5.12.2008

mod*mom giveaway :: green depot get started kit

green depot is an environmentally friendly alternative to big box stores. green depot is committed to educating communities, helping consumers make the best choices, + training the next generation of green workers.

here are answers from sarah beatty, ceo + mom, founder of green depot.

1) what would you like most to tell mod*mom readers about greendepot?

green depot's mission is to make "green" building products easy. green depot is a 1-stop shop for people who want to build + maintain healthy, energy efficient, sustainable living environments.

I am a mom of 2 young children, ages 2 + 4. I founded green depot in 2005, after a personal "wake up call". When I was pregnant with my 1st child I discovered mold contamination in my newly renovated home. A week before my delivery date, I was told my home may not be a safe living environment. I was shocked (and hormonal!). I had always considered myself an informed consumer. The concept that a health issue could have been the result of new construction I instigated was something I never expected. My interest has always been to create a safe + nurturing home environment for my children. At the time, there were not many resources out there. It was very difficult not only to obtain clear information but also to get the non-toxic "green"products/materials in my area. That lead me to create green depot. My hope is that green depot can be a resource for people (like me) who want to feel empowered to make the best, intelligent decisions for themselves and their families.

I want green depot to set the quality standard for green building products & services. We strive to be an authentic, trusted leader with great service from a passionate, knowledgeable, staff + high quality green products.

We currently have 4 locations that serve as informal showroom/resource centers for consumers + building professionals. We will be opening a another resource center this summer. We plan to open our 1st "retail" storefront in downtown New York City this fall. If we can do it "right", we will expand.

2) i'm interested in all the green depot products, but here are items i personally need for my home. would you like to talk about these?

toxic detection test kits

They can be very helpful in determining if there is a pre-existing issue. The good news is that there are new, more sophisticated kits coming soon that will offer a more detailed account of indoor air quality contaminants beyond "yes" and "no". I think they will be out in fall of 2008.

air + water filters

As far as air filters go, pay attention to the amount of space you expect the air filter to cover, so that you don't purchase a 200 sf filter to cover a 1000 sf area.

I had a water filter installed in my kitchen sink. Now I feel good knowing that my tap water is filtered, clean for particulates + carbon + that I am not wasting money on bottles or contributing to landfill! Flow reduction water filters are also a simple solution for conserving water.

solar attic fan

This is key. In order to keep healthy airflow in your home, provide ventilation in the right areas to keep the air flowing. Stagnant air leads to an unhealthy indoor living environment. In the summer, a solar attic fan will keep your house cooler. In the winter, it will help manage the air flow + heat loss.

eco-friendly pest control

Toxic pesticides are linked to so many health risks--why bring them into your living space? Even if they are in your garage or basement (or lawn), if you wear shoes inside your home, you can easily track the residue of those pesticides right into your living room. .

So, one of the best things one can do to improve the "health print" of your home is to leave your shoes at the door!

insulation

One of Green Depot's most popular items is Bonded Logic---insulation that is made out of pre-consumer denim "offcuts". It is an amazing "high performance" insulation--completely non-toxic, fire rated, good for sound attenuation, + environmentally a great solution for re-cycling denim "offcuts" that otherwise would have been sent to landfill. The key thing: stay away from the "pink" insulation--which contains Formaldehyde--a known carcinogen.

Some other thoughts:

When preparing a child's room use non toxic "NO VOC" paints + don't paint the week before the child will be in the room--give the room time to air out. Use water based, low volatile oil compound caulks, adhesives + sealants.

If you install a wall-to-wall carpet, make sure the adhesive used is non toxic. Wall to wall carpet is a trap for dust mites, allergens + stuff tracked in.

