The priority considerations for all interior finish products are durability and impact on indoor air quality. It is worthwhile to select styles that are aesthetically pleasing and classic. It’s much greener to redecorate with a new coat of paint on the walls than to replace cabinetry, flooring or countertops because they are out of style, yet still functionally sound. For impact on indoor air quality, remember it’s not just the product, but also the materials used to construct and install it, including the binders and adhesives.
- Flooring:
Hard-surface flooring materials have long life expectancy and are easier to keep clean than carpet. If possible choose local, salvaged or sustainably sourced wood species, nailed down and finished with natural oils. For your ground-level floor, consider staining and finishing the concrete foundation. If you are using a natural building system, consider an earth floor – they are so comfortable to walk on. Use natural materials like ceramic tile, materials that are rapidly renewable like bamboo and cork, or materials like linoleum that are made from renewable sources. Have them finished offsite and installed using minimum adhesives (i.e., floating floors that are only glued around the perimeter, not under the entire floor area). Cork makes a beautiful flooring material; it is very easy on the feet and back, has great acoustic control properties, comes in a wide range of colors and patterns and is renewable. Porcelain ceramic tile has color throughout, so if it gets scratched or chipped over time, these blemishes are less noticeable.
Don’t take sustainability and durability for granted; make certain that raw materials used to make the products are select grade. Many inexpensive products, like some bamboo flooring, are now coming from sources that harvest crops prematurely. This “green” bamboo does not have the durability and long life that you would expect from hardened mature harvests.
If you must install carpet, make certain it has recycled content or is made from rapidly renewable materials (such as wool or sisal) by seeking products that carry the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) label. Also, consider installing carpet tiles, so worn areas can be replaced without having to replace the entire floor.
- Cabinets, Countertops and Trim:
There are many alternative products on the market made from natural or recycled materials, including cabinets, countertops and trim made from strawboard, bamboo and even sunflower seed hulls. Make sure the binders used in the materials and finishes are low toxicity. Cabinets certified by the California Air Resource Board (CARB) or European Standard (E-1) meet indoor air quality standards.
Solid-surface countertops offer the best durability. There are numerous choices, including natural granite or stone and recycled products, such as glass, paper (yes, we said paper!) and porcelain. Some man-made solid surfaces, such a quartz composite, have anti-bacterial properties and low waste. Laminate countertops are usually made with urea-formaldehyde binders, although alternatives are now available.
Millwork trim is available manufactured from medium density fiberboard (MDF), strawboard or finger-jointed wood. There may be even greener alternatives available, depending on where you live, including natural local wood species, or agriboard products, made from agriculture waste (like straw from cereal grain production). Of course, the absolute best choice would be no trim, and this fits well in many modern designs.
- Finishes, Adhesives and Other Interior Products:
Caulks, sealants, adhesives, paints, stains, varnishes and other finishes are big sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that off-gas toxins impacting indoor air quality (see Chapter 7). You can, though, choose to use all-natural paints, which reduce toxins, have low-VOC or no-VOC off-gassing, and clean up with soap and water. Also, it’s best to paint exteriors with lighter colors to reduce heat absorbed into the structure in warm climates, or dark colors to help absorb the heat in cold climates.
Do not assume that one size fits all in caulking and sealant products. There are specialty products for every application that have been developed to provide the airtight seal that high-performance homes are known for. Your building specifications should include brands and product names for each different application. It would be a crime to have a home that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to build experience building failures (e.g., water leaks, pest or wind damage) due to not spending a couple of dollars on the right product for prevention.
