I’ve said it a thousand times before: Don’t get taken in by “greenwashing”. Look, I’m an environmentalist because I like animals better than people and I’m into green building because I like old crap better than new. So yeah, save the planet and recycle, salvage, yada, yada. But let’s tell it like it is.

So when I read the Forbes article on greenwashing, I was all “Yeah, that’s right!” They talk about “hidden trade-offs” in materials such as concrete and carpeting. Concrete will last forever once it’s installed, however the cement production isn’t too environmentally friendly. On the other hand, carpeting can be produced in an eco-friendly fashion, but the upkeep takes more energy than a wood floor. It collects more dust, which requires more vacuuming. Unless of course, you choose to ignore it.

And here’s why I loved the article. They say “older is greener”. I know, it’s obvious, but perhaps not to everyone. The key is to salvage your existing material and turn it into something beautiful, unique and inexpensive.