Durability and performance of granite or tile with minimal environmental impact at a comparable price

Recycled Material Countertops are gaining popularity because of the indoor air quality benefits they offer homeowners and their minimal impact on the environment. In addition many recycled content countertop products are more durable, need less maintenance and cost less than natural stone surfaces. Also, the cradle to grave impact of recycled content countertops is much lower than with traditional stone because granite and tile countertops take a heavy toll on the environment due to mining practices and the enormous amount of energy needed for shipping. In addition, the glues and adhesives used associated with granite and tile can contain harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which decrease Indoor Air Quality.

Recycled Glass Countertops

Made from cast concrete and recycled glass, this style generally contains over 80% post-consumer recycled content. They can be used for backsplashes, countertops, bathrooms and table tops. There are many colors available and styles in single and multi colors can be customized for the application.
Indoor Air Quality- No glues needed so the IAQ for recycled glass countertops is good and they can be cleaned with all purpose non-toxic cleaners.
Performance- The concrete and glass surface is heat resistant and as hard as granite.
Cost- Comparable to marble and granite countertops.

Recycled Content Ceramic Tile

Made with recycled glass, these tiles can contain up to 80% recycled content. They can be used for backsplashes, countertops, bathrooms and table tops. They are available in many colors and can be used for almost any tile application because they are lightweight and durable.
Indoor Air Quality- No glues needed so the IAQ for recycled ceramic tile is good and they can be cleaned with all purpose non-toxic cleaners. They can be installed easily and use low VOC sealants for the grouting to avoid moisture between the tiles.
Performance- The finished ceramic surface is stain and scratch resistant.
Cost- Comparable to mid priced tile.

Recycled Plastic Countertops

Made from a wide variety of products ranging from plastic bottles to containers. The amount of post consumer recycled content depends on the material used and style chosen. They can be used for backsplashes, countertops, bathrooms and table tops. The colors and style are completely customizable.
Indoor Air Quality- No glues needed so the IAQ for recycled glass countertops is good and they can be cleaned with all purpose non-toxic cleaners. In addition, plastic surfaces are not a source of indoor air pollution.
Performance- Hard plastic is moisture resistant and can be cleaned easily scratches and chips can be buffed out but is unnecessary with internal coloring.
Cost- Depends on the manufacturer and can range from cheaper than tile to far more expensive than granite for custom pieces.

For more information on green countertops check out our listings:

Vetrazzo LLC - Recycled Glass Countertops

Aristech Acrylics LLC -Recycled Content Countertops

All Paper Recycling, Inc. -Recycled Content Countertops

IceStone, LLC -Recycled Glass Terrazzo counters and floors

With the continually rising cost of gas and the current state of the economy, you may be looking to find ways to lower energy bills by being more energy efficient and making a few simple lifestyle changes. Luckily, there are several simple ways to increase your energy efficiency, which can potentially help you enjoy a great deal of energy savings while helping protect the earth and conserve its precious natural resources. With these top 10 ways to reduce your energy bill, you will experience lower energy costs in no time!

Tip #1: Choose Your Lighting Wisely

If you like to leave outdoor lights on during the night, you might want to consider installing lights equipped with a motion detector. This way, the lights aren’t using energy throughout the night and are only on when needed. To further improve the energy efficiency of all of the lights throughout your home, replace the bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Simply switching to CFL’s can translate to an energy savings of up to 75% when it comes to lighting costs!

Tip #2: Program Your Thermostat

Programming your thermostat to drop down to a lower temperature while you are at work and while you are asleep can really lower energy costs. Just a small drop of seven to nine degrees Fahrenheit can go a long way. With a programable therostat, you can easily see an energy savings of up to $80 per year!

Tip #3: Be Smart with Computers

Simply turning off your computer and your monitor when you are not using it can really help lower energy bills. Even better, consider purchasing an energy efficient laptop and using its “power management” feature. Simply using a laptop rather than a desktop PC will use up to 90% less energy.

Tip #4: Focus on the Water Heater

Many homeowners are missing out on the energy savings that can be obtained by simply turning down the heat on their water heaters. Yet, water heating is responsible for about 13% of the energy used in homes. While away, turn your water heater down to its lowest setting and make sure it is set no higher than 120° while you are at home.

You might also want to implement some “green building” techniques by adding insulation to your hot water heater so it will be more energy efficient. You can lower the cost of running your water heater by 15% with this simple task.

Tip #5: Purchase New Appliances

If your refrigerator is more than 10 years old, it is likely using 3 times more energy than a newer unit would use. The reality is that newer appliances are far more energy efficient than those that are older. So, consider replacing your older appliances with newer ones – and look for those with the ENERGY STAR label in order to obtain maximum energy efficiency.

