Want to explore industry breakthroughs and be in the know on the latest trends for design, environment and construction? Attend an upcoming spring 2010 trade show in Vancouver and find your mind buzzing with the most exciting ideas. You will discover new, eco-friendly products and sustainable methods, be wowed by cutting edge interior design, and learn what technologies are causing breakthroughs in architecture and construction. The world flocks the Vancouver to join in these industry expos and stay ahead of the curve- so check it out, have a blast and pass it on!

Your infant's nursery and your young child's room share similar qualities and should be functional and inspiring -- a place of nurturing, rest, stimulation, and wellbeing. Safety is one of the major objectives of a child and infant friendly room. Creating a risk free nursery and child's room includes, to name a few tips: covering electrical outlets, choosing age appropriate bed and toys, and keeping a clean, organized, and barrier free space. Over and above the common safety tips, we are happy to report that more than ever, creating an eco-friendly kid's room or nursery is now at the top of the agenda for modern families.

After the jump, we lay out some strategies you can take, as well as a few links to great Vancouver stores and other tips that you can check out.

When the world comes to Vancouver in February 2010, the famous Wyland Whaling mural will be sure to capture spectator’s interest from around the world. Pure Painters is proud to have contributed to the painting restoration of this culturally significant landmark located on the North side of the Granville Bridge. The beautiful Wyland Mural spreads an important message of oceanic conservation and protecting British Columbia’s nature and wildlife.

With bright new paint colours, eco friendly paint and weather proofing this cultural landmark now has renewed life. After receiving many questions about what it was like to be a part of the Wyland Mural restoration project, Pure Painters is pleased to share our story.

First things first, understand your paint brushes. We have your consumer and professional grade paint brushes -- think little jobs vs. big jobs. The basic anatomy of a paint brush is like so:  handle (comes in wood or plastic), crimping and ferrule (metal band between handle and bristles), and bristles. Bristles can be made from natural, animal hair or can be made from synthetic filaments. Water-based paints (the more eco-friendly paint choice) are said to work best with synthetic bristle brushes. Though oil based synthetic bristles may not be as bio-degradable as animal hair, they often last longer and are easier to care for.

According to a recent blog on News 1130, Vancouver BC ranks extremely high for our excess 'Christmas' waste. Now, anybody who lives in Metro Vancouver knows that indulging in Holiday spirit helps to counter the gloominess of dark and rainy days. This got us thinking, how can we have an eco-friendly Christmas while still making sure it stays Merry & Bright? The good news is there are a ton of little and large ways that we can make a difference this year, so we put together some of our favourite eco-friendly tips and links for the holidays.

When it Rains, it Pours

Here on the Wet -- er… West Coast we all know a thing or two about keeping dry during the rainy season. Bring on the rain boots, ponchos and umbrellas right? Well, what about protecting the exterior of your homes from the rain? Did you know that the right application of exterior paint to your home or business can act just like a good rain coat? Makes sense!

Proper exterior painting can prevent the moisture that causes damage and mold from seeping through the walls of your home. Climate attuned paint can even help insulate your home -- saving you money on electrical bills and helping protect our environment (reduced energy waste/lower carbon footprint).

With Greater Vancouver BC having heavy rain warnings all month (November and December average 160mm/month yearly in rainfall in Vancouver, BC) now is the time to start considering the importance of exterior paint in weather proofing. We have put together a little info to help you get ahead in the battle against water. After all, we live in a rainforest so we can't pretend like the rain isn't going to pour!

Rarely does the government offer to actually give you a tax credit on anything, but with 2009 being the year of the ‘Credit Crunch' recession, the Canadian government decided to stimulate our economy with a home renovation tax credit.

Essentially any renovation that changes your home in a permanent way, including the cost of contractor services, is eligible. Furniture, appliances, cleaning, tools and a few other exceptions listed on the government's HRTC web page do not qualify for the credit. Check and see if your renovation qualifies before you proceed.

To be eligible you need to spend at least $1000 and can't claim more than $10,000. Plus don't forget to document your renovations and save receipts in case you are audited. There is nothing worse than getting an audit notice and having to backtrack for proof!

The Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) Expires on February 1st 2010 -- so get started now!

Now for the fun stuff! When you invest in home renovations, you want the most return for your money. Even if you're on a budget, there are so many great ways to add value to your home and help the environment at the same time. Here is our list of the top 10 eco-friendly home renovation plans from the least to the most expensive.

A little about going carbon neutral — In short, Carbon Neutral means a net balance of zero carbon emissions. Zero emissions can be achieved by reducing carbon and/or off-setting carbon that one is either directly or indirectly responsible for emitting into the atmosphere.

An example of a direct source of carbon may be the gas we burn in transportation to and from worksites. An indirect source of carbon could be from the manufacturing process involved in the paint we purchase for our jobs. Both the direct and indirect carbon a company is responsible for should be considered in counting carbon and before claiming carbon neutrality.

Reducing carbon can be as easy as (for example), driving a hybrid car that burns less fossil fuel. Off-setting may be accomplished by donating to an organization that uses methods like tree planting to reduce carbon from our atmosphere, or investing in renewable energy companies.

One great way that we can further the movement to keep painting pure is by ensuring that we a) 0nly use what paint we need, and b) store or dispose of what paint we don’t need safely. The best rule of thumb for painting smart is to only buy what’s necessary for a job. However, you may want to have some leftover paint in storage for your touch-ups and as a colour sample.

Where possible, storing your paint may be a better option than disposal, ensuring that less waste reaches our landfills, forests and streams. When disposal of your paint is necessary, following the proper procedures and never pouring paint down drains or tossing it into local garbage bins is critical in keeping our natural environments pure.

Thinking of ways to ‘green' your home or office? This is something that we are seeing more and more in today's world, as people become increasingly concerned about, not only the impact they are having on their community and environment, but the effect the things in their immediate environment are having on them. If this describes you, there are several things that you can do to reduce the chemicals, allergens and carbon footprint of the places you inhabit for most of your days and nights.

Check out the tips, below, to help you get started on a greener, safer personal environment.