjoyed it thoroughly, and will continue to enjoy its liveliness and passion beyond completion at the University of Arizona.

Combining basic journalism skills and focusing on one theme throughout the semester, "Living Green," I not only continued to learn journalism practices and principles, but I learned how to care about something in a different way-- my earth, our earth.

Granted, I haven't fully adopted the "green" lifestyle, but I've attempted to do as much as I can to change my carbon footprint in order to use up less planets.

Besides that, I've experienced a great deal of green...

Stories I've covered mostly dealt with lifestyle, including the uses of bamboo, to a profile on an architecture firm and their green practices. Also, the people I've met along the way are truly passionate about their greenness. Oh, and I can't forget the amazing time I've had covering green decor and interior design with this blog.

More importantly, I've learned that going green is not a choice, it is a lifestyle that some normally live, through no fault as my capstone course. I consider myself lucky to have experienced and participated in this global green movement and lifestyle.

Above all, I know what green is. It's beyond color, it's beyond following a movement, it's beyond a class theme.

Green is simply-- good.

All Best,
Jenna
(Green World Member)

Carswell Residence: Part III of The Tucson Innovative Home Tour

2007-11-16T14:34:00.000-08:00

Traveling forward from the Mercado District of Menlo Park, my Cat Scan tour group ventured to a private residence nestled in the palm of Tucson and surrounded by mountains.
As an award winning designer and builder, Ron Carswell's home embodies green. Our last stop on the innovative home tour, the Carswell residence is truly an amazing example of sustainability and conservation.

When we arrived at the home, after obtaining our daily workout in the Arizona sun by walking up a hill to reach the home, we caught our breath and again, "wows" came forth from our mouths.

The first aspect of the green home that we noticed before we entered was the "solar wall," rather the "double glazed wall with low-e windows 12 feet high by 65 feet long," Carswell said.

"Through material choice, solar orientation and use of shade, our home in the desert saves more than 75 percent of the utility costs of a conventional 'stick and stucco' house," he added.

Upon entering the Carswell home, we walked into a great room with high ceiling fans circulating the air. To the right was another large room, containing a TV-watching area and the kitchen which featured a large rectangular window over the sink. This large window created an outdoor feel to the kitchen, connecting the kitchen with the scenic view outdoors. To the left of the kitchen was a sliding door leading to the pool area and extended view of Tucson.

Walking past the great room and turning right, down a hallway, you'll find two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an office. The home sits in a u-shape, with the pool/back patio area in the middle.

Now that you're acquainted with a visual layout of the home, on to the good, green stuff!

The Carswell residence comprises straw bale insulation, framing and roofing systems made out of steel, evaporative coolers (which are strategically shaded by honeysuckle vines), windows and sliding doors framed by wood, roof overhangs that provide shade, a fiberglass pool, efficienty appliances, LED lighting and fluroescent lighting and so much more.

"My design criteria honors the seven generation belief that you build not just for the present, since the home could be inhabited for hundreds of years, we need flexibility," Carswell said. "Our luxurious hilltop straw bale home demonsrates that energy conservation is practical and affordable, in any size and style of building, in any climate, in any market."

Overall, the home tour was amazing. And although we didn't get the chance to visit every house along the way, the three that I highlighted are only a fraction of how going green can be done in the home.

Happy Eco-Designing!

Mercado District of Menlo Park: Part II of The Tucson Innovative Home Tour

2007-11-10T15:02:00.000-08:00

Continuing last week's innovative home tour, our second stop was in the Mercado District of Menlo Park, rather a remote town in Spain or Mexico because of its unique appearance and international atmosphere-- but in Tucson.

Walking through the courtyard, in between two rows of lavish homes, we were attracted to how large and design-stricken the structures were. Upon entering one of the homes, a small entry courtyard invited us to continue our tour through the home.

Walking through the front door, we all gasped "wows."

Developed by Street Scene, the Mercado District homes couple design with energy-efficient architecture.

"Street Scene Development is the culmination of two visionary companies, Stellar Gray Fine Homes and Rammed Earth Development. Stellar Gray, renowned for developing authentic adobe villages, creates organic architecture influenced by regional and historical design. Rammed Earth Development specializes in authentic rammed earth and adobe construction. The vision and focus of Street Scene is to design and build homes with sustainable materials, creating neighborhoods that feel integrated with their environments - a sense of belonging in the Sonoran Desert," according to the Street Scene Development Web site.

