Sami Grover
DCL
Antiques are often talked about as being green—after all, reusing stuff makes way more sense than throwing it out and buying something new. Collin has already laid out some excellent ideas for how to buy quality antiques, and he's also covered the idea of refurbishing old heirloom furniture too. But I've been wondering over at TreeHugger whether antiques are as green as we think they are. After all, antique dealers often drive their vans all over the country to collect saleable pieces—and that transport may have a sizeable carbon footprint.
In the end, I suspect buying durable furniture that may be sold three or four times over a hundred year lifespan is almost certainly greener than buying disposable furniture new that you replace every ten years—but there are still things we can all do to green our purchases further, even when those purchases are preloved:
Buy to Last:
Search for pieces that are solidly built and made to last. It's also worth thinking about style—is this a timeless classic, or a big fashion statement? That garish ottoman may look great now—but what about when you paint?
Look Close to Home:
Buying local always makes sense—but how can you tell where an antique is from and where it's been? It's worth asking questions—many dealers may know the exact heritage of a piece. You can also look for items and styles that are native to your region—a Southern-style pie safe in a North Carolina store probably hasn't travelled too far. A Japanese dresser on the other hand probably has.
Go Cheap:
Sure—pieces may not always be quite as durable, but you'll be surprised at what you can find in your local thrift store, the classified ads or Craig's List. Estate sales are also a good place to look—at least you know that your furniture hasn't travelled a million miles to get to you.
Have Vision:
Look for stuff that may need a little love. It's less likely that someone has shipped a ramshackle piece halfway around the world—and ultimately you will be restoring something that might otherwise have been trash. That's got to be the best form of recycling!
Watch Steve Thomas renovate homes the green way on Renovation Nation.
Got a tip or a post idea for us to write about on Planet Green? Email pgtips (at) treehugger (dot) com.
