Green beds, bedding lead to sweet dreams

Since sleep is essential to our well-being, a healthy bed must be comfortable. But there’s much more to the story. On average, we encase ourselves in our bedding for about one third of our lives. Mattresses, sheets, pillows and other bedding materials become our micro-environment. Our bodies provide warmth and moisture, creating an intimate habitat with its own climate and ecosystem.

Think of your bed as a landscape. The mattress forms the bedrock (no pun intended) upon which all else depends. I think the healthiest mattress is one that is made with natural (not synthetic) latex, padded with natural wool and surrounded by an organic cotton cover. The latex provides great support that is firm but not stiff. The wool helps wick away moisture, keeping things drier while also serving as a natural flame retardant. Organic cotton is free of pesticides and is the result of more sustainable farming methods.

Since most mattresses are drenched in hazardous flame-retardant chemicals, a truly healthy mattress also will be chemical free. Getting one takes some planning and often involves a doctor’s note for the manufacturer to legally omit the chemical treatment. Royal-Pedic can make an excellent organic latex mattress that meets these criteria.

It goes without saying that organic sheets, pillowcases, blankets, etc., make the most sense in creating a healthy bed.

One problem we all face is the cost. If you look at the complete life cycle, buying high-quality products that last a long time is often the best way to go. But what if a natural latex mattress is just not in the cards? They are pricey. It’s also not very green to just chuck an otherwise perfectly good mattress into the landfill either!

Here’s one strategy that I think is a good compromise. Since the materials that are in closest contact with your body have the greatest impact, working from the mattress pad on up can create good results at a fraction of the cost.

There are some good products out there, but be careful. I recently bought a mattress pad that sounded great. The salesman said it was organic. The Web site said it was made with 100 percent Australian wool with Ultra-Fresh treated pile. It wasn’t until I got the product in hand that I decided to find out just exactly what Ultra-Fresh was.

The company’s Web site said it is used on all products to “stay fresher, longer,” and that it was the most effective inhibitor of mold, mildew and dust mites. It turned out that the innocent sounding Ultra-Fresh was actually a powerful chemical pesticide with an acute hazard warning indicating extreme or high toxicity. The description on www.pesticideinfo.org listed this chemical as having one or more of these characteristics: highly acutely toxic, cholinesterase inhibitor, known/probable carcinogen, known groundwater pollutant or known reproductive or developmental toxicant.

I decided that anything with Ultra-Fresh was ultra uncool for me. It was promptly returned unused.

In its place came not only a great organic, natural wool mattress pad, but a comforter and some wonderful pillows as well. They are all made by a company called WoolieBees, named after bee-sized puffs of natural New Zealand wool used as filler for pillows. New WoolieBees products use an improved process that makes these great products even better.

I have to say that I’ve found my ultimate pillow. Firm but yielding, it can be adjusted by simply adding or removing some filler material. The mattress pad feels great as well and is made from the same New Zealand wool. Both products have organic cotton covers. We haven’t used the comforter yet, but we expect it to be a welcome addition as temperatures drop.

These products are chemical-free so there is no out-gassing. Wool wicks away moisture and acts as a natural dust mite repellent. Wool is warm in winter and cool in summer. Using products like these, even on a traditional mattress, can help provide a healthier, more comfortable sleeping environment while greatly reducing exposure to toxic chemicals.

Perhaps you will consider greening your bed. It’s good for you and the planet, but if you need more time, go ahead and sleep on it! May you experience sweet, and very green, dreams.

Also, the next Southern Nevada Solar Home tour will take place this Saturday. Produced by nonprofit Solar NV, the tour starts at 9 a.m. at the Springs Preserve. It is self-guided and is a great way to spend the day with friends and family.

This tour is geared toward those who were unable to attend the last tour in April and features several of the same homes. More details can be found at www.solarnv.org. Advance registration is required.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, specializing in renewable energy, green building, alternative transportation and lifestyle choices for both residential and commercial clients. The company is committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. Rypka can be reached via e-mail at steve@greendream.biz. More information relating to this column is posted at www.greendream.biz.