We’ve put together these basic frequently asked questions to give you a starting point in your global warming education. When you’re done reading up on the basics, check out our site to learn more about how you can do your part to lower your contribution to global warming.

What causes global warming? Is it part of a natural cycle?

Global warming is caused by the atmospheric buildup of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, which form a sort of blanket over the Earth, trapping in heat that would normally escape the atmosphere. Most human-generated greenhouse gases come in the form of carbon dioxide, a pollutant emitted from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. While it is true that there has always been some natural climate variability, record levels of carbon dioxide are spurring far-reaching changes in our weather, sea levels, and climate. 

Throughout ice ages, higher concentrations of carbon dioxide have correlated with higher temperatures. Humans are exacerbating global temperatures through industrial activity which dramatically increases carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. In its recent report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that 2005 carbon dioxide levels significantly exceed average concentration levels over the past 650,000 years.

• Click here to read the report on global warming science by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world’s leading scientific body on global warming.

How can global warming affect our lives?

We do not yet fully know how radical climate change will affect our way of life, but we do know that the effects of growing carbon dioxide emissions already occurring are staggering: the eleven years ranging between 1995 and 2006 rank among the twelve warmest years recorded since 1850. Sea level rise will likely increase 20-50 inches (.5-1.4 meters) above 1990 levels by 2100, dramatically altering coastal communities and natural habitats.

Leading scientists assert that a rise of 2 degrees Celsius (4 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial temperatures would leave hundreds of millions of people around the world “exposed to increased water stress,” decrease air quality in cities, increase ocean acidification leading to the destruction of calcifying marine life (including coral and dependent species), negatively impact farmers and fishers, increase the likelihood and severity of wildfires, and dramatically escalate mortality rates resulting from drought, floods, and heat waves. Few ecosystems could adapt to such a dramatic temperature change, potentially resulting in the extinction of 30% of species and the loss of 30% of coastal wetlands. In North America specifically, higher temperatures will decrease snow pack in the western mountains, reducing summer water supplies and exacerbating chances of drought.

To avoid such catastrophes, scientists say that we must reduce our carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050 to prevent global temperatures from rising above 2 degrees Celsius (4 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial averages.

Read the IPCC’s definitive report on the possible impacts of global warming.

Does the rise in Earth’s temperature cause more intense storms and hurricanes? If so, how?

Yes. Hurricanes are powered by warm water on the surface of the ocean. As global warming heats the surface of the water, hurricanes will increase in speed, power, and severity.

In its most recent report, IPCC found that tropical storms have become more intense in the North Atlantic since 1970, during which time period carbon dioxide levels have increased by 80%. The report also found that future tropical typhoons and hurricanes will likely become more intense as measured by higher wind speeds and heavier precipitation. More powerful cyclones will lead to crop damage, power outages, increase risk of food and water-borne diseases, population migration, and property loss.

What are the largest sources of global warming pollution in the world and in the United States?

According to 2005 figures by the Department of Energy, the US produces 21.1% of all CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, at 5,957 million metric tons. While it was second to the U.S. in 2005, China took over first place in mid-2007, emitting roughly 28% of the world’s CO2. But that does mean that the U.S. emits more CO2 than India (4.1%), Russia (6%), Japan (4.4%), Australia (1.4%), and more than all of Europe (16.6%).

The U.S. emits roughly 30% of its carbon dioxide from the transportation sector and 40% from power plants. We burn coal and natural gas to produce electricity for our homes, businesses, and factories. Most of the oil is burned to power transportation–planes, buses, and cars. Unfortunately, nearly all of the technology that produces this energy is outdated and inefficient. We can continue to live our lives by putting more efficient technology to use, and by generating more energy from clean sources like wind, solar and fuel cells.

Can we curb our emissions of global warming pollution without hurting our economy?

Absolutely. America’s current energy policy is terribly expensive, requiring large subsidies while taking a heavy toll on consumers. Studies show that by investing in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency, we can reduce our greenhouse emissions the necessary 80% by 2050 while creating new jobs and saving consumers money, and we can do so without producing dangerous and expensive electricity from nuclear reactors.

While many countries in Europe and Asia are recognizing the need to curb emissions, America’s industries are falling behind. America needs policies and programs that will stimulate green power industries so we can ensure that America will once again lead the world in technology and manufacturing. And by making simple choices in the kinds of products we buy, such as compact florescent light bulbs and hybrid cars, we can all save money and protect the environment by consuming less energy.

• Read the latest report that proves we can curb global warming and create jobs.
• Read the Sierra Club’s official roadmap to achieving 80% carbon reductions by 2050 without nuclear power.
• Read Energy [R]evolution: a Blueprint for Solving Global Warming
• Read the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research’s Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free: A Roadmap For U.S. Energy Policy

How is the international community addressing climate change?

Recognizing the urgency of the threat posed by climate change, developing countries agreed at recent UN climate change negotiations in Bali to complement developed-country mitigation targets with nationally appropriate mitigation actions of their own. This represents a significant change of position on the part of developing countries. The U.S. has the opportunity to capitalize on the momentum of Bali if we act quickly to put in place the necessary legislation to reduce domestic emissions.

• Read the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Bali Final Results

Is it too late to stop global warming?

While it is true that global warming is already occurring and affecting the way we live, we can prevent global temperatures from reaching dangerous levels if we take steps now to begin dramatically reducing our carbon emissions. If we do not begin to shift to clean energy, the heat waves and hurricanes that we have already suffered through will worsen. Thankfully, we have all the tools necessary to curb our emissions of greenhouse gases–tools like clean energy, energy efficiency, and cars that go farther on a gallon of gas. Click here to learn more about global warming solutions.

