How to have your home be more Sustainable

envforum logoSustainability is a big buzzword these days, but what exactly does it mean? Sustainability means meeting your current needs without having a negative impact on the needs of future generations. It also requires you to make environmentally-conscious choices about the way you live. It’s not really plausible for most of us to have a completely sustainable home — one that uses only nature’s infinite resources with no affect on the environment around us. But fortunately, there are some measures you can take to make your home more sustainable.

Your choices as a consumer greatly affect the sustainability of your home. Using rechargeable batteries limits the waste of items that often can’t be recycled. Buying paper products made with recycled content continues the chain of sustainability. Better yet, lose the paper towels and use a washable cloth. Biodegradable trash bags and cups are made of corn that dissolves over time, adding one less type of plastic to our landfills. And energy/water saver appliances can all help contribute to a more sustainable way of living.

In this particular blog we are going to highlight a particular brand that we at Plumbtile are proud to provide; California Faucets takes water sustainability very seriously! Read more below.

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How To Install Eco-Friendly Tile

 

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Tile is a popular choice for many purposes and applications and can add to the look you are trying to achieve, even in a small space. And even better news is that manufactures are reclaiming and recycling materials into eco-friendly tiles that are versatile and look great. Some eco-friendly tile require special considerations when installing. So let’s take a look at some of them. Continue reading →

GO GREEN, Save the Environment and Freshen Up Your Kitchen

Plumbtile: Danze

Why Change the Kitchen Faucet 

As more and more people decide not to move and instead remodel their existing homes, they don’t realize that they can start small and add value by simply replacing the faucets in their kitchens and bathrooms.  Adding something simple such as a faucet gives the look of a newer kitchen, while at the same time, saving cost and the environment through lower water usage.  Most people don’t even realize how easy it is to replace their kitchen faucet.  After picking one out, such as these examples from BrizoContinue reading →

Turn Your Outdated Bathroom To Green!

With a few easy steps and updates, you can turn your old and outdated bathroom into a new and environmentally green one.  There are many ideas and products you can add to your bathroom to make it an Eco-Friendly part of your home.  In return, you will dramatically reduce water, reduce the chance of mold and mildew, and do your part in preserving our environment.  Continue reading →

Green Mondays: New Eco-friendly Materials

At Plumbtile, we like to research about the newest trends and news about green living and design. It is our advocacy to spread awareness about using sustainable, recyclable, and eco-friendly materials for the home.

ThisOldHouse came up with a list of new interior materials that are on trend and in the market. Here are some of them:

LEATHER TILES

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Even luxurious leather gets thrown away; scraps from furniture, shoe, car seat, and other tanneries eventually make their way to landfills.

The naturally sound-absorbent tiles install like cork or vinyl (preglued tiles are available). For care and upkeep of floor tiles, use a damp mop to clean them; wax them three times a year, or use a topical sealer once every five to 10 years. Wall tiles do not need wax or additional maintenance.

BIO-GLASS

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This luminescent material is 100% post-consumer recycled glass that’s heated and compressed to create solid-surfacing slabs. It contains no binders, colorants, fillers, or other admixtures, and has no off-gassing.

Sample shows slight markings from the bottom of a recycled beverage bottle. To enhance the upgrade, lighter colors can be underlit to make agglomeration markings stand out in dramatic fashion.

To find out more about going green and the use of renewable sources and materials, go to http://www.plumbtile.com/go-green.html or call 1-866-369-8180.

Let's Go Organic…in the Kitchen

Green Mondays by PlumbtileIt’s Green Monday once again!

We will never get tired of spreading awareness about our environment as well as providing our readers with the latest trends in green design.

Do you know what 2013 will bring to the world of kitchen design? Organic. That’s right, warm, earthy gourmet spaces. Mixing wood, slate, stone, and other rustic materials with industrial pieces.

Terry Mulligan of Yahoo gives us the latest trend in kitchen design:

Earthy Colors

Greens, blues, grays, browns, yellows, reds — these colors will be making a grand appearance in kitchens across the country. Whether on painted, weathered cabinets or handmade, upcycled tile, earthen colors will warm up our cooking spaces like never before. All shades are fair game, unless they glow neon. Stick to what you find in nature, and you’ll be right in style.

Organic Wood Cabinets

Instead of traditionally styled, stained, and glazed cabinets with fancy millwork, look for a more understated display of rustic wood on cabinet surfaces. Spalted maple or natural birch drawer fronts will be mixed with clean, industrial-styled cabinet doors and brushed stainless steel. And this year, austere shaker cabinets will be reinvented in many ways. It will be a welcome, yet unusual departure from the kitchens of the last 10 years.

Wood, Stone, or Tile Counters

Granite may not be the material of choice for countertops anymore. Wood and stone like slate should dominate — then add tile tops and backsplashes with a handmade look and feel. It’s all about color and textures that make you feel at home and comfortable this year.

Materials in Their Natural Form

Anywhere you can use materials in their natural form, it’s time to do so. Exposed beams on walls and ceilings will add a rural touch in some kitchens. Wood counters will sport natural, unfinished edges in their shift to a more organic style.

Rustic Floors

Rustic floors will be the rage. Reclaimed wood or polished concrete with amazing stain work will pull the other organic elements of the room together. Slate floors will also be in demand over highly polished marble or tile. Yet even in their natural form, these floors will still be a work of art. Artisans will be lending their expertise to make them part of a unique and extraordinary kitchen design statement.

At Plumbtile, the leader in all things bathroom and kitchen design related products, we have a wide array of green products from counters, faucets, and even tiles that are that are made from renewable resources that have none to minimal impact on our environment.

Let’s GO GREEN in 2013!

