Feb 28 2010
Green Flooring – Eco Friendly Flooring
Our millions of regular self sufficient readers (well, all 200 of you) will know (if you have been paying attention), that we live in Spain. It is the tradition here in nearly all homes to have tiled floors.
Wooden floors are not really the norm and carpets are quite the exception to the rule. This is partly because of the heat during the summer, the number of bugs and woodworm that seem to be present, especially in the countryside, but I think it is mainly down to the fact that little consideration is made for protecting interiors from the rain (when it comes). This makes tiles the perfect choice.
When it comes to green flooring I always thought that tiles were a great eco flooring option.
Today for some unknown reason I actually began to think about this and now I am unsure. I guess I should be used to the fact that much Spanish construction seems to involve a competition to see who can use the most bags of cement in any given square metre but for some reason I always thought tiled floors meant a green flooring success.
I realized today that I have absolutely no real idea how tiles like ceramic or porcelain floor tiles are really made. I know that carpets are full of nasties and are not the most “eco” of flooring products unless you specifically buy environmentally friendly carpets. But what is used in the process of making tiles?
Anyone who has a thorough knowledge feel free to tell us the tale. What I am sure about is that tiled floors must be better from a health point of view for those living with them. They beat carpets hands down. They are easier to clean, they are a more eco friendly flooring from the point of view that you do not need to use a vacuum to clean them. A simple broom does the job and this saves on using electricity.
Tiled floors can be seen as green flooring from that point of view and the bonus is that for allergy sufferers like me ( I get terrible hayfever) they do not harbor any nasties that can set you off.
But as to the actual process of making them I do not know how green or otherwise the process is. I am assuming it is full of giant machines and nasty commercial processes that would make your average Eco missionary have a small fit and dive for cover but what would be the best alternative?
What really is a green flooring option?
From actually sitting down and thinking about it today I would say it would have to be wooden and untreated or naturally treated flooring from a sustainable resource.
Anyone like to give their feelings on the subject?
Or are you all too busy hoovering the carpets with your big energy consuming shiny Dyson?
Actually I would love a Dyson as it is one of the best carpet cleaning machineson the market. It would also be great to have some carpet, just to make it feel like the old days and walk around bare foot in the winter.
. Shame on me I know.
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