Top Tips

At home

• Take your lamp to task. Some lamps provide illumination for a particular task, like reading in bed or working at a desk. Others, like ceiling lamps, are designed for general or ambient lighting. Having good task lamps where you need them most will allow you to keep the ambient light levels lower, saving energy and reducing your carbon footprint.
• Pass it forward. Don’t let unused lamps clutter up your house, garage, or attic. If they’re in good shape, donate them to a local thrift store. Your ugly duckling may be another person’s swan.

When shopping, look for

• CFL compatibility. When shopping for a new or used lamp, take your favorite compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) with you to make sure it fits. Say no to lamps that only work with energy-wasting halogen bulbs.
• Appropriate design. Before buying a new lamp, examine its design. Will the lampshade’s color, shape, and material allow light where you need it? Some shades block a lot of light, or direct light where you don’t need it. That means you wind up paying for lighting energy you’re not even using.
• Recycled content. Some eco-friendly companies make lamps with recycled glass, recycled paper or even used (but sterilized!) chopsticks. Favor products made with a high post-consumer recycled content.
• Light/fan combos. Ceiling fans fitted with CFLs are a great energy-saving option. You get the low-energy cooling from the fan, and energy-efficient lighting from the lamp. Always choose Energy Star fans.

Avoid

• Halogen torchieres. Torchieres are tall floor lamps with a shallow, bowl-shaped light fixture mounted on a pole. Halogen torchieres sold before 2006 may have 300- to 600-watt halogen bulbs that operate at temperatures exceeding 1,200°F. These high-wattage halogens have caused hundreds of fires and at least a dozen deaths. Besides being hazardous, they’re huge energy hogs. If you already have a high-wattage halogen torchiere, replace it with a safe, energy-efficient CFL torchiere. Federal law now requires that all torchieres manufactured after 2006 consume no more than 190 watts–but even that is a lot more than a CFL uses.

Other Considerations

• When buying recessed ceiling lights (commonly called “cans”) make sure they are rated “insulation contact-air tight,” or ICAT. Conventional recessed light fixtures are like holes in the ceiling. In the winter, they let warm air leak from your house into the cold attic. That leakage wastes energy and can cause condensation in the attic and other sorts of potentially damaging conditions like ice on the roof. In the summer, recessed light fixtures provide a path for air-conditioned air to leak out of your living spaces. With old-style cans you also have to be careful that attic insulation doesn’t come into contact with the light fixture. ICAT recessed cans solve these problems: they are airtight and can be covered with insulation.
• If you have an energy-saving CFL that’s too big for a particular table lamp or floor lamp, try a harp extender (the harp is the wire that goes around the bulb and supports the lampshade). If the CFL’s ballast (the plastic base that houses its electronic components) is too big for a lamp’s base, try a socket extender. Harp and socket extenders are cheap and sold in the electrical or lighting aisle of hardware stores.

Benefits…

…to you
Good quality lighting reduces eyestrain when reading, knitting, and doing other tasks.

…to your wallet
Putting light only where you need it reduces your energy bills.

…to the Earth
Reusing lamps and choosing lamps made with post-consumer recycled content keep useful resources out of landfills. The type of light bulb makes the most difference in your bills and energy usage, but some lamps, like ICAT recessed can lights, can shrink both.

Getting Started

Before you decide you need a new lamp, look for used ones at used furniture stores, flea markets, and thrift stores. If you find one you like, be sure to check that it can accommodate a CFL, and that the wiring, switches, plugs, and other parts are in good condition. If in doubt, skip it or have an electrician check it out.

Related Products & Services

CFLs
Exterior lighting
Lighting controls
LED

Whether you live in a house, apartment, or dorm room, you’ll need furniture to provide a place to sit, eat, and store your stuff. You’ll naturally consider materials, color, quality, and cost. You may also want to use furniture to express your personal style. But what if (as evidenced by your coming to this site) it’s your style to create a healthy home that’s contributing to a healthy planet? Well, then you’ll want to do some research. You’ll need to think about the entire life cycle of the piece, taking into account the resources used to make it, the energy costs associated with transporting it, and the ease of disposal. You’ll want to know whether it’s going to pollute your indoor air.

We don’t recommend that you try to do this research while standing in the middle of a furniture store. But green furniture is a fast-growing retail segment. If you know the lingo and the basics principles of green design before you go to the store, you’ll be able to make good choices with a minimum of head scratching.

Top Tips

At home

• Reuse. In your effort to go green, you may be tempted to throw out your existing furniture. But keep in mind that every new couch, bookshelf, or table takes a toll on the environment, from the resources used to make it to the energy consumed to transport it. So, before you buy new, reuse what you’ve got. Be creative. Can you repaint using a low- or zero-VOC paint? Can you cut off legs or re-upholster? Can a dresser become a baby changing table?
• Recycle. If you are going to part with some existing furniture, don’t just dump it in a landfill. Sell it or give it away. If you don’t know anybody who wants it, try websites such as Craigslist or Freecycle.

When shopping, look for

• Certified wood. If you are buying new furniture, look for wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). That’s an assurance that it came from forestry operations that meet strong environmental, social, and economic performance standards.
• Other eco-friendly options. Some bamboo processing options are less environmentally friendly than others, but, on the whole, bamboo is considered one of the greenest materials because it’s fast growing and doesn’t require pesticides. Other eco-friendly options include metal and glass.
• Reclaimed or recycled materials. Lately, furniture is being made of reclaimed wood, recycled metal, and recycled plastic. Keep in mind, however, that furniture made before 1978 may have lead-based paint or finishes. And, polyurethane foam may emit more flame retardants and other chemicals as it ages, so an older piece of foam may have higher emissions.
• Go local. Do your best to find materials that weren’t transported long distances.
• Low or no VOCs. Furniture can taint your indoor air through toxic finishes or adhesives. Choose paints, stains, and other finishes that are water based, with the lowest possible volatile organic compounds (VOC). And look for formaldehyde-free composite wood. A single piece of high-emitting furniture can elevate formaldehyde levels enough to cause eye, nose, throat, or skin irritation or headaches, fatigue, and respiratory problems. Placing a piece of furniture outside when you first get it can minimize the fumes, since emissions are generally highest right after furniture is manufactured. But the emissions may continue at low levels for a couple of years.
• Certification. Several organizations offer air-quality certifications for furnishings. Greenguard is the most widely recognized.

