“Green” as a Carpet Color

Area rugs are all well and fine, but when it comes to luxury flooring, it’s hard to top wall-to-wall carpeting. Carpeting’s warmth and comfort underfoot is why it remains the most popular home flooring. In the interest of full disclosure, I should admit I’m not a big fan of carpeting in the home. I run a take-your-shoes-off-at-the-door house, and I think reclaimed wood is a great choice for the purely “green” home. That said, there are many shades of green, and there is simply no denying the unrivaled extravagance of plush carpeting underfoot when you get out bed in the morning, or when just want to walk around barefoot.

SmartStrand carpet comes in many different

 colors, shades and designs. Photo courtesy of

Mohawk Flooring (www.mohawkflooring.com).

The trick is to find the greenest carpet possible. That’s a little more complicated than it might appear at first glance. How eco-friendly and healthy a given carpet is depends on the fiber, the nap (looped, cut, short or tall), the backing, and the pad you use. All of these will affect, to one degree or another, the harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) the flooring off-gasses, how quickly the carpet collects dirt and potential allergens, and how recyclable the carpet is when it comes time for a new floor covering.

Start with the carpet fiber. Wool is hands-down the most sustainable, healthiest, and most eco-friendly carpet fiber. Unfortunately, left untreated, it is susceptible to staining.  Wool is also much more expensive than synthetic-fiber carpeting, and far less widely available. The first place to look is online, where you’ll find companies such as Eco by Design (www.ecobydesign.com, selling EcoChoices all-natural wool carpeting), and Earth Weave Carpet Mills, Inc. (www.earthweave.com), offering Bio-Floor™ carpeting that is all natural, containing no chemical treatments.

However, most people turn to less-expensive, easier-to-find synthetic fibers. Triexta is quickly becoming the synthetic fiber of choice for its durability, cleanability and soft feel. Sold under the name SmartStrand from Mohawk (www.mohawkflooring.com) is formulated in part with renewable resources such as polymers extracted from corn. The carpet is also extremely durable and long-lasting. The same can be said of polyester P.E.T carpeting, which is made in part from recycled plastic bottles. P.E.T carpet is not, however, as nice underfoot as nylon or triexta.

Give just as much consideration to the carpet’s backing and binding. Backings have traditionally been constructed with latex binders that produce 4-phenylcyclohexene (4-PCH), a nasty VOC. Ideally, the binder and backing adhesive should be a natural or inert glue. The backing itself should be hemp, jute or other natural material. Stay away from vinyl, PVC or SB latex backings, which can contain potentially harmful chemicals, including styrene—a suspected carcinogen.

The pad you use is as important as the carpet itself, in terms of comfort, longevity and air quality. Some synthetic carpet pads feature a laundry list of potentially harmful chemicals and VOCs. However, there’s really no need to introduce these toxins into your home’s environment. Stick with carpet pads made of felt or rubber. On the same note, avoid glued-down installation methods. Tack-strips work perfectly for almost all wall-to-wall carpeting installations.

When shopping for carpeting keep an eye out for the Carpet and Rug Institute’s green label (www.carpet-rug.org).  The label indicates that the product meets CRI’s standards for low-VOC emission and sustainability. It’s not the be all and end all of certifications; the CRI is an industry organization. Personally, I take exception with some of the CRI’s stances on carpeting’s role in indoor air quality and its connection to related diseases such as asthma. But the certification program was developed in tandem with the EPA, and the label is an indicator that you’re shopping in the right direction.

No matter what carpet and backing you’ve chosen, it’s always a wise idea to thoroughly air out the room for 48 hours after installation. Your lungs will thank you.

Insulating Wisdom

You can’t see it, you usually can’t touch it, and you’ll forget it’s even there, but insulation has a gigundo impact on just how green your house is … or isn’t. Any major remodeling project is a chance to determine what type of insulation (if any) exists in your walls and attic, what shape it’s in, and what upgrade or new insulation would best serve your purposes.

This particular decision is not just a matter of being green. The right insulation makes your home more comfortable, more energy efficient, and creates a healthier interior environment. Along the way, it can save you bundles of cash.

The majority of homes are insulated with Fiberglass batting, which remains the most widely used insulation. However, Fiberglass can be difficult to work with, can irritate the skin, eyes and breathing passages, and is far from a green material. Even worse, older homes may still have urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI). The formaldehyde is a carcinogen that can compromise indoor air quality for years and possibly decades after installation. 

Thank goodness you have a bevy of green insulation options to pick from! These come in the same basic forms as traditional materials: loose-fill blown-in (or spray-on) versions, or batting.

