Are you ready to remodel your home? Congratulations! Remodeling can be one of the most thrilling experiences a homeowner faces. You get to redesign your home any way you choose.

For many homeowners, along with selecting colors and furnishings, they are also looking for green options. A green home is one that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an environmentally friendly and resource-efficient manner.

It’s not just upgraded heating and cooling, or more energy-efficient windows. It includes everything you select – sustainable hardwood flooring can be the base of your overall design.

Before you start planning for your new green home, let’s explore what makes it green.

What Does It Mean To Make It Green?

Green homes are designed to minimize energy consumption through features such as high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, proper insulation, energy-efficient appliances, and smart home technologies. Water-saving fixtures, rainwater harvesting systems, and drought-resistant landscaping are common features of green homes that aim to reduce water usage and promote conservation.

Of course, it’s not just about the internal systems that make your home work and function. Using renewable and environmentally friendly materials in construction and renovation is crucial for green homes. This includes reclaimed or sustainable wood, recycled metal, and low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and finishes.

Green homes prioritize indoor air quality by employing ventilation systems, using non-toxic building materials, and reducing sources of indoor air pollution, such as formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals. Who wants to live in a home if it doesn’t provide a healthy environment? Because people are spending more time at home than ever, cleanliness and healthiness are high on the list.

What Makes Hardwood Flooring Sustainable?

When you first start creating your to-do list to make your home greener, you might upgrade your insulation and replace old plumbing fixtures. Did you know your hardwood flooring can be the base of everything?

When we imagine a clean, healthy home, it starts with first impressions. As you walk through the door, sustainable hardwood flooring sets the stage for what’s to come. It leads you into a house where choices have been carefully made. It gives you a platform to build a cleaner, more usable environment.

Not just any hardwood flooring will do. To ensure it’s sustainable hardwood, ensure it has several key attributes that contribute to its environmental friendliness and longevity:

• Certification: Sustainable hardwood flooring often comes from forests certified by reputable organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). These certifications ensure that the wood is harvested using responsible forestry practices that protect biodiversity, wildlife habitats, and the rights of local communities.
• Renewability: Sustainable hardwood flooring is sourced from rapidly renewable or responsibly managed forests where trees are harvested at a rate that allows the forest to regenerate naturally. This ensures that the supply of wood is replenished over time, making it a renewable resource.
• Durability: High-quality hardwood flooring is durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for frequent replacement and minimizing waste. Durable flooring options can withstand heavy foot traffic and resist scratches, dents, and other forms of wear and tear, prolonging their lifespan.
• Low VOC Finishes: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful chemicals emitted by certain finishes and adhesives used in flooring products. Sustainable hardwood flooring is often treated with low-VOC or VOC-free finishes and adhesives, which helps improve indoor air quality and reduce harmful off-gassing.
• Local Sourcing: Choosing hardwood flooring sourced locally reduces transportation-related carbon emissions and supports local economies. By selecting wood species that are abundant in your region, you can minimize the environmental impact of long-distance shipping.
• Responsibly Harvested Species: Opting for hardwood flooring made from abundant and sustainably managed species helps prevent deforestation and habitat destruction. Certain types of oak grow quickly and can be harvested sustainably without depleting natural resources.

This is where it pays to do your research, and find a flooring retailer who will help you navigate the many different flooring types on the market today. You can’t get in-depth help from a minimum-wage worker at a big box store. Quality service comes from people who spend time getting to know their products. This is where you can get your questions answered and feel good about your choices.

What To Expect When Shopping For Sustainable Hardwood Flooring

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could walk into a store and have sustainable hardwood flooring jump out and say, “Pick me!” It’s not that easy. It can be confusing to walk into a store with hundreds of viable options all waiting for selection.

As we’ve already mentioned, you can look at the manufacturer. Many of the best leave clues they care about sustainability, and offer green options to choose from. Looking for certifications from groups like the Forest Stewardship Council or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative is a good place to start.

These show that the wood was gathered in a way that’s good for the environment. They can also alert you to which wood is grown and managed sustainably.

It’s not just about the wood. For finishes and glues, look for ones that don’t release harmful chemicals into your home’s air. This keeps your indoor air clean and healthy. And make sure the flooring is strong and easy to take care of. Durable flooring lasts a long time, so you won’t need to replace it as often. (Another sign of sustainable products.)

As a flooring dealer, we also believe you should seek out suppliers and manufacturers that demonstrate transparency and accountability in their sourcing and production processes. Look for information on the company’s commitment to sustainability, ethical practices, and environmental stewardship. Ask questions about the origin of the wood, the harvesting methods used, and any certifications or third-party verifications they have obtained. (We can help you with that – we have our favorites.)

Above all, find a product you’ll be proud to bring into your home. It’s your dream home. You’re remodeling for now and the foreseeable future. You’re excited to bring your dreams to life – why not select hardwood flooring you adore?

Have a question? We can help with that. We’re excited to help you find the right flooring solution to fill your needs, and make your flooring dreams come true.