Can I do up my house in an environmentally responsible way?

30 June 2010

Yes, green DIY is easy and effective.

• Repair or re-use. See Salvo for information on reclaimed and salvaged material.
• Most large stores stock Forest Stewardship Council-certified products - where the wood is from a managed source. Although Friends of the Earth no longer recommends the FSC trademark, it is the best-known standard set for new wood.
• Household paints can give off dangerous fumes as they dry. Try water-based paints which contain fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Some furnishing materials are made from recycled sources - see the Buy Recycled list.

The books listed below will help you with ideas and solutions for greening your DIY activities — all available from the Friends of the Earth Shop:

• How Can I Stop Climate Change?
• Good Wood Guide
• Don't Throw It All Away
• Save Cash Save the Planet

For further ideas and information, please see:

• Our Lifestyle pages
• George Marshall's energy-efficiency project
• The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) for a list of alternative products.

Why not find out if second-hand shops, charities or friends can take any unwanted materials?

Green DIY should introduce you to plenty of new and resourceful ways of making changes in your home.