Green Housing: Appliances
San Diego based - World Conscious
Green Topics
Green Housing Blog
This is where I will be posting my blog on green housing for our green readers. I encourage and seek help from other like-minded individuals. Send me information, blogs & articles you feel need promotion to our community and I will post them in this spot and give reference to you.
Articles & News
Here I will be posting links to other news & articles that I find on the web. I encourage our readers to help us by sending links to your blogs or any articles/sites you find on the web that promote the green cause.
Carpet
You can add carpeting to your home without negatively impacting the environment. For example, cotton or wool carpeting provides a natural fiber surface that's free of toxins and ideal for people with chemical sensitivities. Recycled poly carpeting is spun from recycled plastic pop bottles, so it diverts a post-consumer product from the waste stream and has lower levels of off-gassing than traditional carpeting materials.
Wood & Bamboo
It's possible to have beautiful, durable, solid wood floors without taxing our natural resources. One way is to use wood that's been recycled or salvaged from building demolitions, lumber mills or "urban forests", which makes no impact on living trees and uses wood that would otherwise go to waste. Another is to choose flooring materials harvested from sustainable, well-managed forests. The Forest Stewardship Council certification is an independent evaluation of forest management standards. Selecting FSC certified lumber supports responsible forestry.
Bamboo is an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional hardwood flooring. Because bamboo is a grass, it can be harvested every 3 to 5 years and replenishes itself naturally without damage to our old growth forests. It's also a beautiful and long-lasting material that's ideal for any climate. Be careful to purchase bamboo that is formaldehyde free! Many bamboo products used to use urea-formaldehyde resin that could off-gas harmful chemicals. Couple this with energy efficient windows & insulation, you have a potential recipe for disastrous air quality.
Cork
Cork flooring is attractive, durable, easy to maintain and environmentally responsible. Made from the bark of Mediterranean oak trees and harvested every nine years, this versatile material provides thermal and acoustic insulation with little off-gassing. And with proper maintenance, your cork flooring could last more than 50 years, even under high traffic conditions.
Linoleum
Linoleum is one of the few products made from primarily natural raw materials. It is made up of linseed oil, rosins and wood flour. It is a tough and attractive floor covering that comes in a variety of styles and colors. Because linoleum is a natural organic product that hardens throughout its life, its performance is enhanced by time. After its long life, it is completely biologically degradable.