Tip #6: Use Rechargeable Batteries

Research has shown that using rechargeable batteries for gadgets such as PDA and phones are more energy efficient than using throwaways. Just make sure you unplug the battery chargers as soon as the batteries have been charged fully or whenever the charger is not in use.  This also saves energy costs.

Tip #7: Go Low Flow

If you are remodeling your bathroom, install low-flow showerheads and a low-flush toilet. You can also easily install faucet aerators in all of your sinks to save even more water. By reducing the amount of water that needs to be pumped in your house, you will also lower energy costs.

Tip #8: Change Your Laundry Habits

Before you start a new loud of laundry, make sure the load is full. Also, use cold water whenever possible. This will save 85-90% of the energy costs associated with washing the laundry. If you are in the market for a new washer, consider purchasing one that is front loading. These machines use 40% less water and use about half the energy to operate.

Tip #9: Turn Off When Not In use

You may not think your electronics are sucking up energy when they are turned off, but they actually continue to draw power when not in use. In fact, approximately 75% of the energy used for electronics is used when they are turned off. Lower energy costs by plugging them all into a power strip and turning off the strip when they are not in use.

Tip #10: Take Advantage of the Outdoors

You can easily lower energy bills by taking advantage of outside temperatures. When trying to keep your house warm, open the south-facing window coverings so the sun can shine through and help heat your house. At night, keep them closed so the heat will stay in. When running your air conditioner, on the other hand, lower energy costs by keeping the shades drawn so the sunshine can’t get in.

Green Residential Building Makes $ense

Once the niche of innovative companies like Living Homes in Santa Monica, green building has begun to be embraced by traditional residential builders.  McGraw Hill recently reported that 6% of new residential building construction in 2008 will be green, up from 2% in 2005.  What motivates traditional builders to go greener?    Profit and regulations.  Customers are demanding green homes due to greener homes’ lower energy costs, healthier living environments for families, and higher quality.  In a down market, these features differentiate homes and lead to a stronger bottom line for builders.  In addition, governments such as California are beginning to adopt green building standards, recognizing that better buildings can have a significant impact on energy use.

The Residential Market Shifts Towards Green

McGraw Hill reports on national trends, but we can look to Southern California’s own KB Homes to see green building’s mass market penetration.  KB Homes announced that all of their homes in 2009 will be built to Energy Star standards.  “I’m not saying we’re green, because we’re not. But we’re doing the best we can to become greener,” Chief Executive Jeff Mezger said in an interview.  Leadership from KB Homes raises the bar for the entire building industry.  In many markets across the country, demand and therefore profits for non-green homes will drop.

Proliferation of Standards and Regulations

Residential guidelines such as the USGBC’s LEED for Home, NAHB’s Model Green Building Guidelines, and the Federal Government’s Energy Star Program are starting to penetrate the market.  California has adopted the nation’s first statewide green building code.  The code will be voluntary until 2009 and will most likely become mandatory in 2010. The new rules will mandate that all new construction reduce energy use by 15%, water use by 20% and water for landscaping by 50%.

While LEED focuses on the whole building, increasingly material certifications such as GreenSeal and  FloorScore help builders pick the right materials.  Leading websites including www.buildinggreen.com and www.allgreenratings.com help builders navigate the proliferation of certifications.

The bottom line is that if you are building or renovating today, it makes good business sense to build green.  Fast Company quotes David Wood, Director of Boston College Institute for Responsible Investing as saying “Until recently, the publicly traded home builders saw green building as a niche market best taken up by smaller players.  But with the down market, this could be a good time for them to differentiate themselves from competitors.”  USGBC has forever changed the commercial building landscape.  There is little doubt that USGBC-LA will help lead the residential landscape transition to greener building over the next few years.

Note: Craig Isakow originally wrote this article for the USGBC-LA September newsletter. He is founder of www.constructivebuilding.com, a new website that connects green building suppliers and the “Going-Green” sector of building professionals.

Making Your Air Conditioning Unit More Efficient

Did you know that Americans only make up about 5% of the world’s population, but we use 26% of the world’s energy? Furthermore, did you realize that 90% of the residential energy that is consumed in the United States is used on household appliances, with heating and cooling making up about half of a household’s energy bill? These are truly frightening facts, particularly when you consider the fact that energy production and consumption increases CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere, all of which contributes to global warming, the greenhouse effect and climate change. Thankfully, there are many things you can do to improve the energy-efficiency of your air conditioning unit so you can save money and energy.

