Susan Pitters asked:


The future of design lies in resource-efficient, sustainably harvested, and healthy materials.

There are many manufacturing companies working on even better environmentally responsible materials suitable

for kitchen countertops. Some of these are listed below, but there are many others and it is worth your time

to research these materials - if you are seriously looking for ways to create a new kitchen using sustainable,

green materials.

A recent example of a company releasing a new material that fits the bill for environmentally-responsible

products to use in home construction, is Cosentino.

It has taken Cosentino a great investment in time and money, but finally they have come up

with a recycled countertop material for use in kitchen and bathrooms. The countertop is called ‘Eco’

 and has recently been launched.

Cosentino is the largest manufacturer of quartz in the world and one of the largest natural stone importers.

Eco is made up of 75% recycled consumer and industrial raw materials and 25%

natural elements. It looks very like an engineered stone or solid surface material, and is available in

10 colors at the moment.

The company says that it has performed well in tests for scorching, staining and scratching resistance.

The actual recycled materials include mirrors, windows and bottled glass, granulated glass from consumer

recycling practices,  porcelain from domestic products such as tiles, sinks and toilets, stone scrap from

quarries and mountains and fabrication, furnace residuals (ash) from factories and a bonding agent

containing 22% corn oil resin, also the result of research into eco-friendly resin.

 Many designers, architects and consumers will be excited about using this revolutionary material that meets the

challenge to produce environmentally responsible materials for construction. By “upcycling” these products, the

company is using materials at the end of their lifecycle that would otherwise be put into landfill sites. Re-using

the projected amount of glass bottles every year, for example, means that landfill

space will be significantly reduced.

The surface is hard,durable and non-porous and doesn’t require sealers. A matte leather texture as well as

a polished texture is available. Eco comes in slabs and tiles. It can be used commercially and residentially.

Eco is a beautiful looking countertop that has the added bonus of minimizing our carbon footprint.

 

Another green material for countertops is “Vertazzo”, an attractive solid terrazzo countertop made from recycled

glass and cast concrete. It is durable and tough as granite, but not as porous as marble. Now a designer choice,

vertazzo is very beautiful… the polished glass looks extraordinary in the concrete, picking out colors

in the rest of your kitchen in a subtle and luxurious way. This material gives off no odors or fumes and there are any

number of finishes. What makes it green? Terrazzo is an aggregate of glass, stone and binders and several

companies use high amounts of recycled glass, up to 100%. The recycled content diverts glass from landfills

which is a tremendous benefit to the environment. Some terrazzo is made with concrete making the indoor

applications extremely benign in regard to indoor air quality.

Shetkastone has produced a material from pre and post consumer waste paper, cloth fibers and paint. All by-products can be recycled back into the

manufacturing process. The ’stone’ looks just like natural stone and comes in different colors.

Best of all, it can be recycled again if it needs to be replaced. While it has the look of stone,

it can be cut and screwed like wood. It is water and stain resistant.

Eco top surfaces are a blend of bamboo fiber, and recycled wood fiber from demolition sites. Bamboo is a very

easily renewable source; it takes 3 to 6 years to regrow bamboo for harvesting. However, processing consumes a lot of

energy when

the bamboo is converted to synthetic building materials such as laminated planking and flooring. More importantly,

 because bamboo products are mainly from countries like China, they have to be transported over great distances

before reaching Western markets. The materials are bound by a water-based resin formula. It is best not to have

too near a wet area.

Alkemi is an innovative material being used in countertops. It is made up of 2 materials…curled shavings of

aluminium  from scrap (everything from aerospace to household appliances) and polymetric resin. This resin is

made of a material similar to polyester. Alkemi can be moulded and joined as needed, and it is very durable.

The surface is unique and the coils of aluminium reflect light in a beautiful fashion. If you are tired of

granite…look at this.

Sqak Mountain Stone is another eco-friendly material that resembles soapstone or limestone. It is made of

recycled paper, recycled glass, coal fly-ash and cement. The material is hand cast into slabs. The look is

very natural, warm and solid.

