Unless you have been on another planet for the past year you will no doubt have heard a lot of talk about carbon footprints and off-setting carbon emissions.  But what does it all mean?  What can we do about it and why would an interior designer be interested?

First, let’s get to grips with the jargon.  Carbon footprints are simply a measure of how much a person, business or home is impacting on the environment in terms of green house gases they produce from their daily activities.  They are measured in kg of carbon dioxide – which gives a tangible measure when trying to calculate how to off-set the impact.

Off-setting your carbon emissions is basically a method of restoring the balance – contributing to the planting of trees in a managed forest and buying sustainable energy are both ways in which this can be done.

Of course, we all know that prevention is better than cure!   Lowering your carbon emissions in the first place is obviously the best route – turning off electrical appliances that aren’t in use and insulating your home to reduce your heating requirements are all well publicised methods.  What if you are already doing these or are about to embark on some home improvements?  What else can be done?

You might think that asking an interior designer is not an obvious place to start, but in fact they can introduce you to lots of ecologically sound ways to improve your home with style!  Jill Treloggen Interiors are continually searching out new products and services to offer their clients – helping lower a client’s carbon footprint is the latest project they are working on.

So where to begin? Low energy lighting is an obvious place to start.  Low energy bulbs use around 80% less energy than conventional ones; last for around 10,000 hours (that’s about 5-7 years!) and they will also save you on average £9 a year on your annual electricity bill – that could add up to over £150 in an average size home.

So what products are available? We are all familiar with low energy bulbs - expensive, cumbersome and unsightly – right?  Wrong!  Lighting manufacturers are really getting their act together and coming up with some fantastic new ranges that look really contemporary.  The size of the bulbs are reducing, some now come with a warm light coating to reduce the harsh white light, and the prices are coming down.  Lighting manufacturer tp24 has just introduced the Kyoto range which includes a revolutionary small bulb, which is going to start hitting the shops soon.

Lights made from Plastic Pipes

The next thing to consider is how the products you use are manufactured, and the impact it has on the environment.  Paint is a great example of this.  Lead paint was abolished in the 1970s because of health issues.  The paint industry then moved to petro-chemical paint production which produces Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which have a negative impact not only on the environment in their production, but also in your home.  These paints in effect seal the walls not allowing them to breathe which can cause condensation and mould to build up.  Gradually manufacturers are moving towards lowering these VOC emissions – if you look on the can it will now often say whether the paint is high, medium or low in VOC emissions.   Water based paints are now being introduced but the high acrylic content is also a concern for the environment and health.  So is there an alternative?  Fortunately there is!   There are a number of manufacturers producing natural paint, which takes us back to traditional methods of manufacture using chalk, cellulose and milk derivatives.  Green Building Store are just one on-line retailer offering natural paints.   They are hard wearing, easy to clean up after using and not much more expensive that the leading brands.  When you’re shopping you can also look for the European Union Ecolabel if you want to make sure you are buying environmentally accredited products.

European Union Ecolabel


Heat loss is another major contributor to global warming – the more heat that escapes from our home, the higher we turn up the thermostat!  On average poor insulation results in a loss  of up to 20% of heat via the loft, 50% through the walls and 20% through windows.  If you have your home insulated to the right standards you might like to consider using thermal lining next time you get new curtains or blinds.  It costs very little extra, but thermal linings are a great way to stop heat escaping and conversely acts to cool rooms during hot weather – don’t forget air conditioning units and fans use electricity!

Flooring can also make a major contribution to your carbon footprint – man made fibres are more damaging to the environment in their manufacture.  Most carpets have glue based backing making them hard to dispose of and resulting in them going to landfill at the end of their life   However, help is at hand!!  Victoria and Brockway carpets have both introduced carpets with non glue-based backing.   For wooden flooring make sure it comes from a sustainable source.  If you’re choosing vinyl, consider linoleum instead – it’s made from linseed oil, chalk, wood dust and pine resin.  Cork and bamboo are also great natural floors which come from easily renewable sources.

In addition, flooring improves your energy efficiency - 10% of the heat loss in your home can be lost through your floors.  So when you replace your flooring make sure you fill any cracks in the skirting and floor boards – and invest in good underlay – felt and rubber underlay made from recycled tyres are your ecological friends here!

Where your products have been manufactured is also a major consideration.  If your furniture has been imported from the Far East there will be a large environmental cost to getting it across to the UK.  Buying from local or UK based suppliers is good for the environment and the economy.

Other items you might also consider are: wooden curtain poles are now available from sustainable sources, low flow shower heads which regulate the amount of water you use. Recycled furniture reduces the need for continually sourcing new raw materials.  They can also be a lot of fun – using unusual materials to create everyday products can add a real statement in your home – pipes converted to column lamps, chairs made from recycled barrels!  Also, second hand furniture reduces the need for more manufacturing and can be very satisfying to restore!

Chairs made from Recycled Barrels

So next time you decide to redecorate or renovate, think about how you can make your mark on the planet – if you do not have the time or the information or call in some expert help and advice, we will be only too pleased to help you!

If you want to keep up with the latest in the world of interiors visit Jill Treloggen Interiors   and sign up to their regular email newsletter.

Jill Treloggen Interiors Ltd 
Tel: 01993 700515

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