Other Considerations

• Inside your soft furnishings, including padded wood chairs, is often foam that has been treated with flame retardants. Usually, one of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) is used, although other flame retardants are on the market. PBDEs escape from foam and can be found in household dust. North Americans have concentrations of PBDEs in their bodies that are 40 times higher than those in Europe. The chemical can disrupt thyroid hormone levels and slow brain development, among other health effects.
• Another important factor is fabric. Conventional cotton is heavily treated with pesticides. Heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are often used to treat and color the fabric. Plus, some fabrics are treated with stain repellants, usually perfluorochemicals, which can cause adverse health effects. Choose untreated natural fibers with eco-friendly dyes.
• Before you buy, consider how you will dispose of the furniture down the road. Materials that can be recycled are the best choice.

Benefits…

…to your health
Choosing furniture that will not taint your indoor air with noxious chemicals will improve your health.

…to your wallet
Green furniture has come down significantly in price, with options at almost any price point. If you go the reuse or recycled route, you’ll save even more.

…to the Earth
Choosing green furniture protects forests and reduces the amount of toxic chemicals used in manufacturing. Using recycled or reclaimed materials saves resources and requires less energy for processing.

Common Mistakes

Buying into flame retardants. Sales staff will often tell customers that chemical flame retardants must be used to meet federal and state regulations. Not true. Yes, federal and state standards exist to prevent the ignition and spread of fires, but brominated and chlorinated flame retardants are not required. Other systems can be used to meet the standards.

Getting Started

Figure out what you need in terms of function, and then choose the type of material. Then it’s time to research what green options are available.

Related Products & Services

• Flooring, bamboo
• Paints
• Lumber
• Wooden outdoor furniture

At the most basic level, a roof protects you from the elements. And the greenest roof is the roof that lasts the longest. But new kinds of roofs can do more than keep you out of the rain and snow. Some will keep your house cooler, making you feel more comfortable and giving your air conditioner a break. Some provide wildlife habitat, and others collect rainwater you can use to water your garden. Others perform the amazing feat of harvesting sunlight to power your house and heat your water.

Top Tips

When shopping, look for

• The right material for your climate. If you live in a place with hot and sunny weather, choose a “cool roof” made with products designed to reflect the sun’s heat. Energy Star-qualified cool roof products can lower the roof’s surface temperature by as much as 100° F. and reduce the energy you use for air conditioning by 10% to 15%. Earlier cool roofs were white or very light colored, which didn’t work with every architectural style. But today’s cool roof products are available in wide range of colors and materials. Another benefit is that they don’t expand and contract in the sun as much as other roofing materials and so are likely to hold up longer.

• Planet-friendly materials. Which natural resources and how much energy went into making the product? How far did it have to travel to reach you? (Products that come from great distances typically use more transportation energy than locally made products.)
• Recycled materials. Several companies now offer slate or cedar look-alikes that are really made from recycled plastic or automobile-tire rubber. These products are too new to have proven durability, but some manufacturers offer 40- or 50-year warranties. Pricing is comparable to wood shingles and much less than real slate.
• Long warranties. Choose products that can last 40 or 50 years. They’ll cost more than the lower-grade products, but they’ll hold up better.

Other Considerations

• A newfangled take on the old sod roof, a vegetated “green roof” is a multilayered system of insulation, waterproofing, root barriers, drainage, lightweight soil, and, of course, plants. Green roofs are expensive to install (about $8 a square foot, compared with $1.25 a square foot for conventional roofs) and generally work only on low slopes. But they can offer tremendous benefits. They replace barren rooftops with grasses, succulents, wildflowers, or herbs–a vibrant habitat for birds, butterflies, and other critters. They insulate buildings, reducing heating and cooling costs. They extend the lives of roofs by protecting them from UV rays and thermal expansion. They reduce the heat-island effect and filter pollutants from the air and rainwater. And of course they look beautiful, too.
• With the right roofing materials, you can also collect rainwater from your roof to water your garden. Rainwater harvesting systems range from basic barrels under a downspout to huge underground tanks complete with pumps to get water to your plants. Good roofing options for rainwater harvesting include clay or cement tile, some metals, and slate. Avoid anything that may leach poisons into the rainwater, such as asphalt or tar. With wood, leaching can occur from mold or algae growing on the wood, or from the preservatives and fire retardants used to treat it. The jury is still out on leaching from recycled-plastic shingles.
• If you have unshaded south-facing roof space, think about adding a solar electric system or solar hot water panels.
• To help you assess the more conventional roofing options, here’s an introduction to their pros and cons.
  • Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material. They top two-thirds of U.S. homes, and millions of tons of them wind up in landfills each year. They consist of a fiberglass or paper mat coated with asphalt (a petroleum-based product) and topped with mineral granules that provide UV protection. Lower-grade products cost less, but last only 15 or 20 years. The need for frequent replacement takes its toll on the environment. If you do choose asphalt shingles, choose a heavier, thicker, premium-grade product with a 40- or 50-year warranty.
  • Concrete and clay tiles are popular in some parts of the country. Clay tiles are made from clay, an abundant though nonrenewable resource. The main environmental issue is the energy necessary to fire and transport them. Often fashioned to look like clay, concrete tiles are cheaper. They contain about 25% portland cement, an energy-intensive material to manufacture, but are otherwise relatively environmentally benign. Clay and concrete tiles are heavy, so it’s a good idea to seek out locally made products to minimize the dollar and energy cost of hauling them long distances. Clay and concrete tiles are durable and fireproof but they can shatter in severe hailstorms. If you live in a cold climate, make sure the tiles you choose are rated to withstand freeze-thaw cycles.
  • Fiber-cement shingles are made of cement mixed with wood fiber; they used to contain asbestos but no longer do. They’re durable and fireproof, but may shatter in hailstorms. If you live in a cold climate, choose a product that’s rated to withstand freeze-thaw cycles.
  • Wood shingles and shakes are a traditional roofing material in some parts of the country but they can be expensive. (Shingles are sawn from logs and have a smoother finish; shakes are split from logs and look more rustic.) Some products are treated with preservatives or fire retardants–the latter being a requirement for wood roofs in some regions. These roofs will last longer, but they may leach chemicals into waterways. Premium grades are also tougher, but more likely to come from old-growth trees. You can get around this problem by choosing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified shingles and shakes.
  • Metal roofs, which come in panels, shingles, and tiles, are lightweight, strong, durable, and fire resistant. Aluminum, steel, and copper are the most common metals used, and although manufacturing them takes a lot of energy, many contain high recycled content and most are recyclable.
  • Slate tiles can last 100 years or more. If they’re ever removed they can be reused for roofs, flooring, or countertops. Slate is minimally processed and relatively environmentally benign. For the greenest option, choose salvaged slate. But if you’re buying it new, look for stone quarried in your part of the country to minimize transportation energy.
  • The most common and least expensive material for flat roofs is built-up tar and gravel roofing. It’s installed by putting down layers of roofing felt (actually sheets of fiberglass or paper but known in the building industry as felt) coated with hot asphalt or bitumen–a tar-like material made from petroleum or coal. The hot asphalt and bitumen create quite a stink when they are being applied. The top layer is spread with gravel for added UV protection. When newer tar-and-gravel roofs heat up in the sun, they give off VOCs. While most of these VOCs wind up in the outside air, some may make their way into your house through windows and vents. Tar-and-gravel roofs typically have shorter life spans than most other roofing materials–only about 12 years on average.

