Healthy from the Bottom Up!

It's not uncommon for Built Green™ features to be better choices in terms that go well beyond the economics and environmental issues. Flooring and other hard surfaces are prime examples. The flooring and countertops chosen for this home add a great deal of style, beauty and ease-of-maintenance over the typical "non-green" choice. A "green" floor or counter top choice usually means a material that comes from renewable or recycled resources, or one that is not made with the kinds of synthetic materials that off-gas annoying or harmful compounds. Quite often this leads to simple, natural materials, such as stone or slate, or imaginative choices, such as stained and finished concrete. In almost all cases, a 'green' floor or counter top choice will end up being quite durable and easy to care for.

Linoleum. Resilient flooring made from natural materials, including wood flour and linseed oil. It's very attractive, comes in a wide variety of colors, has a long life and reduced maintenance and replacement cost. Linoleum is made from natural materials such as linseed oil, pine resin and wood flour. http://www.forbo-flooring.co.uk

Recycled tile. This attractive tile is made from 50% to 100% post-industrial recycled materials and is durable and easily maintained.

A locally-sourced slate in easy-to-lay 16" x 16" tiles is an attractive, hardwearing, easy maintenance floor that does not impact air quality. It also adds thermal mass to store solar energy. When thinking about "green" building, an important consideration is source of supply. Materials produced close-by reduce the dollar and environmental costs of shipping, contribute to the local economy, and are a source of jobs.

Warm, natural cork flooring absorbs sound and is anti-static. It comes from a renewable resource and is long lasting and easy to care for.

Wool carpet in the bedrooms does not release chemicals and comes from renewable resources. Wool is also more durable than synthetics, so it will last and look better a lot longer.