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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

EcoDepot celebrates 15 years of sustainable supplies

Spokane Valley location continues to educate customers of Green choices

Cotton insulation. Bamboo flooring. Concrete countertops. All of these can simultaneously make your home beautiful and Green, and, for the past 15 years, Spokane area shoppers have been able to find these and more under one roof at EcoDepot. “EcoDepot is the only environmental building supply (store) in the Inland Northwest,” says president and owner Nadine Sullivan. This summer EcoDepot celebrated its 15-year anniversary. Sullivan, a former elementary school teacher, started the business with her brother, Bruce Gage. Both had worked for Northwest Energy Products, and when it closed, they decided to strike out on their own. “We started with two file boxes in the trunk of my car,” Sullivan says. “Then we moved to an Airstream trailer with a phone and a fax.” In 2006, the business expanded to a showroom and storefront location at 1326 E. Sprague in Spokane Valley, still with the same two employees. Simply walking through the showroom door brings forth many examples of responsible, sustainable building techniques, starting with the cork floor right inside the door. “Cork is a renewable resource and it wears really well,” Sullivan says. The store also sells Marmoleum flooring, which Sullivan says is “true linoleum, not vinyl.” Made from linseed oil, color pigments, pine rosin and pine flour, the mixture is heated and then run through rollers that press the hot mixture into sheets and then onto a jute backing. The sheets come in a rainbow of colors and are completely biodegradable. The product offers a safe, natural alternative for those whose asthma or allergies are aggravated by other flooring types. For those who prefer carpeted surfaces, Sullivan carries ShawMark carpeting. “It’s made from recycled Anso nylon,” she says. “It can be recycled again and never needs to go to the grave.” Natural light floods the showroom, thanks to Energy Star-rated windows manufactured by Clawson. Another source of light stems from one EcoDepot’s most popular products: Solatubes. This product offers a green alternative to traditional skylights. “They go up through your structure,” says Sullivan. “No need to cut out a huge chunk of roof.” The tubes, topped with a choice of two lenses, add beauty and light to small areas like bathrooms and hallways, or larger areas like kitchens and bedrooms. Purchasers qualify for 30 percent federal income tax credits. At EcoDepot other parts of the building process, such as trim and other accessories, are sustainable. “Bamboo isn’t just for flooring,” Sullivan says, pointing to the wainscoting along the walls. “You can do anything you want with it.” Near the center of the showroom, a solid concrete bench, perfect for a garden or backyard, sits near an unusual fireplace. Manufactured by EcoSmart, the fireplace burns denatured alcohol. The freestanding unit doesn’t need to be placed against a wall or in a corner. Available in several styles, these unconventional fireplaces burn at 13,000 BTU and add an urban chic touch to any room. But style isn’t the only reason consumers purchase these units. Thanks to the recent stimulus bill, consumers can receive a tax credit of up to $1,500 or 30 percent of the purchase price when buying an EcoSmart fireplace. EcoDepot also sells a variety of green countertop alternatives. In addition to concrete countertops, the store features PaperStone counters. PaperStone uses 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper and is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified. For many, part of being Greener involves supporting the local economy. One way Sullivan does is seen on EcoDepot’s walls. She displays work by local artists, usually incorporating environmental themes, in an area of the showroom called the Verdant Gallery. Even the clay wall that serves as a backdrop for the artwork is eco-friendly. “It actually breathes and will put moisture back into your environment. It comes in a bag and you just add water and trowel it onto your wall,” she said. For customers who want to spruce up their existing walls, Sullivan has suggestions. She sells Metro Paint, made from recycled latex paint. The Waste Management Department in Portland, Ore., collects, filters, remixes and repackages leftover paint from homes and businesses along the I-5 corridor. By contrast, Sullivan says unused paint in Spokane goes right into the incinerator. Sullivan says most of her customers are end users, but she also works with several local green builders on projects, such as the large solar arrays on downtown Spokane’s Saranac building. Behind the showroom on East Sprague, Sullivan’s business partner and brother, busily assembles a new solar array. She describes him as a “solar wizard,” and says the store’s utility bill was only $19 for most of the summer because of the arrays he put together. While solar arrays can make a big difference in one’s utility bills, Sullivan says that even small purchases can go a long way toward greener, more sustainable living. “You don’t have to spend a fortune,” she says. “You can start small. I’ve got bamboo fiber work gloves for $5.99.” After 15 years in business she retains her passionate dedication to educate consumers about the many ways to improve a home and care for the planet at the same time. “I’m just trying to make a difference in how people look at things,” she said. EcoDepot Inc. is located at 1326 E Sprague Ave. For more information call (509) 924-8803 or visit www.ecodepotinc.com.