Comments on: Finally have to make some decisions http://livegreenstlouis.wordpress.com/2008/06/08/finally-have-to-make-some-decisions/ Environmentally friendly decisions are tough Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:23:18 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: MWANZI http://livegreenstlouis.wordpress.com/2008/06/08/finally-have-to-make-some-decisions/#comment-316 MWANZI Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:17:50 +0000 http://livegreenstlouis.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-316 I'm not sure if Sara has sold bamboo floors, but to say that bamboo floors can't be sanded is 200% wrong. I own a bamboo distribution company and have pesonally sanded over 10,000 sq.ft of bamboo flooring over a 6 year period with belt and drum sander then a buffing machine. In fact bamboo floors can be sanded up to 3 times before you hit the tongue. At it's installed in countless commercial and residential projects. Just goes to show that when buying a floor, you should do your homework because everyone has an opinion. Also, it's important to keep in mind that there is no "one size fits all" answer for what is green, though many of the following definitions of green will likely resonate with you: Healthier living Conserving natural resources Choosing non-toxic products Choosing products made from renewable materials Reducing your carbon footprint Recycling and reusing materials Buying local products Being socially responsible Reducing energy costs Being gentle to the Earth Investing in a better future I say this to address the issue of locally sourced hardwood floors and if they are in fact "green". Most hardwood flooring is shipped hundreds of miles by truck from the east or west coast to all across the country, as opposed to bamboo that is shipped by ships from China. While giant container ships certainly burn tons of fuel, they are also fairly efficient due to their massive quantity capacities. One environmental organization estimates that a single cargo ship emits 2,000 times the pollutants of a diesel truck. But since they carry between 3,000 and 15,000 times as much cargo, their pollutant load is actually less in spite of the fuel being considerably dirtier. Their fuel efficiency is such that the carbon footprint is less than 1/50th that of the equivalent trucking capacity. The shipping company Maersk Line, citing Sweden's Network for Transport and the Environment, contends that its ships are actually cleaner than trains, trucks, or cargo planes. As a result, your specific geographic location will play a role in your flooring's transportation-related impact. If you live in the US, shipping bamboo from China may result in less fossil-fuel consumption and less carbon footprint than, say, trucking in maple flooring from the Northeast. According to my own calculations, a container, moved 50 miles by truck in China to a port, then 7000 miles by sea to the US, then 300 miles by rail to a warehouse, then 50 miles by truck to a job site is equivalent to 950 miles moved by truck alone. Please visit Maersk Line's website for information: http://www.maerskline.com/globalimage/?path=/about_us/table_of_comparison I’m not sure if Sara has sold bamboo floors, but to say that bamboo floors can’t be sanded is 200% wrong. I own a bamboo distribution company and have pesonally sanded over 10,000 sq.ft of bamboo flooring over a 6 year period with belt and drum sander then a buffing machine. In fact bamboo floors can be sanded up to 3 times before you hit the tongue. At it’s installed in countless commercial and residential projects. Just goes to show that when buying a floor, you should do your homework because everyone has an opinion.

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that there is no “one size fits all” answer for what is green, though many of the following definitions of green will likely resonate with you:

Healthier living
Conserving natural resources
Choosing non-toxic products
Choosing products made from renewable materials
Reducing your carbon footprint
Recycling and reusing materials
Buying local products
Being socially responsible
Reducing energy costs
Being gentle to the Earth
Investing in a better future

I say this to address the issue of locally sourced hardwood floors and if they are in fact “green”. Most hardwood flooring is shipped hundreds of miles by truck from the east or west coast to all across the country, as opposed to bamboo that is shipped by ships from China. While giant container ships certainly burn tons of fuel, they are also fairly efficient due to their massive quantity capacities. One environmental organization estimates that a single cargo ship emits 2,000 times the pollutants of a diesel truck. But since they carry between 3,000 and 15,000 times as much cargo, their pollutant load is actually less in spite of the fuel being considerably dirtier. Their fuel efficiency is such that the carbon footprint is less than 1/50th that of the equivalent trucking capacity. The shipping company Maersk Line, citing Sweden’s Network for Transport and the Environment, contends that its ships are actually cleaner than trains, trucks, or cargo planes. As a result, your specific geographic location will play a role in your flooring’s transportation-related impact. If you live in the US, shipping bamboo from China may result in less fossil-fuel consumption and less carbon footprint than, say, trucking in maple flooring from the Northeast. According to my own calculations, a container, moved 50 miles by truck in China to a port, then 7000 miles by sea to the US, then 300 miles by rail to a warehouse, then 50 miles by truck to a job site is equivalent to 950 miles moved by truck alone. Please visit Maersk Line’s website for information: http://www.maerskline.com/globalimage/?path=/about_us/table_of_comparison

]]> By: Sara http://livegreenstlouis.wordpress.com/2008/06/08/finally-have-to-make-some-decisions/#comment-274 Sara Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:52:57 +0000 http://livegreenstlouis.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-274 Since I used to sell hardwood floors I always like to point out to people that Bamboo floors can not be sanded and refinished. This means they are really only best for low traffic areas, such as bedrooms. An oak floor should last the life of the house and if you can find it locally it seems like a much greener option. Since I used to sell hardwood floors I always like to point out to people that Bamboo floors can not be sanded and refinished. This means they are really only best for low traffic areas, such as bedrooms. An oak floor should last the life of the house and if you can find it locally it seems like a much greener option.

]]> By: chad http://livegreenstlouis.wordpress.com/2008/06/08/finally-have-to-make-some-decisions/#comment-272 chad Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:54:31 +0000 http://livegreenstlouis.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-272 The Stiebel tankless units are sexy but they do suck amperage. When we had them in our HERS calculation they destroyed it and we immediately agreed a shift to gas was necessary. Without knowing more, I would say a nice high-efficiency gas tankless unit like the Takagi units is the way to go for your application. The Stiebel tankless units are sexy but they do suck amperage. When we had them in our HERS calculation they destroyed it and we immediately agreed a shift to gas was necessary. Without knowing more, I would say a nice high-efficiency gas tankless unit like the Takagi units is the way to go for your application.

]]>