PlumbTile features the largest collection of premium brand names including Alno, Jado, Hansgrohe, Herbeau, Phylrich, California Faucets, KWC, Newport Brass, Toto, Ginger, Americh & Zuma Tubs, Hastings, Sugatsune, Classic Brass & more.

Green Monday: Designing an Eco-Friendly Bathroom

Green Mondays by Plumbtile

What does “eco-friendly” mean to you?  Does it mean that you conserve water?  Does it mean that you bring nature into your bathroom by using natural products?  Here at Plumbtile we are able to design a bathroom for your home where you can enjoy the natural look of stone and tile while conserving water and electricity through luxury fixtures.

Ceramic Tile Trends - Coconut Skin ChocolateBring nature into your bathroom with natural tile products.  We work with 70 manufacturers that carry tile in cork, coconut, recycled leather, IPE Hardwood, Italian Marble, Israeli Limestone, Jerusalem Stone and other hi-quality natural stones.

You can easily conserve water by installing a Luxury Low Flow Showerhead.  Moen has a beautiful selection that is also economical on our website. Choosing a showerhead with a pause feature can save you gallons of water.

Mico - Provincial Thermostatic Tub & Shower /Shower HeadConserving electricity is possible through a Provincial Thermostatic Tub & Shower Head made by Mico.  Thermostatic shower valves regulate the temperature of the water within one half of a degree of the desired temperature.  You can also install a Tankless Water Heater and save reheating 30 – 40gallons of water all day.

We have many more ideas for designing your Eco-Friendly Bathroom at our Go Green – Energy and Water Saving page. Right now we are offering Free Shipping!  To speak with a Sales Consultant please call 1-866-369-8180.

Plumbtile Showcase: Native Trails

As the kids head back to school and summer begins to wind down, Plumbtile is taking a look at some of the most memorable moments of the summer, and those we have to look forward to. This year has seen many strides in kitchen and bath design, function, and responsibility. New, eco-friendly, and glamours trends are gaining speed. There is one brand, however, who has always been at the forefront of our minds when we think “green,” Native Trails prides itself on hand-crafted products which are “one of a kinds works of art” and made of sustainable and recycled materials. Native Trails also showed up with very innovative and – as always – beautiful ideas at the Dwell on design showcase of 2011.

That is why we have decided to place Native Trails for today’s showcase. Take a look at the video below to get and idea of the artistry that is Native trails design!

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If you would like to find out more about Native trails and the other eco-friendly brands that Plumbtile is proud to offer, check out our site here.

Kitchen and Bath Style Ideas From Kohler

Kohler is known for its innovation and design ideas which stem mostly from natural sources – the drama of a lotus flower can easily be turned into a faucet or showerhead in the minds of the Kohler artists.

To help us use their products in a way that suits our own needs and tastes, Kohler also presents kitchen and bath showcases to inspire our own interior design. Below is a video of one modern-yet-classic kitchen with warm and inviting colors and seamlessly integrated fixtures.

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Of course, the bathroom is not to be forgotten! While it may be one of the smallest rooms in the house, the bathroom creates quite an impact on the entire feel of your home, and really says a lot about you! You want your bathroom to send the right message and be a space that you simply love. With all of those water-consuming features, it is also more and more important to think on green alternatives. This video showcases some of Kohler’s finest ideas in the green living movement.

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There are, of course, many brands who have begun to manufacture their products to be more eco-friendly, so pairing a water-saving Kohler toilet with tile, glass, faucets, and showers from other brands to create your very own look is not a crime! Some of our favorite green companies can be found on this page to give you unlimited possibilities.

Spotlight on 4 Eco-Friendly and Modern Companies

These four companies are just a few in a long list of manufacturers dedicated to lowering their impact on the environment and offering eco-friendly and highly functional products. To see more eco-friendly companies, visit the Plumbtile Green Products page.

Hansgrohe

Heading up one of the hottest trends in green living in Hansgrohe, with their line of EcoSmart products like the Raindance shower heads. These products need almost 60% less water to function, while still providing you with the durability, quality, and luxury you’ve come to expect of the Hansgrohe name. Less hot water means a lower cost for you, and less CO2 in the environment.

Due to the technological advances of enriching water with air, your shower experience is filled with plenty of soft water for superior comfort. Not only is this smart for the environment, but for your lifestyle! To update your bathroom, take a look and the Hangrohe EcoSmart products such as the Raindance shower head.

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California Faucets

Of course, water consumption doesn’t only take place in the shower. In fact, most water usage in the home will be coming through your faucets, so it is very important that these be as eco-friendly as possible.

Enter California Faucets, with a 32% water savings, non-toxic finishes, and recyclable materials. These faucet designs are stylish and smart – for your wallet and the planet. Don’t forget their shower heads, either. These feature the same finish and materials as the faucets, and offer a 40% water savings over traditional options.

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Duravit

Even before “eco-friendly” and “green living were” words in the common vocabulary, Duravit was heading the movement towards sustainability and environmental responsibility. Their concern for sustainability is the reason they continue to use sanitary ceramic in their products. The production of this material has little impact on the planet, and involves natural ingredients like kaolin, clay, and quartz.

The combination of that unwavering sense of environmental responsibility and particular quality control methods result in products which are long-lasting and highly functional without harming the environment.

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Native Trails

One of the core values of Native trails is a high level of respect for the environment. To achieve their lofty eco-friendly goals, this company create products from recycled and reclaimed materials, prints only on 100% recycled paper, and even composts at the company headquarters!

On top of these measures, each product is handcrafted, limiting the productive pollution to a minimal level. When you purchase products from Native Trails, you can rest assured that you are actually helping the environment.