Sustainable from the Bottom Up: Green Material Guide

SUSTAINABLE FROM THE BOTTOM UP Green Material Guide Happy Feet ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES · .......... Bamboo Cork Best for: Best for: • Bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms • Family rooms, living rooms Pros: Pros: • Matures in less than five years • Available in caramel and blond-colored planks • Lasts as long as traditional hardwood • Naturally resistant to rot and fire • Mutes sound • Fast recovery from dents • Minimal manufacturing waste Extremely durable (properly maintained floors last 40+ years) Cons: • Not a local material, most imported from Asia Cons: • Not ideal for basements or bathrooms, standing water can damage cork • Not ideal over radiant floor heating as it's a natural insulator Cost Per Square Foot: • $4 to $8 Cost Per Square Foot: • $3 to $7 FSC-Certified Wood Natural-Fiber Carpet Best for: Best for: • Dining rooms, living rooms, kitchens • Bedrooms, stairs, living rooms Pros: Pros: • Wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council: - Encourages ecologically and socially responsible forestry - Preserves biodiversity - Respects the rights of workers and indigenous communities • Coir, jute, and sisal fibers are biodegradable, nontoxic and renewable • Look for products with Green Label Plus certification from the Carpet & Rug Institute to ensure the lowest chemical emissions Cons: • Traps dust mites and can aggravate asthma or allergies Cons: • FSC-certified companies may sell noncertified wood. Check lumber for the FSC logo Cost Per Square Foot: • $4+ Cost Per Square Foot: • $3 to $6 If These Walls Could Talk WALL OPTIONS Recycled/ re-used bricks Fried Blocks made out of recycled materials Non-fired bricks honeycomb clay blocks • Such as waste sludge ash from power stations • Look like and are used in the same • Dried naturally • Mainly used for internal, non-load-bearing walls • Breathable • Good source of insulation • Greatly reduces the energy involved in manufacturing • Used to create a single skin wall • Naturally insulating • Quick to assemble • Breathable way as normal blocks INSULATION OPTIONS Agricultural products • Corn, soybean oil, or sugar Cellulose Mineral wool Cotton • Made of basalt rock and • Made of old denim and other recycled cotton • Low chemical • Made of shredded newspapers and fire retardant, damp cellulose • Comparable price and product to fiberglass recycled slag • Sound-absorbing • Resistant to pests and fire cane • Available in rigid boards or spray foam content Fiberglass Sheep's wool Cement Greensulate • Eco-friendly versions available • Up to 40% of the spun glass is made of recycled material • Some are enclosed in bags to prevent airborne fiber • Made from mushroom fibers • Fibers are blended with agricultural by-products • Custom-made fit for walls • Made from sheared wool that is fluffed and treated with • Mixed with pest control additives • Good option for those concerned about health issues water and frothed with air • Permanent • Extremely fire-resistant • Pest and mold resistant concerns Pick Up a Brush WHAT TO LOOK FOR ..... ..... ...... ZERO VOC CONTENT 0% Vocs (Volatile Organic Compounds) contribute to atmospheric pollution. LATEX PAINT MILK PANT Read labels Check VOC levels with manufacturer Consider milk Go latex over paints alkyd • The lower the Vocs, the safer and healthier the paint • Low-VOC paint contains less than 50 g/L before tinting • Zero-VOC paint has less than 5 g/L before tinting • Most oil-based alkyd paints contain far more Vocs than water-based latex paint • Most stains contain VOCs above 50 g/L • Ask if your paint can be tinted with no- or low-VOC colorants Synthetic-free milk paints use raw, organic ingredients and are zero-VOC even after tinting • Require preparation (add water and mix) and some knowledge to use Go light over dark Go flat over glossy • Lighter colors use less tinting which lowers the VOCS • The flatter the sheen, the lower the VOCs The Roof Over Your Head GREEN ROOF ........ ..... ..... Covered with some type of living vegetation Intensive Extensive Trays • Permanent • Thickest and heaviest option Requires the most maintenance • Permanent • Common on commercial buildings Lighter and thinner than permanent • Non-permanent • Containers, or trays filled with vegetated material • Less expensive option • Support large variety of plants PROS CONS • Aesthetically pleasing • Reduces, absorbs, and filters rainwater runoff • Provides extra layer of • High initial upfront costs • Requires additional design and engineering review • Can be high-maintenance • Can not be retrofitted insulation • Can act as a vegetable garden • Extends the life of a roof and/or building SOLAR ROOF .......... ......... Solar system seamlessly integrated into the roof PROS CONS • Shingles can be integrated in roof design and harness the sun's energy for power • Can be installed new and retrofitted • Available in a number of styles and from several manufacturers • More expensive than both standard solar panels and standard roofing Conclusion Whether you're buying a new home or looking to remodel, sustainable replacements can positively influence the health of your family and the environment. Sources: www.apartmenttherapy.com; www.sustainablebuildingresource.co.uk; www.oldhouseweb.com; ecoliving.scotiabank.com Brought to you by: FIX .com