Green from the Ground UpSee Chapter 15 on Interior Finishes in the Green from the Ground Up book for more details.

Green Interiors Resource

Choosing the right interior finishes has a huge impact on indoor air quality and consequently the health of the inhabitants. Many popular products and finishes are made with dangerous chemicals that can off gas for years in a home. Contractors and interior designers have the opportunity to help their clients choose finishes that are environmentally friendly and won’t cause health problems.

Green Interiors’ Transition Guide

 1. Use paint, adhesives and caulks that have low or no VOC

Benefit

Volatile organic compounds are chemicals that can trigger a whole host of illnesses.

Process

Carefully read the labels provided to see what chemicals are used in the product. Become familiar with chemicals that have adverse side affects.

Details/ Materials

These products should be available at your local home store.

2. Look for the Green Label Plus or recycled content carpet

Benefit

 Carpet and carpet backing contains chemicals that can affect the immune system. Carpets can now be made from recycled plastics, natural backing and new materials.

Process

Look for carpeting with low VOC emissions certified by the Green Label Plus program by the EPA and the Carpet and Rug Institute

Details/ Materials

Carpeting should be minimized as it holds dust, dander and moisture.

3. Install FSC certified wood floors

Benefit

FSC wood comes from sustainably managed forests.

Process

A wide range of flooring products are now available from FSC managed forests

Details/ Materials

FSC wood is not available everywhere. If you cannot get it locally, be sure to let your home-store that you are interested in having them stock FSC flooring.

“How will “Going Green” make me more money?”

Green is not simply getting more respect; it is rapidly becoming a necessity as corporations—as well as home builders, retailers, health care institutions, governments, and others—push green buildings fully into the mainstream over the next five to ten years. Customers need help with this difficult project and will look to you as an expert to show them what needs to be done.

“I thought green was just for Treehuggers.”

Green Homes no longer look like they did in the 70’s. They now look normal and very diverse. Professionals who would not consider themselves “greenies” are adopting green practices. People can now see the real benefit of these practices and want to implement them in their own lives.

“How will I talk to my customers about my green practices?”

A home should be built to last a lifetime. This challenges designers to choose the best products that they can. Homes are being built much tighter these days, which is great for energy conservation, but means that houses don’t “breath” like they used to do. More and more people are understanding the importance of indoor air quality and how the finishes they choose can contribute to this.

“Why should I care about the environment?”

Recycled materials not only look great, but keeps tons of material out of landfills.
Bamboo is an increasingly popular product which re-grows quickly and helps save trees that might otherwise be cut down for wood flooring.
Formaldehyde that off-gasses from particle board can lead to headaches and other illnesses in homeowners.

“What kind of training am I going to give my team?”

- Greenbuilding.com has a team of green building specialists. One of our trainers can come to your business to train your team.
- We have interiors specialists.
- We can provide a one-day training to get your team ready to transition to green. This training will include marketing your business as green.

“What should I do first?”

- Read our Green Interiors’ Transition Guide below.
- Our guide is organized with the easiest changes listed first and those that may take longer listed last 

 

Click on the link below for a print friendly version to take with you to the jobsite. Post for for your crew to know more about green building practices and technologies.

 

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