Houses built with adobe bricks offer the lowest amount of embodied energy and the "average adobe brick home is made using only 10 percent of the embodied energy used for the construction of a typical modern house," according to the Adobe Building Systems, LLC, Web site.

Homes built with adobe bricks are heat resistant, keeping the homes cool in the summer heat and warm in the winter. Adobe exterior and interior walls need little maintenance and are "vermin-proof, dust-free, fire-proof, flood-proof, insect-proof, bullet-proof, rust-proof, water-proof, and can be wiped clean with a sponge. Since adobe is non-toxic, the walls are also non-allergenic," according to the Adobe Building Systems site.

So, if you're looking for beautiful design that meets green architecture using adobe as the structures prime building material, the Mercado District stands as a great example of just that! Besides, having a home that's bullet proof is pretty cool if you think about it...

indigoMODERN: Part I of The Tucson Innovative Home Tour

2007-11-04T11:52:00.000-08:00

Saturday, November 3, Tucsonans had the chance to view 15 homes at 10 different locations around town that are advanced in energy-efficient savings, practices and design. The Tucson Innovative Home Tour featured homes that have won awards, along with homes awaiting to win awards for their eco-friendly structures, also educating the general public about innovative approaches to designing homes with sustainability and conservation in mind.

Deciding to attend the tour with three other fellow Cat Scanners since they chose to cover it for a special class assignment, I tagged along and was extremely glad that I did!

We traveled around town, stopping at three different home locations; indigoMODERN, the Mercado District of Menlo Park at Rio Nuevo and the Carswell Residence.

This entry will consist of three parts, the first discussing indigoMODERN and what the development has incorporated in its design that's "green."

Indigo Modern is located along the 3rd Street bike path. The beautifully modern townhouses comprise superb architecture, intertwining effective and energy-efficient design. The units are also TEP guaranteed and charged $42.08 a month for heating and cooling.

When we arrived at the townhouses site, we were amazed at how modern, clean and new the structures looked. After briefly talking with Warren Michaels, representative for Metro Realty Advisors, LLC, about Indigo Modern and its green efforts, we showed ourselves around the home, admiring its simplicity and decision to be a sustainable home.

Innovative measures taken in an Indigo Modern home include:
pre-wired for solar
pre-planned for solar hot water
passive solar shading
rain water harvesting
xeriscaping
TEP guaranteed
community pool-with a salt water system
toto toilets(dual flush upgrade)
bamboo flooring
low-e glass/windows
xenon kitchen lighting
compact florescent lighting
solatube skylight
hardiplank siding
standing seam steel siding and fencing
timbor-wood preservation, insecticide, fungicide
dunn edwards eco-shield paint
blown-in cellulose insulation
green series sealants
polished integra color concrete floors
photovoltaic panels
solar hot water heater
passive solar sun shade door

Palm a Pom Tea...you keep the glass!

2007-10-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

I was in need of a refreshing drink after class this past week due to the weather still being warm, despite the fact that we're about to enter into November. Anyways, back to my refreshing drink. I decided to pick up a Pom Wonderful Tea drink, but wondered why it was $3.25. I thought to myself, 'hmm, this drink is a little on the pricey side.' After talking with a friend about my purchase and checking out the Pom Web site, I was informed that the price was as is because the glass in which it comes in is reusable. So, besides coming in a beautifully packed glass container with a lid, the glass is yours to keep and refurbish later with your drink of choice. And what better way to compliment your kitchen cabinets, counter, desk, or dining table, than with recycled glasses?

Pom Wonderful drinks are made out of pomegranate fruit, which is historically one the earliest fruits cultivated on earth. Consuming pomegranate fruit has a number of health benefits including the prevention and slowing of cancer growth due to the fruits carrying of antioxidants. Products of Pom Wonderful includes their tea (which was very tasty-- I had the Peach Passion White Tea), juice and even pomegranate pills, for those with less time to enjoy the liquid form of the pomegranate fruit. After doing some research on the pomegranate fruit and its contribution to a better, healthy lifestyle, it also contributes to the green world of conserving products. And in this case, offering buyers a glass to keep and reuse.

