We first showed you this modern new smoke alarm a few years ago, but the Kidde Silhouette is now an affordable and more widely available option for your next renovation project. (I'm actually considering swapping out our newish but clunky alarms for these beauties!) More

In the past, plywood has carried with it the connotation of being unsophisticated and unfinished but as it happens so often in the design world, a traditional idea is turned on its head and creative designers show us, with the right styling and in the right environment, that the familiar can take on a whole new look.

Using plywood on entire walls can be difficult to pull off unless you are paneling a Scandinavian woodland retreat, but in small doses it can be quite approachable.

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Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodology for assessing the environmental performance of a product over its full life cycle, often referred to as cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-cradle analysis. The Athena Sustainable Materials Institute provides software, a community of users and sample cases to help you evaluate building materials. How could you use Athena's resources to make sustainable choices about your home remodeling or building projects?
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In 2008 3form launched their 100 Percent line—architectural resin panels made from 100% post-consumer recycled high density polyethylene—and since then they've continued to prove that high design really can be low impact. Lineup, introduced last Fall, is their latest addition to the 100 percent product line. It, too, is made of 100% recycled plastic (over 1,000 milk bottles in each panel, to be precise!), but instead of the mottled plastic designs of the earlier products, Lineup features striated colors that make the overall product much sleeker. More

Every year, companies continue to roll out new and exciting green building materials and products. Here at Re-Nest, we do our best to keep you up to speed and help distinguish between green and greenwashing. Does the New Year include some renovation plans? If so, revisit these 15 posts on our favorite materials and products of 2011.

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• 1 Decked Out: Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Treated Wood
• 2 10 Eco-Friendly Substitutions For Glue, Caulk, and DIY Tools
• 3 Made in the USA: Cambria Quartz
• 4 Green Glue: Eco-Friendly Sound Dampening
• 5 Zandur: Cork Rubber Flooring
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When it comes to a healthy home, we know air and water quality are important. We've covered the bases on how to rid your home from pollutants, and how to prevent more from creeping in.

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• 1 How To Seriously Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
• 2 Freshen Up! Spring-Inspired Tips for Cleaner Air
• 3 Indoor Air Quality: Is Your Home Healthy?
• 4 8 Ways To Protect Your Town's Water Supply
• 5 Top Ten Air Purifiers for Small Spaces More

When I look at this picture, I'm reminded of "The Wave" formation in Arizona's Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. But these undulating lines come from much further away — the isles of Indonesia, where sustainable wood manufacturer Indo Teak reclaims its exquisite teak flooring. More photos below: More

Winter is coming. And so are the drafty winds that can make the inside of your home feel like you're living in a tent. I've lived in my share of old and drafty abodes and in a moment of desperation even resorted to shoving old t-shirts in the inch-wide cracks of my brownstone's double-hung windows. (Not pretty but effective.) If you're interested in a more grown-up method here are some great options for you. More

By now, it is fairly common knowledge that devices that are left plugged in continue to use electricity even when powered off. While its a good policy to unplug devices that are not in use, there are times when that is just not possible, particularly when charging devices like batteries or electric toothbrushes that you might leave to charge when you ar not at home.
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There are very few days from September through May when you'll see me without a scarf around my neck. Despite this partiality, I'd never thought of showcasing selections from my collection the way stylist Emily Chalmers has. More