Choosing Your Eco-Flooring So, you’re ready to get rid of the dirty carpet, replace the vinyl, turn the garage into a studio or are building your dream home.   To assure you will get a floor that you love and functions well for your household, choose a reputable flooring manufacturer, choose the right material for your lifestyle and make sure the installation is correct!  Flooring decisions can and should be based on several factors:

• What is currently on the floor?
  • If you are replacing an existing hard surface flooring, floating floor planks can simply float directly on your existing floor if it is well secured and flat.  In fact, if you have very old synthetic tile – they could contain asbestos and it’s best just left in place and covered.
  • Do you have a worn, ugly wood floor – or is there an old wood floor under the carpet ?  Perhaps just a good sanding and recoat is all you need.  Remember to use less toxic, healthier stains and finishes – yes, we offer those!
• What is the substrate the flooring be installed on top of?
  • Concrete slabs are most common here in New Mexico at ground level.  If your concrete slab is in good shape you can simply etch, stain and seal.   If it needs repair, spread a concrete micro-topping before staining and sealing.  If you prefer not to live on a hard and chilly floor, woods, bamboo, natural linoleum (marmoleum) and corks are available that just ‘float’ – no glue or nails required.  Several styles have a built-in underlayment - the woods will require an additional underlayment – we like 1/8″ cork.
  • Some solid woods can be glued directly to concrete.
  • Tile can be installed directly on concrete, but again is hard and cold.
  • If you have in-floor radiant heat a floating floor can work great but some certainly work better than others in conducting heat and/or performance.
  • Plywood or particle board is another common floor substrate.  Most all flooring choices can be either glued, nailed or floated on this substrate.
• ​Will you hire somebody to install your floor or Do-It-Yourself?
  • Some flooring materials are best installed by a professional.  For instance, sheet marmoleum requires special skills, tools and knowledge of the material.
  • Gluing and/or nailing a wood floor also requires a skill level and the appropriate tools.
  • Drop-n-Lock or click panels are the easiest to install or the least expensive labor.
  • There are lots of great videos online to help instruct you along the way.  Rent or borrow the tools you may need.
• How will the room or space be used?
  • ​Consider how much use and what kind of use you expect the floor to manage.  For instance, cork is a wonderful choice for kitchens and bedrooms where we spend lots of time on our feet and/or barefoot, but may not be a great choice for a mudroom.

Planning and Prepping

• If you are hiring a contractor, have them look at the job prior to ordering materials, they can help determine the correct amount of material to order and explain exactly what will be required to get the best install.  We can recommend an installer that is experienced with our flooring if you like.
• The flooring you choose most likely needs to be ordered and shipped to the store.  Allow for 10 days to 2 weeks for the product to arrive at the store.
• Flooring products require time to acclimate in your home before installation.  Solid woods can take up to 3 weeks while engineered woods, cork and marmoleum only about 3 days.
• Assure your floor or substrate is level enough – some filling and sanding may be required before installation.
• What about the baseboards?  Can they be re-used?
• Pre-finished materials can be lived on immediately, while refinishing a wood floor or staining and finishing a concrete floor will take more time.  The finishes need to dry and cure before moving back into the room.

Care and Maintenance

• Most all hard surface flooring manufacturers will require and/or suggest a humidifier – keeping the humidity to between 30% and 50%.  In reality most of us do not run a humidifier and most floors do okay without them, however it may invalidate your warranty.
• Keep the floors swept – dust underfoot acts as sandpaper, wearing your floor.
• Damp mop as necessary.
• Use the manufacturer’s recommended cleaner.  Usually a good, PH Neutral cleaner will work.  Always test a small spot if unsure.
• Manufacturers also may have their own polish.  These are applied as necessary to renew the luster of the floor.

Southwest Green Building Center would like to help you choose a beautiful floor!   We will make sure you leave with installation and maintenance instructions!  Do it right the first time for a healthy floor that will last a lifetime!

 

Keeping it Non-Toxic, Gorgeous and Affordable with Marmoleum from Forbo Industries.

