I’m sorry, but sometimes I get SICK of people using terms like “green” and “recycled” in an effort to advertise their products and services.   Most of the time, it’s a flimsy front for self-promotion and an effort to jump on the newest (and best-selling) bandwagon.

The other night on TED tv, my husband and I stumbled upon this guy, Dan Phillips.  I was transfixed as he spoke about how he creatively builds incredibly unique homes from completely used and discarded materials.   He explains how waste is a huge issue in the building industry and why:  because of our need for “perfection,” so many “imperfect” materials are discarded and replaced.   Dan Phillips doesn’t talk about carbon footprints and all the green mumbo-jumbo.  He doesn’t destroy old buildings and then turn around and build “green” ones in their place.   He doesn’t suggest you throw out all the old to replace it with “energy-efficient” alternatives.  He doesn’t use new material made of partially recycled old material that didn’t really need to be recycled in the first place.  Dan Phillips uses discarded, used, and neglected treasure and is able to transform it into a work of art with sheer willpower, practicality, and creativity.   Dude is a genius.   Now THAT’s a movement I can get behind.