Walking Barefoot Never Felt So Good: Earth Weave Carpet Mills, Inc.

2007-10-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

Like walking barefoot outdoors? Earth Weave Carpet Mills, Inc. enables you to do just that--but indoors on all-natural, non-toxic carpeting.

"We're a very unique product," Kent Kelley, general manager of Earth Weave, said.

Based in Dalton, GA and as the only manufacturer in North America that produces 100 percent, non-toxic carpeting, Earth Weave has been in business for 12 years and obtains distributors all over the country, Kelley said.

Earth Weave's Bio-Floor Collection includes carpets that are biodegradable, are made with 100 percent all-natural wool, use natural pigmented wool fibers instead of chemical dyes for color and uses hemp and cotton as a base instead of polypropylene which keeps the wool yarn in place. Even the adhesive to combine all elements of the Bio-Floor carpets together is 100 percent natural and biodegradable. The adhesive is made from rubber trees. Jute is also used as a backing on the carpets, which comes from "a hardy earth friendly fiber producing plant," according to the Earth Weave Web site.

The photo below shows the different layers of Earth Weave's Bio-Floor carpeting. Photo Courtesy of www.earthweave.com.

Carpeting with wool has many added benefits, but costs more to manufacture, Kelley said.

"Wool is sustainable, and when you put it under a microscope, you'll see that wool has scales on it and many manufacturers try to mimic wool the non-natural way," he said. "Though it costs more to produce wool carpeting the right way and profit margins are thinner, wool is resilient and we believe in what we're doing by contributing to peoples health and this great country."

Earth Weave even maintains nature in the naming of their different carpet styles.

"All styles are named from mountain ranges," Kelley said. "Even the colors of the carpet is naturally named, indicative of nature, for example our Pyrenees style comes in a wheat color."

The photo below is a carpet sample of the Pyrenees style in a wheat color. Photo Courtesy of www.earthweave.com.

Below are carpet samples of the McKinley style in snowfield (top) and the Dolomite style in a granite color (bottom). Photo's Courtesy of www.earthweave.com.

Working with Earth Weave is Kelley's first opportunity to work in manufacturing he said.

"There are more people everyday that understand benefits of natural things, rather than synthetic materials," he said. "We've enjoyed 12 years of success and we love it."

Small Green Flare: Soy Candles

2007-10-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

With all the hype on Target going green with numerous products, I had to mention them again for a second time to compliment my organic sheets.

Soy is all around us-- soy milk, soy beans, soy clothing. Recently, I was doing my usual drive by at Target and decided to browse the dollar bins at the front of the store. And what did I find? Method Soy Candles for a buck! It was quite amazing. I then decided that I'd browse the home section and came across bamboo candles that are made out of 90% vegetable wax. I bought a few of the method candles and a bamboo candle, and I must say that I'm pleased with their burning abilities and scents. Plus, what better way decorate any room in your house than with candles-- simple, right?

Why burn soy wax instead of regular candles that contain paraffin wax?
According to Greenspace Candles, soy wax is non-toxic, burns cleaner and longer, originates from a renewable source and is biodegradable. Paraffin wax, on the other hand, contains petroleum. Petroleum smoke contains carcinogenic toxins and produces black soot, is not a renewable source and contributes to polluting the air and global warming.

Besides adding a green flare to a room in your home, burning soy candles is not only better for the environment, but better for you. For more information on smoke and soot produced from candles made out of petroluem,check out the report that the Environmental Protection Agency produced on the reduction of soot.

Burn wisely, happy decorating!

Kitchen Solvers of Phoenix

2007-10-06T20:21:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, me and a few fellow Catscanners attended the 10th annual Green Building Expo in Scottsdale. First off, the event was amazing, and over 100 booths from various companies who have gone green with their products/services were in attendance. I happened to stop by a booth, Kitchen Solvers of Phoenix, that specializes in remodeling kitchens and bathrooms with recycled, green products, such as cabinets (new and refacing), solid surface counter tops, glueless laminate flooring, bath liners and wall surrounds, and closet organizers.