When it comes to wood, avoid particle board that contains formaldehyde type glues. Many wood products (ie kitchen cabinet boxes) can use this wood + it off gasses into your indoor environment. Also, if you are going to finish a floor or cabinets, use non-toxic, water based finishes/sealants.

to enter to win a green depot home cleaning kit please leave me a comment telling me your favorite earth friendly products + services at green depot.
include your email address + url, before midnight, monday may 31

by ~mod*mom~ at 12.5.08 ©

222 Comments:

I would love to get the triple cartridge water filter since we drink so much water in this house! What an excellent idea to open up a store like this - I've been storing up links to all these green resources for the home and this is definitely going on it! :) Thanks for a great find!

By  kevnjacks, at 5/12/2008 6:19 PM  

I'm torn between the countertop water filter (we rent) and the filtered shower head. A friend has one and it's amazing!

By  Ursula, at 5/12/2008 7:53 PM  

Hello, The products I would love to have are an air filtration system since each member of our family suffers from allergies and sinus problems. I also like the IceStone
Pavers for outdoors! Please enter me in your drawing. I really appreciate it.....Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

By  windycindy, at 5/12/2008 9:24 PM  

Ummm...So many, it's hard to decide. I would have to say it is a tie between the shower head filter (in AZ we've got the worst water) and the Allergen Control Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner. What a great store! I'm excited to support a business with such a great mission: )
~Emily
emidinkl@yahoo.com
http://soulsofmyfeet.blogspot.com/

By  emidinkl, at 5/13/2008 12:31 AM  

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

By  Anonymous, at 5/13/2008 3:18 AM  

Wow! There is no shortage of products to choose from, especially if we were doing any remodelling. I really liked the sound of some of their pest control products like the wasp and hornet killer, among others. We deal with pests all summer long, and it would be nice to know that we were using a healthier alternative.

Michelle
michelle (at) northofthe49 (dot) com
www.northofthe49.com

By  michelle, at 5/13/2008 3:37 AM  

I love the Denim Moss IceStone product - I'll be buying a house in the near future and will probably need to redo the kitchen.

By  Debbie#3, at 5/13/2008 4:52 AM  

The counter top water filter would be my first choice. We have a lot of iron in our well water.

By  Irish Bliss, at 5/13/2008 7:41 AM  

I definetly love the filtered shower head

By  reb, at 5/13/2008 8:59 AM  

DMI Natural Seagrass CARPETS

ginnyswe at gmail . com

By  ginny, at 5/13/2008 9:00 AM  

The triple cartridge water filter looks great

By  louiseb130, at 5/13/2008 9:02 AM  

oooh the countertop water filter would be great or the filtered shower head...

By  angstychiquita, at 5/13/2008 9:16 AM  

The EcoBugFree for Bed Bugs looks like a good product. I love the variety of products at their site.

By  Bebemiqui, at 5/13/2008 9:20 AM  

I love the idea of have an air and water filtration system. I can only imagine what is in my water. I try to filter it, but a built in system would be so much easier. As for the air, I know that the pollutants and pollen give me repiratory problems.

By  fangirl, at 5/13/2008 9:21 AM  

I'd love to try the carpet cleaner! thanks for the opportunity!

By  Sierra, at 5/13/2008 9:27 AM  

I am interested in the bamboo molding. I would like to know if it comes unfinished so it can be painted or stained?

By  pintolinda, at 5/13/2008 9:38 AM  

breathe easy cabinetry -- ours is very old and worn but I've been avoiding redo b/c of toxic varnish (and baby and children live here). Also avoiding much needed painting in house so no/low voc paints look great.
Stephanie V.

By  tvollowitz@aol.com, at 5/13/2008 9:51 AM  

I would love to win. I like the filtered shower head.

By  cre8tveminde@optonline.net, at 5/13/2008 9:53 AM  

Either the counter top water filter or the filtered shower head.

By  Patricia, at 5/13/2008 10:11 AM  

I believe the IceStone Pavers are the greatest. thank you for the contest

By  mar, at 5/13/2008 10:17 AM  

well i need the clean supple becouse i 7 kids so we could relly use it becouse my house get relly dirting and iam single mom that cant afford cleanins stuff withe gas and food going up

By  Sara, at 5/13/2008 10:22 AM  

The filtered shower head and the counter top water filter sounds absolutely wonderful to me. We are on a well and they put soooo many chemicals in it even the smell is awful.

