Carpeting. The carpet and rug industry uses a labeling system to identify materials with fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the carpet fiber or in the adhesives used in installation. Such carpeting improves indoor air quality, a major consideration of green building. The Green Label Plus program, directed by the Carpet and Rug Institute, certifies environmentally friendly carpeting products and recently received a 2004 certificate of recognition from the California Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award program. The award program is a collaborative effort by the carpet industry and partners of California state and local government agencies.

Linoleum. Natural linoleum is widely promoted and specified in the green building community, Alex says. Natural linoleum is made primarily from linseed oil, pine resin, sawdust, cork dust, limestone and jute. It is an all-natural alternative to resilient flooring, including sheet vinyl and vinyl composition tile, which are made from polyvinyl chloride. It can get confusing, however, since the word linoleum is still used by some people to refer to vinyl flooring.

Wood. Sustainable forest management makes it possible to harvest woods such as fast-growing eucalyptus and other varieties without any serious impact on the environment, because trees are a renewable resource that can be replaced time and time again, according to Ed Korczak, executive director of NWFA (www.woodfloors.org).

Cork. Cork flooring has become very popular with environmentalists and designers alike. Cork can be harvested every nine years from the same tree—a much faster rate of renewal than waiting for a seedling to grow large enough to replace another. It’s tough, too, according to BuildingGreen’s Alex. “I have been in a home where a cork floor was installed in 1950 and was still in good condition. The cork floor is comfortable for walking and cushions sound.”

Concrete. Yet another option for green flooring is to make the concrete slab the finished floor by using various types of decorative concrete techniques. Besides a concrete floor’s obvious attributes of stability and durability, it can contribute to a home’s energy efficiency as part of a passive solar system: It absorbs heat during the day and releases it as temperatures drop at night.

For Green Flooring options visit BuildingGreen.com

This “Go Green Did You Know” tip was brought to you by: Purple Duck University, the educational division of Purple Duck Marketing.

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