Metal Tiles are sleek 100% recycled aluminium and give off a glint that reflects surrounding colors.

The smooth surface is an exciting contrast to the other textures around it in the kitchen. It is best used

as an accent in smaller amounts rather than a large expanse. Eleek’s aluminium tiles come in a few different

metallic colors - bronze, red, silver, black and rock.

Trinity Glass products are made from recycled glass and low-carbon cement. They are composite surfaces that look like a very

polished stone. Many colors are available.

Lithistone is made from natural sand and stone of different grades, recycled materials,

organic mineral pigments and a natural mineral binder. It can be customized to meet almost any size, color, shape and textural

specifications. The way in which lithistone is created, is environmentally responsible.

Richlite makes paper based countertops too. Made from environmentally sustainable sources, the company

manufactures attractive, durable, long-lasting materials. The fibrous materials made from paper-fiber composites

soaked in phenolic resin. The countertops  are as strong as stone, but, of course, not as heavy.

Richlite doesn’t release harmful gases into the air - it is Green Guard certified for Children & Schools

(the highest possible rating) with no detectable level of off gassing.

Durapalm is harvested from coconut palms - this wood is slightly stronger than oak.  Duraplam’s co-friendliness

rating is 100% as it is derived from old, nonfruiting palms grown in plantations in many parts of the world.Palms

produce nuts for about 80 years and then are removed and replaced. Coconut palmwood can vary greatly in color

and density. Only the hard, dark palm is used for its beauty and durable surface.

Lumicor is very similar in construction to that of solid surface countertops. Lumicor is made from clear

resins such as acrylic or PETG and is blended

with core decorative materials. These core design elements can be metallic, neutrals, botanicals, wood workings,

color ways or embosses.  Lumicor looks similar to glass and provides exceptional clarity when

used as countertops. It is extremely durable, non porous and resistant to UV damage. Scratches and stains can be

easily removed using polishing discs. It is half the

weight of glass countertops and can resist impact forces 42x greater than tempered glass. Lumicor can be

manipulated with wood working tools and is extremely versatile. It is available in a range of patterns and

colors.

As most recycled glass countertops are one piece and cut to order, they are extremely hygienic as they cannot

support food and dirt. There are no seams or joins.

Glass is non-porous and relatively stain proof as well as being extremely heat resistant

(up to 700 degrees). Glass countertops are quite  difficult to keep clean as finger prints and moisture

marks show easily if not dried off well. To maintain, just use a non abrasive cleaner and polish regularly.

Still sold on stone? Natural stone, like granite, is beautiful and durable but a finite resource. The quarry and

mining of natural

stone has a negative impact on ecosystems including water quality. Natural stone also uses a lot of energy

in transport so it carries a heavy resource burden.

Often the cost of using environmentally -friendly materials puts people off even considering them.

 Actually, the price of using eco friendly materials is usually about the same as any other materials.

 Most major companies are now manufacturing these environmentally responsible alternatives.

Wood, metal and glass are all great options for improving the aesthetics of your kitchen, and are all eco friendly.

Beautiful benchtops are manufactured from recycled glass - only look at them in your nearest showroom and you’ll

be amazed at how pretty and functional they can be…

By taking advantage of the current kitchen trends when it comes to eco-friendly ideas, you are ensuring health

benefits for your family and setting a great example for others to follow.

Whichever option you decide upon, the choices for eco friendly countertops are many, and you’re sure to find one

that fits your design when planning your new eco-friendly kitchen.

 

 



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James P Martin asked:


Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the affects that every day household items can have on the environment. Let’s face it, going “green” has become hip. Americans are increasingly looking for products that do not harm the environment.

Manufacturers are jumping on the trend towards environmentally friendly products in big way. In fact, even the standard tried and true garden hose is getting an extreme makeover these days.

Have decided to replace that old garden hose with an eco-friendly one? If so, here are few guidelines that will help you choose the right one.

Recycled Materials

A true earth friendly garden hose should be made from at least 50% recycled material, usually polyurethane or rubber, or a combination of both. Polyurethane hoses are generally much lighter than an all rubber hose. From an environmentally friendly perspective, the more recycled material in the hose you choose, the better.

