Best House Floor Plans

What are the qualities of non-toxic carpeting? What features should one look for in eco-friendly carpets and rugs?

Non-toxic carpets represent an overwhelming aspect of the environmentally conducive domicile. In fact, just like freshly applied paint, laden in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some new carpeting reeks of health issues. Since VOCs emit noxious fumes and gases, these elements contribute to a host of irritating symptoms that are the antithesis of eco-friendly carpeting:

• Allergic skin reaction
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nausea
• Stuffy or runny nose uncomfortable breathing
• Throat discomfort

The binding, used to secure the fibers of conventional carpeting, or 4-phenylcyclohexene (4-PCH ) releases a lethal aroma. While the odor lingers for week or more after installation, the pungent smell is quite toxic. Nevertheless, many people are unaware of the dangers of 4-PCH.

Fortunately, eco friendly carpets are non-toxic and do not possess poisonous chemicals. With the installation of low-VOC carpets, occupants can live in a healthier environment. Use the following checklist to identify the features of non-toxic carpets:

• When shopping for a carpet, confirm that the carpet adheres to the standards and requirements approved by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Indoor Air Quality guidelines. Usually, these carpets are labeled with the CRI icon.
• Contains 100 percent raw materials ( in example: natural wool carpet or organic cotton).
• During manufacturing, the carpet does not endure any harsh chemicals or additives no (i.e.: stain protections, synthetic polypropylene, pesticides or dyes).
• Shop for environmentally friendly, non-toxic carpet pads. Ones, which contain styrene butadiene should be avoided.
• The backing is made of durable materials, such as hemp or cotton.
• The adhesive is natural, biodegradable and non-toxic. (For instance, rubber trees contain natural adhesives)

As an eco-friendly alternative to the non-toxic carpet, review which materials are available in eco-flooring and carpeting. Prior to installation, don’t forget to allow the eco-friendly carpet air outside to release any noxious chemicals.

Aside from its color, what makes one rug green from the next? What to look for in eco-friendly rugs?

Dear Best House Floor Plans,

Recently, we remodeled our floors. Now, we want to buy eco-friendly rugs to add to our kids’ bedrooms and our media room. Can you tell me if there’s really such a thing as eco friendly rugs? And if so, what features are important?

- Trying to Go Green in Arkansas

Eco-friendly rugs are an excellent follow up to eco-flooring. From dying to the manufacturing process, traditional carpets are rich in toxins, dyes and require synthetic chemicals. If you’re looking for carpeting with eco-friendly qualities, here are five features to add to your criteria:

• Meets environmental regulations for recycling
• Outlasts conventional flooring
• Is 100 percent recyclable
• Requires minimal energy dependency in manufacturing and transport
• Promotes a healthy indoor environment

Another redeeming quality to look for in the eco-friendly rug is the way in which it is dyed. Unlike traditional carpeting that entails highly pollutant dyeing methods, eco-friendly rugs use less energy and have minimal effect on the carbon footprint.

Shop for eco friendly rugs that have been tested by the Environmental Protection agency. Also,  the Carpet & Rug Institutes Indoor Air Quality Standards is an excellent resource for homeowners in quest of eco-friendly rugs.

For instance, Green Floor Residential Carpet has quite a collection of eco-friendly rugs. Most of their products are recycled from already used food and beverage containers. Also, the products have minimal if any volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Remember, a wealth of elements promotes allergens such as: mould spores, dust mites, animal dander, and pollen. As a result, the best eco-friendly rug requires green cleaning practices and does not contain the ethylene oxide.

While many companies use ethylene oxide, the chemical is not biodegradable or considered an eco-friendly rug.
Have a question on buying eco-friendly rugs, and other household products? Email us your question and we’ll do our best to answer your question in upcoming posts.

Is Eco-friendly paint another marketing gimmick? What does it mean for the home?
Is eco-friendly paint healthier than traditional paint?

Eco-friendly paint is key to green living. Since, it minimizes the level of pollutants enclosed in the home, it promotes good health. Conventional paints contain toxic elements, which are linked to causing various types of cancer, fatigue, headaches, respiratory illnesses and other chronic ailments.

Based on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American homes have higher levels of pollutants than most outdoor environments. Of course, it is not applicable to industrial communities.  But, it’s the invisible chemicals released from paints, stainers, and other household products that contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Long after conventional paint dries on a wall, a chemical release transpires. The toxic element is known as volatile organic compounds or (VOC) and supplies the home with indoor air pollution.  It’s also one of the reasons that eco-friendly paint has become such a high commodity.