Blown-in or spray-on expanding foam insulation is incredibly effective, quick to install, and long-lasting. In the past, this product meant dealing with chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs) that depleted the ozone. Today, however, there are green spray foams that, while still urethane-based, off-gas virtually no VOCs and perform beautifully. Demilec USA (www.demilecusa.com) manufacturers a couple of examples, including Sealection and Heatlok Soy. Sealaction uses water for the delivery system and is an open-cell foam, while Heatlok Soy incorporates recycled plastic, and includes soy and vegetable oils, and is a closed-cell foam. Both are certified through the GreenGuard program, and the National Association of Home Builder’s “Green Approved” qualification.

Closed-cell products are usually denser, stiff and offer a higher R-value than their open-cell cousins. They also resist air, water vapor and moisture penetration better than any other insulation. However, this superior performance comes at price: closed-cell foams are more expensive overall, and cost more per R-value, than most other options. Generally, closed-cell products are reserved for areas where having a highly effective air and moisture barrier are real concerns.

Cellulose blown-in insulation is an even more eco-friendly option. Although the R-values pound per pound are lower than urethane spray foam, cellulose insulation can still offer from R-13 to R-60, depending on the thickness of the insulation. The knock on early versions was moisture retention; they were blown in wet and often retained moisture that led to mold and mildew growth. These days, companies like GreenFiber (www.greenfiber.com) make cellulose products that are not only as much 90 percent recycled paper, they are also blended with borate or similar treatments that prevent mold growth, insect infestation, and serve as fire retardants.

Cellulose insulation is competitively priced with other types, and it is often sold as a DIY option. You can buy blowers and the related equipment, or rent everything you need from a local rental center. Keep in mind, though, the job is messy and must be done correctly to realize the maximum R-value and other benefits. When installed correctly, blown-in and sprayed-on insulations create tighter air seals and provide better sound-deadening properties than other types of insulation. That's why the vast majority of homeowners opt to use certified professionals when going with blown-in or sprayed on insulation.

Recycled cotton or denim batting such as UltraTouch by Bonded Logic, Inc. (www.bondedlogic.com) is some of the most truly green insulation available. UltraTouch includes approximately 80 percent post-consumer waste, and releases no VOCs. The batting is perforated so that you simply measure, tear, and install. The material doesn’t irritate skin and breathing passages as Fiberglass does, and is Class-A fire rated. The company also produces UltraTouch cellulose insulation.

A less common but potentially effective and environmentally responsible option is mineral wool. There are two types of mineral wool: a version called rock wool that is formed from natural minerals such as basalt; and slag wool that is processed from blast-furnace slag (the scum floating on top of molten metal). Mineral wool is available as loose fill and the much more common blankets and stiff boards. Companies such as Thermafiber (www.thermafiber.com) provide the insulation and the tools needed to work with it. The material typically includes about 75 percent post-industrial waste and is installed in roughly the same way as Fiberglass batting is.

The place to start in choosing any insulation is the R-value. Balance selecting the highest R-value possible against your budgetary constraints, and where you live. A high R-value will provide a bigger return on investment in the frigid Northeast, than it will in more temperature southern States.

You’ll also want to pay close attention to the technical specs for the insulation you’re considering. Review the manufacturer’s claims regarding “settling” (the tendency for wall insulation to slide down in the cavity, leaving little or no insulation in spots—something that can even happen with traditional Fiberglass batts). Establish the green cred of the insulation you’re leaning toward, by checking out if it qualifies for LEEDs credits.

Composting in Style

Composting is the bargain lover’s deal of the century. Take something you were going to put in the garbage, and quickly and easily turn in it into one of the best soil amendments money can buy—only it’s free! The practice offers the bonus of keeping organic material out of the waste stream, so you’ll be doing your part to relieve the burden on overtaxed landfills. And it couldn’t be simpler. Although hardcore composters may work endlessly with the “formula” of their compost pile, you can start composting now with little expertise. Buy or make a simple composting bin—or just create a pile in a secluded corner of the garden where air flows freely—start collecting organic matter, and poof, you’re on your way to black garden gold.

One of the several handsome pails

offered by Norpro. (Photo courtesy of Norpro.)

No matter how you choose to compost, chances are that kitchen scraps are going to be a big part of that effort. Just about everything you use in cooking (minus synthetic materials and any animal fats or proteins) is fair game. The smaller the bits, the better, but pretty much any vegetable scraps will work. The trick is not ruining the look of your kitchen while you collect the scraps. The handiest place for your indoor compost pail is right by the sink or your prep area, but few things are as sure a design-kill as a scratched-up plastic pail full of vegetable leavings. As “country” as your kitchen might be, that’s never a good visual. My suspicion? This is probably a major factor why so many people choose not to compost.

