Q: I've been reading Re-Nest for quite some time now, but how do you come down on water softeners? Are water softeners really "un-green" for household use?

Asked by Aruna More

Q: Is a locally made sectional that has no formaldehyde, no fire retardants and no chemical stain treatment but does have polyurethane foam OK? I am having a hard time finding furniture without spending a fortune, and this seems like a good option — except for the foam. I have a 4-month-old and a 2.5-year-old, which is the main reason for my concern.

Asked by Amber More

Why do one function when you can do two... or more? That seemed to be the mantra behind many of the home appliances I saw at Housewares, particularly the humidifiers. Like the Tribest Humio Humidifier and Night Lamp, the Tom humidifier from Swizz Style is also an "air washer." Large rotating discs filter up to 50% of small to medium-sized particles out of the air, while at the same time achieving a humidifying capacity of 3.5 gallon per day—and all on only 19 watts of power!

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The KOR water bottles, which first launched their ONE bottle in 2008, showcased two new lines last week, the Delta and the Vida. Like the ONE bottle, the Delta is also made of Eastman Tritan, a BPA-free co-polyester material, but the Delta is lighter, and the cap and the spout come apart which makes for much easier cleaner. The Vida is KOR's newest innovation, and their first stainless steel offering. More

It's about time! The Reduce Vision Stainless Steel Water Filtration pitcher from Base Brands is the first water filter pitcher to be made out of stainless steel. (Most water filtration pitchers are made out of plastic.) The Vision pitcher comes with one 90 day filter, but it's designed to also fit most major brand filters including Brita and Pur. It'll be available for sale this April. More

Maintaining the proper humidity level is extremely important for the health of your home, but humidifiers aren't generally known for being aesthetically-pleasing. So the smooth curves and small footprint of the Humio caught my eye — not to mention the fact that it doubles as an LED night light. More

Most homeowners know that houses built before 1978 often contain lead-based paint, but did you know that there are new regulations affecting even the smallest renovation projects? If you're thinking about a remodel or a new paint job, read on! More

Rachel wrote about AirRenew Gypsum Board after visiting GreenBuild Chicago, but it's such a cool product, it's worth revisiting. Unlike traditional sheet rock, AirRenew captures VOCs in the air and sequesters it inside the board itself. More

Coal, wood and gas have long been the standard fuel sources for heating our homes and powering our appliances. One alternative fuel source is gaining momentum and is super efficient — pellets. They're made from industry byproducts such as sawdust and wood chips, burn clean and can be used any a variety of heat sources such as fireplaces, furnaces and boilers. We recently attended a presentation on pellet appliances, find out what we learned about this super fuel source, after the jump. More

Lately I've seen so many larger plants being used as a crucial part of home decor. Instead of the occasional small house plant, we're talking trees, large rocks, pebbles, and hanging gardens. But I have to ask: what's the practicality of it all? More