If you are considering new flooring, think green — it’s possible to choose materials that are good for the environment and your home.
Environmental Protection Agency studies have shown that indoor pollutant levels can be up to five times higher than they are outside. Flooring can be a source of many of these pollutants. New carpet and flooring contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including known and suspected carcinogens. Additionally, carpets are often treated with chemicals for stain-resistance, and can trap allergens and lawn chemicals brought in from the outside.
There are many eco-friendly flooring options that can minimize indoor pollution and improve indoor air quality. You can now choose from a rapidly growing line of carpets and flooring made from recycled and eco-friendly materials that are tested by third-party organizations to ensure the company’s claims are accurate.
Before making a final selection, be sure eco-flooring options have the following traits:
• Low volatile organic compounds.
• Sustainable or recycled materials.
• Durable and long-lasting.
• Locally manufactured.
• Certification from Green Label Plus, GreenGuard or other national programs.
Carpet
Carpet has long been considered a source for pollutants and allergens that can lead to health problems. Many carpets and carpet padding contain plastics made from petroleum. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) offers Green Label Plus testing and certification to identify carpet, carpet backings, padding and adhesives that emit low VOCs. More information on the Green Label Plus Program can be found at www.carpet-rug.org.
Most carpeting in the U.S. is manufactured from nylon or polypropylene. A greener, more economical choice is recycled carpet. Recycled content carpet fiber is made from used carpet, soda bottles and other plastics. Manufacturers say it is more colorfast and durable than virgin fiber carpet and priced about the same as new. Also consider carpet padding made from recycled, natural and/or synthetic materials. Natural materials include jute fibers and animal hair; synthetic materials include nylon and polypropylene waste from carpet manufacturing.
Wool carpets are another eco-friendly choice. They are made from organic material and are durable, but are more expensive, than synthetic carpets.
According to leading carpet manufacturer Shaw Industries, more than 5 billion pounds of carpet are sent to landfills annually, waste that represents 2 percent of the total landfill volume. Manufacturers are addressing the issue by recycling old carpet materials into production of new carpeting; recycling carpet into alternative uses such as building materials and auto parts; refurbishing old carpet into new carpet tiles; and even reclaiming old carpet so it can be reused or recycled.
If new carpet is in your future, try to purchase flooring from companies that will recycle your old carpet.
Hardwoods
Hardwood flooring is a favorite of homeowners, and fortunately there are many eco-friendly options to consider.
Many manufacturers specialize in producing green hardwood floors, which take into account the source, how it is manufactured and finished, and the environmental impact the flooring has on the home and the environment at large. Reclaimed wood from demolition of older homes and buildings can be refinished and milled into hardwood flooring.
In addition to the sources of woods, finishes have become more environmentally friendly, and many companies use non-toxic finishing products on their flooring.
If a homeowner is having the floor finished by an installer after installation, he or she can request that the installer use a green finishing product to reduce toxins and produce a beautiful finish for the floor without harming the environment.
Other options
• Ceramic and porcelain tile are extremely durable but more energy-intensive to produce than stone or other flooring alternatives. One benefit is that ceramic tile and grout release few, if any, volatile organic compounds. People with serious allergies or other chronic respiratory ailments often tolerate these materials better than others.
• Linoleum is one of the most environmentally responsible flooring materials a homebuyer can request. Made from rosin (tree sap), wood flour (reclaimed from lumber mills), cork flour (from sustainable cork tree bark) and linseed oil (pressed from flax plants), linoleum will biodegrade in landfills without off-gassing.
• While softwoods are rarely considered ideal flooring material, cork is an excellent choice for many reasons. The natural elasticity of cork makes these floors especially comfortable and durable. Cork floors are also hypo-allergenic and are produced using the bark of the cork oak tree, which grows back every three years.
• Bamboo, a popular green flooring option, is harder and can withstand more use than conventional hardwood floors. Bamboo floors are naturally resistant to water, mildew and insects.
Careful consideration should be given to the location in which flooring is manufactured to ensure that the process is really eco-friendly. For example, many bamboo and pre-finished hardwood products are manufactured in Asia. But the embedded energy costs to transport the products to your home generally outweigh all the eco-friendly benefits of the product.
The options continue to multiply as technology advances, providing far-reaching benefits: Eco-friendly flooring materials can improve indoor air quality, creating healthier homes with durable, long-lasting and recyclable products.
Scott Allred is chairman of the Triad Green Building Council and the owner of Precept Construction. He can be reached at scott@preceptconstruction.com or 286-6811. For additional resources on green building, visit www.triadgreenbuilding.org or www.preceptconstruction.com.