Never fear! You can collect compost food scraps in style; you just need the right compost pail. Look around a little and you’re sure to find many interesting candidates. Norpro makes standalone compost pails in many different styles, from clean white enameled pails, to more decorative designs. Like most standalone compost pails offered at retail, these include charcoal inserts to eliminate odors (although it’s worth mentioning that if you’re regularly emptying the pail and collecting only vegetable matter, smells and insects are rarely a problem).  You can find Norpro products at Amazon (www.amazon.com) and the unrelated Norpro Webstore (www.norprowebstore.com).

The stainless steel pail from Simple

Human, showing the charcoal cartridge

that keeps things smelling fresh.  

(Photo courtesy of Simple Human, www.simplehuman.com.)

As you might expect of a company that specializes in hip, enlightened design, Simple Human offers a compost pail that are, well, simply elegant. It's as attractive as any other countertop fixture you might own. You’ll find their pails and other products at www.simplehuman.com.

Into a more modern, sleek vibe? Blanco (www.blancoamerica.com) has you covered with their Solon composting system. A stainless steel pail slips right into a hole in the counter and is covered up with a low-profile lid. The hole can be cut in just about any countertop that has room underneath for the pail, meaning you can position near food prep areas to make it as handy as possible. It's finished with a sophisticated recessed lip. When it comes time to empty the pail, remove it using the handle that slots out of the way at other times.

Blanco's Solon compost system makes recycling kitchen scraps easy.
(Photos courtesy of Blanco, www.blancoamerica.com, (800) 451-5782.)

Pick the solution that works best for you and your kitchen design, because doing right by the environment and your garden doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Composting, who knew it could be chic?

Cool Countertops with Big Green Cred

Consider the mighty countertop. You may not have the cash to plunk down for a whole new suite of chef-quality appliances or a wholesale kitchen remodel, but you can still transform the look of your kitchen quickly and inexpensively by just replacing your countertops. As much as dingy, timeworn counters bring a kitchen design down, the right new countertop totally revitalizes the room. Counters are also valuable real estate in the kitchen, serving as crucial prep areas. Fortunately, some of the most beautiful are also some of the most eco-friendly choices. That’s because a whole slew of eye-catching countertops are made from different recycled materials.

A dynamic Vetrazzo kitchen countertop rocking a stunning kitchen 

design, and in closeup below. (Photo courtesy of  Vetrazzo®.)

Some of the most popular recycled countertops are made from glass. Vetrazzo (www.vetrazzo.com) is touted as the “original glass countertop”, with products crafted from any amazing variety of 100-percent recycled glass. Including waste from broken stoplight lenses to recycled beer bottles, the colors and styles available reflect this diversity; every color of the rainbow is represented in the product mix, as well as color blends. The look of any particular counter is unique, because the size and shape of the glass pieces differ counter to counter. IceStone (www.icestone.biz) crafts counter slabs from 100-percent recycled glass, portland cement and pigment. The appearance of an IceStone surface is more regimented than a Vetrazzo surface; the glass pieces appear to be a more uniform size and the appearance of background binder is more dominant. Most recycled glass surfaces are fairly pricey, and are best installed by certified professionals.

Looks like slate, but it's paper! (Photo courtesy PaperStone® 

Evergreen | Photo: Paneltech Products, Inc.) 

 You’ll also find engaging countertops created of reused paper and wood products. Shetkastone (www.shetkastone.com) creates solid-colored countertops from post-consumer and post-industrial paper mixed with binders. PaperStone (www.paperstoneproducts.com) is also made from post-consumer recycled paper saturated with proprietary resins and natural pigments, creating a non-porous surface. Cuts or abrasions can be sanded or rubbed out with an abrasive pad. EcoTop (www.kliptech.com) counters are manufactured using equal parts post-consumer recycled fiber and bamboo fiber, bound with water-based resin. The EcoTop process allows for very light counter colors, and the surface is scratch resistant. Recycled paper countertops are generally lightweight and most can be installed and modified by a homeowner with moderate DIY experience. 

Several manufacturers recycle stone waste in their products. Lithistone (www.lithistone.net) is one of the most prominent manufacturers, using a natural inert binder to hold together sand, pieces of quarry stone, and other recycled materials. Their countertops look much like a solid-surface product.

Where budget isn't an issue, many manufacturers will even craft a custom countertop made to your specifications. Everything old is new again, and looking great in the kitchen!