Maintaining Your Air Conditioning Unit

Whether you have a window air conditioner or a central home air conditioner, performing routine maintenance on your unit is the most important step you can take to make it more energy efficient. In order to maintain air conditioners, be sure to do all of the following:
• Clean or replace your air filters at least once every three months while the air conditioning unit is being used. You may need to clean or replace your filters more or less often depending upon the type of filter and air conditioner you are using. Regularly replacing or cleaning your filters will increase the efficiency of your air conditioning unit by 5 to 15 percent.
• Check the evaporator coil of your air conditioning unit every few months. Clean away dust and debris as needed, as a coating of dust will insulate the coil and make it more difficult for it to absorb heat.
• Keep debris and foliage away from the outside condenser coil. In order to maximize air flow, keep foliage trimmed at least 2 feet from the air conditioning unit and clear away debris as soon as possible.
• Get a professional check-up every year. A technician can check the level of refrigerants in your air conditioning unit and will clean and inspect all parts of the unit.

Making Temperature Adjustments

The single best thing you can do to increase the efficiency of room air conditioners and central air conditioning units is to raise your temperature settings. Raising the temperature of the unit will also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced by the air conditioner. Most people are comfortable with a 78°F, but you may want to gradually increase your settings in order to find the highest temperature you can set while still feeling comfortable.

You might also want to consider installing a programmable thermostat. This way, you can program your air conditioning unit to adjust the temperature while you are away from home. After all, there is no reason to keep your home nice and cool when no one is there to enjoy it! Of course, you can make these adjustments manually as well, but a programmable thermostat ensures the adjustment is made even if you forget.

Cooling Your Air Conditioning Unit

Just like you, air conditioners want to be kept cool. Whether you have a portable air conditioner or a central air conditioning unit, keeping it shaded will make it easier for it to cool your home. As such, it will operate more efficiently while requiring less energy.

In order to provide your air conditioning unit with shade, consider planting trees or shrubs around the unit – just make sure you don’t plant them so close to your unit that the foliage blocks the flow of air. Planting groundcover and shrubs around lots and driveways can also help cool down your air conditioning unit because asphalt and cement absorb heat. By planting plants nearby, the plants will photosynthesize and behave like miniature evaporative cooling systems and keeping the air around the home cooler. Taller plants with larger leafs are generally better than smaller plants when it comes to keeping the area around your home cooler.

In addition, keep in mind that a window air conditioner will work more efficiently if it is placed in a window on the north side of the house because that side will naturally stay more shaded. The effort you put into keeping your air conditioning unit will pay off when you get your energy bill, as a shaded unit can use up to 10% less energy than a unit that is not shaded. Combine this with an ENERGY STAR air conditioning unit and you can save even more!

Purchasing the Right Air Conditioning Unit to Fulfill Your Needs

Are you in the market for a new home air conditioner? If so, there are several things you should keep in mind in order to make certain the air conditioning unit you select is both effective and efficient. By following a few simple steps, you can be certain to select an air conditioning unit that will be energy-efficient while still keeping your room nice and cool.

Selecting Central Air Conditioners

You may be shocked to learn that heating and cooling the average home costs about $1,000 per year, which is about half of the typical home’s annual energy costs. In order to reduce these costs, it is a good idea to replace your central air conditioning unit with an ENERGY STAR air conditioner. In fact, if your air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an ENERGY STAR air conditioner can reduce your cooling costs by as much as 30%. This is because ENERGY STAR units have a much higher Seasonal Efficiency Rating (SEER) than standard models. As a result, they are about 14% more efficiency than standard models.

If you are interested in locating an ENERGY STAR central air conditioning unit, you may want to search through the database that has been put together by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) and the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI). This database contains information about air conditioning units that have met the ENERGY STAR requirements.

In addition to looking for air conditioners with the ENERGY STAR label, you also need to determine the size of the central air conditioning unit you need. A number of factors need to be considered when deciding on the size you need. These factors include:

• The size of your home
• The number of windows in the home
• The amount of shade your home receives and where the shade is located
• The amount of insulation in your home
• The amount of heat that is generated by your appliances and the people living in your home

The safest route is to consult with a reputable air conditioning contractor. He or she should use the calculation procedure created by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) or the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in order to determine the correct size for your home.

Selecting Room Air Conditioners

Room air conditioners, which may also be referred to as a window air conditioner or a portable air conditioner are intended to cool only one room. Therefore, it is important to follow a few simple guidelines in order to make certain the air conditioning unit will cool the room properly while still being energy efficient. With the help of an ENERGY STAR air conditioner, you can reduce the amount of energy used by at least 10%. As such, if every home in the United States used an ENERGY STAR window air conditioner, the amount of greenhouse gas emitted into the air could be reduced by 1.3 billion pounds – that’s equivalent to the emissions produced by 115,000 cars in a year!

