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| Home | Articles | Green Your Home With Antiques: Investing in Antique Rugs Can Benefit Your Health and the Environment |
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by David Ruggiero
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Green Your Home With Antiques
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From government policies to award-winning documentaries, "green" consciousness now permeates all aspects of our lives. The major concerns of the early twenty-first century are energy efficiency, solar power, and the need to cultivate a way of life that is environmentally friendly. The trouble is, there is now so much information available that we risk sensory overload and feelings of helplessness when we try to make the right -- green -- decisions.
Our new feature, Green Your Home with Antiques, aims to provide clear information on green issues as they relate to antiques and the environment in which you place them. Purchasing antiques is a step toward practicing resource efficiency, and in this and future issues we will cover a wide range of topics that will help you connect green design and investment strategies with the acquisition of antiques and decorative arts. Please join us as we green the content of our magazine. We invite you to green the contents of your home -- with antiques.
-- David Ruggiero, LEED AP
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Persian Kirman, late 19th century.
Wool. 6 ft. 7 in. x 4 ft. 4 in.
Courtesy of Fine Arts Rug, Brookline, MA.
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While the acquisition of a fine rug can be a wise financial investment and a beautiful addition to your decor, it can also be an opportunity to invest in both a healthier home and the global environment. Important as color and pattern may be, the materials used and the processes employed in the manufacture of a rug are worth equal consideration. Armed with a simple understanding of "green design," you can positively affect the air quality in your home, while sustaining global resources and the Earth's atmosphere.
When selecting a rug, take into account the materials from which it was made. Natural fibers such as wool, cotton, jute, and silk are considered rapidly renewable, and are typically replaced within a year's time; synthetic fibers, which are often petroleum based, take millions of years to break down and renew. While much has been accomplished in recent years to "green" the carpet industry, synthetic fibers remain less desirable than natural fibers because of the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While all products off-gas, the quantity and toxicity of VOCs increase with man-made and highly processed materials.
VOCs are carbon compounds that are released into the air from many man-made and natural products. The US EPA estimates that VOCs in indoor air can be two to five times greater than in outdoor air and, during certain activities, indoor levels of VOCs may reach 1,000 times that of the outside air. These elevated levels are a contributing cause of poor air quality in buildings and homes. The term "sick building syndrome" is used to describe the primary problem and the adverse effects that people suffer wherever high levels of VOCs are found. While man-made floor coverings are not the sole cause of poor indoor air quality, higher levels result when synthetic binders, preservatives, and materials not commonly found in natural fibers are used. Because of their age, there are few, if any, VOCs found in antique rugs, since off-gassing is a process that usually lasts several months to several years.
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"Green" Links
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Carpet and Rug Institute
www.carpet-rug.com/
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) is a
science-based source for facts about carpets and rugs. They establish and maintain green industry standards and programs.
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Healthy House Institute
www.healthyhouseinstitute.com/
A resource for a better, safer indoor environment.
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Rate it Green
www.rateitgreen.com
Rate it Green is an online community committed to growing the Green Building Market through shared resources and information.
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United States Green Building Council
www.usgbc.org
The USGBC is working to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated. They maintain local chapters and affiliates throughout the US and Canada.
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Environmental guidance is available from an increasing number of organizations within the rug and carpet industry. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), www.carpet-rug.com, is the most active and has established two industry leading air quality standards: Green Label and Green Label Plus. Manufactures looking for these green certifications must achieve low to extremely low levels of off-gassing in both carpets and carpet pads. CRI also addresses the problems associated with disposing of or recycling old carpets and padding with their CARE (Carpet America Recovery Effort) program. Additionally, CRI promotes the use of recycled materials within the industry.
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC), www.usgbc.org, has also established a series of design protocols for homes, schools, commercial and institutional buildings. Their LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system promotes an integrated, whole-building design process aimed at improving air quality, minimizing the impact on natural resources, and reducing the operating costs associated with heating, cooling, and maintaining a building.
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These are just some of an increasing number of programs promoting environmentally friendly building designs. Buying an antique rug is one of the easiest ways you can contribute to ensuring your home is beautiful, healthy, and more environmentally friendly.
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David Ruggiero, a LEED accredited professional with experience in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green building design, is presently a project manager and green designer at Johnson Square Village, New Englands first all solar, green condominium complex.
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 Download the Complete Article in PDF Format Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
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Antiques and Fine Art is the leading site for antique collectors, designers, and enthusiasts of art and antiques. Featuring outstanding inventory for sale from top antiques & art dealers, educational articles on fine and decorative arts, and a calendar listing upcoming antiques shows and fairs.
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