A Beautiful Wood Floor from Days of Yore

Imagine a wood floor with an engaging, unique appearance unlike anything you might find in a lumberyard or home center. Imagine that not a single tree was cut down for this very special wood floor. Imagine it cost you the same or less than a traditional wood floor. Now stop imagining: that floor exists in the form of reclaimed wood planks or strips.

Nail marks and knots add character in this reclaimed Douglass fir floor.

(All photos courtesy of Pioneer Millworks, www.pioneer millworks.com.)

Reclaimed wood flooring is salvaged from dilapidated buildings across the country, as part of a process called deconstruction. If you’re the type that likes to roll up your sleeves and get down to it, you can find entire reclaimed floors in the rough, salvaged directly out of an older building. The flooring comes bundled at prices much lower than what new flooring would run you. The catch is that you’ll have to sand down and refinish the wood and, of course, you’ll need to find a batch that includes as much or more wood than you need. In fact, when working with raw salvaged flooring in odd lots, you should add 20 percent to your materials estimate to account for damaged or otherwise unusable pieces. The best deals can be found at local architectural salvage companies such as Better Homes and Garbage in Minneapolis, Minnesota (www.bhandgarbage.com), Heritage Salvage in Petaluma, California (www.heritagesalvage.com), and Old Wood Workshop in Pomfret Center, Connecticut (www.oldwoodworkshop.com). You can find local or regional salvage companies in the Yellow Pages under Building Salvage or Architectural Salvage, or online, by searching “salvaged wood flooring”.

Reclaimed mixed hardwood planks make for

an unusual and handsome wood floor.

The potential flea-market prices are a draw, but the real allure of salvaged wood is the chance to latch onto one-of-kind heartwoods and species no longer available on the open market. Depending on where the floor was salvaged and how old it is, it may be a species of local tree that is no longer widely grown, or was largely eradicated by disease or pests. Even if the flooring is simply an antique version of traditional favorites like oak, it will look much different from the modern version. The increase of carbon dioxide in the environment over the last century means trees grow quicker than ever before. Antique wood floors often feature an open, flowing grain pattern unlike any you’ll find in newly sawn flooring.

The salvaged marketplace also yields special treasures such as “tobacco barn flooring”, wood subjected to decades of intense heat and vapors that give it a completely unique coloration and alluring appearance. Older milling processes also leave their enchanting tattoos on many wood floors—circular or semi-circular saw marks are the most common. Antiquated installation processes such as face nailing and pegging also mark some reclaimed wood flooring.

The enchanting surface appearance 

of a reclaimed grey elm wood floor.

Even if you don’t fancy working with rough bundles of strips or planks, you can still enjoy the beauty and ecological benefit of a reclaimed wood floor. One step removed from general salvage operations with their constantly changing inventories, reclaimed flooring companies specialize in antique wood that they salvage, mill, strip and/or refinish as necessary, prior to sale. Companies such as Elmwood Reclaimed Timber (www.elmwoodreclaimedtimber.com), Pioneer Millworks (pioneermillworks.com), Mountain Lumber Company (www.mountainlumber.com), and TerraMai (www.terramai.com) all supply premium grade reclaimed flooring in a range of species, styles and widths. Some offer specialty appearances, such as quarter- or half-sawn wood, and many will ship to your location.

Regardless of the source, reclaimed wood flooring is about as green as you can get.  Lay reclaimed wood strips in your living room and you spare the trees that would have been cut down to make a new floor. Not only that, you also remove the reclaimed from the waste stream, where it would have wound up had it not been salvaged.

Regardless of whether you’re shopping for reclaimed or new wood flooring, always look for the Forest Stewardship Council label. The FSC is an independent non-profit that promotes sustainable forestry practices and certifies that products carrying the FSC label come from responsibly managed forests.

Breathe Easier with Eco-Friendly Paints

All too often, the air in a home is treated like the invisible element it is: out of sight out of mind. Unfortunately, studies show that residential indoor air quality is three to five times worse than the air outdoors. Given the amount of time we spend in our homes, that’s a pretty shocking fact. Among the worst indoor air contaminants are volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are liquid chemicals used in many different materials, and they off-gas harmful vapors that have been linked to childhood asthma and many other diseases. The concentration of VOCs in American homes has steadily risen over the last several decades, as insulation has improved and homeowners increasingly use inexpensive synthetic materials such as vinyl flooring and latex paint. Paint being one of the most widely used remodeling materials, using low- or no-VOC interior paint is an effective and easy way to vastly improve your indoor air-quality.