Water Conservation

Water may one day very soon be Earth’s most precious resource. The conservation is water is critical and hose manufacturers have stepped up to do their part. Eco-friendly hoses today use patented water restrictors that control pressure and help avoid soil erosion and puddling. A good hose will use at least 50% less water than a traditional garden hose.

Lighter and More Flexible

Recycled polyurethane is 2-3 times lighter than all rubber hoses. Look for a light hose that still contains a UV protective coating. Without it, the hose could become cracked much easier after exposure to direct sunlight. This will also prevent the hose from kinking as well.

Drinking Safety

Everyone who has taken a drink for a garden hose has probably has this thought: “just how safe is this water after traveling from the spigot to the other end?”. With today’s eco-friendly hoses, this is no longer a concern. As with other products bearing the name, “green” garden hoses use non-toxic substances and are completely safe to drink from.

Environmentally safe hoses come in all sizes and lengths. Next time you go to replace your old hose, consider purchasing one that is not only easier to use, but better for the environment as well.



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Greg Roy asked:


Today, almost 1 million acres of forest disappear each week. This alarming rate of deforestation is forcing many world economies to rethink their business and manufacturing practices. A seventy-foot tree cut for its lumber takes 65 years to replace. A seventy-foot bamboo cut for market can be replaced in less than 3 months, as bamboo is officially recognized as the world’s fastest growing plant. Some species can grow 3 feet per day!

Driven by the constantly-growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly products, many bamboo-related companies are gaining momentum as a reliable source for high quality and durable green building materials. Consumers are choosing high quality alternative building materials over traditional non-sustainable products. Hybrid cars, recycled materials, reusable energy sources, bamboo flooring; use of these products is exploding as consumers are recognizing the need to choose products of a sustainable and regenerative nature.

The general population is becoming weary of ever-decreasing hardwood forests and the threat that this deforestation poses to an already fragile global environment. Bamboo flooring is the logical and ethical choice. Since bamboo is termite, moisture and rot resistant, it functions extremely well as a prime flooring material.

There are multiple types of bamboo floors sold that cater to unique tastes. Strand woven bamboo flooring is twice as resilient as regular wood flooring and has a hybrid grain that is between wood and bamboo. Distressed bamboo floors look antique as if they were pulled out of an old barn. Engineered/laminate bamboo floors are highly stable and great for basements and in areas of varying humidity.

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth. It is known to produce 30% more oxygen than a hardwood forest of comparable size, while preventing erosion, restoring soil, providing sweet edible shoots and removing toxins from contaminated soil. Ecologists tout bamboo as a logical, renewable source of building materials. Many promote bamboo planting for erosion prevention, and even to reverse the effects of global warming.

Bamboo helps reduce carbon dioxide gases blamed for global warming. Bamboo removes significant quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which makes it a highly efficient plant, and conducive to fresh air. Being a grass, bamboo regenerates without replanting after harvesting.

Bamboo is a natural water control barrier. Because of its widespread root system and large canopy, bamboo greatly reduces rain run off, preventing soil erosion. Bamboo can keep up to twice as much water in a watershed. Due to its high nitrogen consumption, bamboo helps mitigate water pollution, making it a solution for excess nutrient uptake of wastewater from manufacturing, livestock farming and sewage treatment.

Bamboo can restore degraded lands. It is a remarkable plant and can be grown in soil damaged by overgrazing and poor agriculture practices. Proper harvesting does not kill the bamboo plant, therefore topsoil is held in place. Because of its dense litter on the forest floor, it feeds topsoil creation, restoring healthy agricultural lands for generations to come.

Traditional hardwood lumber trees, such as oak, maple, and birch, take 40-50 years to regenerate. In the meantime, there is less oxygen produced, less carbon dioxide consumed, and more soil runoff in the spot where those trees were harvested – all producing negative environmental effects. Our planet is suffering from resource depletion, habitat loss, species extinction, and ecosystem pollution. The choice of bamboo flooring will greatly help reverse those negative trends.



RUDOLPH