From the editor.

Sustainability in general, and sustainable building specifically are hot topics now, and for good reason. Our region is suffering the impacts of pollution in our outdoor air, but when we take refuge inside our houses and offices, we also find pollution there in the form of mold, VOCs, and other environmental contaminants. Diseases like asthma and multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) are on the rise, and echoing the problems impacting the world around us: acid rain, certain species of trees dying in vast numbers, southern forests being chipped for OSB board, our dwindling green spaces. And many of us feel a general dissatisfaction and lack of connection with the world around us, or a feeling of powerlessness against the tide of uncontrolled development.

We do have the power, however, to make our homes and offices clear and sustainable havens that foster good health and happiness. We can educate ourselves about the options for green building and renovating, and choose the best ones for us.

Over the past few months, as I've come to know many members of the sustainable building movement throughout our region, I've found that there are many definitions for the term "sustainable building." In fact, some building professionals told me that they avoid the terms "green" and "sustainable" because they feel that many people are capitalizing on those words to make money. The people I talked with as I educated myself seemed to be doing their part to make a positive difference.

In order to create a life that's sustainable, in one sense of the word, you would have to stop driving a car, grow all of your own food, wear only organic cotton clothing made locally, never use chemicals, never use paper products, never use a cell phone, make everything from scratch ... It would be a challenging life. Then the question is, does making your life difficult count as an unsustainable practice? Is stress unsustainable?

Many people striving for sustainability find that they can do some, but not all, of the things they feel keep them living light on the earth. Some of us pick one or two areas that we focus on. For example, I eat about 90% organically-grown food. I have a friend who never wastes paper unless absolutely necessary. Another friend doesn't drive, but bikes everywhere. I have friends who are farmers and live in the earth's natural cycles of sun and rain, winter and spring.

This modern world is about convenience, at a very dear cost. Living light on the earth can mean consciously making important sacrifices that cost more or are more difficult than taking the easy, high-impact way. We all must determine for ourselves how many sacrifices we're willing to make, and which ones, and which sacrifices result in the best benefits for us.

There are many aspects to sustainable building. You can determine which ones are most important to you, and then incorporate them into your living space. In this issue, you can educate yourself about the following paths for sustainable building:

1. The Nontoxic Home: This home is created using paint, flooring, finishes, and other materials that are the least toxic to the home's inhabitants. This can include reduced exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

2. The Off-the-grid Home: This home uses an alternative energy source, like solar power, to ensure that its owners aren't contributing to the #1 polluter: electricity.

3. The Energy Efficient Home: This home uses conventional electricity, but is built to minimize energy use, therefore reducing the home's inputs into the pollution stream. This type of home can be passive solar, use efficient appliances, be heavily insulated and "tight" with an air exchange system, etc.

4. Green Urban Design: These buildings are usually designed with a combination of energy efficiency and reduction of vehicle use in mind. If people live and work in the same city, they won't need to commute so far, reducing the #2 polluter: vehicle exhaust.

5. Other aspects: The other aspects of green building can include using recycled and sustainable building materials, building with materials taken from the land on which you're building, and more spiritual aspects like incorporating feng shui (the Chinese art of placement), natural decor, or organic shapes into your building.

Choose for yourself from these options. You may find that elements of all of them or more find a place in your home or workspace. If you keep sustainability in your consciousness, you'll do the best you can to create it in your world. And don't take my word for it; educate yourself! After reading this issue, contact these experts and others for more advice. Thanks for doing your part--we will all benefit.

WHAT'S AHEAD? Our upcoming June-July issue focuses on Garden Celebration. If you would like to submit an ad or article, check out newlifejournal.com for our advertising and writers guidelines, or contact us:

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