Over the past decade, the variety of
environmentally friendly materials has seen an
enormous increase, and there is now a “green’’
option for virtually every element of a house. Far
from the amenity-deprived life and unadorned
home once associated with green initiatives,
there are many products that add ambiance and
character to a home.
In designing a home, an interior designer
specifies all of its components, from floor to
ceiling and everything in between. In purchasing
these materials, the designer and owner have an
opportunity to select those that make a positive
environmental impact.
From the ground up
In the Caribbean, owners tend to gravitate toward
tile and/or wood. Tile made of natural stone, like
terrazzo, marble, travertine and limestone, not
only feel refreshing to the touch of bare feet, but
these materials actually contribute to keeping the
internal temperature of the home comfortable,
thus reducing the need for air-conditioning. As for
woods, the preferred material in the Caribbean is
mahogany; however, bamboo, purpleheart and
andiroba have emerged as popular choices of
flooring by environmentally-conscious consumers.
Reclaimed materials, such as solid wood from old
beer and wine barrels, can be transformed into
stunning flooring as well. Also, the use of regional
woods, such as Santa Maria, which is found in
the Antilles from Cuba to Jamaica, can not only
diminish costs, but can reduce the pollution
caused by transporting other woods from more
distant locations.
Another new green trend in flooring is concrete.
The majority of homes in the Caribbean are
already built with concrete for optimum hurricane
resistance. Therefore, by polishing and adding
texture to that same material, homeowners are
creating an aesthetically pleasing floor, while using
fewer materials and saving money.
Into the light
Another important decision that affects the
ambiance of a home is lighting. Having the right
balance of ambient, task and accent lighting can
dramatically enhance the atmosphere of a room.
When establishing a home’s lighting plan, a design
professional should reduce unnecessarily overilluminated
areas and find the right balance of
natural and energy-efficient lighting. Lighting has
been one of the great success stories in energy
efficiency, as the technology of the compact
fluorescent bulb has been available since the last
quarter of the 20th century. Compact fluorescents
use roughly one-quarter of the electricity that
an incandescent bulb uses to give off the same
amount of light. Dimmers or pre-programmed
lighting have also become extremely popular for
their varying effect. Such devices provide the
ability to programme various lighting zones. These
zones can be pre-set to suit a movie, a fun game
of Trivial Pursuit or an evening of entertaining friends. Have a problem remembering to turn
off the lights? Some of these devices even have
motion sensors that detect when someone has
entered or left the room. |
