The Green Depot picks up where other home improvement stores are seriously slacking (according to Greenopia's top retailer ratings); The new Manhattan store (in a renovated YMCA) carries pretty much everything you would need to do a major green renovation to nursery, kitchen, bedroom, or other living space, as well as nontoxic tools for smaller projects and lots of DIY assistance. Specialists clad in beige aprons are there to help pick out and mix paints, suggest the best products for your project, or explain how a caulk/comforter/recycling bin is planet-friendly.

Sarah Beatty, the owner and founder of the store (which began as a contractors resource), has a passion for green living she wants to spread to everyone, and the flagship Manhattan store will be followed by several more stores in the Tri-state area.

Green Depot, Manhattan
222 Bowery, New York, NY
(212) 226-0444

	Green Depot is listed in Greenopia's business listings and there are copies of the New York City guide are available at the store (right at the counter!) too.
Bring a swatch in any color- and get it matched and made up in minutes, without toxic VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds, which the EPA has identified as a health hazard, especially for kids). Or choose from the selection of colors at right.
	Get energy efficient CFL and LED bulbs in a huge variety of wattages, shapes and sizes for every light fixture from nightlights to chandaliers.There's also a handy guide for finding bulbs that will give off flattering light, so there's no reason not to switch to these much more energy-efficient options.
Danny Schwartz, a Green Depot sales rep, shows off a home toxin testing kit.
	Cribs in the nursery area are made from wood from sustainably-managed forests, painted with VOC-free paints and finishes, and decorated with organic cotton sheets and blankets.
Reusing containers saves more resources than recycling; you can refill commonly used cleaners (dish soap, etc.) here, and then dispense them into decorative ones at home. Prettier on the counter, saves money, and ecofriendly too!
	Heating and cooling accounts for more than half a home's energy use (and carbon output); insulation is key to making a house efficient. This wall-stuffing is made of waste from stell mills; Green Depot also offers recycled denim insulation and some other ecofriendly options.
Green Depot founder Sarah Beatty and her daughter in the nursery area, which carries child-friendly but still graphically interesting art, wooden toys and stuffed animals.
	Creative reuse made beautiful! These roses are made from old sewing patterns. They would look so pretty by themselves or- interestingly- mixed in with live flowers.
The cleaning products section contains regular scrubbers for floors, windows and countertops, and specialized (natural and nontoxic) formulations for mold and mildew remover, and stain remover. Recycled and recyclable or biodegradable cleaning tools are also available, a much better option than wasteful disposable products (Swiffers, I'm looking at you!).
	The kitchen demo area shows off two set-ups, one with bamboo cabinets and another made from sustainable wood. Countertops are made from granite-like IceStone and other recycled constituents.
Ivy Coatings is the house brand of paint; not only VOC-free, but made in Brooklyn, so a local product for people in New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut.

 All images by Starre Vartan