Being Green is Easy

Kermit the Frog, from The Muppet Show, sings a song titled, 'It's Not Easy Being Green'. He couldn't be more wrong, at least when it comes to our homes! Many homeowners today want their lives and homes to reflect their commitment to lessening their impact on the planet. All the advances made in recent years means there are many ways to be green homeowners, from rain barrels to eco-friendly paints to, well, even your closets!

Closets For Life - Green Advantage Certified
Choosing Closets For Life for a closet, garage or wine cellar project means choosing a company that values environmentally sound practices. Rick Lyrek, owner of Closets For Life, is Green Advantage Certified. Green Advantage is an environmental certification for building-related practitioners - primarily contractors, subcontractors and trades people. Certified individuals have successfully passed the Green Advantage® Certification Exam demonstrating knowledge of current green building principles, materials, and techniques.

Environmentally Responsible Materials
Closets For Life uses Interscape, Inc. to manufacture all of its cabinets and shelving. Interscape, a company with an environmental mission, uses composite panels made from 100% recycled and / or recovered fibers (no whole log fibers), low VOC stains and finishes and 3M Green Guard certified adhesives along with water based adhesives. Check out their website, www.Interscapes.us, to find out more about Interscapes and their efforts to be better stewards of the earth's resources.

In addition, Closets For Life offers Roseburg SkyBlend for their projects. Roseburg SkyBlend is a specified green particleboard panel that is manufactured by Roseburg. It is SCS and EP certified to be 100% pre-consumer recycled wood fiber particle board and has no Urea Formaldehyde added during the manufacturing process.

Recycling Project Waste Materials
Also in partnership with Interscape, Closets For Life is lessening its impact on the environment by recycling 99% of the waste it produces. All wood, paper and cardboard waste from the manufacturing and installation of Closets For Life projects is shredded to be used for animal bedding and then composted for local nurseries. Together with Interscapes, we are saving 1820 cubic yards of waste per year.

Perhaps Kermit was Wrong About Being Green - We Still Love Him.
Feel cheated that you didn't learn more about Kermit the Frog? If that's the case, here are some fun facts about Kermit the Frog. Amaze people at your next event with all you know about being an environmentally friendly homeowner and Kermit the Frog!

• The Muppet Show was a spin-off show. Kermit the Frog originally appeared as a character on WRC-TV's Sam and Friends, a 5 minute puppet show. He was also one of the original puppets in Sesame Street before becoming a lead character in The Muppet Show.
• Kermit is an author. In 2006, Kermit the Frog was credited as the author of Before You Leap: A Frog's Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons, which is an "autobiography" told from the perspective of the character himself.
• Kermit's fame earned him a place in postal history. On Kermit's 50th birthday, the United States Postal Service released a set of new stamps with photos of Kermit and some of his fellow Muppets on them.
• Kermit has a college degree. Southhampton College awarded Kermit an honorary doctorate in "Amphibious Letters" in 1996. He also gave a commencement speech.
• Even amphibians can achieve fame. Kermit has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
  
  

For Your Next Project, Be Green.
For more information on how Closets For Life can help you with your goals of a greener home and a better organized life, check out the Closets For Life website and contact us for a free in-home consultation. Closets For Life can also be reached by phone at 952-484-0416 or email at rlyrek@closetsforlife.com.

Shawnessy Schwartz
Closets For Life Afficionado