Sustainable Home Building

Eco Friendly Flooring - Walking on Green in Madison, Wisconsin

Eco Friendly Flooring offers a selection of green flooring options to accommodate just about any design aesthetic. Cork flooring naturally repels many allergens and provides excellent insulation. Sustainable bamboo flooring is a popular choice that is available in six options. Constructed from natural ingredients, linoleum is soft, quiet and biodegradable. Reclaimed woods, milled into a tongue and groove configuration, provide solid, natural warmth underfoot.

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16 Sep 2008 | Building Materials |

Energy Film Provides Inexpensive Window Insulation - Save Energy

Budget-friendly and easy to apply, transparent Energy Film window insulation helps to decrease heat loss through windows in the winter and block incoming solar heat in the summer – without reducing the amount of natural light a room receives. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “an estimated $30 billion or more of energy is lost per year through single pane windows”.

Installation of Energy Film requires three simple steps: 1) measuring, 2) applying a mild dish soap and water mixture and 3) removing the excess moisture with a squeegee. For larger windows, multiple sheets of this inexpensive window insulation can be applied side by side for a nearly seamless application. To accommodate unusually shaped or small windows, Energy Film may be trimmed to fit with a utility knife. Sheet sizes include 24” x 48’, 36” x 48”. 48” x 84” as well as a 49” x 100” roll. Energy Film can be purchased online or at your neighborhood Home Depot.

Photos courtesy of Energy Film.

2 Sep 2008 | Building Materials |

Marmoleum Natural Linoleum - Eco-Friendly and Extremely Durable!

Marmoleum natural linoleum is extremely durable, available in a large variety of colors and – is eco-friendly. The linoleum is composed of renewable materials: linseed oil, pine tree rosin, wood flour, jute and ecologically responsible pigments. Limestone is also used, and according to the company site is “found all over the world in enormous quantities”. The flooring is calendered onto natural jute backing, rather than polyester, which is commonly used to back tile. Time enhances this organic product as exposure to air hardens the material and increases its durability. Even though Marmoleum hardens, it remains quiet and comfortable underfoot. The unique aesthetic of the flooring is achieved through the combination of multiple colors to “create a single colorway”. Color palettes range from calming, subdued neutrals to exciting, vibrant contrasts; offering a design solution for just about any room.

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21 Aug 2008 | Building Materials |

Green Pre-Fabricated Bamboo Countertops - budget-friendly

Looking for an ecologically sound, yet budget-conscious choice for your green kitchen remodel? Pre-fabricated bamboo countertops from Green Building Supply environmentally friendly home center may provide a beautiful solution. Bamboo is renewable, 16% harder than maple and can be resurfaced by sanding. The patent-pending Multilam cross-band laminates provide an integrated – and eye-catching - edge treatment. These lovely, pre-fabricated bamboo countertops are laminated with a formaldehyde-free adhesive that is completely non-toxic and food safe. Options include parquet, flat and vertical grain, in either a natural or dark tone. To finesse the installation, add coordinating bamboo backsplashes. Green Building Supply

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20 Aug 2008 | Building Materials |

EcoStar Recycled Rubber and Plastic Roof Tiles

Roof tiles composed of recycled post-industrial rubber and plastic may sound unappealing, but with EcoStar products, they absolutely are not. With nine colors and six styles to choose from, it’s easy to satisfy traditional, transitional and contemporary aesthetics. The recycled materials come from car bumpers as well as baby diaper production remnants, keeping those bad boys out of the landfills. According to the company website, the recycled content features “incredible strength and flexibility and provides long-lasting performance”.

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19 Aug 2008 | Building Materials |

Vetrazzo 100% Recycled Glass Countertops get “Outstanding Closing the Loop Commitment” Award

At the 32nd annual conference of the California Resource Recovery Association, Vetrazzo, LLC was honored with the “Outstanding Closing the Loop Commitment” Award. The award is given to an organization, government agency or business that has created a product with high recycled content or has employed a forward-thinking, eco-conscious program. Composed of 100% recycled glass, Vetrazzo’s green kitchen countertops feature a surface with bold particulates that are sure to provide a wow factor from any viewpoint in the room. The company resources the glass from a variety of places, including curbside recycling programs, reclaimed glass from building demolitions, decommissioned traffic lights and automotive windshields.

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13 Aug 2008 | Building Materials |

Reclaimed Lumber Doors from Liberty Valley - Rediscovered Doors

By harvesting antique timber from buildings scheduled for demolition, Liberty Valley Doors helps conserve existing forests - and keeps the valuable wood out of landfills. Each piece of seasoned, reclaimed lumber used to create their line of Rediscovered Wood Doors is unique, with lovely deep colors and a character all their own. This historic reclaimed lumber is used for both interior and exterior entries. Rediscovered Wood Doors are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and may earn LEED Credits. Liberty Valley Doors also offers custom designs using the 100% reclaimed lumber. Other options include recessed square molding, pre-machining, pre-finishing and pre-hanging.

