The Tree Hugger

Being green is all about the way we live. A huge part of how we live is where we live. Our homes help to define and shape us as people. However, building processes and materials are an often overlooked stress on the local and regional environment, as well as the planet as a whole.

We are not advocating an abandonment of modern conveniences, setting up your home in accordance with feng shui or your horoscope, or living in a tipi. The keys to green building are low toxicity, sustainability of the resources, and local sourcing of materials.

What is commonly referred to as linoleum flooring is actually vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring is a rather unhealthy and unwholesome flooring option. It is designed to be cheaply and easily installed, but it constantly outgasses the noxious chemicals that are required for its manufacture.

Finished concrete flooring is an attractively green option, especially if you are able to specify concrete with a high fly-ash content. Fly-ash is a residue from coal fired power plants, so using it in concrete flooring takes advantage of a recycled product. Some may be put off by the thought of a plain concrete floor, but remember that it will not hold dust and pollutants like carpeting does. And a contractor knowledgeable in up-to-date techniques can create a floor that is a two dimensional sculpture!

Wood flooring is a natural and renewable resource, but there are a few factors as to whether it is a truly green option. Where was the wood originally harvested? If a tropical hardwood is being considered, remember the environmental costs of transporting it, as well as the harvesting of rain forest products. Look for formaldehyde-free adhesives used in engineered-wood flooring products. Old growth forest products must be avoided, but the use of recycled flooring, products made from wood harvested in the early part of the century, is highly encouraged.

Bamboo flooring is getting a lot of press as an inexpensive and environmentally friendly flooring product. Bamboo is fast growing and sustainable, but not all species are appropriate for flooring in the environmental conditions of North America. Approach low-cost bamboo products with a degree of caution, they may not last.

Wall-to-wall carpeting is an interior environmental disaster. Often made from man-made products, carpeting will off-gas noxious VOCs for most of its life. It will also absorb dust and pollutants. If you are put off by bare floors, rugs and runners made from natural materials are very attractive, and will often outlast machine made products.