Thank you for the great giveaway!


themonkinme(at)gmail(dot)com

By  monky, at 5/13/2008 10:27 AM  

I suffer from allergies and the MicroAirScreen sounds wonderful.

By  mama c, at 5/13/2008 11:39 AM  

Micro airscreen for allergies

By  Margaret, at 5/13/2008 11:43 AM  

Love he bamboo flooring, that's what I want to turn my hardwood floors in for!!

By  Gina, at 5/13/2008 11:45 AM  

I like the IceStone product line of countertops, pavers, etc.; they were featured on This Old House and are made of recycled glass.

By  brianpiero, at 5/13/2008 12:47 PM  

I L-O-V-E the 10" Countertop Water Filter! I rent a house and cannot change any of the plumbing -- so this would be perfect! We have the absolute WORST water here (very hard and smells of chlorine)!

By  Cataroo, at 5/13/2008 1:24 PM  

counter top filter

By  mverno, at 5/13/2008 1:51 PM  

Either the counter top water filter or the filtered shower head.

By  CrazyDaizy, at 5/13/2008 2:04 PM  

the filtered showerhead is something i never thought about

By  agordon10, at 5/13/2008 2:04 PM  

I love the micro air screen - pollen here is horrible this year and I hate to have to keep the windows closed!

Maureen aka Wisconsin Mommy
www.wisconsinmommy.com
jockeyforyou@yahoo.com

By  Wisconsin Mommy, at 5/13/2008 2:12 PM  

I like the Ice Stone surface that looks like granite. I'd like it for kitchen countertops!

By  Meredith, at 5/13/2008 2:15 PM  

I love the earth friendly pest control products!
Elaine R
emrosser@shaw.ca

By  Anonymous, at 5/13/2008 2:27 PM  

I would like to try the countertop water filtration system. I already have the air systems which are great.

By  idahomom, at 5/13/2008 2:28 PM  

IceStone pavers are incredibly cool...

By  Naomi, at 5/13/2008 2:43 PM  

The water filter would be great.

By  Shannon, at 5/13/2008 2:46 PM  

thank you for the great contest

enter me please

pethof (at) gmail (dot) com

I am very interested in their carpet cleaner

By  rosidentevil, at 5/13/2008 3:43 PM  

Hi

By  Anonymous, at 5/13/2008 3:50 PM  

We have allergies at our house, so I would love to try thr air filtration system. I would also like to try the triple water filter system. Thanks!

By  Amy, at 5/13/2008 4:51 PM  

thanks, mod*mom. our whole family is a bundle of allergies, so the air and water filter system are both very attractive to us. it's great to also read about the caution against formaldehyde products - it's serious for people, esp. kids. that's also why i made sure the materials i used in designing my products are formaldehyde free, too.

By  Bonnie Gray, at 5/13/2008 4:59 PM  

I want the bamboo floors!!!!

By  Barbara McHenry, at 5/13/2008 4:59 PM  

I have allergies so the air filters interest me the most.

By  Tonya, at 5/13/2008 5:12 PM  

I like the filtered shower head. Great product. Thanks for the giveaway.

By  RoyalCheryl, at 5/13/2008 7:21 PM  

Our well water is full of iron, so the water filter would be a great prize for us.

By  Irish Bliss, at 5/13/2008 7:22 PM  

Right now I'm most interested in the zero VOC paint as we're planning to paint a couple of rooms this summer. Hopefully, we'll be building a house in a couple of years and then I'm going to be interested in everything!

By  Aisling, at 5/13/2008 7:26 PM  

The filtered shower head ROCKS! I am interested in using more earth friendly cleaning products so I would love to win. Thanks so much!

