For those who are planning on some remodeling this year, there are more and more counter top alternatives that are easier on the environment. And, in many cases, they're also better for your health. It's funny how often those two things line up!

One of the new products I've been looking at is Icestone. The product is made of mixing cement with recycled glass. As you can imagine, it's very durable. It's also good for the environment as it's made up of 70-75% recycled materials. For those sensitive to VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and outgassing, there are none with this product. And, best of all, it's gorgeous! And, it's customizable so you can get just the right colors.

Another new product is Toscana Stone Designer Marble. This is made out of recycled marble chips. In addition to being gorgeous as a countertop it can be used as flooring or on walls, say, in the bathroom. And, again, there are lots of beautiful colors available.

If you're looking for a website to give you some other green countertop options check out http://www.greenable.net. It's a Philadelphia resource for green and sustainable products. Even if you don't choose to buy from them their web site is an excellent educational tool.

And, if you're looking for a more local source of information on green products and services, drop me an e-mail or give me a call. There's so much out there, even if you're not finding it in your local homebuilding store. I'm happy to help!

Remodeling our homes is filling up landfills! Every year 136 million tons of construction and demolition materials are discarded. This accounts for more than half of all landfill waste! And much of the stuff that's discarded is perfectly usable.  Just because you tired of the cool black bathtub after one year doesn't mean someone else wouldn't give their eyeteeth to own it!

The good news is that we can do better! There are programs in place to help us all recycle what we no longer need and find recycled choices for ourselves when we're remodeling.

Habitat for Humanity now has Restores where you can shop. They take new, unused construction materials that are donated by builders and resell them to the public to help fund the organization's building programs. You can find more information on their web site at http://www.habitat.org/env/restores

You can also find a local Restore in Manassas.

Deconstruction services are becoming more popular throughout the country. Deconstruction is construction in reverse and is used instead of demolition. Materials can then be salvaged and reused elsewhere. There are potential tax breaks available for homeowners who donate materials to deconstruction services.

You can find a directory of deconstruction services at http://www.deconstructioninstitute.com

And, next month, watch for a list of resources on this topic on my web site: http://www.JulieEmery.com

For more information on this topic now, you can also pick up the September issue of Better Homes & Gardens. See the article "12 Ways to Waste Less"

If you know of other resources on this topic or are involved in deconstruction work yourself, please drop me an e-mail at Julie@JulieEmery.com so I can include the information on my web page.

It's easier and easier to make wise environmental choices in many areas. It's great to see the improvements in the home remodeling area as well!