Benefits…

…to you
A durable, high quality roof protects you and your home from the elements. Specialty roofs can also generate power, harvest water, or make your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer, harvest water, and generate power.

…to your wallet
The 10% to 15% that a reflective roof can save you on air conditioning costs is nothing to sniff at if you live in hot climate. In a city like Phoenix, for instance, you could easily save $150 a year with a 1,000-square-foot “cool” roof.

…to the Earth
Durable roofs require less frequent replacement. That means less greenhouse gas is emitted, less nonrenewable material is wrested from the Earth, and a lot less waste piles up in landfills. Roofing materials with recycled content keep even more valuable resources out of the waste heap. With widespread use, “cool” roofing products could lead to cooler cities, reducing the need for air conditioning in buildings and cars, and decreasing smog and heat- and smog-related health problems.

Common Mistakes

• Cutting corners. A lower-quality roof may cost you less upfront, but can be costly when you have to replace it or if it fails and allows water into your home.
• Procrastination. If your roof leaks, don’t delay in getting it repaired. Moisture intrusion can lead to mold and rot, which may cause health problems for your family and could lead to serious structural problems for the building.

Getting Started

• If you’re considering a green roof, be sure to hire an installer with extensive experience and get an excellent warranty: the failure of a green roof could be very expensive to fix. Green roofs do require some maintenance, especially until the plants are well established. In fire-prone regions, local building codes may require the roof to be irrigated. Get advice from a structural engineer about whether your house can bear the added weight of a green roof.
• For general advice on what questions to ask contractors and other tradespeople, see our “What to Ask Your Contractor” article.

What’s underfoot is a big deal. Your floors cover hundreds–maybe even thousands–of square feet, affect the look of every room, can use heaps of materials, and therefore come with a big price tag. Fortunately, they also offer you a chance to make positive esthetic and environmental changes. The key is to start by asking the right questions about materials, installation, durability, and maintenance. Soon you’ll be on your way to a home that is as healthy as it is beautiful.

Top Tips

At home

• Take a second look at your old floor. Often the greenest approach is to keep using what’s already in your home. Pulling out and discarding the old floor takes its toll on the environment. If your floor is made of wood, can it be sanded and refinished to restore it to its original beauty? Does the carpet need to be torn out or would a deep cleaning brighten it? Can your stone floor be polished to its original luster? Can cracked tiles be chiseled out and replaced?

When shopping, ask about

• Materials. What are the raw ingredients? Are they primarily renewable or nonrenewable resources? Where did the materials come from and where was the product made? Think twice before choosing products made from materials that were harvested or mined in countries with lax environmental laws. Also, products that come from far away use more energy for transportation than local products. What kinds of additives, glues, finishes or other chemicals were used in making the product? Will the flooring send potentially harmful chemicals into your home? Does the product bear a seal of approval from a reputable certification agency that vouches for the material’s low emissions?
• Installation. Consider the costs, not just of the materials, but also for the labor to install it, including preparing the subfloor if necessary. Some materials, like floating wood and bamboo floors, go in relatively easily and quickly and are forgiving about imperfections in the subfloor. Others, like sheet linoleum or concrete, require an experienced installer.
• Durability. Is the product durable? Can you refinish it if it becomes scratched or worn? Long-lasting flooring products are better for your wallet because you’re less likely to have to replace them and better for the environment because they’re less likely to wind up in a landfill or incinerator.
• Maintenance. What are the manufacturer’s recommendations for maintaining and cleaning the product? Can it be easily cleaned using nontoxic, biodegradable soaps and does it have low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in the finish?

Benefits…

…to your health, and the Earth
Of the options we examine here, carpet has the most potential health issues. Most of the other choices can be compatible with high indoor air quality if you choose the right finishes and adhesives. As to their effect on the Earth, see individual sections on Bamboo; Carpet; Concrete, Stone, Terrazzo and Tile; Cork; Linoleum; Wood.