By  Missy, at 5/13/2008 7:41 PM  

I would love to have the triple cartridge water filtration system. I would help to eliminate the need for bottled water. I would love to be entered in your giveaway.

owatz (AT) telus (DOT) net

By  Sandra, at 5/13/2008 7:47 PM  

Bonded Logic-
The insulation is an amazing idea. Levi Strauss originally made denim for tents! We have seriously taken denim to another level...and even though I love my favorite pair of jeans, it kills me to see how much is being thrown away. Thank god for companies like Green Depot, their progressive thinking will help the world a hundred times over.

I just hope people think about the overabundance of denim in landfills when they buy $15 Forever 21 jeans. Responsible consumerism is so the new black!

danielle
danielle @ lovelasmuertas.com
http://www.lovelasmuertas.com

PS my parents are doing huge renovations on their house. I forwarded this site to them in hopes that they will utilize greener products instead of the cheapest available at Home Depot. ;)

By  Love Las Muertas, at 5/13/2008 8:26 PM  

bamboo flooring- help elimiate allergies here.

By  jbubolz-miller, at 5/13/2008 9:23 PM  

the countertop water filter is a great idea with a new baby in my house I am worried about what could be in my water I also really love the allergen control carpet cleaner

chickeedee_2002(at)yahoo(dot)com

By  alyssasmommy2007, at 5/13/2008 9:26 PM  

We're looking to paint our bathroom this month and I'd like to use the Moldex Mold-Inhibiting Paint (Eggshell). My bathroom has little ventilation so mold is a real problem in there.

By  Shel, at 5/13/2008 9:28 PM  

the counter filter is pretty cool.

By  Ghost Among You, at 5/13/2008 9:34 PM  

I love Green Depots Ecologic line.
I like having the knowledge that the products that I am using to clean my home are safe and effective with no chance of harming my family,pets or the environment.
Thank you so much for the wonderful contest.
I would LOVE to win !!

By  jsc123, at 5/13/2008 9:46 PM  

the shower head filter, but so many great products here.
laurie
steinerhouse@comcast.net

By  Anonymous, at 5/13/2008 9:55 PM  

counter top water filter ! thanx for this great contest :)

By  Claudia, at 5/13/2008 10:13 PM  

We already have water and air filters in our house; but I'm very interested in the "toxic detection test kits". I think people may be surprised by the results.

Great giveaway!

anne_c_taylor@hotmail.com

By  Anonymous, at 5/13/2008 10:34 PM  

My favorites from Green Depot were the Eco Bug Free for Bed Bugs and the filtered shower head.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

By  Anonymous, at 5/13/2008 10:42 PM  

bamboo floors :)

By  esper_d, at 5/13/2008 11:12 PM  

I really like the countertops, but think the Ice Stone ones are my favorite.

By  clynsg, at 5/14/2008 5:07 AM  

The Hilo Seagrass carpet & the cork flooring are my favorites.

By  littlewhirl, at 5/14/2008 5:12 AM  

We already have bamboo & cork flooring, but I love their natural carpets--and that they come in wall-to-wall or cut & bound options. I've been looking for an area rug for my living room--this might be the perfect option.

By  greenly, at 5/14/2008 5:19 AM  

love the shower head filter.

By  vboackle, at 5/14/2008 5:42 AM  

Allergen Control Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner. Thank you!!

By  Kari, at 5/14/2008 5:59 AM  

I would love to replace my ugly formica counter tops with the IceStone counter tops that they sell.

Thanks for the giveaway!

By  Dawn, at 5/14/2008 6:17 AM  

Love the bamboo floors!

By  denyse, at 5/14/2008 6:33 AM  

The filtered shower head is my preference.

By  danosor, at 5/14/2008 7:12 AM  

I'm very interested in the Ultra Touch insulation, since we'll be insulating our 1920's home this summer.

By  Deborah, at 5/14/2008 7:22 AM  

The bamboo flooring.

By  quiltingreader, at 5/14/2008 8:07 AM  

I have overhead fans in every room to save on electricity and comfort.

