Green Scene

Green Scene: Make Your Patio Eco-Friendly

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― Now that summer is here, you are probably looking forward to spending time outside.  The options for decks and lighting are greener than ever.  

When Jason Nixon and John Loecke built their deck, they picked a special material.

"It's great design. It's easy to install," said Nixon.

"It's basically a no-maintenance product," said Loecke.

The fact that it's made of recycled materials is icing on the cake for them. Nixon said, "It's something that certainly sold me."

Robin Wilson, an interior designer, explained, "This company uses about 1.5 million plastic bags every year, and they turn it into products that we can use, whether it's park benches or it's decking."

Wilson, an eco-friendly designer, says there are more products than ever to choose from these days.

"We view it as anything that is recyclable, reusable, or sustainable," said Wilson.

Helping the environment can be as easy as choosing solar outdoor lights to save on energy. The new designs stay bright longer.

"So often, you see the lights that last maybe ten minutes after the sun goes down," said Wilson. "The options are so much better. People can put a backup battery in so that it charges throughout the evening."

Or, you can spruce up your yard with select "green" materials, like edging used for landscaping made out of recycled plastic.

Jason Nixon and John Loecke say the eco-friendly route was an easy choice for them.  "It was definitely worth it!"

People interested in doing green home improvement have lots of free resources:

+ Philadelphia's Sustainable Business Network includes links to green businesses.

+ The American Society of Interior Designers' Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council recently began the Regreen Program.  

+ Consumer Reports started GreenerChoices.org.  Click here for information about deck materials.

+ Plastic Lumber Yard in Norristown, PA has a website that explains different deck options.

+ Lowes explains options for solar lighting here   

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