|
Finding the Best Green Floor
( by Joel Hirshberg, reprinted by permission from THE SOURCE magazine, 4-09)
Tired of the old oak floor or carpet in your living room and want something greener? Buying a new eco-friendly floor like bamboo or cork floor may seem like a good idea, but are they better than refinishing an old wood floor? Are they any healthier for you and the planet? Do they help indoor air quality or reduce greenhouse gasses?
What questions should we ask ourselves when we consider ripping out the old carpet or covering the old vinyl tile?
1) Ask yourself, do I need to buy a new floor or simply refinish what I have? Refinishing is far greener and cheaper than buying new. Consider using non-toxic oil wax finishes that don’t off-gas toxic chemicals and are easy to apply. On the other hand, refinishing takes some skill, may pollute your indoor environment and it may be time for something new or recycled.
2) Sources of new green floors include, Marmoleum, (natural linoleum), FLOR recycled carpet tiles, recycled rubber tiles, recycled porcelain or glass tile, stained concrete floors or FSC certified prefinished solid and engineered floors.
3) Sometimes you can find reclaimed wood from an old barns or torn down buildings. Or you can get lucky and find products donated to the REUse store in Iowa City. Check www.craigslist.com for used products online. Also, flooring distributors and retailers always have closed out flooring sitting in their warehouse they’d love to get rid of at reasonable prices. Just ask them.
4) Be aware when removing old carpet or vinyl tile as you may uncover ugly stuff underneath such as asbestos tile or nasty smelling adhesives that require extra care before removal. If you don’t know how to remove it ask a professional remediation expert or environmental consultant.
5) The greenest products may come from locally grown and harvested wood. If harvested responsibly i.e. not clear cut and manufactured with safe finishes, they could be the greenest product with the lowest carbon footprint.
According to the US Government, more than 50% of imported wood comes from unmanaged forestry that results in illegal logging. The deforesting and burning of tropical forests is happening at an alarming rate worldwide and is the 2nd largest producer of carbon dioxide far exceeding the total produced by cars, trucks, trains, planes and ships combined. In addition it harms wildlife habitats, creates soil erosion and siltation of rivers and lakes.
6) Buying sustainably harvested wood products pushes the timber industry in a more responsive direction, discourages illegal logging and helps create economic value for a forest ecosystem that might otherwise be cleared for agriculture or development. For this reason many environmental organizations believe that sustainably harvested wood is a more proactive environmental choice than agricultural products like bamboo.
7) How can you tell if a wood product comes from a well managed forest as opposed to irresponsible or illegal sources? The answer lies in independent certification of forests. By putting a green label that is backed by high standards, credible forest certification lets consumers use their purchasing power to support forestry that conserves forests for future generations. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council—www.fsc.org) is an international organization dedicated to sustainable forestry.
They set and enforce the highest standards of forestry for
1) ecological health--protecting wildlife, water, air and soil
2) sustainable harvest levels—never cutting more than grows back
3) social responsibility—giving workers and communities their fair share
8) However, just because a company displays an FSC label, it does not mean all their products are FSC certified. As the market for green products begins to expand, so does green-washing. Unfortunately, even good ideas can get corrupted by marketing misrepresentations. In order for a product to be FSC certified, it must have the label on the box and it must be itemized on the invoice as FSC with the Chain of Custody number (COC#).
Recently FSC has begun to certify the production and distribution of bamboo and cork just like hardwoods. This is good news for everyone as it clearly identifies what has been sustainably harvested from what has not.
Next time you consider a green floor in your home or office, look at all the options of buying new or refinishing, do your homework, ask the right questions and support green organizations that promote responsible forestry.
© Joel Hirshberg,
Green Building Supply
www.greenbuildingsupply.com
|
Air and Water Purification
Natural Flooring
Non-Toxic Finishes
Environmentally Friendly Cleaners
Eco-Cabinets, Countertops, Millwork
Wool & Recycled Carpeting
Energy & Water Conservation
Outlet