By  Anonymous, at 5/14/2008 8:37 AM  

The filtered shower head would be wonderful. My husband takes such long showers, and this would help a lot!

iluv2pray@gmail.com

By  Mya, at 5/14/2008 8:45 AM  

I'm thinking about buying their bamboo floor. It's beautiful, and bamboo grows so much faster than hardwood, it's much greener. I also like their triple cartridge water filter because we drink a lot of water, and buying bottled water is not green at all. I would buy an aluminium or stainless steel bottle to bring with me.

By  mel, at 5/14/2008 9:35 AM  

I've been trying to make as many changes as possible in efforts to live a greener lifestyle. Since my little one is crawling all over the place, the Carpet Control: Concentrated 3-in-1 Cleaner would be great to use. Thanks for running this contest!!

m_huston(at)hotmail.(dot)com

By  Marlena, at 5/14/2008 9:44 AM  

The Counter top water filter.

By  sillelin, at 5/14/2008 10:16 AM  

Walter filter.

By  DePro, at 5/14/2008 10:37 AM  

I like their environmentally-friendly degreaser.

By  Toasters, at 5/14/2008 10:42 AM  

The shower heads are wonderful!

By  mogrill, at 5/14/2008 11:10 AM  

I'd like to look into the "nature carpet."

By  Sunnyvale, at 5/14/2008 12:17 PM  

EcoBugFree for Bed Bugs - 32oz. We don't have them, but they are rampant in NYC and I always worry.

By  jennem, at 5/14/2008 12:20 PM  

I love the environmentally-friendly cabinetry. We're looking at replacing the ones in our kitchen soon and I didn't even know there was a "green" option!

By  Heather, at 5/14/2008 12:42 PM  

bamboo flooring
causeyland@msn.com

By  william causey, at 5/14/2008 12:48 PM  

I am trying to Green my enviroment as much as I can do.

By  silverbele, at 5/14/2008 1:21 PM  

i would love the air filtration system since i have 3 cats and 2 dogs...my house can use some fresh air!!

By  Anonymous, at 5/14/2008 1:37 PM  

nice

By  dhunt, at 5/14/2008 1:58 PM  

I liked the yard insect repellant,we have a large wooded lot & I refuse to use chemicals where my children play!

mcginnisfamily5(at)gmail(dot)com

By  Danielle, at 5/14/2008 2:23 PM  

What a great site! Thanks for sharing the link. I love the flooring, especially the bamboo and cork.

By  Heather, at 5/14/2008 3:32 PM  

I go to Florida for the winter so the Roach Control Bait sounds great to me!

By  M.A., at 5/14/2008 4:52 PM  

The IceStone countertops fascinate me.

By  D., at 5/14/2008 5:32 PM  

I love the Virtual Home at the site. I can pretend create an entirely green home!

The product that interested me most was the not so exciting but very exciting to me, Safecoat Low Odor Polyureseal Gloss Finish because I refinish alot of antiques and am just DONE with polyurethane. No way to dispose of, caustic chemicals....ech!

By  mannequin, at 5/14/2008 5:57 PM  

The filtered showerhead sounds great.

By  Barbara, at 5/14/2008 8:48 PM  

Thanks for the heads up on this site! I had never heard of them before. We moved into a rental last October and I swear there's no ventilation here. It just has this musty smell. We are constantly opening windows and running fans for air circulation. I would love one of those solar attic fans!! What an informative site, kinda scary what we don't know right?

By  Adena, at 5/14/2008 10:35 PM  

Love the idea of a Solar Attic Fan. We have several in our house and could use a solar powered instead of electrical.

By  Uniquely Yours, at 5/15/2008 5:29 AM  

I'd love to get the water filer and we need to caulk in our house, so I'd like to try that too.

By  stampedwithgrace, at 5/15/2008 5:50 AM  

Oh my god, what's not to love? I especially am interested in the attic fan and the insulation, as well as the soundproofing materials. We're about to buy and temperature control in the attic as well as soundproofing an area are my husband's requirements for his music equipment. I also am in love with those IceStone pavers--for my little backyard garden!

By  Kizzi, at 5/15/2008 5:56 AM  

I like the filtered shower head.

By