Scarsdale Resident Opens Green Design Expo

Looking for a way to make your house “green”? Well you’re lucky to live in or near Scarsdale where Eva Finkelstein recently opened Green Design Expo. It’s a one-stop shop for a vast variety of eco-friendly and sustainable building, decorating and lifestyle products. Located just south of the Old Army Road/Central Park Avenue corner, Green Design Expo (GDE) is a local resource for individuals as well as designers, builders, architects and students. All of the products are geared to promoting a greener planet and healthier environments.

A tour of Finkelstein’s store, which had it’s Grand Opening in April, took me past an inviting display that included non-toxic cleaners, sprays, energy-efficient light bulbs, toys and products for adults and children made of environmentally responsible materials. Of course, the store itself sets the example with green paint, recycled ceiling tiles, bamboo floors, solar lighting, coconut walls, and a counter made of crushed 7UP and beer bottles combined with resin (it really looks great!).

A good portion of the store is devoted to building and design materials and GDE is continually introducing new products. Finkelstein does her research to test both sustainability and durability. Among the offerings are countertops, cabinetry, flooring, lighting, insulation, ceilings, windows, plumbing fixtures, hardware, carpets, tile and more. On display are strand-woven bamboo floors, which Finkelstein explains are harder than oak, as well as Solatube lighting that creates a bright, beautiful effect using natural light. The staff at GDE helps consumersunderstand all of the contents of each of the products so buyers know exactly what is going into their homes.

Finkelstein sees a big part of her job as education and since opening has already hosted over ten seminars to introduce various concepts and products. A new schedule is being planned for the fall and all events are free and open to the public. A list of upcoming offerings will be posted on the website in the next several weeks.

A Fox Meadow resident with 3 children, Finkelstein had a roundabout route to her current role as GDO storeowner and environmentalist. But as explanation, Finkelstein says “My whole life actually led to this. I grew up on a farm in Virginia and always had an affinity to the earth and respect for my surroundings.” However she began her career as an English, history and elementary school teacher. Always interested in science, Finkelstein made a dramatic switch and became a neuroscience researcher at Einstein Jacoby Hospital. When she moved to Scarsdale, she found that she and her family were plagued with a variety of allergies. Putting her research skills to work, Finkelstein delved into the contents of all the products in her new home and found that many of the chemicals they contained were making her family sick. She became accredited as a LEED green associate (an internationally recognized green building certification system) and this led to opening GDE. “There’s a large gap between what people know, want and need. The learning curve is huge and we’re committed to helping people find healthy and affordable solutions.” GDE is a member of the United States Green Building Council.

GDE employs a number of designers to help customer understand all the available options. Asked how the store is doing, Finkelstein replied that awareness is growing. People are beginning to hear of GDE and coming in to look around. “We’ve mostly started with residential projects and have a few commercial jobs as well. We see our role very much as educators and guides. Some people are starting from scratch and want a totally green environment, while others wants to see how they can integrate more green products and design elements into an existing space. And while some products may seem like they cost more there are savings with reduced electrical expenses, long term durability and of course environmental benefits. We even have carpeting that starts at $1 square foot!”

Green Design Exp is located at 640 Central Park Avenue. For more information, call 902-5305 or visit on the web at: www.greendesignexpo.net.