Februray Topic and Key Point
Flooring to Finishes: Green Materials for Home Interiors
February 14, 2006
(Click on the panelist's names to jump to their key points below.)
A panel of green building professionals discussed the key issues of green interior materials. The panel covered sustainable interior wood by Ryan Temple of Healthy Forests Healthy Communities Partnership, earthen finishes by Sukita Crimmel of From These Hands, and green paints and finishes by Virginia Young of Yolo Paint.
Afterward people broke into small groups to ask questions and talk with one another in more detail about the topic. Along with the panelists, Mary Mulcrone of Endura Wood Products, Eric Storm of Living Spaces, Joshua Klyber, and Underwater Timber Corp. also spoke with people.
Key Points
Here's what our panelists think people should know about green materials for home interiors.
Sustainable Wood
Ryan Temple
Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities Partnership, www.hfhcp.org
503-221-6911 x112, rtemple@sustainablenorthwest.org
1. Use trusted sources to help you find sustainable wood products
For a consumer seeking sustainable wood there are a range of choices available. Understanding the different certification systems and their relative merits can be confusing. To help filter through them it is important to work with a vendor or contractor you trust and let them help you find products that match your values. And don't be afraid to ask questions.
Wood sources with sustainability claims include:
- Forest Stewardship Council
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative/Tree Farm
- Restoration and Wildfire Risk Reduction
2. Buy Local Wood Products
Wood is an ecologically sound building material. Wood from well managed forests is an even better choice, and if those forests are also nearby that is the best choice of all. The Pacific Northwest is one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. When well-managed, our forests have the ability to provide multiple benefits including water, recreation, habitat and wood. Purchasing local products can be a very powerful tool for supporting working forests in the NW and strengthening our rural communities. In addition to reducing transportation impacts, local purchasing has a very real and positive impact on the places we love.
3. Use the available systems to help in the search for sustainable wood
Sourcing sustainable wood can be a confusing and time consuming process. Healthy Forests Healthy Communities and other organizations try to facilitate the process by organizing sources of material and coordinating its delivery into the market. The objective is to make the sourcing as simple, painless, transparent, convenient, and cost competitive as possible.
HFHC allows for product searches online at www.hfhcp.org. We also provide referrals to manufacturers and are represented by local retailers such as Environmental Building Supplies and Endura Wood Products. In my group discussion I will answer questions and present more details on certifying systems, points of purchase and product ideas that enable a homeowner to easily incorporate the beauty and sustainability of wood into their projects.
Earthen Finishes
Sukita Crimmel
From These Hands, www.sukita.com
503-957-6132, fromthesehands@yahoo.com
1. There are many ways to integrate earthen finishes into existing houses as well as new construction. Some include earthen floors, earthen plasters, earthen paints, and earthen structures.
2. The basic ingredients of earthen finishes are easy to acquire locally, the clay from your own backyard. These materials are often low embodied energy as well.
3. Much of what is possible with earthen finishes can be done by novices, and there are some great experienced earthen workers in Portland to consult.
4. There is a magic and beauty to earthen finishes, the doing and the enjoying of the creations, something beyond words.
Green Paints and Finishes
Virginia Young (and Janie Lowe)
Yolo Paint, www.yolopaint.com
503-493-8275, info@yolopaint.com
1. Misconceptions of water based paints
- Even water-based latex paints have solvents and other chemicals.
- Look for 0 VOC paints. Volatile Organic Compounds are the stinky stuff in paint, solvents that evaporate easily at room temperature and off gas after dry. As we build our homes tighter we are trapping VOCs in our homes- leading to bad indoor air quality.
- Some low VOC and 0 VOC paints still have chemicals like ammonia and formaldehyde. These chemicals are not VOCs, but make it cheaper to manufacture. Look for Green Seal Certified products.
2. Color in Architecture
Color in architecture is much more challenging than color in any other application because of the scale and light play. Things to consider:
- 4 walls reflect on each other, which makes color much stronger than it looks on a one-dimensional surface. Yellows are very challenging as they grow.
- Consider all your light sources - in the Northwest we deal with a lot of green light which reflects on our walls, a blue house next door can also have great impact on your wall color.
3. Differences between Natural and 0 VOC products
Both natural finishes and 0 VOC finishes have qualities that are advantageous. We have found that a combination is visually interesting and practical.
- Depth of color/ texture- dry pigments used in natural paints and plasters tend to have more depth of color and texture.
- Scrubbability/ performance-Latex 0/VOC paints act like conventional latex paint as far as application/ layout, coverage and they are very durable. The 0 VOC paints are great for high traffic, high use areas.
- Labor- Natural paints and finishes are about the process as well as the finished product - you will be mixing the color. 0 VOC paints go on like regular paint.
- Chemically sensitive people- Clay is the most benign wall finish for the environment and us. 0 VOC paints can be easier for chemically sensitive people than some natural paints with citrus oils, strong odor. I recommend sampling whatever product you might use.