…to your wallet
Measured by costs per year of the floor’s life, linoleum is probably the least expensive of all the above flooring options. Its initial cost is moderate ($4 a square foot), it is low maintenance and can last half a century. Concrete can also be a low-cost option depending on the condition of your slab and what kind of finish you want. Carpet might look economical at first because you can find “bargains” for $3 a square foot or so. But good quality carpet costs more (up to $13 a square foot) and lasts only a decade or two. Most of the other options we’ll explore here fall somewhere in the middle economically. Cork costs $5 to $9 a square foot. Hardwood floors run $5 to $12 a square foot and can be sanded and refinished many times. Tile and terrazzo are also long-lasting, but cost $8 to $35 a square foot. And don’t forget installation costs, which can add an additional $4 to $10 a square foot to your flooring choice.

Common Mistakes

• Ignoring the subfloor. Don’t forget the environmental and health impacts of what’s underneath the finished floor. It’s usually plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), or another sheathing material laid over the floor joists. When installing a new subfloor, choose wood-based products that have no added urea formaldehyde, which can irritate your lungs and may cause cancer. If you can’t find subflooring material that’s specifically labeled as having no added urea formaldehyde, consider exterior-grade plywood. It’s made with phenol formaldehyde, which emits less than urea formaldehyde. Or use oriented strand board (OSB), which is usually made with a (safer) polyurethane adhesive. Also look for wood subfloor materials with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.
• Using tropical hardwoods. Sometimes another layer is added beneath the floor to make a smoother surface. Often it’s made from lauan and other tropical hardwoods likely to have been unsustainably harvested. Avoid such products unless FSC certified.

Getting Started

• Before you move ahead, take time to find an environmentally responsible way to dispose of the old floor. Solid wood floors, especially from older buildings, are much in demand by organizations that specialize in deconstruction: they’ll come to your home, dismantle the flooring (and other materials if you’re doing a full-scale remodel), and resell the materials in their stores. If the deconstruction outfit is a not-for-profit organization like Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores, they’ll give you a donation receipt that you may be able to use to take a deduction on your income taxes.
• If the floor isn’t salvageable, is it recyclable? Most flooring materials are hard to recycle, but it’s worth a call to your local recycling department, or check out www.earth911.org.
• Ask any potential installer the following questions:
  • How much expertise does the flooring contractor have installing the type of flooring you’ve chosen? Just because a contractor has installed stone floors, for example, doesn’t mean he or she will do a good job with a concrete floor. Linoleum installers should be certified by the linoleum manufacturer.
  • Call references, but also try to visit a few homes where the contractor has installed the same type of flooring that you’ve chosen. Check the quality of the installation as well as how well the material has held up.
  • If any adhesives, stains, sealants, mortar, or grout will be used during the installation, ask about low- or zero-VOC options. If you meet resistance to using low-VOC products, consider shopping around for a contractor who has experience with healthy home practices.
• Many handy homeowners do their own installation of floating floor planks. The planks have tongue-and-groove edges that snap together, and they go down right over the old floor (except carpet) without nails or glue. Floating floor planks are available in wood, bamboo, cork, and linoleum. Carpet, concrete, stone, tile, terrazzo, and sheet linoleum are typically professionally installed.
• For general advice on what questions to ask contractors and other tradespeople, see our “What to Ask Your Contractor” article.
• Follow these links to find out more about flooring options:
  • Bamboo
  • Carpet
  • Concrete,Stone, Terrazzo and Tile
  • Cork
  • Linoleum
  • Wood

Floors made of tile, concrete, and stone are long-lived and perfect for some kinds of healthy green homes. Here’s a materials primer to help you decide whether they are a good choice for you.

Ceramic and porcelain tile are made primarily from clay, an abundant although nonrenewable natural resource. Although the manufacturing process is energy intensive, tile is nontoxic and easy to clean if the grout is sealed. If a tile ever cracks, it can be chiseled out and replaced. (Quick tip: buy extra tiles initially to make replacement easy.)

Concrete floors have crossed over from industrial buildings to stylish homes. The concrete can be colored, stained or patterned for a one-of-a-kind look. The finished floors are durable, easy to clean, and compatible with radiant floor heating systems and passive solar design. However, concrete is prone to cracking. Some people think that adds character to the floor but if you can’t live with cracks, then concrete isn’t for you.

Stone floors are about as natural as you can get, but that’s not to say they’re without environmental impacts. Digging stone out of the earth can damage wildlife habitat and scar landscapes. Although the stone for floors is minimally processed, it’s a heavy and bulky material that takes a lot of energy to transport. It may be quarried in one part of the world, shipped to another for cutting and polishing, and to yet another to a wholesaler or retailer before it makes its way into your home. On the other hand, stone floors can last for generations.

Traditionally a mix of marble or other stone in a matrix of concrete, terrazzo is making a comeback because of consumers’ interest in recycled materials. A few companies have started making floors with poured-in-place terrazzo and terrazzo tiles using a high percentage of recycled glass set in concrete or epoxy. The slurry is poured onto a subfloor, smoothed and allowed to cure, then ground to a smooth polish. Although expensive at about $15 a square foot (plus installation), terrazzo is also becoming popular for countertops, tub enclosures, and backsplashes (the protective panels behind sinks and stoves).

Top Tips

At home

• Listen up! Hard-surface floors can be noisy especially in homes with open floor plans. They can also be hard on joints (and dropped dishes). They can feel cold underfoot unless used as part of a passive solar design or with radiant floor heating.

When shopping, look for materials that are

• Local and recycled. Choose products extracted and manufactured within 500 miles of your home or salvaged from a building in the area. If it’s terrazzo you’re after, find a product with high recycled content. In the case of recycled-content tile, some manufacturers are just recycling their own waste, but a few companies use post-consumer recycled content.
• Healthy for your home. When installing tile or stone, use zero- or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) tile-setting adhesives, grouts, and sealants. In the case of stone, check with the supplier about whether it requires sealing to prevent staining; if it does, ask about low- or zero-VOC sealants.
• Made specifically for floors. When choosing tile, stone or terrazzo, make sure it’s a product designed for floors, with a nonslip finish.

