An Eco-Friendly Home

Published July 19, 2012

We can all be a little easier on the environment. Simple steps at home can help reduce heat and water consumption and really make an impact on the earth. It doesn’t matter if your home is large or small. The small changes you make in your day- to- day routine will affect your family’s quality of life as well as Canada’s as a whole.

If you start with the basics such as switching lights off in rooms that are not occupied and making sure your taps are turned off, you can save money each month and affect the quality of your life.

There are many eco-friendly products on the market today that are affordable and attractive in design. One of the front-runners would probably be a bamboo product. Bowls, Placemats, coasters and cutting boards are just a few examples of everyday eco-friendly products made of bamboo that can be purchased everywhere from home design stores to department stores here on the North Shore. Bamboo is the right choice for many household products because it is versatile, and a renewable resource.

Bamboo kitchen utensils are heat resistant, lightweight and very strong. They are long-lasting and are safe to use on non-stick surfaces. Most cutting boards are handmade and finished with natural, food-safe oils.

Bamboo’s versatility lies in its ability to be used for food applications, shelter, fuel and clothing. You have probably seen many eco-friendly clothing stores popping up in shopping outlets (there is one now open in Park Royal North.) These clothing outlets feature all natural, eco-friendly materials that are not only healthy for you to wear but help contribute to the well being of the planet.

Lastly, did you know that bamboo is a non-timber, non-petroleum resource that is chosen over many other building materials for it’s superior strength? It has been tested to have a tensile strength that is superior to steel. It also is one of the word’s fastest growing plants thus making it a very popular, renewable resource.

So next time you are shopping for a new salad bowl or cutting board, take a look at the bamboo household section in your local department store. The environment will thank you.