Choosing the right sized window air conditioner is important when it comes to energy efficiency. Room air conditioners with more BTUs than necessary will cause the unit to cycle off too quickly while leaving humidity in the air. An air conditioner with too few BTUs, on the other hand, will run continuously and will waste energy without actually cooling the room.

When deciding between a central air conditioning system or a window air conditioner, you need to consider the needs of your household. While a window air conditioner is less expensive to operate than a central air conditioning unit, it is a less efficient method for cooling a whole house. Therefore, if many rooms are used on a regular basis and need to be cooled, it may be best for you to purchase a central air conditioning unit if you can fit it in your budget.

Saving Money and Energy with Your ENERGY STAR Air Conditioner

Do you know how much money and energy you are wasting with your air conditioner? You may be surprised! In fact, according to the Green Seal organization, over 50% of the total energy used in the United States is used to run air conditioners during peak summer months. In fact, the energy that is used to cool homes in the United States each year is equivalent to the amount of crude oil that is carried by 415 supertankers. What if there was a way to enjoy air conditioning without having to use so much energy? Thankfully, there is a way.

Saving Money and Energy with ENERGY STAR Air Conditioners

By increasing the efficiency of your home air conditioner by just 20%, you can eliminate the need for 49 of the 415 supertankers of oil that are being used each year. In addition, by replacing your unit with a new one, you can help protect the ozone layer by eliminating the hydrofluorcarbons that tend to slowly leak from older air conditioners.
When you purchase an ENERGY STAR air conditioner, you can be certain the unit uses at least 10% less energy than conventional models. This is because air conditioners must meet strict energy efficiency guidelines in order to receive the ENERGY STAR label. In addition, these air conditioners typically include a timer or a thermostat in order to improve temperature control and allow you to use your air conditioner only when you need it most.
The ENERGY STAR program has already helped save a great deal of energy. In fact, in 2006, ENERGY STAR products helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 25 million cars and saved homeowners $14 billion. In addition, if just one-tenth of households in the United States used ENERGY STAR appliances, enough CO2 would be removed from the atmosphere to equal what is removed by 1.7 million acres of trees.
In just a few years, the use of energy efficiency of room air conditioners with the ENERGY STAR label will be even more beneficial. This is because the federal Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) that was established in 1992 was 8.9, but this will increase to 11.2 on January 2010. Since room air conditioners with higher EERs are more efficient, the increase will significantly improve the energy-efficiency of ENERGY STAR air conditioners.
Central air conditioners are also becoming more energy-efficient. In fact, as of January 23, 2006, all central air conditioners in the United States have been required to have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio of at least 13. The 1987 standard, on the other hand, set the ratio at only 10. Over the next 25 years, this regulatory change is expected to save 4.2 quadrillion BTUs. This is equivalent to the amount of energy consumed by 26 million households each year and translates to a savings of $1 billion.

Enjoying Tax Breaks

Whether you are purchasing a new window air conditioner, a portable air conditioner or central air conditioner, you can enjoy extra savings with the help of tax breaks and subsidies. If you install an ENERGY STAR air conditioning unit, you can qualify for tax breaks on the local, state and federal level. Some resources to check out for additional information include:
• Alliance to Save Energy: Provides a listing of energy-efficiency programs offered in each sate.
• American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy: Offer regular updates on energy legislation so you can remain better informed on upcoming changes
• Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency: Offers information regarding federal and state energy-efficiency incentives
• Tax Incentives Assistance Project: Provides information about federal tax credits available of installing energy efficient appliances
You should also check with your local utility provider in order to learn about additional offers available in your area. In addition to being able to provide you with the information you need, they may be able to install the unit for you and complete any necessary paperwork to help you receive your tax breaks and subsidies.

Carpet is the most common form of flooring in the United States. In fact, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute, approximately 70% of floors in the United States are covered with carpet. Furthermore, approximately 1.5 billion square yards of carpeting were sold in 1993, which is enough carpet to cover nearly 40% of the state of Rhode Island!

Exploring the Drawbacks of Carpet Flooring

Despite its popularity, there are many environmental issues associated with carpet flooring. For example, standard carpeting is made from a number of different petroleum products. These include:
• Acrylic
• Nylon
• Polyester
• Polypropylene
• Polyurethane
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
• SB Latex
In addition to depleting fossil fuels by using petroleum-based materials, synthetic carpets also off-gas a number of different chemicals. This is partially because of the materials used to make the carpeting, but is also because of the chemical treatments applied to the carpeting. This includes dying the carpet as well as adding fungicide, fire retardant chemicals, antistatic treatments, and stainproofing additives.
Of course, once your carpet is installed, it takes more energy to maintain than flooring such as wood flooring. Carpet cleaning involves regular vacuuming and shampooing in order to keep it free or mold, pests and mildew. This process uses a great deal of energy, but is necessary in order to keep the carpeting properly cleaned. Nonetheless, carpeting is still to blame for a host of indoor-air quality problems and has been linked to the spread of asthma. Furthermore, when it comes time to replace carpeting with different flooring, it is nearly impossible to recycle because it contains so many synthetic and mixed materials.

