There is more than one way to go green this spring, and it starts with the flooring inside your home. If you are thinking about replacing your flooring, consider a greener alternative. Green flooring is not only good for the environment, it is good for the health of your family.
Read the following tips to learn about green flooring choices in your home:
- Avoid non-renewable carpeting. According to Green America, carpeting is notorious for collecting VOCs, allergens, and toxic lawn chemicals from the outdoors. Carpets and carpet padding often are petroleum-based products, a major energy-consuming resource. Several natural flooring materials are available that are biodegradable and reduce the toxicity in your home. Recycled and eco-friendly materials are often less expensive than conventional carpeting.
- Opt for area rugs. Rugs can add style and comfort to your floors without creating as much waste as carpeting. There is a variety of eco-friendly rugs available ranging from sisal fibers to seagrass. Sisal fibers come from the leaves of agave plants. They are easy to clean, durable, and sound-absorbent. Seagrass rugs have limited chemical treatment, are inexpensive and easy to care for.
- Choose cork flooring. Cork flooring is durable and known to recover easily from marks left by furniture. It is a completely renewable resource with great energy conservation, which can save you money on heating and cooling bills. Cork floors are fire-resistant and a natural repellant for insects.
- Reduce your carbon footprint. The Environmental Protection Agency states that every year, 1.8 million tons of carpet fills our local landfills, most of it lasting for up to 20,000 years. Purchase from companies that recycle and drive down the amount of carpet that becomes national waste.
Make your home healthier for both the environment and your family by choosing green flooring. For more information on green flooring, contact the Cincinnati green flooring experts today at 614-398-3336.