In the quest to live a more planet-friendly existence, any spirited homeowner will quickly find that the options available to build an eco-friendly house are only limited by our lack of knowledge. Indeed, in my personal quest to build a house with a reduced ecological footprint, I have been overwhelmed by the amount of environmentally friendly options that are available.
So, using the logic of looking at things from the ground, let us focus this month’s column on the most widely used and abused part of any home, namely, the floor, and the choices that you have to make the area under your feet a little more green.
If you are partial to hardwood, steer clear of flooring sourced from tropical trees that, while often very attractive, usually come from trees that cannot or will not be able to re-grow. Unlike our forest floor in Canada, the soil in many tropical regions is often thinner and the average rainfall usually much greater. Land that has been deforested almost always suffers from severe soil degradation which makes the re-growth of the forest canopy almost impossible. Also consider that the tropical rainforests are home to an incredible array of species and are significant producers of oxygen and food. These trees are much more important standing than they ever will be on the floor of your living room.
As for more traditional wood species, look for flooring that is sourced from wood that is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved. This designation means that it has been harvested in a way that will ensure the health of the ecosystem and the sustainability of the tree species. Trees can and will re-grow over time and a well-managed forest can produce wood indefinitely. The FSC label means your floors were produced with this in mind.
The other advantage of native hardwood species comes from the fact that you can source them from local mills and companies (we have some very close to Parry Sound) supporting a local economy and providing jobs for your neighbours.
For those that can’t afford or don’t want to go the route of hardwood and instead prefer the more readily available and cheaper laminate flooring, you can still look for a product that is made from FSC certified wood. Once you start to look, it isn’t hard to find many choices suitable for a variety of different budgets that still carry the FSC certification. All you have to do is invest a little effort.
However, be forewarned that most stores don’t even realize they carry the product or will know what you are talking about when you ask for environmentally friendly options. The onus may be on you to do your homework, but it really is not that difficult.
Another great option that is attractive and environmentally friendly is cork. The harvesting of cork does not result in the death of the tree and thus is sustainable. cork floors come in a variety of colours and patterns and can fit any room in your home. You can also go with bamboo that re-grows in a matter of years instead of decades, making it very sustainable.
Yet another option is probably one of the most environmentally friendly, but it is one that most people have never even heard of. I am referring to flooring made from recycled leather.
Again, you can get a variety of different colours and textures in planks or tiles. The flooring goes down just like a laminate and is just as durable.
The neat thing though is that it is made from compressed scraps of leather left over from other applications. Thus, it is essentially composed of all waste material that would probably have ended up in a landfill. Leather is a natural material and the tiles have a softer feel and quite a dramatic look.
For those that are looking for some new carpeting, you still have lots of options at reasonable prices. Indeed, most major carpet manufacturers have started to offer products that are made of recycled polymer fibers and even carpeting made from synthetic fibers sourced from recycled plastic pop bottles.
Still other carpeting contains ingredients sourced from corn or other natural fibers. When you consider that most traditional carpeting is in fact made from petroleum based fibers, a change to recycled or natural fibers can be seen to be both good for your health and very good for the environment.
Again, there is a large variety of choices and designs and the products can be ordered right here in Parry Sound and costs are the same or close to the same as traditional carpeting.
So, if you are willing to take a few extra minutes to research and to ask a few questions at the store, you can ensure that whatever it is your feet are standing on has a minimal environmental impact.
Reducing our ecological footprint literally starts with thinking about on what surface your “foot” prints and then making smart choices.