While observing the booth, I noticed that the recycled counter top model pieces were popular with Expo attendees, so I decided to ask one of the representatives at the booth some questions about the counter top products.

Randy Fincher, a representative with Kitchen Solvers of Phoenix, was excited to be at the Expo and about going green. He said, "It's good to see people leaning towards this, I'll be happy when so many people do this because it's very important."

One of the counter top products that Kitchen Solvers installs in kitchens/
baths is from IceStone. IceStone provides durable surfaces that are made out of recycled glass and concrete. Their counter tops come in over 25 different colors and its contents contain non-VOC.

But not only does Kitchen Solvers install IceStone counter tops in kitchens, other uses for the product are endless and can be used "creatively," Fincher said.

"These products are mainly used as surface materials, but it's also used a lot as the back splashes for wall treatments, and also as tiles in showers," he said.

But with demand not as high in the green market for recycled counter tops, prices range differently from each household design to the next, Fincher said.

"Counter top prices are generally 15 to 20 percent more expensive than regular, non-recycled counter tops," he added. "The more in demand these products become, the more the prices will go down."

With the green movement coming a long very well, and taking into consideration that even counter tops can come from recycled materials,Fincher said, "All of these counter tops are made from stuff at the landfills, and that's the beauty of it."

After two long days of covering the Expo, I was ecstatic to see, hear and learn how the green movement has and continues to chug along.

Until next week, happy designing!

Save Some Green with Energy Star Appliances

2007-09-25T16:14:00.001-07:00

I received my power bill last week and it was through the roof! Why? Because of my energy hogging appliances. After casually talking to my mama about school, this and that and my bills, she told me that she had Energy Star appliances that have reduced her power bills/water bills. So, I researched Energy Star and thought I'd talk about appliances that not only have gone green, but also save you some green.

Energy Star is program that involves the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This program allows anyone to save some green and attribute to an eco-friendly environment through "energy-efficient products and practices."

According to the Energy Star Web site:

"Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2006 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars — all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills."

Sounds great, right? Energy Star offers an array of products/appliances that reduce energy use, including but not limited to clothes washers, dehumidifiers, refrigerators and freezers, room air conditioners, room air cleaners and ceiling fans.

Take for instance, dishwashers. They not only use power to run them, but water as well. Energy Star dishwashers can save you $30 a year in utility bills.

According to the Energy Star Web site on dishwashers:

"ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers use at least 41 percent less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption. ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers use much less water than conventional models. Because they use less hot water compared to new conventional models, an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher saves about $90 over its lifetime."

So reduce your bills and reduce energy use in your home by not only going green with appliances, but saving green.

Until next week, happy appliance hunting!

Save the Earth in Your Sleep

2007-09-20T19:19:00.001-07:00

As a full time student, family member, friend and worker, sleep is but a nice thought at times. When I do get the chance to take a "power" nap, or a good, full night's rest, I like to do so comfortably. And what better way to sleep and feel good while catching my Zzzz's? Organic sheets.

I recently took a stroll down Target's bed and bath aisles and came across organic sheets in a bag, ranging from $39-59. The bag said that the sheets contained/were:

- 100% organically grown cotton fiber
- ecofriendly dyes
- 250 thread count
- produced in an IMO certified facility

So, I thought I'd give the sheets a try and bought a set-- the white one to be exact. Let me tell you, even though they're only 250 thread count, they are extremely comfortable. After my firsts night sleep on them, I can honestly say that I woke up after 8 straight hours of sleep, feeling great. I guess knowing that I contributed to the environment, even if it was through sheets, made my sleep that much better.

But back to the sheets, or more importantly, organic cotton...

Organic fibers, or one specifically, organic cotton is one of the most popular fibers out in the eco-friendly market today. Not only can organic cotton be made into sheets, but other products such as clothing, towels and makeup removal pads.

According to the
Organic Trade Association:

"In 2003, organic fiber sales in the United States grew by 22.7 percent over the previous year, to reach $85 million, according to the Organic Trade Association's 2004 Manufacturer Survey. Sales of organic women's clothing during that period grew by 33.6 percent, while organic infant's clothing and diaper sales grew 20.5 percent. Sales of organic men's clothing grew by 11 percent, and children's and teens clothing sales grew by 15.8 percent. Meanwhile, sales of organic sheets and towels grew by 17.9 percent, and those for organic mattresses and pillows increased 8.3 percent."

