Sustainable Materials
There are so many options for today’s home that choosing materials may be overwhelming. The good news is that making those choices with a green sensibility can help guide you to safer and superior products.
The first thing you will want to consider is the products safety. Many household materials such as carpeting, vinyl flooring, adhesives and paints may contain volatile organic compounds or VOCs . These are harmful and possibly carcinogenic compounds emitted as gas at room temperatures. A good way to avoid these is to use natural products where possible (wool vs synthetic carpet, wood floors vs vinyl) and to look at the labels of synthetic products and search for “low VOC” or find products that are Green Guard or Floor Score certified.
The second thing to consider is where a product is made. If a product and its raw materials come from far away, then getting it to you requires significant energy which translates to a high carbon footprint. When possible choose locally produced products. An even greener option is to re-purpose or re-use existing materials e.g. polishing your existing concrete slab instead of buying new flooring.
Regardless of the size of your project, chances are you will be utilizing wood products. From ceilings to walls, doors and floors, even furniture, wood is our most common building material. When choosing your wood products look for certifications from the Forest Stewardship Council or the Eco Management and Audit Scheme. These are organizations that ensure that wood products come from sustainably managed forests.