2. Love Your Planet. Love Your Home
You don't have to choose between being a trendsetter and
a tree hugger. With simple and stylish green updates,
you're on your way to an eco-friendly and fabulously
fashionable home!
The Green Home Collection by My Decorator makes it easy
with stylish, natural choices for every room of your home
that won't break the bank or the planet.
Our eco-friendly interior design experts will open your eyes
to a new world of possibilities to conserve energy and live
lightly while looking great.
You'll learn how easy it is to incorporate sustainable and
stylish products into your home decor.
Love your planet. Love your home.
Love the possibilities.
The Green Home
Collection by
My Decorator.
Call My Decorator today for a
FREE design consultation,
FREE financing for a year,
and $100 dollars off
your purchase!
offer code: GO GREEN
3. Love Your Planet. Love Your Home
A Commitment to Sustainability
The Shaw Green Edge
Green Home
Green. Itās something we never forget
11. Flooring Division
Going green doesnāt mean
sacrificing sophistication and style.
With flooring products from My Decorator, you get
sustainable- and beautifulā flooring. Our product s
just arenāt good for your home thereāre good for the
.
environment.
Tile and Stone
Tile and stone products from My Decorator provide
easy ways to get creative with your home and are
the perfect choice for kitchens, bathrooms and en-
try-waysāresisting moisture, stains and bacteria.
They come in a range of ceramic, porcelain and
stone tile with a variety of accents and grout col-
ors āallowing for countless deign possibilities.
Epic Hardwood Flooring
Epic Hardwood flooring features EnviroCoreā¢, a
high density fiber core derived from recycled
wood fiber which means fewer trees are used with
less waste. Epic 3/8quot; hardwood uses 50% less
harvested wood than comparable engineered wood
flooring and it comes from managed forests. The
hardwood is not only friendly to the environment
but fashionable and available in a variety of
species, shades and finishes.
Wall to Wall Carpeting
My Decoratorās carpet options are packed with
innovative features making it softer, tougher and
more stain-resistant than ever before. It is made
from AnsoĀ® Nylon which contains recycled content
and is available in a variety of styles making it not
only responsibleābut fashionable..
12. Flooring Division
Save Energy from My Decorator
The warm comfort that carpet provides is not just your imagina-
tion. Unlike other types of flooring, carpet is a natural insulator,
providing additional warmth in cold seasons.
The use of carpet in a wall-to-wall application actually increases
the R-value, or insulation level, of the carpet area, potentially sav-
ing homeowners like you utility costs while reducing energy
use. The R-value (thermal resistance) measures how much a ma-
terial resists the movement of heat through a ceiling, wall, or floor
in a building. The higher the number, the more effective the insu-
lation.
Recently, tests carried out at the Johns Manville Technical Center
Thermal Labs, one of the most sophisticated laboratories of its kind
in the world, confirm carpet and pad significantly increase R-value
compared to other flooring materials. Results varied according to
the carpet's construction, with heavier products generally provid-
ing higher Rā value. Carpets were tested with and without cush-
ion, and the combination maximized the R-value. Carpet really is
warmer.
Test results from the different carpet constructions were compared
to three hard surface products - ceramic tile, laminate, and engi-
neered hardwood - and the differences were dramatic:
Carpet vs. engineered hardwood: From 3 to 7 times the R-value.
Carpet vs. laminate: From 4 to 8 times the R-value.
Carpet vs. ceramic tile: From 8 to 17 times the R-value
Carpet with cushion represents a clear advantage in insulation
Carpet insulates capability over hard surface flooring. Of course, potential energy
cost savings by using carpet and cushion in lieu of hard surfaces
up to 17 times better will vary widely. The type of floor construction, local energy costs,
than other flooring. climate, and carpet/cushion type all affect how significant these
savings could be.
Carpet can lower Dr. Alan Hedge, professor of Department of Design and Environ-
your energy bills. mental Analysis at Cornell University, also cites thermal comfort as
another of carpet's advantages. quot;Carpet feels warmer to the touch
than other floor coverings because the air at room temperature is
And, as every dog knows, trapped by the carpet fibers which acts as an insulator, and carpet
has a low thermal diffusivity compared to other floor materials that
have higher thermal diffusivities and that conduct heat away from
carpet just feels warmer. the body more rapidly, resulting in a lower skin temperature,
28. Color Consultation & Paint Division
Love Your Planet. Love Your Home
Indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air,
and according to the EPA, is considered one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and
finishes are among the leading causes.
Paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for
years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which, until recently, were es-
sential to the performance of the paint
New environmental regulations, and consumer demand, have led
to the development of low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and finishes.
Most paint manufacturers now produce one or more non-VOC vari-
ety of paint. These new paints are durable, cost-effective and less
harmful to human and environmental health.
Benefits
Health. Reduced toxins benefit everyone, including those with allergies and chemical sensitivities.
Environment. Reduces landfill, groundwater and ozone depleting contaminants.
Effective. Low-VOC products perform well in terms of coverage, scrubability and hideability
(covering flaws on previous coats).
Water-Based. Easy cleanup with soap and warm water.
Little or No Hazardous Fumes. Low odor during application; no odor once cured. No off-gassing.
Painted areas can be occupied sooner, with no odor complaints.
Not Deemed Hazardous Waste. Cleanup and disposal greatly simplified.
Types of Non-Toxic Paints and Finishes
The term quot;non-toxicquot; is used here in its broadest sense. With paints and finishes, it's more a mat-
ter of degree. Even Zero-VOC formulations contain some small amounts of toxins. Here are three
general categories of non-toxic (or low-toxic) paints: Natural Paints, Zero VOC, and Low VOC
Natural Paints and Finishes - These are paints made from natural raw ingredients such as water,
plant oils and resins, plant dyes and essential oils; natural minerals such as clay, chalk and tal-
cum; milk casein, natural latex, bees' wax, earth and mineral dyes. Water-based natural paints
give off almost no smell.
The oil-based natural paints usually have a pleasant fragrance of citrus or essential oils. Allergies
and sensitivities to these paints is uncommon. These paints are the safest for your health and for
The Real Milk Paint Company - non-toxic paint made with milk protein, lime, clay and earth pigments. Www.realmilkpaint.com
Aglaia - plant-based natural paints and finishes for many applications. Available throughout the UK. No US distribution. (www.aglaiapaint.com)
Livos - organic paint, stains, oils and waxes made using all natural ingredients. Coatings are linseed oil and citrus oil based, non toxic, low VOC and
are designed primarily for wood. (www.livos.us)
Auro - solvent-free, water-based natural paints and primers, finishes, stains and adhesives. Ships to US and Canada. (www.auro.ca)
EcoDesign's BioShield - line of natural paints and finishes. (www.bioshieldpaint.com)
Weather-Bos - line of natural stains, finishes and paints. Blends of natural oils and resins designed to adhere to the wood, forming a monolithic bond.
(www.weatherbos.com)
SoyGuard - soy-based exterior stains, water repellants and sealers for wood surfaces. (www.soyguard.com)
Silacote - made from natural mineral compounds, for use on masonry, concrete and wallboard; interior/exterior. (www.silacote.com)
Anna Sova - natural paints from milk casein, titanium dioxide and food-grade ingredients. (www.annasova.com)
Green Planet Paints - high performance natural paints for interiors based on plants and minerals.
31. Color Consultation & Paint Division
Love Your Planet. Love Your Home
Benjamin Moore Natura Paint
Your family will breathe easy with Natura
Natura premium interior waterborne paint is a zero
VOC, virtually odorless formula that doesn't compro-
mise on performance. It dries fast, has excellent adhe-
sion and provides a durable finish with an unlimited
color selection.
Natura features our Green Promise designation, so
you can breathe easy knowing that you've used the
very best for your environmentally sensitive projects
With all the information out there surrounding VOCās, and air
quality, the question is, who is defining green for paint?
The coatings industry is filled with third-party organizations like U.S. Green Building Council
(LEED), Master Painterās Institute (MPI),
Greenguard, Californiaās Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) and Green Seal
that are trying to define what green means for coatings as well as other consumer products.
