Tuesday, September 11, 2012

GREEN LIVING: Laminate Floors Get Eco Approval

Are you looking for a new flooring option that will save money and the planet at the same time? According to the North American Laminate Flooring Association, laminate flooring can transform a room at a good value -- without "felling a tree" or "mining a quarry." It's a win-win.
Instead of using natural hardwoods, laminate is composed of a hybrid mix of materials fused together through a lamination process. It looks like the real thing without having used up any of Mother Earth's natural resources!
"The manufacture of laminate flooring doesn't involve the harvesting of old-growth hardwoods like those found in tropical rainforests," says Bill Dearing, president of the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA). "Laminate provides the desired look, no matter how scarce, without depleting natural resources."


NALFA conducts independent, third-party performance tests on laminate flooring, and products that earn the NALFA Certification Seal are deemed sustainable.


"Laminate flooring has a wealth of green advantages, and products certified to NALFA's sustainability standard are being used in growing numbers because of them," Dearing says. "Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the importance of environmentally friendly products."
Let's take a look at some of laminate's earth-friendly benefits.


  • It's made with recycled natural resources producing a heavy-duty, high-density core board
  • It's recyclable.
  • It's free of air-damaging chemicals. Because laminate is installed without glues and adhesives, and because laminate floors can be cleaned without the use of harsh chemicals, laminate helps to prevent harmful emissions of volatile organic compounds.
  • It complies with formaldehyde emissions regulations for laminate flooring core board set forth by the California Air Resources Board.
  • It is comprised of recycled content that may contribute points to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for homes and businesses.
Plus, as an added bonus, laminate flooring can be reused or recycled when you're done with it! So, if you're looking for a great green flooring option that will save you money while saving the
planet, consider choosing laminate floors.
Plus, as an added bonus, laminate flooring can be reused or recycled when you're done with it! So, if you're looking for a great green flooring option that will save you money while saving the planet, consider choosing laminate floors.
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20120905_laminatefloors.htm

No comments: