If you’ve been to Japan you’ve seen the lovely silver gloss emitted from the roofs of traditional homes.  This shine comes off the tiles which are made of carbonized soil – and you think being “green” started in the West!!!

One Japanese company, Koyo Ibushi, is translating the roof technology into products for home interiors.  One such product I think has tremendous potential is “Arare” (image above).  The “tiles” cannot really be used as a kitchen backsplash because it would be hard to clean grease splashes, but they can certainly be used to cover walls in a home, including a bathroom, and the flat ones, to cover floors.  According to the manufacturer it is a good insulator from both cold and hot weather, AND it absorbs bad smells and poisonous gases and is germ proof … who knew!

Certainly a “green”, new and different product to consider for the modern home!