The DIY Channel’s new show, “This New House” premieres tonight, July 29th, at 8PM/7C.  If the trailer for the series is any indication, it should be chock full of innovative, high tech products, many of them geared towards energy savings and other aspects of green living.

One of the projects highlighted in the first three episodes is the Cleantech Teaching Center, a state of the art showcase home located in Beverly, MA.  This house features an entirely LED lighting system, rainwater recovery system, geothermal energy, and solar photovoltaic panels.  Sustainable materials were used throughout the interior, including Trend USA’s lovely Trend Q recycled glass tile.  Cleantech Homes, LLC has applied for LEED PLatinum status for the home.

Here is a synopsis of the first episode of the show, titled “Folding Houses” -

This episode is set at the Cleantech House in Beverly, Mass., a showcase of the latest in energy-saving design. Host Kevin O’Connor visits Blu-Homes, a Waltham, Mass., company that’s trying to deliver on the promise of prefab housing by making buildings that fold up for shipping. Licensed contractor and host Amy Matthews goes to Las Vegas, Nev., to see a Department of Energy project that brings a 1960s home up to net-zero modern standards. Kevin explains energy-recovery ventilators and Amy discovers Accoya, a treated wood that lasts for 50 years without needing paint or stain. Kevin goes to the NuCedar factory in Chicopee, Mass., to sees how PVC siding is made. At the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, Amy is off to see a P-trap sink drain that never clogs.

Sounds pretty cool.  I’m familiar with the treated Accoya wood, which is a pretty nifty product, and I’m really curious to find out more about the folding pre-fab houses.  Unfortunately, the DIY Channel is a premium channel on our system, and we’ve never bothered to upgrade since we don’t watch a ton of TV (Yeah, I know that’s kinda green living of us, but in truth, it’s as much about being too busy with work as it is anything more noble).  In any case, if you have a chance to watch it, please let us know what you think in the comments below.  Meanwhile, I’ll see if I can catch up with it some other way.

Anyway, wine is a multi-billion dollar, global industry, and anything that big generates a LOT of waste.  So I thought I would share some of my favorite sustainable goods made from the remnants of the wine making process…

Elegant curves define this beautiful folding chair from Whit McLeod.  Made from used oak wine barrels – many of them decades old – this chair is surprisingly comfortable and very chic.

Here on this Fontenay coffee table, it is easy to see how the type of wine, and the length of time a barrel is used, provide a rich variation in staining.

That beautiful variation is also evident in this richly patterned “barn door” by master furniture maker Cliff Spencer, also made of reclaimed oak from wine barrels.  I so wish I had a place in my house or studio to put one!

And of course, the oak can be used to create a stunning floor, like this custom one, also by Fortenay.

There are other great materials to be reused too.  For instance, wine corks make a terrific flooring, as these sweet round tiles cut from surplus wine corks show. And yes, that’s a picture of a shower floor.  Believe it or not, these tiles install just like regular ceramic tiles, with standard thin set and grout.  The only difference is the water based urethane you finish them with once they are installed.

Yemm & Hart has gone so far as to collect used wine corks, reprocessing them into 3′ x 3′ tiles, that can be applied to floors, walls or even as a surfacing material for furniture.

And of course, no post would be complete without things made from wine bottles.  Now, I could write an entire post on lovely vases, glasses and decorative items made from bottles, and maybe I will someday, but for now I wanted you to see a couple of more unusual applications.

Here are some marvelous color block pendant lamps by Jerry Kott.  Handcut from recycled wine bottles, and then reassembled, they would look striking suspended over a kitchen island, or a stylish wet bar.

Another piece I just love is this sideboard.  Designed and handcrafted by Blue Moon Bottles from recycled steel, glass and wine bottle punts (the bottom end of the bottle), it looks so pretty and yet truly useful at the same time.

To really appreciate how pretty the punts look in this table though, you have to see them with a little light coming through.  It reminds me a bit of the stained glass windows made from cut bottle bottoms that were at a Mexican restaurant I ate at as a kid.  They absolutely fascinated me.  Ah nostalgia… I have a sudden craving for cheese enchiladas now!

So, do you have a favorite piece of furniture, decorative piece, or building material you’ve seen made from the remnants of winemaking (and drinking!)?  Please feel free to share it in the comments below.