Other Considerations

A concrete floor makes the most sense for new homes that are built on a slab that can do double duty as the finish floor. This reduces your use of materials (you’re not adding extra material, like wood or carpet, on top of the slab) but it does require protecting the slab during construction. In existing homes, a thin concrete floor can be poured over a wood subfloor if there is sufficient structural support. For installation, use an experienced concrete floor specialist. If using acid-based stains on the concrete, be aware that they are noxious when installed (although inert when dry). Use water-based, low- or no-VOC sealants.

Benefits…

…to your wallet
These materials cover the budget gamut, from $2 a square foot for the cheapest ceramic tiles to $35 a square foot for glass tiles and rare stones. Labor costs are usually higher than for other types of flooring. But these products can easily last as long as the home. So their cost over the lifetime of the flooring may be lower than that of flooring that is less durable and harder to maintain.

…to the Earth
Some concrete is made with recycled fly ash, a powdery byproduct of coal-burning electric power plants. While tile and traditional concrete take a lot of energy to manufacture, concrete made with fly ash keeps waste out of landfills and reduces air pollution and global warming impacts.

Common Mistakes

• Covering the mass. If your home was designed for passive solar heating, you may have tile, stone, or concrete floors. These materials have a high thermal mass, which means they moderate temperatures in the home by storing the sun’s heat during the day and releasing the heat at night when temperatures cool. Don’t put carpeting or rugs over thermal mass floors if they’re part of a passive solar design; the thermal mass won’t be able to do its job.
• Sinking the subfloor. These floors can be heavy. Make sure the subfloor can bear their weight. If in doubt, consult a flooring installation specialist.

Getting Started

• Search our site for local concrete and terrazzo flooring specialists. Visit tile and stone dealers in your area and ask about locally quarried or salvaged stone and locally manufactured, recycled-content tile.
• Ask any potential installer the following questions:
  • How much expertise does the flooring contractor have installing the type of floor you selected?
  • Ask to for references, but also try to visit a few homes where the contractor has installed the same type of flooring that you’ve chosen. Check the quality of the installation as well as how well the material has held up.
  • If any adhesives, stains, sealants, mortar, or grout will be used during the installation, ask about low- or zero-VOC options. If you meet resistance to using low-VOC products, consider shopping around for a contractor who has experience with healthy home practices.
• For general advice on what questions to ask contractors and other tradespeople, see our “What to Ask Your Contractor” article.

Related Products & Services

• Flooring Overview
• Bamboo
• Carpet
• Linoleum floors
• Cork
• Wood

Cork floors were originally made from scrap left over from wine-cork manufacturing, but because of rising demand, many floors are now made with cork harvested specifically for flooring. It comes in tiles or click-together planks, in shades of brown, as well as other colors and patterns. Some products have wood backing covered by a veneer of cork.

The source material is the outer bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber), a tree indigenous to Spain and Portugal. It’s a renewable resource. Workers strip off the outer bark, which grows back and can be harvested again in about ten years. The resource is not unlimited, however. It’s grown commercially primarily in Portugal and a few other Mediterranean countries.

Cork is resilient, which makes the flooring comfortable to stand on and easy on dropped dishes. But it can dent–especially if you have heavy furniture or friends with stiletto heels. Among cork’s other virtues are fire- and stain-resistance and the ability to absorb sound. But like wood and bamboo, it can fade if exposed to direct sunlight. And while it doesn’t soak up moisture (think about your wine cork), it’s not impervious to water. If your family members tend to splash in the tub, cork may not be the best option for your bathroom.

Watch gogreentube’s video of Martha Stewart discussing her cork floor.

Top Tips

At home

• Keep it tidy. If you want your cork to last a long time, you’ll need to be a diligent housekeeper. Dry-mop and vacuum regularly to keep it free of grit that can scratch the finish. Wash it with a damp mop occasionally. Clean up any liquid spills immediately.
• Use pads under heavy furniture.

When shopping, look for

• Healthy materials. Choose cork flooring made without added urea formaldehyde in either the top or bottom layers of the floor. For glued-down cork floors, use low- or zero-VOC adhesives or choose a floating floor product-planks that click together and require no glues.
• Flooring that is prefinished. To avoid using finishing chemicals in the home, prefinished products are best. But check with the supplier about whether an additional topcoat should be applied after installation.
• Good wood. If your cork floor has a wood backing make sure it is veneer is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) as sustainably harvested.
• Durability. Cork flooring comes in a broad range of prices. To avoid wasting time, money, and materials, buy a quality product with a warranty of at least 10 years.

Avoid

• Vinyl. Some cork flooring comes with a vinyl top coating or vinyl backing.

Benefits…

…to your health
Cork floors can make a nice addition to a healthy home–if you shop carefully for products without urea formaldehyde or high-VOC adhesives.

…to the Earth
Cork is a renewable resource made from bark. Harvesting it doesn’t kill trees. It does take a lot of energy to transport it to the United States, however, since it’s commercially grown mainly in Portugal and Spain.

Common Mistakes

Corking the heater. Cork is a good insulator, and will block heat coming from an in-floor radiant heating system.

Getting Started

• Getting a look at your cork options should be easy: Cork is widely available at flooring dealers and home improvement stores.
• Ask any potential installer the following questions:
  • How much expertise does the flooring contractor have installing cork floors?
  • Ask for references, but also try to visit a few homes where the contractor has installed the same type of flooring that you’ve chosen. Check the quality of the installation as well as how well the material has held up.
  • If any adhesives, stains, sealants, mortar, or grout will be used during the installation, ask about low- or zero-VOC options. If you meet resistance to using low-VOC products, consider shopping around for a contractor who has experience with healthy home practices.
• For general advice on what questions to ask contractors and other tradespeople, see our “What to Ask Your Contractor” article.

