Start Time: 02:00
Date: 2011-02-12

When I first saw cork flooring I thought it would never be resilient enough for the floor but if you think about it the cork on a bulletin board manages to still look good even after being repeatedly poked with tacks. So in doing some research I discovered that cork, a adurable and highly abrasion resistant substance,  is often used in high traffic public buildings including schools, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, shops and offices.

In addition to being tough, cork is a healthy, energy saving & environmentally friendly choice. Cork detracts bugs, mites and mold (& supposedly even termites).  It reduces heat loss in rooms because it naturally maintains a comfortable temperature and it is a renewable resource harvested from the outer bark of the tree.  There is a negative and that is like bamboo, cork does not grow locally in our area and country. Therefore it uses fossil fuels to be transported most likely from Portugal or other Southern areas in Europe and Northern Africa.   However, of further benefit cork is also naturally fire resistant and absorbs sound, making it suitable for playrooms and music rooms.   All  around, cork is a flooring product worth considering.

wendy@ctgreenrealestate.com    William Raveis Real Estate

Between four and five billion pounds of carpet are replaced every year in the United States alone, but less than 1% of this is recycled.  In other words, 99% of old carpet is sent to landfills instead of being recycled and made into new carpet. About 60% of carpet manufactured in the U.S. is made of nylon which can easily be recycled back into carpet or into raw materials for car parts, etc.  Plastic bottles and textiles can also be reduced to their basic material level and used to weave new carpets.  Despite the variety of materials, recycled carpet is very similar in look and feel to standard carpet.

wendy@ctgreenrealestate.com    William Raveis Real Estate

Two years ago  JWT Intelligence said gluten-free was on the rise and now every mainstream food market has a substanital gluten-free section.  Betty Crocker even has gluten-free brownie mix & a line of baking products.  Here’s what J. Walter Thompson has to say about Bamboo in its report ’100 Things to Watch in 2011′

Is there anything bamboo can’t do? It’s being touted as the sustainable building material of the future, and now Garnier Nutrisse Hair Color is touting the bamboo extract in its HerbaShine as imparting “radiant color.” Expect to see more bamboo everywhere from bicycles to clothing to kitchenware. 

Below are pictures of the bamboo floors at the Healing Sanctuary in Fairfield CT

wendy@ctgreenrealestate.com    William Raveis Real Estate

For more on bamboo see:
Bamboo Flooring Quick Facts

I posted on my site under Resources a link to the list of ESP certified cabinets where you are sure to see some familiar brands, some of which are even available at Home Depot and Lowes.   ESP is ANSI (American Nat’l Standards Institute) approved and is referenced by the NAHB (Nat’l Assoc of Home Builders) Green Building Standards as THE benchmark in green cabinet standards.  

The KCMA (Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) is a non profit organization that oversees and certifies manufacturers and presents the ESP (Environmental Stewardship Program) seal to manufacturers that have adhered to a specific set of standards.  ESP is the only environmental certification program that specifically focuses on Kitchen & Bath cabinets. Making sure more than just our cabinets last is on the top of one of the KCMA brochures and that says it all!!