Grown in soil that reduces toxic pesticides, organic cotton has a low-impact on the environment, but adds to the large production impact for everyday, eco-friendly items.

So, sleep well, sleep organically!

Brighten up those walls, reduce health issues!

2007-09-13T12:14:00.001-07:00

Recently, I had an interview with Natasha, owner of Originate Natural Building Materials here in town. She was helping me out with information on bamboo and its uses for a story I'm working on for the Cat Scan.

After talking "bamboo this" and "bamboo that", I wanted, needed to hear of another product.

So, I walked around and noticed in the middle of her showroom, a curved, free-standing bookcase filled with different sized paint jars. My attention was caught and she proceeded to talk all about the non-VOC paints in which she sells. Volatile organic compounds, or VOC's, are gases emitted from a variety of products, including, but not limited to, paints, copy paper and cleaning supplies. Also, these gases can cause an array of health problems, such as cancer, skin reactions and nausea. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers a great explanation on VOC's and their effects on the environment and on personal health.

But back to paint! One company that Natasha distributes for, where the paints carry no VOC's, is Green Planet Paints.

Green Planet Paints carries clay paints (interior), color glazes (interior), milk paints (interior) and pigments, which are "green by design, have a small environmental footprint, and are much more than simply zero-VOC," according to one of their pamphlets.

And instead of using regular resins, found in most paint today, additives, or synthesized molecules that don't break down easily in the environment, and synthetic dyes, Green Planet Paints use "soy resin, mineral pigments and simple, low impact additives," Natasha said.

Another company that Natasha distributes for is BioShield. Recently, BioShield began a new line of paint called Kinder. Kinder paints, used indoors, don't contain VOC's just as Green Planet Paints. They've also created a new site, Healthy Living Paints, with tips on how to go green in your home, along with articles and interviews from BioShield staff.

So, don't be afraid to splash some color on bare walls. More importantly, while doing so, help out the environment and your health by painting the non-VOC way!

Until next week, let's paint!

LEED to green!

2007-09-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Let me just say that I am amazed! Design collides with Green Building in an effort to spread eco-friendly developments.

Modus Development, based in Phoenix, defines itself in three ways on their Web site--

"an arrangement of or mode of expressing, the idea of variation or departure from some general rule or form, and lifestyle: a manner of living that reflects a person's values and attitudes."

Besides having an innovative and unique name, Modus developers pick and choose sites to build upon, which otherwise are not utilized to the fullest, to create an environment that suits the residents lifestyle inside their homes and where they work. Creatively developing beautiful homes with sophisticated and edgy designs alongside modular appearances, Modus' developments are also green!

Phoenix communities developed by Modus include The Galleries at Turney, Array, Vivendi, and Project MZ. The Galleries at Turney are located at 24th Street and Camelback, and comprise eight units that are un-attached to each other. Array is located in Scottsdale, two blocks east of the Indian Bend Wash, and comprises nine, three-story units. Vivendi, Modus' newest development, is also located in Scottsdale, but on Hayden Road. And Project MZ will comprise six units.

All four developments showoff great and modern design. But most importantly, these communities are eco-built. According to the Modus Web site:

"All Modus developments are developed to meet Green Building standards, which have many high-performance features that provide improved health, safety, comfort and lower operating costs. Green buildings are more environmentally friendly, including being more durable and less polluting, as well as making substantially better use of resources including energy, water, materials and land. Long term, Green Building projects have higher resale values and lower maintenance and operating costs."

Also, Modus communities meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Green Building requirements. According to the Modus Web site:

"The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a performance-oriented, consensus-developed rating system. Credits are earned for satisfying specific Green Building criteria by reviewing five major environmental categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality."

Take the Array community for example. One of the development's energy efficient features is eco-friendly building materials, such as "corrugated metal siding and fibrous concrete panels that act as a rain screen while creating a thermal barrier that eliminates heat transmission to the building while effectively shading the building from the heat of the desert sun," according to the Modus Web site.