Marmoleum – Natural Linoleum -  ”The most natural of materials” “Life-cycle analysis shows that our linoleum products are the ecologically preferred floor covering. Linoleum is produced from renewable materials: linseed oil, rosins, wood flour, jute and ecologically responsible pigments. These materials underlie the charm that gives each design its inimitable, distinguished look.” from http://www.forbo-flooring.us/Environment/Our-environmental-promise/

Marmoleum is Asthma & Allergy Certified – the components in the materials are naturally anti-microbial – making this an extremely healthy flooring material.  Available in both sheet goods and click planks in 1′ x 3′ and 1′ x 1′ – perfect for patterns.  So many fun and fantastic colors too!

 

Stop in today to see all the great colors!  

 

If you missed the January Organic White Sale, here’s a fantastic Savvy Rest promotion – get a complimentary wool mattress pad and 2 shredded latex pillows with each mattress purchase.  It’s about a $500 value when purchasing a king mattress. 

In addition, we continue to offer our in-store discount and complimentary shipping to your doorstep Why a Savvy Rest Mattress?

Savvy Rest mattresses continue to rate as a top value in mattresses today for several good reasons.  We’ve listed a few below!

Health Toxic chemicals are used extensively in the mattress industry.  Whether it’s a chemical fire retardant or petro-based sythetic foams, the long-term effects are uncertain and worry healthcare providers and parents alike.  Savvy offers a wonderful crib mattress!

All Savvy Rest Organic Mattresses are made of natural Dunlop or Talalay latex rubber, with durable casings of certified organic wool and certified organic cotton.  The wool component provides the required fire resistance without the dangerous chemicals.

Comfort The organic latex foam in a Savvy Rest is comfortable, supportive and pressure relieving. This mattress will respond to your body and nighttime movement like no other.

A Savvy Rest Organic mattress is made of 3″ layers of latex – up to 4 layers. You choose your firmness level and can even choose different comfort levels for each side - similar to the adjustable air beds.

Durability

A Savvy Rest Mattress carries a 20 year warranty – many folks find a latex mattress will last up to 40 years, which is 2-3 times longer than a conventional mattress.

We look forward to helping you choose the perfect organic mattress!  To learn more about Savvy Rest visit www.savvyrest.com or call us at 505-821-6259.  Visit our showroom and feel the comfort – open 6 days a week – during nap time!

 

Cork Flooring

Yeehaa –  the perfect opportunity.  I already knew I wanted cork flooring after being in the green building business for several years.   Not only is it economical – it’s gorgeous, comfortable, easy to clean, non-toxic and environmentally sound.

I was so excited to be moving back to Albuquerque and into a townhome of my own.  An attractive part of the deal was the townhome was sold with a “flooring allowance”.  The carpet was fairly disgusting and the tile in the kitchen and entry were half missing and cracked.    The carpet was removed within days – choosing to live on the cleaner subfloor until the new flooring would be installed.

 

I measured, ordered and my contractor and I installed Natural Cork – the Eco-Cork line in ‘Roca’.   The planks are 1′ by 3′ and click together – essentially floating on the subfloor. Leaving a small gap at the walls, which are hidden under the base boards, the floor moves as one piece if it needs to contract or expand.  In addition, there are no micro-bevels or grout lines, making for a very smooth surface.  Between the smoothness, warmth and the slight give of cork – wow, it is soooo comfortable.  Bonus, it is super easy to keep clean too!

For the actual stair treads, stair landing and entry, I choose a bit harder material, bamboo.  The solid stair treads are one piece and easy to install.  The risers are cork and I love the look – they blend so well.

The photos above were taken just a couple weeks ago, but the flooring project was done over 4 years ago.  The materials continue to look great with no problems what-so-ever.  There has been spilled wine, coffee and even cat pee on the cork and all cleaned up easy and with no staining or penetration through the finish.   I love it and highly recommend cork flooring to friends and customers. There are a couple hundred color and style options available and the price range is $3.89 – $6.69/sq. ft.  Bamboo starts at $3.49 and is also available in several formats and colors.   http://swgreenbuildingstore.com/products-page/eco-flooring/cork-flooring/

Charging Stations & How to Find One

Charging Stations or Plug-In Stations are popping up all over the USA.  Heck, we have our own Level 1 station right here at Southwest Green Building Center!  The fee to charge is only $.50 for the first hour and $.25 each additional hour.  However, since September 23rd is National Plug-In Day, we have waived the fee for the entire month of September!

Plug-in stations are standardized to four levels.