Meanwhile, just so you know, I’m on vacation.  Not a “throw all cares to the winds, sipping margaritas by the pool, can’t be reached by cell phone” type of vacation, but a little time off nonetheless. So I hope you won’t mind the brevity of my writing for the next several days.  I have some serious relaxing to do.  Maybe with a glass or two of wine in hand…

Mosaic “wallpaper” by Trend USA

1.  Recycled glass takes only 50% of the energy to produce that virgin glass does.

Oceanside Glasstile

2.  Recycled glass  can be made into any form, color, or shape you can imagine.

Bedrock Industries

3.  Glass is truly recyclable, meaning it can be recycled over and over and over again without losing quality.  Paper and many metals can only be recycled a certain number of times before they become unusable (in their original form) due to contaminants or loss of structural integrity.  Plastic is even worse, as it can only be downcycled, meaning it must be converted into a lesser form from the very beginning.

Stone & Pewter

4. Recycled glass is versatile.  It can be used anywhere that ceramic tile can be used, such as walls, countertops, showers, fountains and pools.  It can even be used for flooring.

Hakatai

5.  Every ton of 50% recycled glass saves 250 tons of mining waste.  Imagine the savings when it’s 100% recycled!

Sandhill

6.  Recycled glass is inert, meaning it won’t affect indoor air quality, or add contaminants or chemicals to the interior environment.

So have I got you interested?  Good!  Now, here are a few more things you should know before you run out and replace that grubby old bathroom countertop:

• The post consumer recycled content of glass tiles can vary anywhere from 100% down to about 30%.  Most companies make the information available to you on their website or in information sheets and catalogs, but if you don’t see it anywhere, don’t hesitate to ask.
• Even though recycled glass takes a lot less energy to produce than virgin glass, there is still a significant amount of heat and energy needed to reform it.  Check with the company you’re considering to see if they have any programs in place to either reduce or offset the energy they use in production.
• Recycled glass is BEAUTIFUL.  That being said, it’s typically made using processes that allow for some flaws, bubbles and other quirks of production, so you should enjoy a little “character” in your tile.
• All of the recycled glass tile companies I have highlighted above are located in the United States, although a few of them actually manufacture in other countries.  If you are in another country and know of a good local source for recycled glass tile that you would like to share, please let us know in the comments below.  I love hearing about new sources for good things.

All images - Will and Jane Fowler

Created by Will and Jane Fowler out of used surfboards, and then covered in glass and mirror mosaics, each shower is completely unique.

Combining whimsy and functionality, these surfboard showers are also beautiful works of art.

You really couldn’t find something that evokes summer on a sandy beach more than this.

To find out how to order your own bit of righteous recycling, you can contact Will and Jane Fowler here.

If you are furniture designer Bill More, you get beautiful tables like this…

Constructed using steel and bamboo, the Ventralis coffee table is one of two striking table designs available through More’s Forged Elements furniture line.

Says More:

“Since I started designing and building furniture over ten years ago I have been conscious of my environmental impact. I always search for used materials and recycled ingredients to work with. Unfortunately, when you need to produce a consistent, high quality product, this is often a great challenge. So when I inevitably have to use new materials, my conscience makes me feel uneasy. I see bamboo and steel as lesser evils, since even new steel is created from a good percentage of recycled content and bamboo grows like a weed. I am constantly searching for new ways to lessen my impact as a craftsman.”

One of the things I found most intriguing with the Forged Elements tables, other than the lovely recycled resin insert across the top, is the fact that they have been designed with collapsible legs, making them shippable as a flat pack item.  Those legs would also come in handy should you need to store them away for a period of time, though I can’t imagine wanting to tuck something so lovely out of sight.

Bill More also designs and handcrafts custom furniture, starting with hand drawings, and then working up to full renderings before actual construction begins.

This fascinating asymmetrical cabinet was made using steel, walnut, stainless steel and slate.

Another favorite material in his designs are the recycled glass tiles from Bedrock Industries in Seattle, as seen in the side table above.

I asked Bill More how long he has considered sustainability as part of design process…

“For as long as I can remember I have had a goal of living a sustainable lifestyle, and I have always tried to translate this into my craft. I believe that if you choose to produce yet another product in this world, you have an obligation to put some thought about where the materials come from and where they are going. Thankfully, there are more manufacturers these days inventing environmentally friendly materials to work with. My ultimate goal is to spend half of my time working on growing food and sustaining my physical needs, and then be creative for the rest of the day…… I am getting closer.”

That sounds like a lifestyle we could all hope to achieve.

* According to the Steel Recycling Institute, more steel is recycled in the U.S., than any other material.

Developed by the Spanish multi-national company Cosentino, Eco brand countertops are made of 75% recycled materials.  Those materials include anything from porcelain to stone to glass.  But it’s the three colors, Polar Cap, Crystal Ash and Starlight, which really stand out with their subtle use of broken mirror.  In fact, although not normally a fan of shiny black countertops, I am transfixed by how much the color Starlight lives up to its name.  There is no way to experience what it really looks like except by seeing it in person, but trust me, it’s absolutely lovely.  And shiny.  And sparkly.  And,… I must have been a magpie in another life.