Choosing a Green Carpet and Completing an Eco-Friendly Installation

In order to avoid some of the problems associated with carpet, you might want to consider purchasing carpeting with the Green Label Plus label. This label is administered by the Carpet and Rug Institute, which is responsible for monitoring the indoor air quality of carpeting. Therefore, your safest bet for finding a green carpet is to look for one with the Green Label Plus label.
If you can’t find a Green Label Plus carpet to meet your design needs or your budget, there are several other things you should keep in mind when shopping for carpeting. This includes:
• Avoid carpet that contains adhesives, as the emit volatile organic compounds that can adversely affect indoor air quality
• Choose carpeting made with renewable fibers such as wool, corn leaves/stalks, hemp, sea grass, cotton, sisal, jute and coir.
• Purchase carpeting that has been treated with very few chemicals
• Use carpet tile rather than wall-to-wall carpeting so you only have to replace tiles if the carpet become damaged rather than replacing the entire carpet
• Tack down wall-to-wall carpeting rather than gluing it in order to reduce exposure to volatile organic compounds, to reduce floor damage and to make it easier to remove the carpeting at a later time
By following these simple tips, you can reduce the environmental impact of your carpeting while also improving the air quality in your home.

Exploring Carpeting Material Options

When selecting from the many different carpeting materials available, it is important to realize that there are pros and cons associated with each type of material. Understanding the pros and cons is important when it comes to choosing the carpet that is right for you.
Wool is a traditional sustainable carpeting material that has a number of advantages over synthetic carpeting. Most notably, wool is both renewable and biodegradable. In addition, because it is simply cut from sheep and llamas, fossil fuels are not needed to produce the material. At the same time, since most of the sheep are raised in foreign countries, fuel is needed to transport the wool to the United States.
Nonetheless, wool is rich in texture and is quite durable. In addition, it has a natural crimp, which makes it possible for wool to maintain the springy quality that is needed for plush carpeting. In addition, it is resistant to moisture, soiling, fire, and static. Research has also shown that dust mites are less likely to take up residents in wool and that wool has a tendency to trap pollutants, which helps keep pollution out of the air.
Plant fibers are also sustainable, biodegradable VOC-free and chemically untreated. The best known plant fiber used for carpeting is sisal, which is made from the leaves of agave plants that are grown without the use of pesticides. Although the production of sisal could be more efficient than it currently is, it is still considered to be one of the greenest carpet options. In addition, it is durable and easy to care for. It also has a unique texture, doesn’t capture mites or allergens and has natural antistatic and sound absorbent properties.
Another sustainable plant fiber is seagrass, which is a thicker plant fiber that is grown under water. It does not hold dye, however, so you can only use seagrass in its natural color. In addition, it has to be backed by urethane or latex. Nonetheless, it is very easy to take care of. A softer option that has a silk-like appearance when woven is jute, but it requires more maintenance to care for. Abaca, which is related to the banana plant, has hair-like fibers while coir is derived from coconut fiber. Coir is a good choice for indoor and outdoor carpeting and is used as a green alternative to the synthetic material used in welcome mats.
If you absolutely must go with synthetic material for your carpet, be certain to choose one that is solution dyed. This way, the dying process will not use nearly as much water to produce as it takes to produce other synthetic types of synthetic carpeting.

Getting Rid of Old Carpeting

If you have decided to tear up your carpeting and to replace it with some beautiful bamboo flooring or with a green carpet, you may be wondering what to do with your old carpeting. If at all possible, the best option is to recycle the carpeting. Depending on the materials used to make the carpet, however, this may not be possible. In that case, there are many creative things you can do with the carpeting so it doesn’t go to waste in a landfill. Some ideas include:
• Make a homemade scratching post for your cat. All you have to do is simply staple pieces of the carpet onto a sturdy piece of plywood that is attached to a wooden base. Then, rub a little catnip on the scratching post to keep your kitten interested.
• Give it to a friend. Just be sure to clean the carpeting thoroughly and then give it to someone that could use it.
• Make doormats. Cut them into the perfect size and make beautiful doormats.
• Kill weeds and unwanted grass. Lay scraps of the carpeting in your garden to keep weeds and grass at bay.
• Protect your car. By laying scraps of the carpet in the back of your vehicle, you can protect the floors and seats when transporting gardening supplies, old equipment, pets and anything else that could make your vehicle’s interior messy.
When it comes to keeping you healthy and being friendly to the environment, installing wood flooring such as bamboo flooring is a better option than carpet. Nonetheless, if you have your heart set on getting carpet, follow these simple tips and consider purchasing your carpeting from one of the following eco-friendly companies:
• Shaw Contract Group: www.shawcontract.com
• Interface: www.interfaceflooring.com
• Milliken Carpet: www.milliken.com
• Bentley Prince Street: www.bentleyprincestreet.com
• Mohawk Industries, Inc.: www.mohawkind.com
• J&J / Invision: www.jj-invision.com

