What Kind of Chair?

Some people, like Planet Green editor Erin, do not even use chairs; she sits on an exercise ball. We asked her why: "A ball is more fun and engaging throughout the day than a chair and I hear it is good for your back which feels true enough. I switch between that and a proper desk chair, though—each has its virtue."

But if you are not into that, we suggest that the chair is the one place that you should splurge. An ergonomic, adjustable chair will let you work better, longer, and without pain. Collin covered the best in Treehugger's BuyGreen: Office & Desk Chairs Guide. See also Product Review: Haworth Zody Performance Task Chair.

While these serious office chairs cost a lot of money, no doubt the receivers for Lehman Brothers and every other bankrupt investment house or blown up hedge fund will be selling them at auction or on eBay soon; expect to pay about forty cents on the dollar for them, slightly used.

Another thing about chairs is that they are one of the few products where the manufacturers have seriously gone for Cradle to Cradle certification. C2C means "using environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material reutilization, such as recycling or composting; the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency" and is thought by many to be the gold standard for green certification. See TreeHugger Picks: Cradle to Cradle-Certified Products and Cradle To Cradle Going Mainstream.