When selecting flooring for your home, there are many choices to be made and criteria to consider.  But how often does environmental impact come into play when deciding what flooring to use to replace the carpet in the family room with or what to put in that new home construction?  The answer may surprise you!

It turns out that different flooring types and their production have a wide range of varying impacts on the planet.  So, just like the decision on whether to install solar panels on your roof, what you put on the floors of your home can have a big impact on your home’s carbon foot print.  And while it may sound counter-intuitive to many, wood flooring maybe the way to go when it concerns the environment!  This is a result of two main factors: how the flooring is produced and the renewability and sustainability of wood.

The production of most popular flooring materials, such as vinyl and carpet, can involve the use inorganic and often toxic materials.  The processes also creates large amounts of Carbon Dioxide, the most abundant green-house gas on the planet.  According to a study by the University of Wisconsin, wood is actually a carbon-neutral material.  And wood flooring actually uses LESS water and energy to produce than other flooring options.  Once the product has reached the end of its life cycle, it is far easier to recycle or reuse wood flooring compared to other popular options.

The other thing to consider is the availability, sustainability and renewable of the material.  And this is where wood flooring really is a much better option than many people might initially think.  Here are a few statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

• Average annual net growth for hardwoods is greater than average annual removals.
• Harvesting trees has minimal environmental impact. For every acre harvested, 1.66 are regrown.
• Standing US hardwood volume is currently about 328 billion cubic feet.

And since wood floors can last for hundreds of years, they do not need to be replaced nearly as often as other flooring options.

If you wish to do any additional research on your own, the National Wood Flooring Association would be a great place to start.  And as always, the professionals at Sparkle Flooring are here to provide their expertise in choosing and installing the flooring option that best meets your needs and requirements.