Green Building and Eco Friendly Products Category Archive
Green Talk Radio recently had Lindsay Barczuk as a guest. She spoke with Sean Daily about the environment considerations of Carlisle's Prefinished Flooring as well as our daily green practices.
Give it a listen and let us knwo what you think.
Author's Name: Chad Cassin
Posted Date: May 9, 2008 at 1:55 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products
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Reclaimed wood floors are a popular option for homeowners and for public buildings as well. The floors give a sense of history to any building. We understand the importance of maintaining that history. A good example of this is the flooring that we have reclaimed from the Guerrant Family Plantation and Algoma Apple Packing Farm.
Two hundred and fifty years ago the 3,000-acre plantation and farm was the site of 100 buildings. The apples grown on this land near Boones Mill, Va., were harvested and shipped to England and played a role in the nourishment of soldiers from the Civil War to the Second World War. Today only a few buildings made from the plantation trees almost three centuries ago remain, but the wood from these structures are still playing vital roles in today’s construction. It’s the story of the Many Lives of An Apple Farm Tree and the Green alternatives it provides for your home.
Their first lifetime was spent as majestic trees providing shelter and shade for forest animals as an integral part in the eco-system. They grew to great proportions and were likely more than 200 to 300 years old before being harvested.
Their second lifetime was spent as components of the Apple Farm’s many buildings: the large packing barn where apples were prepared for shipment to England was built of chestnut; the farmhand’s quarters were constructed of heart pine; and the main building was oak.
Continue reading "From Apple Farm to Reclaimed "Green" Flooring" »
Author's Name: Don Carlisle
Posted Date: April 21, 2008 at 2:06 PM
Filed under: Don Carlisle, Green Building and Eco Friendly Products
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Tags: Antique, Apple Farm, Commercial Pojects, FSC Certified, Green Flooring, Historical Building
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In the spirit of Earth Day, Carlisle has challenged its employees to commit to greening one aspect of their personal lives. We figure that, over the course of 365 days, our 150+ employees will reduce the drain on natural resources in over 55,000 ways!
Some of the suggestions we made are:
Bring in a coffee mug and stop using the paper/styrofoam cups Buy reusable bags instead of using paper or plastic at the store Switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent light bulbs Walk or take public transportation instead of driving once a week Support local business to cut back on transportation demands Buy organic - you'll reduce the amount of pesticides in our food chain Step up your recycling If you are having a baby, consider cloth diapers Bank online - stop your paper statements Remove yourself from mailing listsDo any of you plan on participating in a similar commitment? Do you have any other suggestions of simple ways to make a difference?
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: at 1:08 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: Earth Day, green building, greener life, personal change, reduce waste, simple ways to live green
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Green Building Programs and Standards are emerging everywhere. While many are casually compiled and branded, there are a lot of strong programs out there. Two of the leading programs are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and EnergyStar.
The LEED Program is a product of the USGBC (United States Green Building Council). I think the LEED is strong for two reasons: 1) it takes into consideration different building types - there are different LEED programs for Homes, Schools, Retail, Healthcare, and more; and 2) it considers a broad scope of Green Building objectives - including Materials & Resources, Water Efficiency, Site Sustainability, and Indoor Environmental Quality. In contrast, the LEED program has been criticized for 1) having limited emphasis on lifecycle analysis; and 2) demanding a higher implementation cost.
Energy Star, on the other hand, is a residential program that focuses primarily on energy efficiency and indoor air quality. This program appeals to homeowners because it evaluates and makes recommendations on improving the heating, cooling, and water systems within a home - all of these improvements will translate into savings on the energy bill. This government program also offers tax benefits to subscribers - another popular and tangible enhancement. Unfortunately, this program does not consider other Green Building objectives, like Material or Site Selection.
Have any of you been a part of one of these or another Green Building program? What was your experience like?
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: April 17, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: Comparison of green building programs, Energy Star, Environmental Sensitivity, Green Building, LEED
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As green initiatives are implemented into our communities, I think we'll see more and more unexpected contradictions. In this case, we are talking about the tree vs. the solar panel. The New York Times recently reported on an incident in California, in which one neighbor's treasured redwoods block the direct sunlight from hitting another neighbor's solar panels. The battle culminated in a courtroom and a judge ordered that the tree growing neighbors must ensure that no more than 10% of the panels are blocked - risking fines of $1000/day for infringement.
Not too long ago, I read about a similar issue in local Denver. Have any of you come across your own versions of this impending dilemma?
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: April 8, 2008 at 5:36 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: californai, green building, legal action, new york times, trees vs. solar panels
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I just wanted to take a moment during our transition into a new Operating System to note some internal changes I've seen. This new system is going to reduce our need for paper copies more than I could have expected. Our old systems got the job done, but required hard copies for checks and balances. With our new system and digital reporting, we will be more accurate and depend less on paper!
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: April 2, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products
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Tags: Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, digitaization, green, internal operations, paper dependency
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Hi, everyone! I'm Lesley and I have the privilege of working with the great folks at Carlisle to help with their new adventure in blogging. We're excited to announce Carlisle's first guest post, written by our resident 'Green Queen', Lindsay Barczuk over at the FloorTalk Blog! Lindsay took some time and crafted a really great entry for FloorTalk, discussing her journey at Carlisle from a newbie to a now seasoned employee with a deep appreciation for the wood that Carlisle offers and the methods used to produce it. Some topics you'll find in her entry include:
Choosing slow-growth wood
Antique reclaimed floors
Responsible and sustainable forestry and harvesting
Carlisle Wide Plank Floors' processes from forest to floor
The health benefits of hardwood floors
and more!
