Speaker Spotlight: Nicole Goldman of ‘g’ Green Design Center

by Abby Hueber

“Green living is not just about being ʻgreenʼ but being smart”; making a commitment to choose materials, methods and actions that minimize negative effects to human and environmental health. Being green in her head and heart, Nicole Goldman is founder of ʻgʼ Green Design Center. She is an interior designer who has devoted her career to making homes beautiful without impacting the health of her clients’ families or the environment. She believes that building green spaces is about making a commitment to being green in all areas of your life to promote health on an individual and environmental level.

What does “wellness” mean to you? Wellness to me is a combination of carefully choosing what you surround yourself with, what you intake and how you create a healthy living environment.

“Make smart choices – green is not just about being green but being smart in terms of usage of energy, materials & everything that doesn’t adversely affect ourselves and our environment.”

How did you get started in wellness/your profession? Originally from NY, I went to school at Connecticut College and then transferred to University of California Berkeley during the late 70ʼs. At the time, Steward Brandʼs “Good Earth” catalog came out and I chose to work in publications at Berkeley. I then moved to NYC and worked at Parson School switching to NYUʼs Stern School of Management for my MBA. Eventually, I moved to Boston to be with my then boyfriend, now husband of 30 years. He was at MIT for Architecture. We co-started a design company, which sold large scale promotional displays, eventually selling it and taking most of the proceeds to take our young adolescent children on a trip to travel the world. Upon returning, I launched into my own design career. At the time green living was just gaining momentum, reflecting upon and pulling inspiration from my days at Berkeley I began to work towards learning about green design. Through my own green home renovations, I experienced how difficult it was to get materials, and skilled workers, especially those skilled in green design. Therefore I recognized the gap in the market place and began my company, ʻgʼ Green Design Center, experiencing the bloom of green design. I see myself at the crossroads of where business meets design.

What is the most important home health or green design possibility a person can do today? From a wellness standpoint, it is to use non-toxic cleaners and to recycle. Also, it is important to take off your shoes and leave them at the front door to decrease the amount of chemicals and pathogens you carry throughout your home.

What do you hope is the take home message from your speaking experience at Be Healthy Boston 2012? “That green living is simple, not complicated or expensive.”

Do you have a motto or a philosophy you live/work by? “Believe in yourself and never give up.”

Start small to incorporate health into your home environment. Join Nicole Goldman as she co-presents The Green Home: New Construction, Renovations and the Path to Energy Savings, Sunday, January 29th at Be Healthy Boston 2012.