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Page 17 of 18 pages « First < 15 16 17 18 >
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Tom Ralston Concrete
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Eric Corey Freed's Review
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Countertops
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Approved by Subject Editors on August 12, 2004
Reviewed by Eric Corey Freed
Made from all natural materials, concrete should be highly green, except for the fact that it's primary ingredient, Portland Cement, has a high embodied energy. This means that the production of Portland Cement is resource-intensive and it's manufacture produces a large amount of greenhouse gas. You can, however, negate the effects of Portland Cement by replacing up to 50% of it with Fly Ash, a harmless by-product of coal mining. Concrete resists staining, denting, scratching and cutting. A lemon left on the surface may etch acid into the top, but this is true for any countertop except metal. Cracking is common, but part of the look of the material.
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Expanko
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Marian Keeler's Review
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Flooring
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Approved by Subject Editors on August 11, 2004
Reviewed by Marian Keeler
Renewable resource: Cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork oak tree which is stripped from the cork tree every nine years. Chemicals are rarely if ever used in the production of the cork trees either for pest control or fertilizer. Recycled content: waste cork from wine cork production is used, waste generated from floor tile production is then granulated and used to power the ovens that bake the floor tile (although energy is recovered, combustion produces emissions). The negative factor in cork pertains to its embodied transportation energy: most cork sources are found in the Mediterranean: among them, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Tunisia, Algeria and France; thus, there is a large transportation energy load involving the shipment of the product to the West Coast of the U.S. Point of final assembly is Parkesburg, Pennsylvania.
No formaldehyde added, but concerns similar to those of linoleum are paralleled with cork products. 'Cork is now frequently used as a building product for floor coverings, because the material is often regarded as "natural" and "healthy". However, industrial cork products may contain a number of artificial ingredients and the quality, especially the emission behavior, will strongly depend on the type of additives and the manufacturing process. Several researchers have reported high emissions of formaldehyde, phenol, furfural, acetic acid and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from composite cork.
Installations have been recorded ranging up to 60-80 years.
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UltraGlas Inc
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Eric Freed's Review
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Countertops
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Approved by Subject Editors on August 12, 2004
Reviewed by Eric Freed
Glass is formed from the heating of silica, which is essentially sand. Glass is all natural, easily recyclable and can be made locally. The downside: Glass, especially the gorgeous art glass from UltraGlas, uses a fair amount of heat and energy in it's creation. UltraGlas uses a minimum of 15-30% recycled glass in their float glass, and can use 100% recycled glass, when requested. Glass is all natural, does not offgas, resists the growth of mold and mildew, won't scratch and is easy to clean. I suggest a citrus based cleaner to keep the surface perfect.
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Bonded Logic
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Dietmar Lorenz - DSA Architects's Review
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Insulation
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Approved by Subject Editors on August 19, 2005
Reviewed by Dietmar Lorenz - DSA Architects
'Ultra Touch' insulation uses cotton, a natural renewable fiber, as the primary source material. The cotton is treated with borate flame retardants and fungal inhibitors. Taking into consideration the large volumes of pesticides and water used in cotton farming, the use of virgin fiber would be questionable. However, cotton insulation is based on approximately 85 percent of pre-consumer recycled denim, like the scraps of blue jeans production, and makes it an environmentally preferably choice.
The flame retardants used in this product are not considered problematic, unless you have specific chemical sensitivities. Cotton fibers do not cause respiratory or skin irritation and batts or loose fill can be installed without protective gear, which makes cotton insulation well suited for self-installers. Another advantage regarding indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is the good sound absorption of cotton insulation.
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Bamboo Hardwoods
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Marian Keeler's Review
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Flooring
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Approved by Subject Editors on August 04, 2004
Reviewed by Marian Keeler
Bamboo is harvested and manufactured in Vietnam, away from panda habitats, but still with a large embodied energy load because of overseas shipping. Rapidly renewable, self-regenerating, grass product rather than wood, in essence a wood alternative. Minimal fertilization or pesticides. Worker conditions a goal of company. Moso is a very durable type of bamboo.
Assumption is that this solid floor product, because it's not laminated, does not contain added formaldehyde. Floor product must be sanded, stained and finished on site, contributing to IAQ issues. To avoid sink effect of emissions, sequence installation so that installation and finish of floor takes place before installation of all porous materials such as fabrics. Seal off walls, ventilate room according to manufacturer's instructions. Dimensionally stable, extremely hard, lifetime warranty.