Some, like Green Seal and MPI, focus on what is in the paint while others, like CHPS and Green Guard
are more focused on what is emitted from paint. While we applaud the goals of these organizations,
(Benjamin Moore has products certified by them), the net result of so many competing standards is a
confused and sometimes frustrated consumer.
Our Green Promise designation is Benjamin Mooreās assurance that
its environmentally friendly coatings meet and exceed the strictest
industry standards, while also delivering the performance you expect
from Benjamin Moore
The following product currently carries the Green Promise Designation:
Naturaā Recycling, buying organic, using energy-efficient products ā these are just a few of the
choices made every day to help the environment. With Natura paint, you have an environmentally
friendly option when it comes to painting the interior of your home, and you can count on the beauty
and quality you expect from Benjamin Moore.
Auraā See color like you've never seen it before - discernibly truer, richer hues that bring a new
dimension of beauty to your home. Experience premium performance in a paint with incredible hide,
and fade and color rub-off resistance, all while being environmentally friendly.
32. Love Your Planet. Love Your Home
LEED Rating Systems
What is LEEDĀ®?
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating Systemā¢ encour-
ages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices
through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and perform-
ance criteria.
LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction
and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need
to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildingsā performance. LEED promotes a whole-building
approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sus-
tainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Who uses LEED?
Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape archi-
tects, construction managers, lenders and government officials all use LEED to help transform the
built environment to sustainability. State and local governments across the country are adopting
LEED for public-owned and public-funded buildings; there are LEED initiatives in federal agencies,
including the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Energy, and State; and LEED projects are in pro-
gress in 41 different countries, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico and India.
2008 U.S. Green Building Council.
33. Love Your Planet. Love Your Home
LEED Rating Systems
How is LEED Developed?
LEED Rating Systems are developed through an open, consensus-based process led by LEDD committees.
Each volunteer committee is composed of a diverse group of practitioners and experts representing a cross-section
of the building and construction industry. The key elements of USGBC's consensus process include a balanced and
transparent committee structure, technical advisory groups that ensure scientific consistency and rigor, opportunities
for stakeholder comment and review, member ballot of new rating systems, and a fair and open appeals process.
LEED Rating Systems
New Construction
LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations is designed to guide and distinguish high-
performance commercial and institutional projects.
Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance
LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance provides a benchmark for building own-
ers and operators to measure operations, improvements and maintenance.
Commercial Interiors
LEED for Commercial Interiors is a benchmark for the tenant improvement market that gives
the power to make sustainable choices to tenants and designers.
Core & Shell
LEED for Core & Shell aids designers, builders, developers and new building owners in imple-
menting sustainable design for new core and shell construction.
Schools
LEED for Schools recognizes the unique nature of the design and construction of K-12 schools
and addresses the specific needs of school spaces.
Retail
LEED for Retail recognizes the unique nature of retail design and construction projects and ad-
dresses the specific needs of retail spaces.
Healthcare
LEED for Healthcare promotes sustainable planning, design and construction for high-
performance healthcare facilities.
Homes
LEED for Homes promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.
Neighborhood Development
LEED for Neighborhood Development integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and
green building into the first national program for neighborhood design.
2008 U.S. Green Building Council.
34. Love Your Planet. Love Your Home
LEED for Homes
LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance
green homes. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and
is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy
and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other
indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional
LEED for Commercial Interiors
LEED for Commercial Interiors is the green benchmark for the tenant improvement market. It is the
recognized system for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places
to work; are less costly to operate and maintain; and have a reduced environmental footprint. LEED
for Commercial Interiors gives the power to make sustainable choices to tenants and designers, who
do not always have control over whole building operations.
LEED for Schools
The LEED for Schools Rating System recognizes the unique nature of the design and construction of
K-12 schools. Based on the LEED for new construction, it addresses issues such as classroom acous-
tics, master planning, mold prevention and environmental site assessment.
By addressing the uniqueness of school spaces and childrenās health issues, LEED for Schools pro-
vides a unique, comprehensive tool for schools that wish to build green, with measurable results.
LEED for Schools is the recognized third-party standard for high-performance schools that are
healthy for students, comfortable for teachers, and cost-effective.
2008 U.S. Green Building Council.