Related Products & Services

• Flooring Overview
• Bamboo
• Carpet
• Concrete,Stone, Terrazzo and Tile
• Linoleum floors
• Wood

Bamboo flooring has the look, feel and durability of wood. This rapidly renewable resource can be harvested in four to six years (compared with decades for most trees used for wood floors). And don’t feel bad about the pandas. Of more than a thousand varieties of bamboo, only a few are used for flooring, and they’re not the ones that pandas eat.

Bamboo is available with three distinct patterns: horizontal (or flat) grain, vertical grain, and strand (or woven) bamboo. It’s available in two shades: natural (blond) and a caramel achieved by steaming the bamboo before drying it (the sugars in the bamboo fiber caramelize, creating the darker color). Strand bamboo is harder than horizontal or vertical grain. The caramel-colored bamboo in either horizontal or vertical grain is a bit softer than the natural color because the fibers are weakened during the steaming process, so it may not be as appropriate for high-traffic areas like entry halls or kitchens.

Top Tips

At home

• Seal it. In high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, check with the manufacturer or supplier about whether a topcoat is recommended to help prevent moisture damage.

When shopping, look for

• Healthy adhesives. Choose a brand made without urea formaldehyde adhesives, which can irritate your lungs and may cause cancer.
• Low moisture. Choose bamboo that has been properly kiln-dried down to 6% to 8% moisture content compared with 9% or 10% for lesser quality products. More moisture means the bamboo is more likely to expand and contract or even delaminate after it is installed in your home.
• Long life. Buy from a reputable supplier, and choose products with a long warranty. One reputable supplier guarantees that its bamboo flooring will be free from defects for its lifetime and that the factory finish will last 27 years.

Other Considerations

• For solid bamboo flooring, bamboo stalks are sliced into thin strips, pressed flat, dried, and laminated with adhesives to create solid boards that are then milled into planks or tongue-and-grove strips. To make engineered bamboo, a second type of flooring, a veneer of bamboo is laminated on top of wood, such as pine, fir, or rubberwood. From an environmental perspective, solid bamboo floors may be a better choice because bamboo grows so much more rapidly than the wood under the veneer.
• Bamboo flooring can be purchased prefinished or unfinished. From a healthy home perspective, prefinished products are usually preferable because the chemicals cure in the factory rather than in your home. The finish often used on bamboo is a UV-cured acrylic urethane, which has almost no emissions once it’s cured in a factory. Aluminum oxide is sometimes added for scratch resistance. If a sealant or topcoat will be applied in your home, choose a low VOC product.

Benefits…

…to your wallet
Solid bamboo flooring can be sanded and refinished multiple times, extending the product’s life. Engineered bamboo floors may also be refinishable; check with the manufacturer.

…to the Earth
Bamboo comes from Asia (primarily China), so it takes a lot of fuel to ship it to U.S. consumers. But it also has environmental virtues. It’s a rapidly renewable resource. It produces a high yield of fiber per acre, can be harvested in four to six years, and naturally regenerates after it is harvested. Suppliers say that bamboo is grown with little if any irrigation, pesticides, or fertilizer. Until recently, no independent organization certified these claims, but in 2008 a U.S. supplier became the first company to offer FSC-certified bamboo flooring on a special order basis.

Common Mistakes

Buying “bargain” bamboo. All bamboo floors are not created equal. Don’t settle for the cheapest bamboo or the first brand you come across. Shop around, find out about formaldehyde emissions, finishes, and warranties. Choose products that meet Europe’s E1 or California’s 2012 formaldehyde emissions standards (0.05 ppm or lower).

Getting Started

• Ask any potential installer the following questions:
  • How much expertise does the flooring contractor have installing bamboo floors?
  • Ask for references, but also try to visit a few homes where the contractor has installed the same type of flooring that you’ve chosen. Check the quality of the installation as well as how well the material has held up.
  • If any adhesives, stains, sealants, mortar, or grout will be used during the installation, ask about low- or zero-VOC options. If you meet resistance to using low-VOC products, consider shopping around for a contractor who has experience with healthy home practices.
• For general advice on what questions to ask contractors and other tradespeople, see our “What to Ask Your Contractor” article.

Related Products & Services

• Flooring overview
• Carpet floors
• Wood floors
• Concrete, stone, terrazzo floors
• Cork floors
• Linoleum floors

People often use the word “linoleum” to refer to vinyl flooring. But from an environmental perspective, these two products are poles apart. Vinyl flooring is a petrochemical-based product that produces highly toxic dioxin when it’s being manufactured and may give off phthalates, chemicals that can cause damage to human and animal reproductive systems.

Old-fashioned linoleum, on the other hand, contains no vinyl. It’s made from boiled linseed oil (from flax seeds) mixed with powdered cork, ground sawdust, and pine resin, as well as minerals such as ground limestone, zinc, and pigments. It typically has a burlap backing and an acrylic finish.

Though it’s been around for a hundred years, linoleum was largely supplanted by less expensive vinyl flooring in the 1960s. Now it’s back in vogue as long-lasting green flooring. Linoleum comes in dozens of colors and patterns, and is durable, easy to keep clean, and biodegradable. It also has antibacterial properties, which makes it popular for healthcare facilities.

Top Tips

At home

• Keep it tidy. Dry mop and vacuum regularly to get up dirt and grit that will dull the finish. Damp mop occasionally.
• Don’t worry about scratches. The color and pattern runs all the way through the linoleum material, so minor scratches can be gently sanded out with a nylon cleaning pad.
• Pay now, enjoy longer. You can buy vinyl tiles for half the cost of linoleum ones (about $2 versus $4 a square foot) but linoleum lasts four or five times as long–40 to 50 years.

Other Considerations

Linoleum requires installation by a certified installer.

Benefits …

…for your health
We’ve mentioned linoleum’s natural antibacterial properties. It also emits small amounts of certain VOCs (volatile organic compounds), but health experts don’t believe these particular ones are a concern.