When in the market for carpet padding, consider purchasing one of the following:
• Ethos Carpet-Cushion Backing from C&A Floorcoverings: www.cafloorcoverings.com
• Carpet Padding from Earth Weave Carpet Mills, Inc.: www.earthweave.com
• EcoSoft Carpet Cushion from Invista Commercial Flooring: www.antron.invista.com
• Hartex, PL and DublBac Series Carpet Cushion from Leggett & Platt, Inc. - Fairmont Division: www.leggett.com

Are you planning to replace your kitchen or bathroom cabinets? If so, you might want to consider replacing your cabinetry with green cabinets that are better for your health as well as for the environment. Many people do not realize the negative impact that cabinets can have on the environment – and, it is not just because of the trees being cut down to build wood cabinets.

The Negative Effects of Low-Quality Cabinetry

While you may be tempted to replace your bathroom or kitchen cabinets with lower quality cabinetry, you may want to reconsider. While the price tag on lower quality cabinets may be attractive, this cabinetry does not last as long as higher quality options. Even worse, they can actually be harmful to your health.

The reality is that these cabinets are made from toxic materials. The particle boards used to make this cabinetry is laminated with adhesives and formaldehyde that are bad for the environment as well as for your health. In addition, the process of manufacturing these cabinets emits pollution into the air and they cabinets continue to harm the quality of air as they release fumes that are referred to as off-gasses into the air.

When purchasing higher-quality green cabinets, be sure to look for cabinetry that has been recognized by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or by the Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) through The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer Association. In addition, be certain to choose wood cabinets that are made with wood from sustainable forests. This way, you can minimize the impact your cabinets have on the environment.

Installing Fully Custom Made Cabinets

If you are having difficulty finding cabinetry made from sustainable forests, another option is to purchase fully custom made cabinets that are made from lumber that has been salvaged or from new wood grown in a forest that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Another option is to bypass the wood cabinets and install cabinetry made from other materials, such as those made from stainless steel, metal, or other recycled goods.

Refacing Your Cabinet

If fully custom made cabinets are too much for your budget, you might want to purchase a no VOC water based sealant and apply it to your cabinet boxes. This will help prevent outgassing if you use a quality sealant and make certain to cover every square inch of the cabinetry surface. You can then purchase new cabinet faces in order to give your kitchen or bathroom a facelift while also make the room more eco-friendly.

You might also want to consider keeping the cabinet doors off. Frameless cabinets and open shelving units help reduce the amount of material needed for your cabinetry, which saves money while also reducing the impact on the environment.

Choosing Modular Cabinets

A third option to consider is installing module cabinets. Since modules are easy to dismantle, they are a good option if you plan to sell your home later or if you will be remodeling again in the near future. In addition, you enjoy more freedom when it comes to the materials used to make your cabinets. As a result, you can reduce the need to harvest, mine and process more materials for your cabinetry.

There are three major components to consider when purchasing module cabinets. These include:

· The box or framework

· The doors

· The paint and finish

Picking the Framework for Your Modular Cabinets

When selecting the box, be certain to select a design that is free from urea-formaldehyde, which is routinely used in particleboard and plywood adhesives. Otherwise, your cabinets will off-gas formaldehyde gas, which is a carcinogen. One company that offers cabinetry boxes that are free from formaldehyde is Columbia Forest Products, which uses soy-based protein binders instead. In addition to being safer for you and the environment, these cabinets add very little additional cost to you kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects. In fact, if you crunch the numbers, a $25,000 remodeling job on the average sized kitchen would cost only about $100 more when using formaldehyde-free plywood.

When searching for a formaldehyde-free box, there are two categories of material available. These include:

· Particleboard and Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)

· Veneered Plywood or FSC Veneered Plywood

In addition to utilizing recycled materials, particleboard and MDF materials do not cost as much as veneered plywood. This material is heavier than plywood, however, and is more fragile. As a result, it has a greater tendency to crumble if it is exposed to water. In addition, when you purchased veneered plywood, you can be certain it was derived from sustainable sources.

