Green Building: Easier Said Than Done?

When a company calls a building product green, do you believe the claim, or do you automatically think "green washing?" According to a poll conducted on behalf of Icynene, an insulation manufacturer, the majority of consumers think the "green" label is just that -- a label, a marketing trick.

That interesting tidbit comes from a piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer, one of many recent articles that analyzes the difficulties inherent in weeding out bogus claims when it comes to green building.

However, this particular news story differentiates itself from the crowd by not only discussing some of the problems facing those who want to build or remodel green, but also discussing good alternatives.

According to the story, tests published by Consumer Reports indicate that some cork and bamboo flooring (which are heralded as bright green flooring options) may not wear or retain their color well, meaning they would need to be replaced more frequently than other flooring options which are often considered less green.

The article doesn't stop there though:

"For a natural, resilient and least-pricey green-flooring option, choose sunlight- and dent-resistant linoleum, which starts around $4 per square foot," said ShopSmart editor Lisa Lee Freeman.

It's a thought-provoking and, ultimately, helpful article. Read the whole thing here.

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