By combining all these different materials, in different proportions, and then binding them together with a resin made primarily from corn, Eco by Cosentino has created a non-porous, high performance surface that is both Cradle to Cradle, and Greenguard certified.

Although they have a very usable range of colors, they are all in an earthy palette of black, white, gray and tan, which seems a bit limited.  If you were in charge of things, what color would you most like to see them add to the range of options?  Do you like the polished look, or do you think they should offer a couple of colors in a honed (matte) finish?  Please feel free to comment below.

All images via Bottlehood

While they may not be able to make a huge dent in that statistic, Bottlehood is determined to do what they can by turning some of those unwanted wine bottles into fun vases and glassware.

And if you think a wine bottle makes a good vase, check out what they’ve done with some other types of bottles…

I already absolutely loved the bottle shape for the new(ish) St Germain liqueur from France.  So evocative of the Belle Epoque’, with it’s tapering, faceted shape.   Imagine how happy I was to find that Bottlehood had included St Germain in their line!

And what a smart looking vase this hand blown Los Abuelos tequila bottle makes!  It would look lovely with a casual arrangement of tulips this Spring.

Although all paper labels are removed, many of the bottles retain their original screen printing, which means you had really better love Grey Goose if you want that particular vase.  However, there are many other attractive vases that have no labeling, including this one made from a bottle of Remy XO.

Made in San Diego, California, from bottles sourced at area restaurants, these vases are reasonably priced, with most falling in the $15-20 range.  The largest selection is available through their Etsy store.

Now if only we could help them empty the original contents…

(clockwise from top) "Gold Coast", "Pompeii", raw safety glass in bag

Quick story – When I was a little girl, I found some broken windshield glass in the alley near our home.  My mother, being the crafty sort at the time, decided to bring it home to experiment with.  Her project, as I recall, involved gluing the pieces of glass around a flower pot for a sort of sparkly mosaic effect.   We’ll never know what the end result might have been, since my toddler sister decided that tempered glass would make a delicious appetizer to the lunch my mother had left the room to make.   Although a frantic trip to the doctor revealed no lasting damage, the great tempered glass experiment quickly made it’s way to the trash, never to be tried again.

I’m so happy that Ellen Blakeley, artist and owner of Ellen Blakeley Studio, had better results!  Just look at the amazing tiles she has created from recycling tempered glass…

"Moss" from the Elements Collection

Using low VOC paints and sanded grout, Ellen Blakeley Studios takes a common material, and transforms it into something special.  Looking like a miniature landscape from a distant planet, the tile has a fascinating sense of depth and movement, created from the juxtaposition of transparent glass and opaque grout.

"After Dark" from the Elements Collection

Because tempered glass is a treated glass, it can’t be recycled by conventional means, so once it breaks it’s done.  Ellen Blakely Studios sources their tempered glass from companies in Northern California that would otherwise simply throw it away, thus making this a great example of trash to treasure!

"Amazon" from the Elements Collection

Perfect for a kitchen or bathroom backsplash, the tiles have been designed for durability, and are available in an amazing assortment of color combinations.   Or send the studio a swatch of your own and ask them to create something completely custom.

One other note – As I have mentioned before, I love it when manufacturers go the extra mile to sample their products in a less wasteful manner.  When I asked Ellen Blakely if she could send me a sample of her studios work, not only did she send me a cool little bag of tempered glass so I could see what the raw material was like (image at top), but both tile samples came with a cork backing so I could use them as coasters!  Now that’s sustainable sampling!

]]> http://www.theinteriorevolution.com/archives/878/feed 0 http://www.theinteriorevolution.com/archives/17 http://www.theinteriorevolution.com/archives/17#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:08:08 +0000 rachelh http://www.theinteriorevolution.com/style/?p=17 Have you ever wondered how Vetrazzo makes something like this…

Vetrazzo "Bistro Green" table top

From something like this…

Recycled glass from post consumer sources

Well, since 85% of the finished material is made from glass shards, I would have to say they make it very, VERY carefully…  (sorry – couldn’t resist).

Actually, according to Vetrazzo, the process is not unlike making a chocolate chip cookie.  The glass is the chocolate chips, the Portland cement is the batter.  Since all the material used is inert, and there are no petroleum or resin ingredients included, Vetrazzo is a completely VOC free product.  Once the glass, cement and a few proprietary materials are mixed together, they are poured into a 9′ x 5′ mold, then steam cured overnight to strengthen the slab.

finished slab

The slab is then transported to the finishing area…

Slab in polishing process

where it is polished to a high gloss with a large scale granite polisher.  Although a significant amount of water is required to complete the process, Vetrazzo is able to reclaim almost all of it using a 2,000 gallon water recycling system.  In fact, they are quite proud of the fact that they use less water in the manufacturing process than they do for their kitchen and bathrooms.