You can also purchase boxes that are made with straw board, which is also referred to as wheat board. This material is made from the remnants of waste that are left over after harvesting wheat crops. After finely milling the plant stems, the material is bound together with the help of formaldehyde-free sustainable binders.

Selecting the Doors for Your Modular Cabinets

After picking out the framework for your green cabinets, the next step is to select the doors you want. If you are looking for wood cabinets, you have three different categories to select from. These include:

· FSC-Certified North American Hardwoods

· Uncertified North American Hardwoods

· Alternative Non-Native Hardwoods

North American hardwoods that are FSC certified need to meet a number of special criteria. As such, the FSC tracks the timber and monitors the process used by the loggers that produce the wood. Identifying FSC certified hardwood, which is the greenest solution available for wood cabinets, is simple because they contain a special FSC eco-label.

Unfortunately, only about 3% of domestic timber carries the FSC label. The other 97% is derived from old-growth clear-cutting. While there are 10.2 billion cubic feet of forests grown each year and only 6 billion cubic feet is cleared, leaving a positive net growth of forests, the techniques used to clear these trees are not necessarily eco-friendly. Therefore, if you are purchasing non-certified cabinetry, ask if the company uses sustainable harvesting techniques in order to reduce your carbon footprint.

You may also want to consider a couple different non-native hardwood species for your cabinet doors. German beech, for example, is extremely sustainable because the country implemented some practices 200 years ago that made this possible. Bamboo from Asia is also able to quickly replenish itself, with the average bamboo being replaced in just three to five years. Hardwood, on the other hand, takes more than 50 years to replenish itself.

Choosing the Paint and Finish for Your Modular Cabinets

Ideally, you should purchase cabinetry that uses low-VOC finishes. Unfortunately, low-VOC finishes require extra work to apply because the application process is different from the process used for conventional finishes. As a result, many manufacturers are not set up to apply low-VOC finishes. Nonetheless, obtaining cabinets with a low-VOC finish is important because these chemicals react with sunlight and produce smog. In addition, exposure to VOCs can result in a number of health problems, including:

· Central nervous system damage

· Eye irritation

· Headaches

· Kidney damage

· Liver damage

· Loss of coordination

· Nausea

· Nose irritation

· Throat irritation

Keep in mind that water based finishes are not necessarily low-VOC finishes. Therefore, be sure to specifically ask if the finish is low-VOC and remember to also ask about the VOC content in the adhesives.

After choosing the perfect green cabinets for your home, be sure to also go green when installing them. If you are going to hire someone to install your cabinetry, hire a contractor that uses green construction methods. In addition, purchase your materials from a dealer close to you so you don’t have to use as much energy to transport the necessary materials to your home. Some great places to look or your green cabinets include:

• Neil Kelly Cabinets: http://www.neilkellycabinets.com/
• Woodbyrne Cabinet, Inc.: http://www.woodbyrne.com/
• TRS Cabinet Company: http://www.trscabinets.com/www/prd/home.html
• Anton Cabinetry (site under construction)
• R&S Casework, Inc.: http://www.randscasework.com/
• Kellogg Cabinets, Inc.: http://www.kelloggcabinets.com/

Some brands that specialize in manufacturing FSC certified include:

• Columbia Kitchen Cabinets: http://www.columbiacabinets.com/
• American Woodmark: http://www.woodmark-homedepot.com/
• Cabinetry by Karman: http://www.cabinetrybykarman.com/
• Timberlake Cabinetry:  http://www.timberlake.com/
• Sollera Fine Cabinetry: http://www.columbiacabinets.com/
• Premier Cabinetry: http://www.premiercabinetry.com/
• Armstrong: http://www.armstrong.com/rescabam/na/cabinets/en/us/
• Mastercraft Cabinets: http://www.mcraft.com/
• Kent Moore Cabinets: http://www.kentmoorecabinets.com/
• Diamond Cabinets: http://www.diamondcabinets.com/
• Potomac Cabinetry: http://www.potomaccabinetry.com/
• Brookwood Cabinets: http://www.woodmode.com/

You can see a full listing of companies that are FSC certified by visiting http://www.fscus.org/certified_companies/?num=20 and you can find a full list of ESP companies at http://www.greencabinetsource.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Getting.Certified_Companies

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Green Kitchen Plumbing

Water use in the kitchen mainly comes from one place, the faucet. Whether the faucet is running water for drinking, cooking, dishwashing, or any other use, most of the water is flowing from the sink. Depending on how efficient your faucet flows, that water, along with your money, could be going down the drain.

Facts about Water from the Kitchen Faucet

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), faucets account for over 15% of the water used inside homes. That 15% equals the immense amount of trillion gallons of water pumped through faucets each year in just the United States alone, not to mention a significant portion of that water is wasted or unused.

The best way to improve water use from a faucet is to minimize the flow rate, measured at gallons per minute (GPM). Older faucets may generally flow at a rate of 3 to 7 GPM, and federal law requires newly installed faucets to not exceed a flow rate of 2.2 GPM. In reality, faucets only require a flow rate of 0.75 to 1.5 GPM.

If you are not sure the flow rate of your faucet, you can do a quick test. Find a gallon-sized container and let the faucet run. If the container is filled in less than 30 seconds, than your faucet’s flow rate is more than 2.2 GPM.

What You Can Do Save Water and Money

If you have a very old faucet that needs to be replaced, or has a flow rate higher than 2.2 GPM, consider installing new, high-efficiency faucets and accessories to reduce your flow rate by over 30%. As a result of this improvement, you can reduce your overall water use by 3-5% without even noticing a difference. Just look for faucets that are approved under the WaterSense label, a program created by the EPA. What’s even better is that WaterSense labeled faucets can be purchased for as little as $60 to $200, which means you do not have to invest a great deal into installing a new bathroom faucet.

If you have an older faucet that can still last for a while, or you are on an extremely tight budget, there are a couple of devices you might want to consider installing for the efficiency upgrade. These include:

• Aerators – devices that add air to the water stream directly at the tip of the faucet. This reduces the volume of water while still providing the same water flow, though the flow can vary according to line pressure. Installing an aerator can save up to 280 gallons of water each month.
• Laminar Flow Devices – device that produces dozens of parallel streams of water and delivers water at a rate of about 1.5 to 2.2 GPM. While this is a faster rate than aerators provide, the rate is constant.

These devices range in price from just $2 to up to $30. Although installing faucet accessories is a less expensive option than replacing a faucet, be aware that you may need to periodically replace these accessories in order to continue enjoying the improved results.

Suggested Places to Look for Your Faucet Upgrades

Search for:

WaterSense-qualified and Low-Flow Plumbing

Brands that currently have faucets carrying the WaterSense label include:

• American Standard
• Brizo
• Delta
• Moen
• Price Pfister

Brands with faucet accessories containing the WaterSense label include:

• NEOPERL
• Niagara

Green Countertops

The kitchen is the hub of many of today’s green homes, and choice of green countertops is a major contributor to the kitchen’s style, usability, and ease of care. Green materials and green products are being offered that suit these requirements and meet the demands of the environmentally sound kitchen as well. These sustainable countertop options have some great green features in common:

• Low-VOC or VOC-free in materials, installation, and maintenance
• High recycled content
• Hypoallergenic and antibacterial
• Durable

When selecting green kitchen countertops, consider these eco-friendly options:

Laminate

A relatively low-cost entry into the array is a new twist on an old favorite: particle board laminate. The important difference for the green kitchen is that the new version is green-certified laminate and recycled particle board sealed with water-based glue. Green builders are recognizing this type of product for its combination of recycled material, no emissions, and budget-conscious price tag.

Paper Composite

In these innovative products, either recycled paper or a blend of bamboo fiber and recycled wood fiber, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), is combined with water-based, formaldehyde-free resin and pigment. Heat and pressure are applied to form a dense, scratch-resistant, cellulose-based material suitable for countertops. This paper composite can be cut and shaped with standard woodworking tools, making it a convenient choice for contractors and the experienced home craftsman.

Recycled glass and concrete

Durable slabs – similar in form to granite or marble – are formed from 100% recycled glass and cement into a sustainable concrete surface material. Due to the variety in the materials available, recycled glass and concrete countertops come in a wide array of colors. The surface is smooth and shiny but can also be honed or sandblasted for different effects and uses. Like stone countertops, it is recommended that they be sealed every 2 to 5 years with a water-based sealant.
Innovative products continue to come onto the market, with new countertop materials made, for example, from recycled stainless steel or crushed porcelain from toilets, sinks, and tubs. In addition, sustainable practices and manufacturing are being applied to the production of more traditional countertop materials like solid surface and wood. The homeowner seeking an eco-friendly kitchen has an exciting challenge ahead in choosing countertops from these attractive and sustainable options.

Suggested Resources:

Recycled Particle Board Laminate:

http://www.vtindustries.com/
http://www.hartson-kennedy.com/index.php
http://www.rfpco.com/particleboard/skyblend.htm
http://www.flakeboard.com/
http://www.bc.com/wood/particleboard/products/boise-evergreen.htm

Recycled Paper:

http://www.richlite.com/countertop/
http://paperstoneproducts.com

Recycled Glass and Concrete:

http://www.kliptech.com/ecotop.html
http://www.icestone.biz/new/
http://www.vetrazzo.com/
http://www.enviroglasproducts.com/enviromode/