Environmental Interior Design

Look outside of your window, how healthy is the air, soil and water? If like me you love living close to the sea, would you swim in the water? Are the beaches clean and free of waste? In the summer when blackberry bushes are heavy with fruit, would you eat them if they are by the roadside?

There is so much in the media about the natural environment and climate change - it’s easy to distance yourself from what is happening. But what is really happening, several debates aside, the fundamental point is this 'we are only guardians of the planet - not the owners'.

Currently your actions are harming the earth. It’s important to recognise that the earth is ultimately our life force. If our eco systems are poisoned and destroyed no amount of advances in technology, human efforts, carbon taxes, offsetting schemes will help our future generations.

From an interior design perspective, each new sofa or kitchen that you buy has an impact somewhere on the planet. Everything that is made in a factory affects the natural environment, think about raw materials, manufacture, delivery, use and disposal of every item in your home.

We live in a consumer society and it is hard to escape from commercialism. Interior design magazines are filled with upcoming trends and attractive ‘must have’ pieces of furniture and furnishings. Is it really necessary to continually change your interior only for the sake of aesthetics?

Environmental Interior Design Articles

This area of my website will look at energy efficiency within your home. View over the following articles to find out detailed information about methods you can use to reduce the amount of energy you use which cost you more money in your utility bills and have a negative impact on our surrounding natural environment.

• Buildings and the Environment
  How the construction industry plays a major role in environmental damage.
• Building Energy Output
  Looking at a break down of the term 'embodied energy' - how each area is evaluated in a building for its 'Whole carbon life' output.
• Renewable energy - The Irish Greener Homes Scheme
  How Irish homeowners can save money installing a renewable heating system with The Greener Homes Scheme.
• Irish building energy rating
  The EU Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD). Find out what this means to the Irish homeowners and landlords.
• Home energy saving tips
  Helpful ways to reduce the energy you use in your home saving you money and benefiting the environment.
• Insulation
  How to reduce heat loss by up to one third, saving you money, reducing health risks and lowering the negative effect on the environment
• Household appliances
  Home energy savings – how you can save money and the planet by reducing your electrical appliance energy usage at home
• Natural ventilation
  Different ways to naturally ventilate your home, ensuring better air quality, health and comfort.
• Mechanical ventilation
  Improving air quality in rooms that cannot be naturally ventilated.
• Natural lighting
  Interior design advice to reduce the amount of electricity used for artificial lighting in your home.

Resources - Environmental Interior Design

Follow this link for more resources on energy efficient lighting from Green Energy Efficient Homes.

alternative-heating.com

This site provides information about home heating alternatives such as active and passive solar heating designs, alternative fuel stoves (grain, coal, wood pellet) and geothermal systems. It is regularly updated with news about alternative heating solutions and innovations.

alternative-energy-resources.net

Harnessing our renewable resources to reduce the cost of energy, pollution and dependence on foreign oil.

Utility Free - Alternative home energy www.utilityfree.com

Utility Free supplies home electricity options using alternative power sources such as solar energy, wind energy and water turbines. Alternative home energy can augment or replace your utility power with a direct utility intertie or a stand alone system.