Interior design goes green without costing a lot of green

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Jun 13, 2008 by Gregory, Traci

DOLGEVILLE - Kermit the Frog sang, "It ain't easy being green," but it turns out that for many businesses, being environmentally friendly isn't all that hard.

For years, people seemed to think that going gran was costly and time consuming, says Linda Fake, owner of the Uniquely Yours interior-design studio in Dolgeville. But with just a few wise decisions during the design, construction, or decorating of a building, businesses can implement beneficial environmentally friendly products and strategies, she says.

Far from costing an arm and a leg, many green products these days are competitively priced when compared to less eco-friendly counterparts. And companies can reap further benefits from certain green products - things like energy-efficient appliances or lighting - through ongoing energy-cost savings.

"It's better for the environment, and it's better for your bottom line," Fake says.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), there is a growing demand for green buildings, which currently represent just a small percentage (less than 1 percent according to a survey by CoStar Group) of available buildings. USGBC says the study indicates a growing demand by property investors and tenants for buildings that are green.

USGBC, based in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit organization that promotes green buildings. It awards Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification to buildings that demonstrate overall sustainability through eco-friendly and energy-efficient products and practices.

Although Fake says she is sometimes involved in a project right from the design phase, she most often jumps in when it's time to undertake the typical decorating tasks.

The message she tries to send to clients is that choosing green alternatives doesn't have to cost more, and it provides a safer environment for building tenants or employees.

It's estimated that 90 percent of our time is spent indoors - either at work or at home - and that's where most toxins are located, Fake says.

Everyone knows that "new carpet" smell, she says. But what they don't realize is that smell is generated by petroleum products or other chemicals such as formaldehyde used to make that carpet.

"There are so many petroleum products in your interior furnishings," she says. Businesses with an eye on going green are looking at alternatives to those products, she adds.

Carpet with minimal backing reduces the amount of petroleum used, since most of the petroleum is in the backing and not the actual carpet fibers, Fake says. Another alternative is wool carpeting. Recycled carpeting, made from old carpet, uses less new natural resources.

The choices, she says, are plentiful. The same applies to alternative wall and window coverings.

And the payoffs to making green choices are just as plentiful, Fake adds.

"Many people are finding that their initial investment - they get it back within a couple of years," she says. Those savings typically come from lower utility bills.

On top of that, buildings full of green products typically result in fewer people becoming ill, Fake adds. For a business, that means fewer employees taking sick time.

"Not only is it the responsible thing to do, but financially they are finding they see a better bottom line by going green," she says.

Fake says interest in green products in the Mohawk Valley is growing, but not everyone is taking action yet. She works to educate each client - both businesses and individuals - about what options are available and encourages green products when time and budget allow.

Fake founded Uniquely Yours in 1992 in her Dolgeville home and, as the sole employee, works with about two dozen clients across Central New York annually.