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Flooring

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As with all materials and products, keep in mind the following criteria, in addition to cost, when choosing flooring: source materials and content, installation considerations, durability, appropriateness for the location of installation, maintenance and replacement, comfort and appearance. Be sure to download the Green Product Buying GuideDownload PDF 500 K.

Flooring choices

Flooring type

What makes it green?

Other considerations

Concrete

混凝土地板可以加入可回收材料，如燃煤发电产生的粉煤灰, and are extremely durable. As a major thermal mass, 它们可以与适当的被动式太阳能设计结合使用，以提高舒适度和效率.

Concrete is energy-intensive to produce, requires periodic treatments to maintain a surface seal, and can be cold and hard to stand on.

Cork

Cork is a natural, 可生物降解和可快速再生的材料，可制成各种表面处理的地板材料.

Cork tile flooring is suitable for kitchens, 是温暖和舒适的行走，也提供隔音.

Laminates

Laminates, or floating floors, have the appearance of wood, 竹制或软木制成，但由一层薄薄的图案层覆盖在木材或木纤维的槽形底座上，并可纳入回收材料, 这减少了制造它所需的原始材料的数量.

This flooring choice is easy to install and inexpensive. Drawbacks include: they cannot be refinished more than once or twice; are susceptible to moisture damage through the wood base, and oftentimes they are not recyclable. Look for the FloorScore label to ensure healthy ingredients.

Natural Linoleum

Linoleum is a close alternative to vinyl, but is made from natural, renewable materials and is durable, antibacterial and antistatic.

它有单张或易于安装的点击瓷砖，无需胶水或钉子即可安装. Most linoleums have a longer life cycle then vinyl products.

Tile

瓷砖是另一种耐用的选择，也可以包含回收材料, 并且可以通过更换单个瓷砖而不是整个地板来修复.

缺点包括需要增加细节来准备成功安装的表面, production of tiles is often energy-intensive, and tiles can be cold and tiring to stand on.

Wood

木地板具有耐用的表面，可以随着时间的推移进行修补. Look for reclaimed or salvaged wood at building reuse stores, possibly from deconstructed buildings, salvaged trees or re-sawn salvaged lumber.

If you choose new wood, 寻找FSC标签，证明它是负责任的收获和加工. 确保你使用的污渍和涂料符合健康的室内空气质量标准(寻找无挥发性有机化合物), low-VOC, or a penetrating oil or wax finish instead of polyurethane.

Carpet

地毯是一种柔软的表面，可以用回收物或羊毛等天然纤维制成, jute, sisal or bamboo. 然而，对于过敏原和长期耐用性来说，地毯并不是最好的选择.

考虑在坚硬的地面上铺上由天然纤维制成的区域地毯，作为强调或为脚下保暖. 通过区域地毯的路线，你可以在不影响室内空气质量的情况下灵活设计.

Vinyl

It’s NOT green. Although a popular and low-cost choice, vinyl raises concerns for environmental and health safety, especially during manufacture and disposal.

乙烯基的耐久性有问题，燃烧时还会产生有害的化学物质. Avoid vinyl sheet and vinyl tile flooring.

Healthy flooring considerations

  • Prioritize hard surface flooring. 当需要较软的地面时，在坚硬的地面上使用地毯. If you decide carpet is a must, choose only Green Label Plus carpet, 绿色标签地毯垫和无或低voc安装产品.
  • 选择含有回收物和低或零挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)的地板, and avoid VOCs in adhesives or finishes. 地毯在安装后立即产生的废气尤其成问题. 回收物地毯往往比原始地毯释放的气体少.
  • Choose natural fiber carpets, such as wool or jute, over synthetic carpets, 因为它们通常比合成地毯更有利于室内空气质量.
  • Choose a low-pile carpet or install smooth flooring, such as linoleum, cork, tile or wood in order to minimize allergens, such as pet hair and dust.

Flooring installation

  • Choose your subfloor wisely. 使用外部等级的胶合板和复合材料或不含脲醛的材料. 室内环境中的脲醛会引起健康问题.
  • 在没有进行氯化钙蒸气排放测试之前，切勿在混凝土地板上安装地毯. 混凝土会吸走地面的水分，弄湿地毯，并滋生隐藏的霉菌.
  • 考虑一下没有有害粘合剂的容易安装的地毯瓷砖. Also, 磨损或染色的瓷砖可以单独更换，而不是撕掉整个地毯, and tiles can often be recycled.
  • 要求你的承包商或地毯供应商在安装前将你的地毯在仓库或其他受保护的区域铺开一周或更长时间. 这个策略可以在地毯进入你的家之前加快废气排放的过程.
  • Use a durable, spot-repairable floor finish. Spot-repairable floor finishes, also known as penetrating oil or wax finishes, soak into wood fibers unlike products such as polyurethane, which coat the floor with a plastic film. As polyurethane wears down over time, 所有东西都必须从地板上移走，以便进行筛选和重新喷涂. 这使得许多地板无法得到适当的维护，减少了木地板的使用寿命.

Flooring disposal

  • Ask your contractor to recycle carpet and other flooring. 请参阅下面的附加资源部分的链接，以帮助您找到可以回收地毯的地方.
  • 寻找地毯和其他地板的可回收材料. 用回收材料制成的地毯的性能与用原始材料制成的地毯一样好，甚至更好.
  • 地毯瓷砖产品安装方便，无有害粘合剂, 磨损或染色的瓷砖可以单独更换，不像宽幅产品, and tiles often can be recycled.

Flooring resources

Flooring product suppliers – salvage options

Flooring product suppliers – new products

Flooring product certifications

Related information