Green Flooring
From Floor Coverings
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The Beginning of the Green Movement
In 1872, the United States government set aside Yosemite as our nation’s first national park. This was in part, a beginning of the Green Movement. Throughout the latter 1800’s, many different wild lands and parks were being set aside for preservation and for public appreciation. Two key public figures during that time period, Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir worked very hard to publicize and establish the need for conservation. In 1903, Teddy Roosevelt visited Yosemite National Park with a great deal of public fanfare, encouraging the popularity of conservation and the development of better ecosystems.
Donora Death Fog
However, when World War l and World War ll broke out, the concern over deforestation and worldwide pollution were moved to the back burner. But in the fall of 1948, fluoride fumes seeped into the air from the US Steel Corporation in Donora, Pennsylvania, killing 20 people and seriously injuring hundreds more. This incident became known as the “Donora Death Fog” and caused a national outrage and demand for national legislation to protect the public from industrial air pollution. Events following this only added fuel to the fiery outrage that environmentalist were beginning to burn. Rachael Carson’s best-selling book, Silent Spring, published in 1962, drew attention to and exposed the contamination of consumer products with pesticide toxins and other pollutants.
Environmental Nightmare.
Then came the Union Oil Company oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in January of 1969 that was called an environmental nightmare. In July of 1970, the White House and Congress established the US Environmental Protection Agency and great strides began to be accomplished in eco-preservation. This time period, during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s saw the birth of the Modern Green Movement. The 1970’s saw the Clean Air Act, the founding of Earth Day, the Water Pollution Control Act and the banning of DDT, a hazardous pesticide. The accident at Three Mile Island in 1979 and the catastrophic weather that virtually destroyed New Orleans in 2005 has further frightened and motivated the public to fight against toxic waste, pollution and contamination by living “green”.
How has Green Flooring Progressed in Home Building?
The California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) founded in1974, works to promote waste reduction, recycling and pollution prevention. It is dedicated to expanding markets for recycled materials such as recycled hardwood flooring and recycled glass products. The National Association of Home Builders went green in 1998 when it developed a sub-committee to form its Green Building Program that oversees the progress of education, recognition and market awareness of green products.
Its mission is to educate home builders and home buyers to take into account what impact on the environment the design, construction and operation of their home will have. Home builders are encouraged to purchase eco-friendly products with regard to building materials such as flooring. At present, the world is becoming more and more “green” conscious as eco-friendly products gain popularity and preference.
What are my Eco-Friendly/Green Flooring options?
There are ten specific things that make green flooring qualify as green. The company that manufactures the product must embrace responsible eco-friendly practices and ideas and must utilize these guidelines in the production of their flooring products. They must distribute, package and transport their products in an eco-friendly manner. The flooring products must be made with renewable and/or recycled materials. The flooring product itself must be recyclable, reusable or disposed of safely. The flooring product cannot contain toxic materials or reduce air quality. It should be designed for extended life, causing a lesser impact on the environment. The flooring product must be able to be installed without high VOC adhesives and be cleaned without using toxic chemicals or too much water.
What choices do I have when it comes to Green Flooring?
There is a wide variety of choices when it comes to choosing green flooring. Green carpeting is made from 100% recycled food and drink containers. Also, carpets that are made from all natural fibers such as wool fibers, cotton fibers, sisal, which is a fiber that comes from the Agave Sisalana plant, sea grass, jute and coir fibers (coconut husks) are considered green flooring. Bamboo Flooring and Cork Flooring are quickly renewable and sustainable flooring products. Linoleum is made from all natural and raw materials like linseed oil and pine rosin. Hardwood floors that are managed and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council are considered green as are Recycled Hardwoods harvested from old buildings and barns destined for demolition. Other green flooring types are concrete, recycled rubber flooring and recycled glass terrazzo flooring. Concrete is considered green because it can last a lifetime and Recycled Rubber Flooring and Recycled Glass flooring keeps discarded rubber tires and glass out of landfills.
