Top 5 Green Hardwood Flooring Manufacturers

Oct. 13, 2010 - PRLog -- Laguna Beach, California, October 13, 2010
When determining the green value of wood for hardwood flooring and custom cabinetry, there are many factors to consider.  Some say, the easiest way is to choose only flooring which is FSC Certified, or certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).  While FSC is the most recognized sustainable forestry certification program, this does not guarantee that you will be buying the most eco-friendly hardwood flooring. “ There are many other factors to consider”, says Shawn Novin, co-owner of ecosurfaces (http://www.ecosurface.net ), a Laguna Beach retailer,  wholesaler and installer  specializing in  environmentally friendly surface materials, such as hardwood flooring, tiles and countertop materials.  “The energy and other materials used for manufacture and transportation, methods and materials used for installation, the levels of VOCs that it emits, or formaldehyde content , as well as coatings and cleaning products used to clean the floor, are also critical factors to consider”, adds Novin.
There are many Green Certifications that evaluate green hardwood floors from a number of different environmental angles.  If you aren’t prepared, it can be difficult to know what to look for, as some certifications are “greener” than others. Our goal is to give our clients the tools and information they need to make educated choices when buying green hardwood floors that are not only environmentally responsible, but a health friendly choice for their home or business.  
Here are Ecosurfaces’ (http://www.ecosurface.net )  top 5 Eco-friendly choices for Hardwood Floors:
1)   EcoTimber http://www.ecotimber.com Their products only come from the highest standards of sustainable forest management, free from toxic materials.  EcoTimber has promoted forest conservation worldwide by selling sustainably harvested and reclaimed wood products. They thoroughly research their sources, maintaining the highest standards in choosing genuinely eco-friendly products

2)   Teragren - http://www.teragren.com  Teragren has been a pioneer in developing and promoting environmentally friendly materials and were the leaders in adopting LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) as the national standard.. Because bamboo is a rapidly renewable  resource, their products contribute up to 6 points toward  LEED certification.

3)   Du Chateau  http://www.duchateaufloors.com They use zero VOC oil as a finish instead of Aluminum Oxide, which is safer for children.  They are LEED Certified for: sustainably harvested wood, low emitting materials and rapidly renewable materials.  They are CARB Certified, LACY compliant and are a strong supporter of Global ReLeaf.

4)   Summitt Private Reserve  http://www.summittforestproducts.com  Sourced from sustainable  forests in the US  and milled and manufactured in the US, which means the transportation creates much less of a Carbon footprint. Low to No VOC finishes. In complete compliance with Southern California’s very strict air-quality standards.

5)   Ecosurfaces Reclaimed Timber Line  http://www.ecosurface.net   Reclaimed wood  substantially reduces the carbon footprint and is a great option because it saves all the resources and energy used to create new hardwood. Milled locally using reclaimed barn wood from the US.  Soy or water-based finishes, which are all low to no VOC.

Ecosurfaces  (http://www.ecosurface.net ), has recently launched its own line of eco-friendly custom cabinetry, using carefully selected eco-friendly hardwoods, reclaimed wood and bamboo, using water or soy-based finishes.  

Contact Shawn Novin at Ecosurfaces (949) 715 2444
Ecosurfaces  (http://www.ecosurface.net )
1854 South Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

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Ecosurfaces flooring is located in Laguna Beach and is Orange County's premier supplier and installer of eco-friendly surface materials - hardwood flooring, tiles, cork, zero VOC flooring, 100% recycled materials, custom kitchens and bathrooms