No-VOC doesn't mean dull colors. 

(Photo by Yam Studio; courtesy of  YOLO Colorhouse.)

You won’t have to look far. Most major paint companies have jumped on the low- and zero-VOC bandwagon. Offerings include Olympic’s Premium brand (www.olympic.com); Sherwin-Williams Harmony (www.sherwin-williams.com); Valspar’s Earthsense paints (www.valsparearthsense.com); Benjamin Moore’s Green Promise line (www.benjaminmoore.com); and Pratt & Lambert’s RedSeal (www.prattandlambert.com). Although technical baselines for what constitutes “Zero” or “Low” have long been precisely defined, standards within those parameters vary state to state, and VOC concentrations differ product to product. VOC concentration may also change depending on the tinting agent used for a particular color.

That’s why some companies, such as YOLO Colorhouse (www.yolocolorhouse.com), have dedicated their entire business to producing no-VOC paints. Although their palette includes fewer colors than those of other manufacturers, they are extremely rigorous in their formulations and in controlling all the colors they sell.

Regardless of who produces it, expect to pay between $5 and $10 more per gallon for no-VOC paint—a pretty modest investment in your family’s health. Ensure you’re buying a product that is as green as the manufacturer says it is, by looking for the logos of major green certification organizations. Two of the best are Green Seal (www.greenseal.org)—a non-profit that promotes sustainable and green products in a variety of industries, including home improvement products—and the Greenguard Environmental Institute (www.greenguard.org), an organization dedicated to protecting health and quality of life through improving indoor air quality and the products that affect that quality.

Want to learn more about indoor air quality and national standards? Check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s special online section at www.epa.gov/iaq.

The "Green" Light for New Bulbs

Lighting is key to home remodeling or design success. Pick the perfect paint color, lay a stunning hardwood floor, or install sparkling new fixtures—you still need the right light to show your work to its best advantage. That means picking the right lightbulb, which is about to become more of a challenge. The federal ban on energy-wasting incandescent bulbs begins in 2012, with the elimination of 100-watt units. The years that follow will see 75-, 60- and 40-watt incandescents go the way of the nickel loaf of bread.

That's not welcome news to the homeowners who rely on the tried-and-true incandescent as an inexpensive source of warm, skin-tone-flattering light. It is worth cheering though, because incandescent bulbs are amazingly energy inefficient (90 percent of the energy in the bulb is frittered away as heat loss), and their short lifespans translate to boatloads of landfill waste. Never fear, though; three replacements stand ready to fill the void: halogen, fluorescent and LED.

Halogens can last three times longer than incandescents and produce a brighter light with half the energy. The light is a cold, white-blue, great for tasks like reading or prepping food, but a bit harsh for overall ambient illumination. The bulbs also run hot, and touching one can be a lesson in burn triage. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are meant to be a better general light source, although misunderstandings about the bulbs have led to their misuse. Unless specifically labeled as "quick" or "instant-start", the bulbs take a moment to heat up. Turning standard CFLs off and on quickly or frequently is a recipe for short bulb life. Most CFLs are not suited for  recessed ceiling fixtures, because they'll overheat and burn out in short order. The bigger issues are light quality and mercury. Although touted as direct replacements for incandescent bulbs, the industry has yet to establish a standard for what 40, 60 or a 100 watts translates to in CFLs. And depending on the individual bulb, the light may be more or less like the soft, warm light from an incandescent bulb. Standard CFL's also contain mercury (low-mercury versions are available). This means they release a toxic material if broken in the home, and even whole, should be disposed of as a hazardous waste (Home Depot has a nationwide recycling program, learn more here: www6.homedepot.com/ecooptions/pdf/CFL-RecyclingProgramRevised.pdf).

The new kid on the block, and the light source that shows the most promise, is LED (light emitting diode) technology. LED bulbs produce a soft light closest to incandescent in quality, and LEDs are amazingly green: The US Dept. of Energy estimates that widespread use of LED home lighting over the next two decades could result in a savings to consumers of more than $265 billion, 40 fewer power stations, and a reduction of lighting electrical demand by more than 30 percent. The bulb technology is still evolving, meaning quality is not yet standardized across products, and the cost is still high ($20 to $30 for the equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent).  Of course, that wallet pain nets you a lifespan in the neighborhood of five times  longer than any incandescent, using 80 percent less energy! If you're ready to take the plunge, stick to LED bulbs that carry a replacement warranty in the event of bulb malfunction.

So yes, it's the dawn of a new age. Keep in mind, though, it's up to you what the light of that dawn looks like.