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Island Pond Wood Products
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Lydia Corser's Review
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Furniture
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Approved by Subject Editors on August 02, 2006
Reviewed by Lydia Corser
Island Pond Woods is providing clients with beautiful, well-crafted, durable furniture. They are responsive to the mandates of their clients, but favor using FSC certified wood in their furniture. Island Pond Woods can and will use water-based urethane or a penetrating oil wax finish on their pieces, but like the FSC wood, this must be specified. Many clients currently opt for a two-step catalyzed lacquer finish for durability, which is not this specifier's preferable option. Island Pond Woods also uses Titebond glues, but you'll want to specify the Titebond III to get the lowest VOC's possible. They work with each client's specifications, so be clear about your green goals for the project.
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Blacks Farmwood
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Marian Keeler's Review
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Flooring
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Approved by Subject Editors on March 28, 2005
Reviewed by Marian Keeler
1. Black's Farmwood supplies reclaimed woods of many varieties for different applications ranging from beams, siding, cabinetry and wood flooring. For purposes of this review, wood flooring will be considered. Using reclaimed wood flooring greatly reduces the environmental burden on our forests, one of our most precious and rapidly diminishing natural resources. It is re-use in its purest sense, as most of these woods have lived a useful life in the form of barns.
2. Woods are inherently durable, some species more than others. Maintenance should be minimal, with low VOC cleaning and sealing products as recommended by the manufacturer. Energy expended in manufacture has already taken place partially at the time of originial harvesting. Additional energy is expended for kiln drying wood flooring material.
3. This product is a boon to indoor air quality if careful maintenance and cleaning procedures are followed. Flooring products from Black's are kiln-dried which means most pests are dealt with. No fumigation of flooring (or other wood products from Black's) takes place. When using wood for an application other than flooring, pest infestation is a possiblity since these products are not kiln-dried. If using woods than have been whitewashed in a previous life, lead paint exposure is also a possibility. If paint has been removed, ask if strippers have been usesd, and if so, how long ago. If an odor is present, ask what treatment the wood product has received. Ask if there has been a "conditioning" period during which any treatment the wood has received has had a chance to off-gas. Carefully review sealers and cleaning materials so as not to contribute a new chemical burden to the indoor air. Decide on frequency of cleaning and maintenance in consultation with manufacturer.
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Woodshanti
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Lydia Corser's Review
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Furniture
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Approved by Subject Editors on August 13, 2004
Reviewed by Lydia Corser
Woodshanti focuses primarily on minimizing environmental impact and creating durable, well-crafted and beautiful furniture. These are heirloom pieces from certified, sustainable forests. The higher quality pieces will be handed down over generations, so raw material input becomes negligible over time. In a small company, such as this one, with highly trained craftspeople who are completely dedicated to top quality and the planet, every aspect of energy input has been considered. This is the best-case scenario for furniture making. Woodshanti does everything in its power to minimize health impacts to both the creators of its' products and the end user. They have researched and been trained application of in the least toxic finishes available today.
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Natures Carpet
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Marian Keeler's Review
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Flooring
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Approved by Subject Editors on August 04, 2004
Reviewed by Marian Keeler
Wool is a natural biodegradable product and a renewable resource. Use of wool instead of synthetic fibers reduces toxic pollutants and synthetic waste disposal. Wool is recyclable, where color is required, vegetable dyes are used, but typically the color is just the 'stuff of sheep." Wool is washed, spun and made into fiber without chemicals which could potentially cause environmental destruction. Wool comes from sheep that have been raised organically in isolated fields in New Zealand, these fields have not been treated with pesticides or chemical fertilization. Raw materials are all tested before assembly into the carpet product. The wool receives no moth treatment. Cotton for some backing enhancements is organically grown. A variety of vegetable and non-metallic dyes as well as an undyed choice is available. Jute is harvested and made in Bangladesh, thus creating jobs for the local economy. Sheep are raised in New Zealand. Organic cotton is used for the denser carpets for added strength. Nature's Carpet has a series of styles, backings, dyes and densities in their line. The carpet itself is assembled in Denmark and Australia (2 mills in Denmark, one in Australia), so embodied transportation energy costs are high, but since shipping transport is used, this is a less impactive form of transportation.
If properly maintained, carpet should last 5-10 years, excluding stair installations. Wool can be shredded after its useful life and incorporated into soil as compost. It does not get recycled the way a synthetic product does.
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YOLO Colorhouse
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Victoria Schomer's Review
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Paint
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Approved by Subject Editors on July 22, 2005
Reviewed by Victoria Schomer
Yolo offers a line of very attractive pre-mixed synthetic paint products - based on a color palette that is in the "cooler" tones. Like most of the growing number of very-low and zero-VOC paints, Yolo's zero-VOC paint contains some biocide and preservative chemical additives. The wall paint product is quite thick and creamy to apply, thicker than most synthetic paints, yet comparable in application. The range of "Colorhouse" colors are very soothing and easy to live with.
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Page 17 of 18 pages « First < 15 16 17 18 >
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