Photos courtesy of Liberty Valley Doors

4 Aug 2008 | Building Materials |

Alkemi Countertops – Made From Post-Industrial Scrap

Alkemi countertops, produced in Baltimore, Maryland, are manufactured in part from post-industrial scrap generated from nearby industries. The SCS certified material contains 35% post-industrial scrap by weight and 60% by volume. In addition, the product can earn LEED credits in the categories of regional materials and recycled content.

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31 Jul 2008 | Building Materials |

Earn LEED Credits with Bamboo Flooring from DuroDesign

By installing bamboo flooring from DuroDesign, it’s possible to earn valuable LEED credits in two areas: rapidly renewable materials (MR Credit 6) and low-emitting materials (IEQ Credit 4:1). Low-VOC varnishes and adhesives eliminate off-gassing and residual odors, helping to create a healthy indoor environment. The flooring is available in a rich variety of finishes, including Natural, Champagne, Antique Bronze, Sienna and Espresso. Finishes can also be combined to create striking patterns.

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31 Jul 2008 | Building Materials |

Waste Paper Wallpaper - MIO Ripple Wallpaper

Fun, fresh and funky, these 12” x 12” wallpaper tiles made from 100% post and pre-consumer waste paper add budget-friendly 3-D pizzazz to a room. Lightweight enough to be positioned temporarily yet robust enough for a permanent installation, MIO Ripple Wallpaper can be personalized by painting with your favorite color.

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30 Jul 2008 | Building Materials |

Sustainable Bamboo Paneling from Smith & Fong

Founded in 1989, Smith & Fong expresses a “passionate affinity for bamboo” with an “overarching philosophy of sustainability”. The company’s line of Plyboo Tambour sustainable bamboo paneling is an intriguing example of this declaration. Constructed of precision milled bamboo strips applied to a fabric backing with non-toxic glue, the paneling is flexible enough to attach to both concave or convex surfaces, as well as flat walls and ceilings.

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25 Jul 2008 | Building Materials | Comments (1)

Recycled Cork Mosaic Tiles from Habitus

The lively, adventurous circles used in Habitus recycled cork mosaic tiles bring a whole new dimension to cork flooring. Using remnants from the wine cork stopper industry, the company recycles the most attractive chips and hand-mounts them onto paper mesh sheets. Naturally moisture repellent, this unique product is suitable for use in showers, bathrooms and kitchens.

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22 Jul 2008 | Building Materials |

Paperstone Green Kitchen Countertops

PaperStone, brought to us by Paneltech International, LLC., is an innovator in the field of green kitchen countertops. One of the recipients of the 2006 Top 10 Green Building Products Award from BuildingGreen.com, the company has continued its efforts to become greener – and greener.

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21 Jul 2008 | Building Materials |

Bonded Logic Recycles Blue Jeans into Eco Friendly Insulation

While insulation doesn’t provide the big bling factor, it is a fundamentally important component of a green home design. Bonded Logic recycles denim from worn blue jeans to create their eco friendly insulation products. UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation is a high performance option that can contribute toward LEED credits with 85% post-recycled industrial content. The product is also composed of rapidly renewable cotton and doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals or irritants, which means no VOCS or off-gassing concerns. UltraTouch doesn't contain fiberglass; terrific news for anyone who has ever come in contact with scratchy, old-school insulation.

Bonded Logic’s eco-friendly insulation has also attracted the attention of Building Green TV host Kevin Contreras, who used the product in his own green dream home. “Insulating your attic with an eco-responsible product like Bonded Logic’s blue jean insulation is one of the simplest, easiest things you can do to increase your comfort in your home and save energy,” says Contreras. This socially responsible company has also donated product to Habitat for Humanity. There’s lots more news on the company web site. Bonded Logic

18 Jul 2008 | Building Materials |

Natural Cork Flooring

Cork scores major points as a sustainable material, and at Natural Cork flooring this resilient, sustainable bark is fashioned into a stylishly practical option for use throughout the home. Cork bark is harvested using a centuries old practice that harms neither tree nor habitat. Harvesters gently peel the bark every nine years, leaving the trees to regenerate. Natural cork flooring offers a wealth of benefits. This product is resistant to molds, mildew and common pests, is anti-microbial and will not spread flame, all while providing that warm, fuzzy feeling underfoot.

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17 Jul 2008 | Building Materials |

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