Wikipedia defines sustainability as “the capacity to endure. The term has its roots in ecology. Wikipedia continues, “The word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over (long periods of) time. Long-lived and healthy wetlands and forests are examples of sustainable biological systems. For humans, sustainability is the potential for long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions.”
Sustainability has become a very popular aspect of today’s lifestyles and has expanded to virtually every aspect of society…including flooring. Sustainability is also closely related to another popular trend, that of buying local…as buying local helps sustain out communities and our lifestyles and minimizes the amount of energy (embedded energy) it takes to make and deliver products to consumers. It also is closely tied to the “green trend” as local+sustainable (has been proven to) = green.
Another important aspect of your floor selection is how well it insulates your space and how comfortable it is. Does it allow the use of radiant heat? Can it be installed over existing concrete floors? Will it remain stable (and flat) for generations? Does it add value to your home? Interestingly enough, these questions also relate closely to sustainability.
Red Oak Wide Plank Solid Wood Floor
Most customers have a limited knowledge of the varieties of wood floors that are available to them. Many don’t know or consider the amount of energy it takes to make each type of floor and to get the floors to their homes or businesses. This energy and is something everyone will need to consider more and more in the coming years as the cost of energy continues to increase. But most importantly…it determines, in many cases, the difference between a floor that will last a generation or three (A.K.A “sustainable”)…and one that will be worn out as soon as the first time the walls need to be repainted.
From carpets, to laminates, to engineered, to solid wood (both strip and wide plank)…flooring options range from cheap to easily installed (and thrown away) to green to floors that will last several lifetimes and many more options in between. Depending on your needs…it’s important to consider them all before you buy.
Ash Wide Plank Solid Wood Flooring
American Modern Living
offers a helpful comparison between solid wood floors and laminates. “Natural hardwood floors enhance the overall value of your home. Real estate ads will always include mention if the house has natural hardwood floors, because the lasting value of these floors far surpasses the laminate wood flooring alternative. Keep in mind, too, that laminate flooring is not guaranteed to last the entire life of a home’s mortgage. This can be a pitfall if you’re trying to sell.”
The Green Building Floor Library offers a good overview of floors that we suggest you consider before you purchase. It helps dispel some of today’s more tradition viewpoints that aren’t necessarily true.
Cherry Wide Plank Solid Wood Flooring
For example, bamboo floors…considered very “green”, primarily due to the rapid regrowth of the bamboo tree, actually have a very high embedded energy due to where they grow (primarily Asia) and the amount of energy it takes to ship them. Stone and tile floors are also interesting studies. Most consider them very sustainable due to the seemingly endless supply of the earth’s resources needed to make them (e.g. sand). However, their weight alone adds greaty to the cost of shipping and a large majority of the floors come from Asia or Europe…again increasing the transportation costs.
Wide Plank Whte Oak Solid Wood Flooring
Solid wood floors continue to offer the best solution for sustainable flooring. By choosing a solid wood floor made by a local flooring manufacturer who adheres to strict FSC guidelines and who sources their wood from local, sustainable forests that are logged by equally sustainable logging practices consumers will get the most sustainable, green flooring money can buy. Plus you help sustain your local community.
The bottom line (or floor) is to buy locally made and sustainable products.