So, you just KNOW that they have to drop a slab now and then, despite all the cool looking equipment used to move it around!  In order to minimize waste, Vetrazzo has come up with a good way to keep this material out of the landfill.  They actually pay a company to come pick up their broken and off-spec panels.  The company in-turn crushes the broken panels up and uses the material to make the base for road beds.

Most interesting to me was how committed they are to acquiring their glass from local sources.  Here’s what they have to say about where the glass comes from:

“Our primary source of glass is post-consumer California Redemption Value glass, more commonly known as the glass recycled by homeowners, bars and restaurants throughout Northern California.  Last night’s beer and wine bottles are today’s beautiful recycled glass countertops.  Another more unusual form of post consumer glass is salvaged glass we acquire from demolished buildings.

We also use a post-industrial glass that would otherwise be sent to the landfill or melted down at a high energy cost and repurposed as glass bottles, jars, etc.  At a relatively low energy cost Vetrazzo takes this crushed, un-processed glass and creates artful surfaces that will last for many decades to come.  Our post industrial glass sources are numerous, but some of the most common yet interesting are sources such as:

Cobalt Skyy Blue glass from the Skyy Vodka bottling plant
Safety glass from windshields, shower doors, etc
Architectural glass from sky scrapers
Flint and Georgia green glass from bottle manufacturers”

Vetrazzo has an excellent video that further explains their efforts to maintain a green business and the steps they take to make every step of the manufacturing process sustainable.

I hope you have enjoyed the first installment of our planned series – “How Do They Make…?”  If you have suggestions for other products you would like to know more about, please feel free to contact us at info [at] theinteriorevolution [dot] com

Editors note – theinterioRevolution does not accept nor publish any paid content.  The decision to profile the design and manufacturing process of specific companies is based solely on the proprietary nature of the particular product.

"Floating Blue" by Vetrazzo - Joel Puliatti, ©2008 Joel Puliatti for Vetrazzo, puliattiphoto@yahoo.com.

1. Recycled Glass Terrazo – Terrazo is an age old method of creating hard surfaces by combining aggregate, such as marble chips, with concrete.  The resulting material is poured into place and smoothed out using grinders and polishers. Companies such as Vetrazzo, Enviroglass, and Icestone have taken this method and replaced the stone aggregate with pre and post consumer glass chips, creating eye catching surfaces.

Caesarstone Ruby Reflections (recycled content)

2. Composite (Engineered) Stone – A suitable, and less destructive, substitute for granite countertops.  Composite countertops consist of some sort of stone aggregate, ranging in size from powder to pea size granules, combined with polymers and epoxy.  Pigment may also be added.  Manufacturers such as Caesarstone and Okite offer GreenGuard certified product.

Paperstone - Grass Kitchen: Paneltech International.

3. Paper – Composed of hundreds of sheets of compressed paper, and saturated with non-toxic resin, paper countertops, such as Richlite and Paperstone,  provide a clean, elegant look with surprising durability.

Plyboo Squared - USGBC Headquarters Washington, D.C.

4. Wood & Bamboo – In many late 19th century kitchens, wood countertops were the norm.  By the early 20th century though, tile and other easy to sanitize hard surfaces had all but replaced them in most kitchens.  However, wood is seeing a resurgence in popularity, due in part to an understanding of its natural anti-bacterial properties, as well as the warmer look.  Bamboo has similar properties to wood and, when purchased from a reputable manufacturer such as Plyboo or Teragren, is made with non-toxic adhesives and responsibly harvested material.

Durum by Torzo Surfaces

5. Resin Infused Composite – Something of a hybrid, this surface takes composite board, such as Kirei and OSB, and saturates it with resin, much like that used for paper countertops.  Because the resin and pigment permeate the material, it can be fabricated without need for staining or touch-ups. It also makes it resistant to water, allowing it to be used for bathroom and kitchen counters.

Conrete integral sink by Sonoma Stone

6. Concrete – Whether poured in place, or slab, lightweight concrete makes a lovely, versatile countertop surface.  With the addition of pigment, surface detailing and various types of aggregate, this material can be endlessly customized.  Perhaps one of the biggest advantages is the ability to create integral sinks, which provide a seamless surface transition.  There are many artisans who specialize in creating and installing concrete countertops, as well as some larger companies such as Sonoma Stone.