Level 1 - slow charging, w/charger in car, typically 8 hrs from a regular 120 volt receptacle (20 amp dedicated GFIC) Level 2 - faster charging 240 volt 30 amp charger in car or stationary with standard J1772 connector. Levels 3 & 4 - plug configurations are available for specific vehicles and applications some of which allow fast charging in 15 minutes

If you need a charging station or a consultation regarding charging stations and how they can be a revenue center for your business – our local connection is Gillis Lang.  Gillis provided our charging station sign and set us up on the internet and mobile app sites.  That’s right, there’s even an APP for that!

When you are traveling in your electric vehicle it’s quite easy to find public charging stations on your route.  You can download apps to your mobile phone or search the internet.  The site (carstations.com & chargepoint.com) will tell you the type of charging station, the cost and the availability.  While stations are somewhat limited in New Mexico today, you can bet they will be installed in more and more public places in the near future.  Currently, the city of Albuquerque has two Level 2 charging stations in downtown!

Another concept is the battery switching station.  In this scenario you simply pull into a station and an attendant removes your depleted battery and pops in a newly charged battery.  The process takes about the same time as it does to fill up your SUV – but is much cheaper!

Of course the most favored method is the solar powered station – a truly fossil fuel free way to go.  How about solar panel shaded carports that charge your car while you work?  See one in action today at Positive Energy in Santa Fe.

 

Speed & Distance

Questions of “how fast” and “how far” seem to be the most popular questions beyond cost.  In short, cost and performance are correlated – and both are heavily determined by the battery.

For example, you can do the basic conversion with lead acid batteries, plug-in to your garage outlet for 8 hours per night and be able to get around town the following day.  The miles you can travel would be anywhere from 20 to 40 – at top speeds of about 60 mph.  A conversion is normally optimized for the particular needs of the driver.  You could even start with a lead-acid battery pack then convert to a high performing lithium battery pack down the road.

The high performance Tesla with a bank of lithium batteries can charge in 15 minutes at a Level 4 Station (see Charging Stations below), reach a speed of 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and travel 245 miles per charge at reasonable speeds.

Lead acid batteries have a lifetime of 3 to 4 years and take you about 20,000 miles.  Lithium batteries last 6 to 8 years and can take you around 150,000 miles.  The lead based batteries weigh twice the lithium and have half the range. The cost to replace the lithium battery is about 4X higher, but the overall added value and performance of the lithium battery is the future of the electric vehicle. Southwest Green Building Center recently installed a Level 1 charging station.  Fees are $.50 for the first hour and $.25 each additional.  Fees are waived throughout the month of September in celebration of National Plug-in Day, which is September 23rd.

 

September 23rd is National Plug-In Day!

Sales of Electric Vehicles are taking off faster than the hybrids did in the early 2000′s – and for good reason!

The Choices It is exciting to see more and more Electric Vehicles on the road and in the news. From the practical converted older model truck 

to the ultra fast and sporty Tesla Roadster  – the options are growing.  Of course, there is a significant cost difference in the two options shown above, as well as each having it’s own unique pros and cons.  If you own a vehicle body, and have the skills and knowledge for a DIY project, the cost of the conversion parts will run about $10,000.  On the other hand, the Tesla Roadster’s starting price is about $109,000 – although Tesla does have models starting at $50,000.  Similar to a conventional gas powered vehicle, price is highly determined by speed, range and style. Other models available in today’s USA market include:

Honda Fit EV – lease only – $389/mo.

Nissan Leaf – $32,780 (85 – 95 mile range) 

Mitsubishi i-MiEV – $43,000

Ford Focus EV-$39,200 - now available (76-85 mile range) 

Chevy Volt   – $40,000 (electric for 38 miles + extended range gas engine)

($7500.00 tax rebates may apply to these vehicles)

Reducing our solid waste is one of the key goals of the Southwest Green Building Center and really the initial passion behind opening the store.  The amount of trash we all generate, mostly in the name of convenience, is staggering.  Reducing that waste stream benefits everybody both financially and environmentally! It’s really back to the basics - Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.

