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For your green home, consider bamboo, cork, and natural linoleum for the flooring. Traditional home-flooring products, such as sheet vinyl and synthetic carpeting, emit harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. (You might recognize one form as that "new carpet smell.") If you build or remodel your green home with low- or no-VOC finishes, you'll notice a difference: a healthy, green home doesn't emit odors.
Green home flooring: Bamboo
 | Bamboo is a grass, and some species can grow up to 3 feet in a day. To harvest it, the stalks are cut, leaving the plant intact to continue to grow. Unlike with wood, nothing is killed or destroyed in the process, and this is what makes bamboo such an environmentally attractive option. |
Unfortunately, most bamboo comes from Asia, and shipping it such long distances requires a great deal of energy. More local sources are now becoming available.
The finished bamboo floor closely resembles traditional wood flooring. It installs in the same way, and you may not even notice the distinctive knuckle pattern in the bamboo. The grain is extremely durable and is stronger than oak, one of the strongest woods.
Like most floors, bamboo flooring is available in a prefinished surface, reducing the need to add sealers or coatings. Be sure to select water-based and low- or zero-VOC sealers.
Green home flooring: Cork
Harvested from the bark of an oak cork tree, cork is considered a rapidly renewable material, because it grows back in just five to seven years without harming the tree. Cork flooring comes in a wide array of gorgeous patterns and styles and has been in use for over 50 years. Cork flooring is surprisingly durable, providing an attractive, healthy, and biodegradable surface for your home.
The prefinished tiles provide a soft and comfortable walking surface, giving off a pleasant hickory smell. The cork naturally resists water, making it a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
Although all-natural cork is sustainably harvested, it typically comes from Mediterranean countries, requiring a lot of energy to transport it. Several manufacturers now offer cork flooring made in the United States from recycled wine bottle corks, reducing the travel distance.
Be sure to avoid cork flooring backed or mixed with vinyl. Choose a zero-VOC adhesive to install and seal the surface with a natural wax twice a year.
Green home flooring: Natural linoleum
Linoleum is a natural product made of linseed oil, pigments, pine rosin, and pine flour (sawdust). It's covered with a natural jute backing. The finished material is thin and incredibly durable. It becomes harder in areas of high traffic. A linoleum floor can last 50 years.
As a green alternative to vinyl, linoleum offers numerous other advantages. The color and patterns are dyed all the way through to the backing, ensuring that the color or pattern will not wear away. Linoleum is natural, making it biodegradable as well. Linseed oil is a natural antimicrobial agent, making it a great choice for kitchens.
 | Be sure to purchase only "natural linoleum," because the term linoleum is sometimes mistakenly used to refer to a generic vinyl or linoleum floor. Avoid installing linoleum in damp areas, such as basements. Use only low-VOC or zero-VOC adhesives to install it. |
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