Ethical flooring choices are formost on many home owners minds this year. With the release of 'An Inconvieniet Truth' - Al Gore's documentary about the effects of global warming, comes the realization that we all need to think 'green'.
There are many types of flooring that will help to conserve energy and preserve our forests and other resources while avoiding excessive costs or future problems. Choosing the appropriate flooring for your home or office is a major decision - one that you will probably live with for a long time. Choose wisely and "build green" whenever you can. It's a great way to show that you care about our earth and its future.
People are fast realizing the dangers of using products for the home that can be detrimental to the environment and to the residents who live in the home. Architects, builders and decorators are now recognizing and suggesting flooring products that protect the environment and the people who live and work in the buildings.
Make the Right Choice
A new trend sweeping the country is to replace existing carpet with environmentally friendly flooring such as reclaimed wood, linoleum, cork or bamboo. These types of flooring are not only helpful to the environment, but are also coveted for their exquisite beauty, texture and form.
Reclaimed wood, bamboo, cork and linoluem floors have long been considered the only alternatives for consumers hoping to make ethical choices.
The use of "reclaimed" wood found in old buildings such as barns, hotels or railroad cars is an emerging trend across the country. While the obvious character and patina of these woods are lovely and desirable, the cost can be somewhat prohibitive at around $30 per square foot.
Newer products, such as cork and bamboo are excellent choices to use in buildings that make use of energy savers such as radiant heat. Bamboo floors are a hardwood product that is created by using the harvested stalk of the bamboo plant. Cork floors are made from the bark of the cork tree.
Linolueum flooring resilient and is made from renewable substances of the earth or recycled remnants. Even though linoleum itself cannot be recycled because of the glue used to install it, the long life gained from using linoleum has made it a popular choice for homes,offices and schools.
Shaw Carpets is now spearheading the flooring industry with 'green products' that will start the trend towards reducing landfill waste and post manufacturing pollution. Using technology that recycles used carpet and transforms it in to underpad is the first step in reducing green house gases and making ethical flooring choices.
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