So again, I'm amazed. Green Building is really LEED-ing the way! And Modus Development is ahead of the game! Check out Desert Living and Green Homebuilder's articles on Modus.

See you next week!

Begin Right, Build Right

2007-09-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I hope everyone had a great, long weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed mine.

I went to Vegas, and during my trip, stumbled across this amazing "green house".

Originally, I wanted to discuss bamboo furniture and flooring this week, but I instead came across an exciting topic Sunday afternoon while driving back to my parents house after shopping. Huge houses caught my attention, and I noticed that these homes were part of a new development, "Madera, A Living Smart Neighborhood by Pardee Homes". A sign confirmed that model homes were open for viewing, so I thought I'd take a look.

I entered the office and a Pardee Homes representative greeted me with a "hello" and a bottle of water. He then proceeded to explain the Living Smart Program that has spectators buying homes in Madera, that Pardee Homes is a home builder in Sacramento, Southern California and Las Vegas, and directed me around the Pardee Homes Web site.

After my meet and greet, I was ecstatic to see what this Living Smart Program entailed. Upon entering one of the model homes, a sign outside the door said, "Living Smart! This model home demonstrates what LivingSmart means, both inside your home and around your community."

Once inside, the entire house was green! Green rugs, bamboo flooring, green curtains, green paint, bamboo plants, green dishes, everything! Even the modeled toothbrushes in the kids room were lime green. But besides the green decor and design, small signs explained that the Living Smart program included four overall concepts or features: EnergySmart, EarthSmart, HealthSmart, and WaterSmart.

According to the home builders pamphlet and Web site, EnergySmart features include "choices that reduce energy consumption, possibly lowering energy bills."
In example--using energy-saving windows and a tankless water heater.

EarthSmart features include "choices that encourage conservation or use recycled or sustainable resources."
In example--using low VOC paint and carpeting made from recycled materials.

HealthSmart features include "choices that support healthy indoor air and water quality."
In example--using low-formaldehyde attic insulation and a high-efficiency air filtration system.

And WaterSmart features include "choices that minimize water consumption to conserve this precious resource."
In example--using low-flow faucets and shower heads.

After taking my environmentally house tour, I thought, too, what better way to introduce decor and interior design, than to begin explaining that the structure of a home in itself can be eco-friendly, along with the power, water and air inside. And with healthy indoor air and water, as Pardee Homes includes in their Living Smart Program, you'll have more energy to decorate and design your home!

So until next week, take a look at my slide show, relax and Live Smart!

Come on in . . .

2007-08-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

My mama, well, she's gone green in her home since ever since. Green is dominant on an island as well as in the islander's home, especially in the backyard. Palm trees are a must, not only to provide shade, but islanders enjoy the outdoors. And what better way to do so than with palm trees and hibiscus flowers to gaze upon-- unless a typhoon is approaching, then we're indoors. Wait, then there's the furniture. If the furniture isn't green and cushioned, bamboo furniture with green-cushioned seats can be found everywhere. Yes, even patio furniture is green, or bamboo with green accents.

It was growing up in this tropical home, where my definition of natural beauty didn't stop at the doorstep. So when it was time to think about a topic to cover for my blog as part of my capstone journalism course, the Cat Scan, I thought about my tropical home getaway and the green movement. And thus came the decision to discuss "Green Decor and Interior Design".

But before I get into that, here are the basics about me, Jenna: Currently, I'm a graduating senior from Guam majoring in journalism at the University of Arizona. I'm also on staff for the Cat Scan, an online publication produced by journalism students. With the theme of the Cat Scan being "Green Living", staff members will be covering an array of topics in their own blogs in relation to going green as well.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be gathering and sharing information on any and everything that you can use to decorate/upgrade/manage your home to better improve its "greenness", including design schemes, such as remodeling your kitchen in support of a better environment inside the home. I'll also be taking a look at green building, and those who are developing and building greener homes and communities. Conducting interviews with interior designers about their visions of going green indoors will eventually unfold, and I'll also be taking a look at eco-friendly appliances, sheets, dishes, curtains, etc. I mean everything!

In the meantime, if you need any additional information on "green living", I've posted links to my fellow cat- scanners blogs as well as the Cat Scan homepage.

See you next week!