CARPET LOOK BELOW THE SURFACE
Carpets have only in the last decade or so come under close scrutiny for their environmental impacts—both in and out of the home. Most commercial carpets are made from some variation of synthetic, petroleum-based material. This material is often treated with other chemicals to improve stain resistance, wear or color retention. To make matters worse, many carpets are installed over highly toxic rubberized pads. They may also be glued to the floor with pungent adhesives. That new carpet smell you recognize is not something you want in your home. It’s a sign that your floor is releasing unknown chemicals into your living space. This process is called off gassing, and it’s been shown to be especially harmful to toddlers and people with high chemical sensitivity. Frankly, research is lacking on the effects of long-term exposure.
CARPET -
VIRTUES
> Popular and comfortable
> Greener products are now available
CAVEATS
> Most synthetic carpets are petroleum based
> Rubberized backings are often loaded with VOCs
> Only a few carpet companies take recycling seriously
CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEMS DUST DENIERS
The carpet industry suggests that the average American family uses a vacuum cleaner at least once weekly, while about 10% of us vacuum our homes once or more per day. But the typical upright household vacuum cleaner may not be the solution to clearing the air in a home. These upright units are not created equal. Most lack an effective HEPA filtering system—the only reliable way to capture the fine particles that have been shown to be harmful to human health. On the contrary, a vacuum with a non-HEPA filter may simply toss tiny particles back into the air. A whole-house vacuum solves this problem by actually taking unwanted particles outside the living space—into a garage or unfinished basement.
Centralized vacuum systems take even the hardest-to-capture dust particles away from living areas.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS KNOW THE LINGO
> Felted Backing
A type of carpet underlayment that can be made greener if produced with natural fibers and less toxic binders. Other harder-to-green types include polyurethane foam and sponge rubber.
> Natural Fiber Carpets
Products made with sisal, wool or other natural fibers.
> Energy Recovery Ventilator/Heat Recovery Ventilator (ERV/HRV)
Device that exchanges stale air from inside the home with fresh air from outside, also exchanging some energy in the process.
> Vapor Barrier
Typically a synthetic material or coating that restricts or halts the flow of airborne moisture. Not to be confused with housewrap, which is vapor permeable,
> Housewrap
Synthetic material that allows water vapor to pass from interior to exterior of a home, yet protects the building from rain and reduces drafts.
> Particulates
Airborne particles that may be a hazard to human health, particularly if they are very small. They should be HEPA-filtered or removed from living areas.
DUPONT TYVEK HOMEWRAP
Tyvek’s approach to housewrap is to focus on how the product contributes to overall HVAC performance by reducing air infiltration. Additional tapes and accessories ensure a tight, durable air barrier around the whole home.
www.tyvek.com
MOHAWK SMARTSTRAND CARPET
One of the few large carpet companies to make major steps toward sustainability, Mohawk developed SmartStrand in a joint effort with DuPont to add renewably sourced polymers (from corn sugar and other sources) to a synthetic weave. The product has integral stain resistance, eliminating the need for toxic chemical treatments.
www.mohawkflooring.com
11.2011
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