…for the Earth
Currently all linoleum is imported from Europe, so shipping it to U.S. consumers takes a lot of energy. But its manufacturing impacts are relatively benign.

Common Mistakes

Buying vinyl. Some people think they are buying wholesome linoleum when they are actually buying unhealthy vinyl.

Getting Started

• Although linoleum is only made by a few European manufacturers, it is widely available from flooring dealers in the United States.
• Ask any potential installer the following questions:
  • How much expertise does the flooring contractor have installing linoleum floors? Linoleum installers should be certified by the linoleum manufacturer.
  • Ask for references, but also try to visit a few homes where the contractor has installed the same type of flooring that you’ve chosen. Check the quality of the installation as well as how well the material has held up.
  • If any adhesives, stains, sealants, mortar, or grout will be used during the installation, ask about low- or zero-VOC options. If you meet resistance to using low-VOC products, consider shopping around for a contractor who has experience with healthy home practices.
• For general advice on what questions to ask contractors and other tradespeople, see our “What to Ask Your Contractor” article.

Related Products & Services

• Flooring Overview
• Bamboo
• Carpet
• Concrete,Stone, Terrazzo and Tile
• Cork
• Wood

If you have an older home, check underneath the carpeting. It may be concealing a high-quality wood floor that just needs sanding and refinishing. If it isn’t, consider using wood salvaged from old buildings or old factories and barns. And then there’s virgin wood, which can be either solid or “engineered,” with a hardwood veneer glued down over plywood or fiberboard. Regardless of its source, the beauty and warmth of wood will add value to your home.

Top Tips

When shopping, look for

• Good wood. That means reclaimed lumber from local buildings, or, if it’s virgin lumber, make sure it’s certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). (Certified wood is often more expensive, though.) Never buy virgin products made from tropical or old-growth forests or trees harvested from ecologically sensitive areas unless they are FSC certified. See if you can find flooring made from trees harvested in your region (or at least domestically).
• Healthy finishes and adhesives. Buy flooring that is factory finished, so finishing chemicals cure in the factory not your home. If you do apply the finish at home, use low-VOC stains and sealants (preferably with less than 275 grams per liter of VOCs). Plant-based finishing oils may have a lower petroleum content than synthetic wood finishes, but are not necessarily low in VOCs. If buying engineered wood flooring, choose a product made without urea formaldehyde adhesives.

Other Considerations

• From a resource-conservation perspective, engineered wood flooring makes good sense: the rarer and more valuable hardwoods are used in smaller quantities for the veneer, while the bulk of the material comes from fast-growing plantation trees. Solid wood flooring uses more high-quality wood than engineered products, making it particularly important that any solid wood flooring you buy comes from FSC-certified or reclaimed sources. Reclaimed wood flooring keeps valuable materials out of landfills and reduces pressure to harvest trees.
• Be sure you know whether you are buying a hardwood or softwood species. Hardwood floors better resist scratching and denting. Some reclaimed wood floors sold today are softwoods, such as Douglas fir and pine, that will easily scratch and dent. This can be fine for people who like the character of a well-worn floor, but it’s not to everyone’s taste.
• Many wood floors are nailed down or installed as glueless floating floors. If using a wood flooring adhesive, choose an adhesive with less than 100 grams per liter of VOCs.
• If you have in-floor radiant heating, check with the flooring dealer. Not all wood products are designed to be used with these systems.

Common Mistakes

• Buying laminates. Don’t mistake laminate flooring for wood flooring. Laminates are made with a printed image that’s glued to fiberboard and then sealed with a top coat to reduce wear and tear. Laminates are inexpensive, but you can’t refinish them and they don’t provide the beauty and long life of real wood. If you do choose laminate, look for products with no added urea formaldehyde and no vinyl. A few manufacturers use FSC-certified wood for the backing.
• Buying faux “vintage.” Reclaimed flooring is big business these days and dealers throughout the country specialize in providing it. Make sure you’re dealing with a reputable company and not with someone who’s buying cheap new wood, banging it up, and passing it off as vintage.
• Underestimating labor costs. When buying reclaimed wood flooring, check its condition carefully; it may require considerable work to install and refinish it.

Benefits…

…to your health
Factory-finished flooring and healthy finishes and adhesives help protect air quality in your home.

…to your wallet
Solid wood flooring can be sanded and refinished many times and can last for a hundred years or more if well cared for. Many engineered wood floors are also refinishable, depending on the thickness of the veneer.

…to the Earth
FSC-certified wood helps ensure that your flooring materials were not logged in a way that scars the landscape and displaces wildlife. Engineered or salvaged wood minimizes your use of precious natural resources.

Getting Started

• Solid and engineered wood flooring is widely available from floor dealers and home improvement centers. For FSC-certified flooring or products made without urea formaldehyde, however, you may have to go to a green home store, or flooring company, or lumberyard that specializes in eco-friendly products.
• Find reclaimed wood products at local building-reuse stores and flooring dealers that specialize in reused woods. You may find some of this wood available at discount prices (usually in poor condition), and some that is quite expensive, especially if it is a rare or extremely high-quality wood.
• Ask any potential installer the following questions:
  • How much expertise does the flooring contractor have installing wood floors?
  • Ask for references, but also try to visit a few homes where the contractor has installed the same type of flooring that you’ve chosen. Check the quality of the installation as well as how well the material has held up.
  • If any adhesives, stains, sealants, mortar, or grout will be used during the installation, ask about low- or zero-VOC options. If you meet resistance to using low-VOC products, consider shopping around for a contractor who has experience with healthy home practices.
• For general advice on what questions to ask contractors and other tradespeople, see our “What to Ask Your Contractor” article.

Related Products & Services

• Flooring overview
• Bamboo floors
• Carpet
• Concrete, stone, terrazzo floors
• Cork floors
• Linoleum floors