Next time you ‘take the trash out’, take a good look inside.  What materials take up the most space? Is anything reusable or repairable? Can you reduce the amount of disposable products you use? Can you substitute products that aren’t available in packaging made of reusable or recyclable materials? If you are throwing away leftover products, can you give them to someone else or compost it?   Helpful shopping guidelines:

• Do you really need it?
• Buy durable products instead of those that are disposable or cheaply made – watch “The Story of Stuff” for great info.
• Repair/restore used items before replacing them.
• Buy items you can re-use.
• Buy items you can recycle locally through curbside collection or recycling centers.
• Avoid excess packaging and buy products in bulk when sensible.  Think lunchbox items!!

Southwest Green Building Center Everyday Solutions & August 2012 Specials

• Save $50.00 on either a Bio Orb or GardenWise Backyard Composter.  Now just $79.00.
• Make your next mattress an organic Savvy Rest  - they last 2-3 times longer than a conventional mattress.
• Save $1 per box on all sizes of BioBags.
• Avoid Carpet – huge item to landfill every 10 years – yowza!
• Save $5 on a Max-Air Kitchen Composter – to gather your composting for transport to the larger pile.
• Bring your rechargable batteries here for appropriate recycling.
• Composting Thermometers – only $20.00 in August.
• Complimentary “Dispose-A-Paint” packets for safe disposal of paint – while they last.

 

 

Clay Plaster, Clay Paint and Clay Stone

Clay Plaster is a wall finish, called American Clay, that replaces paint.  It is made right here in New Mexico, is non-toxic and has zero VOC’s.  It can be applied on drywall and on previously painted or plastered walls.  There are 4 finishes of varying texture and appearance and hundreds of colors available.  American Clay creates a wall that functions and looks like no other.  While you’re admiring the calming beauty of your walls, they are absorbing odors and controlling moisture.  In addition, this wall treatment lasts a lifetime and is easy to repair.  You can apply American Clay Plaster yourself or we’ll send Kent, with Solamente Clay Walls, over for a complimentary application quote.  Solamente Clay Walls has their showroom in our entry so you can see and feel American Clay on large walls.

Clay Paint by Green Planet Paints features ingredients like plant resins, clay and other natural minerals -  material that has been in paints for thousands of years.  While the color palette is limited, they are all naturally occurring mineral and clay based colors that appeal to all.  Green Planet Paints contain zero VOC’s and are non-toxic – this paint actually improves air quality.  Available in eggshell and flat – light and mid-range colors.

Clay Stone is a fun one – both a super durable finish by Solamente Clay and the name of Kent’s two man band.  Solamente Clay Walls – American clay applicators – achieve their signature Clay Stone finish with a special lime wash.  Great for bancos and high traffic walls.

On the other hand, Clay Stone the band- yes, named after the finish by Kent Gurley, Solamente Clay owner, is a super fun duo.  I have enjoyed a couple very festive evenings with entertainment provided by these guys.  So whether you need entertainment or an amazing finish – call Kent at 205-6010!

Recently a customer reluctantly called asking about pricing on EcoTimber strand woven bamboo.  She knew it was rated #1 in Consumer Reports 2 years in a row.  She was not even going to bother calling as she had already contacted the larger outlets in Albuquerque offering EcoTimber and was discouraged by the high pricing.  When she heard my price she came in the next day, confirmed the product and pricing and placed the order!  Dianne recently sent this email with a beautiful photo and the following testimonial, encouraging me to “get the word out”.

“After extensive research, I discovered EcoTimber Bamboo Flooring was top rated by a consumer magazine. I went to several bigger stores thinking they would be less expensive. Boy was I wrong. SouthWest Green Building Center was not only one of the least expensive businesses to buy from, this business was a pleasure to work with. The EcoTimber flooring is absolutely gorgeous! It has transformed the whole room. I definitely plan to floor my entire house in this incredibly durable and beautiful flooring.”

 

See you again soon Cathy

Dianne Daniels

 

 My thanks to Dianne for the photo and taking the time to send me this wonderful note.  

Thanks in part to Dianne’s testimonial, our website is improved and now offers an online buying opportunity.   Most importantly, everyone can now see the pricing of our products on the site.   This will help us all and show that buying from a small local business is not more expensive!  In fact there are many reasons buying local and supporting small business makes sense – read more about that next blog.

Dianne's gorgeous EcoTimber solid strand woven bamboo floor

Cathy Kumar – Owner/Operator