I'm a bit of a shopaholic, but a reasonable shopaholic. I have my price limits, and I have my niche of things I enjoy buying. So whenever I come across some fun accessories, I like to share my findings with my readers. But I can't take credit for this week's fabulous find. Mark Tepper, HomeFinder.com's vice president of business development, and Frank Breithaupt, vice president of marketing, both sent me some links to some eco-friendly furnishings that are must-haves for your home this fall.

Greenington

Bamboo is not just for pandas. Check out Greenington's large collection of bamboo-manufactured furniture. Since bamboo material is very different than wood, special attention and care must be given to the manufacturing of these products. Greenington's factories are one of the leading bamboo product manufacturers in China.

Greenington furniture uses only the maturated Moso bamboo that is at least 5 years old — bamboo uprooted before four years can be too soft and is more likely to dent. From processing the bamboo raw material into the solid stock and panel, they build the final product in one of their three factories under tight quality control. In meeting consumer's needs for a wider selection of color pallets, Greenington now offers its uniquely stained bamboo furniture line with charcoal and espresso colors. Greenington also provides the special order program that allows the customers to design their own product.

Bamboo can be harvested in four to six years, making it an extremely renewable resource. By comparison, hardwood products are made from trees that are hundreds of years old. The increasing demand for wood materials has contributed to massive deforestation around the world. Older trees like the oak can take up to 25 years before it matures and is ready for harvest again. Greenington's classic bamboo is 20 percent harder than oak and exotic bamboo is 100 percent harder than red oak, according to Greenington. The company will also soon offer their collection through Chicago-based Pearlfurniture.com.

View Greenington's furniture collection.

Eco-chic
With its mantra, 'Designing to Inspire Change,' Environmental Language (el), an award-winning furniture and kitchen design firm, believes that good design in its essence should be sustainable. Founded in 2001 by Jill Salisbury, the company launched its premiere collection in 2003, making it among the first in the U.S. to design high-end, residential furniture and kitchen cabinetry while meeting with the most stringent environmental and performance standards available.

El meets LEED requirements in their products and provides carbon emissions offsetting in the transportation of its furnishings from manufacturing to the end user. These eco-friendly products deliver heirloom quality craftsmanship with forms that celebrate the design as well as the materials. Upholstered pieces use natural latex, organic wool batting and wool barrier cloth, along with other natural materials. Woods are reclaimed or sustainably harvested, structural elements are made from FSC-certified core material. El also uses stainless steel, which can be recycled and reused. The finishes are naturally derived and are non-toxic.

The company's goal is to generate greater awareness of environmental concerns and to inform of the benefits of sustainable living.

View el's furniture collection.

Want to find out more ways you can go green at home? Check out Homecape's new Green Buying Guide for energy-efficient tips and green remodeling advice.

Got hot local housing tips or a story you want to share? Contact Amy Le at openingdoorsblog@HomeFinder.com.