Jul 31, 2008 6:53 pm US/Eastern
Millions Of Dollars Turn Harlem Brownstone Green
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
Harlem is home to rows of beautiful brownstones, but this newly made-over house is the only one that's certified green.
CBS
Sometimes you have to spend a little if you want to save in the long run.
Case in point: A 200-year-old house in Harlem, where going green is costing a lot of green -- $4.5 million worth to be exact.
Harlem is home to rows of beautiful brownstones, but the newly made-over house is the only one that's certified green. Through a collaboration with Good Housekeeping and interior designer Robin Wilson, the house has had a foundation to furniture environmentally-correct makeover.
"It can be frightening to people to think that, 'Oh it's a big deal to build green,' and it really isn't," said Amanda Lecky of Good Housekeeping.
That's because there are more eco-stylish products than ever available. The floors are reclaimed wood, recycled carpets and eco-friendly tile that don't compromise on style. The cabinets and counters are from environmentally-aware companies.
And as for the home's infrastructure?
"This house has an incredible insulation system, recycled 100 percent cotton insulation that's denim, it's used from the remnants of blue jeans," said Lecky. "It's easily installed without using any masks or gloves, it's that easy."
The interior design is a stylish mix of eco fabulous finds.
"The key piece of my design is recycle, renew, and sustainable, so all of those elements were covered, from bamboo and mango woods for sustainability, from the pieces that we used that are vintage," said Wilson.
And vintage plays a big role here, with lots repurposed pieces, furniture re-covered in eco-friendly fabrics, and even fashioned from old tires.
Children get an early eco lesson with vintage toys. There are also new eco-friendly designs mixed in.
"The Argentine company is a Brooklyn-based company so the carbon footprint is very low to get this into this home, and what we see is non-VOC stains and paints, we also see no formaldehyde in the construction of this," said Wilson.
Added Lecky: "A few things here and there really can improve the energy efficiency and the environmental impact of your house without too much commitment on your part either financially or in terms of research."
For more information on how to green your own house,
click here.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments