We all know how to create instant ambience in a room: just dial down the dimmer switch and light some candles. But along with the soothing comfort of a flickering flame come the dangerous – and possibly carcinogenic – chemicals and soot.

When a tree falls in the forest, Live Edge Design partners John Lore and Evan Sadler find another opportunity to create one of their distinctive furniture pieces and bring the rugged beauty of nature indoors. All the wood used in Live Edge’s contemporary designs – such as weighty plank headboards, massive mantels and grand dining room tables – comes from salvaged or storm-damaged trees, while rustic pieces, such as lounge chairs, are crafted from unfinished driftwood.

If your tired home needs a little rejuvenation, or even a complete eco-overhaul, then HomeSpa, a new green home-advisory service, developed by the Light House Sustainable Building Centre, might be just what the doctor ordered. A range of services are available, such as the HomeSpa Checkup and the HomeSpa Facial, that can help you reduce your home’s burden on the environment and ensure it’s a healthy space for you and your family.

Find stylish, sustainably designed home furnishings at the tres eco-chic m boutique.

We all know there’s a direct link between the air we breath and our health, but until now we’ve had no way of measuring that link. A program to measure the health quality of each community’s air has been developed over the past six years, and is now available in six Lower Mainland communities.

Thanks to developers of Victoria’s Dockside Green, local manufacturers have produced a thermostat-type device that not only controls the temperature of a home or office, but tracks the unit’s entire carbon footprint.

When the City of Vancouver decided to take on climate change, it may have seemed a futile task: after all, what can one city do about global warming? But spend a few minutes talking with Sean Pander, the man entrusted with enacting the city’s ambitious Climate Change Action Plans, and you’ll be convinced that the city not only can, but already is, making a difference.

Set your office’s computers, copy machines and printers on the timed power-save settings so they automatically shut off when your office is closed.

Before you automatically print that email message, consider filing it electronically for future reference instead.

Riding in an eco-friendly carpool is a great way to save money and enjoy a stress-free commute