On the contrary and depending on the brand, natural paints come with a few drawbacks. Unlike paints that contain VOC, natural paint requires more coats and is not intended for exterior use. Nonetheless, eco-friendly paint is available in a number of natural forms. Today, we’re reviewing clay and lime wash natural paints:
Clay Paint

Clay is a popular eco-friendly paint choice. While, it comes in an assortment of earth tones, orange, blue and white tints, clay paint has limited color options. However, the natural paint is a good alternative because it adheres to just about any surface and doubles as an odor absorber. On the downside, clay paint tends to be expensive and does not take well to stains. In other words, clay paint is not intended for washing or wiping away prints.

Lime wash

Quite affordable and a definitive green living preference over the traditional, lime wash is made of a calcium-based mineral. It is known as limestone. When mixed with water, this natural paint turns into a white wash. Since lime wash absorbs into the subsurface, it develops an antique appearance. While lime wash is ideal for porous materials (in example: wood, brick, concrete and plaster), it does not work well on drywall or already painted surfaces.

How to identify real eco-friendly household products from the gimmicks?

 What do bottled-water, toilet paper and light bulbs have in common? Depending on the manufacturing process or means of transport, all may or may not be eco-friendly household products. So before we go shopping for those eco-household products, we should know how to distinguish the difference between authentic green home products and faux eco products.

 It seems impossible to go anywhere these days without seeing anything marketed as “eco-friendly” or touted as “being green”. For those of you who are skeptical, you’ll be happy to know you have good reason to be a cynic. But, we know that everything labeled with these words is not necessarily authentically eco. 

 Just because the paper located in the home printer is made of recycled paper, does not constitute it as a totally eco-friendly product. In fact, genuine green home care products exceed the sustainable and recycled elements. Authentically eco-friendly household products are manufactured and exported with a special attention to its impact on the environment as well as its sustainability. 

 The proof of eco-household or kitchen appliance products is in the substantiation. In other words, just because a cleaning item, says that’s its eco-friendly does not warrant the evidence. A third party certification from any agency like Energy Star is the type of validation to look for.  So the next time you go shopping to stock up on eco-friendly household products, use these tips to identify the authenticity of environmentally friendly goods: Confirm the validation. Quite often, manufacturers falsely label their goods to appear eco-friendly, when they are not. For instance, certain home appliances are marked with the words, “Energy Star” registered. However, a visit to the Energy Star can validate this information. Check the product. Another nifty eco marketing gimmick is to say that a product is made out of recycled paper when it is clearly made of plastic. The only “recycled paper” is the label. This is commonly found on dishwasher detergent bottles. Confirm energy efficiency. Just because light bulbs, fixtures and household lamps have the words: “energy efficient,” it does not mean there’s any truth behind the content. Be sure to research what makes the product eco-friendly. Read between the lines. Terms like “chemical free” and “all natural” tend to be misleading eco-friendly product identifiers. Since everything is a chemical, including water, nothing is completely “chemical free.” As for the phrase “all natural,” formaldehyde, arsenic and mercury are poisonous but “all natural” elements.  So at the end of the day, real-eco friendly household products exceed words, labels and ambiguous terms. The proof is in the certification, production process and actual benefits to the environment.

Are water bottles hazardous to your health? What’s the toxic chemical found in plastic bottled water? Check out the controversy. Bottled water is now under scrutiny. As long as we’re developing the blueprints to our green living environment, we can’t forget about what we put in our bodies. Rumor has it that plastic water bottles contain potentially lethal elements. As environmentalists raise concerns about the safety of the chemical used to manufacture these plastic containers, water bottles are less eco-friendly than ever.  Found in certain, baby bottles, soft drinks as well as bottled water, bisphenol-A is dubbed an “endocrine disrupter.” Certain trials suggest that BPA mimics estrogen’s response to the body, affecting the endocrine system. The unsavory chemical has been shown to improve a woman’s chance of a miscarriage. In laboratory tests, bisphenol-A heightens the risk of breast cancer in animals and prostate cancer in male rats.  On the other side of the bottled water safety issue, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as The American Plastics Council contend that these plastics are non-hazardous. Nevertheless, plastics are inevitably degradable. It is evident in polycarbonate bottles that fade or become cloudy. In fact, it can even alter the taste of the water. When this happens, it’s time to discard the water bottle into a recycle bin. To prevent the risk of chemical decomposition, many experts recommend never placing water bottles in the microwave or dishwasher. Regardless of how water bottles are used, other health analysts believe that bottled water has its unsavory health risks. Since, plastic bottles are not only negative for the environment and now linked to health risks, we might consider getting our daily supply from an alternative source to the water bottle. Fortunately, we have other resources like purified water, glass and stainless steel canteens. Aside from bottled water, remember to check other bottled beverages: soda, baby food and even certain contained foods.  Other bottled water resources to review: 

Environmental Health Perspectives

Toxic Plastics Chemical in Canned Food