Enviro-Living

Know your lumber

When planning your next remodel, be aware that all lumber is not the same. Most lumber yards will offer you up to five options when selecting something as basic as a 2x4. Is one board greener than the other? Yes.

In recent years, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has begun to certify lumber that has been grown, harvested and milled to cause minimum impact on the environment and still meet the needs of the building industry. To use this ‘green' lumber be on the lookout for the FSC logo.

Smart flooring alternatives

It's finally time to get rid of that nasty shag carpet and install hardwood floors. But if you're seeking something environmentally friendly - and less expensive - you have plenty of options to choose from. Two great alternatives to traditional hardwood flooring - that provide a durable, attractive living surface - are cork and bamboo. Both are renewable and significantly less expensive than hardwoods.

Cork is harvested without killing the producing tree meaning that each tree can contribute to many new floors. Bamboo is a type of grass and in fact, grows like grass. New crops can be harvested at incredibly short intervals reducing price and saving old forests.

Matthew Rhodes Winter is a Green Building consultant who lives and works in the Puget Sound. A specialist in providing strategic and innovative green solutions, Matthew helps clients design and remodel homes with sustainability as it pertains to everyday living. He can be reached at (206) 437-2540 or rhodes.creations@gmail.com. For more information visit his web site http://rhodes.creations.googlepages.com/frontpage .

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