Basically, whether you're looking to purchase a floor or just want to learn more about wood flooring, this article takes you on an indispensable tour through the things to consider and how to achieve the best quality floor for your time and money. Congratulations, Lindsay, on a job well done!
Do you have a blog that you'd like to feature one of our bloggers on? Do you have a story you'd like to share with us to feature on our blog? Leave us a comment!
Author's Name: Lesley Anderson
Posted Date: March 17, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Hardwood Flooring, Lindsay Barczuk, Wood Grains & Styles
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Tags: green building, green living, hardwood flooring, lindsay barczuk, slow growth timber, sustainable forestry, wood flooring blog
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Carlisle is a "Green" company so it only makes sense that we'd host a "Green Drinks" event. The festivities took place February 21st in one of our newer Design Centers located in West Hollywood, CA (Avenues of Art and Design district). The event was a big success! People trickled in (as did the rain) around 7:30PM and several didn't leave until 11PM! People really enjoyed the size and scale of the place. Several small groups enjoyed the Carlisle DVD presentation near the sample room while others (like most parties) hung out in the kitchen.
The organic food and beverages were very popular and particularly enjoyed by several guests who were vegans. They remarked that the food choices showed a great deal of respect for their needs. Many people didn't realize how very "Green" Carlisle is - often asking "if we cut down old trees." (Click here to understood why we do indeed cut down old trees and why.)
The FSC certified antiques were a huge hit. Although many had seen recycled wood in the past, the quality of the milling and size of the boards were new and exciting for the visitors. I think the most impressive comments about the Antiques were our ability to provide a ‘chain of custody' history depicting how the original structure was used, where it was located, and its age. The Original Surface Barn siding on the walls in our Center also took people by surprise prompting these remarks:"Really looks great!" "I love the Gray side" and "I can't believe the floor in the other room is made from that wood!"
The Green Drinks organizers raved about the energy, size, and nature of our event and requested that we hold another one soon.
Author's Name: Cindy Boynton
Posted Date: March 12, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Guest
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Tags: Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, Chain of Custody, earth-friendly floors, environmentally-friendly floors, FSC-Certified, Green company, Green Drinks, hardwood floors, West Hollywood Design Center
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Since the onset of Christianity, believers have shared the mindset to "use only what you need." This approach to living has recently been revived: Two Leaders in the Church of England are calling on worshippers to give up carbon, or reduce their carbon footprints, during the season of Lent.
I think this is an interesting concept and the article contains a few practical tips to accomplish this goal. Have any of you heard of anyone participating in this carbon fast?
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: March 11, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: carbon + fast, carbon emissions, carbon footprint, Church of England, give up carbon, green living, Lindsay Barczuk, penance for lent
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Over the past few weeks, I read about two very different approaches to green building.
The first type of green building are the green "McMansions", if you will. They triggered stark disapproval by an eco-terrorism group - who claim that the 4000 sf homes are oxymoronic to green building. Obviously, a larger home will require more initial building materials and ongoing resources for maintenance.
The other - more innovative and noteworthy - type I read about occurs in Luling, TX, where they really do use fewer natural resources. These tiny homes are only 200 sf to start!
Do you all think there is a limit to square footage for a green home?
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: March 7, 2008 at 5:35 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: 200 sf green home, eco-terrorism, green building, lindsay barczuk, McMansion, natural resource management, seattle, tiny homes
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We've done a lot of work with an Interior Designer on Mercer Island, WA - who named her company Six Walls. She was visiting our Denver showroom a few years back and took the time to explain why she chose the company name. She said that most people think a room has only 4 walls - but including the ever important floor and ceiling - there are actually six walls. Clever, I thought.
Now, we are teetering on the edge of adding yet another wall - or surface - on which we can imprint our personal touch. In this case, we are talking about Green Roofs - roofs made of soil, grasses and other organic materials that are designed to promote improved stormwater runoff, protect buildings from the heat of the sun, and more. People have even taken this so far as to create a pasture for grazing animals on the roof of their building!
Here's a picture of a Green Roof in Tokyo from Dissonanc3 on Flickr via Ecogeek.org
It's a great idea and, while it may not be ideal in desert climates like in the Southwest, there is certainly something to be said about incoporating a little more color into one's exterior design.
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: February 20, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: green building, green design, green roofs, interior design, mercer island, six walls, solar energy, stormwater runoff
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EcoTimber, a fellow provider of Green Flooring, recently announced that they are expanding their offerings to include bamboo flooring. We've heard a lot about bamboo in recent years and I think there are definitely some advantages to using this material - mostly because of the quick regeneration cycle and reduced cost. For many consumers out there, this flooring option is a great one.
Carlisle has never considered offering bamboo. To begin, bamboo is a plant - not a wood. We sell only high quality wide plank wood floors. Bamboo is an imported product and, while the growth patterns and harvesting techniques are favorable, the transportation implications taint the overall "greenness" of the product. Another question that only time will answer is the long-term aesthetic appeal to the American public.
For now, Carlisle remains focused on the tried and true GREENness of our North American FSC certified Antique and Selectively Harvested Woods.
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: February 19, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: Antique Wood, bamboo, Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, domestic wood flooring, EcoTimber, FSC certified wood, green flooring, harvesting, regeneration
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Good morning everyone. I have attached some pictures of a building that we have secured some great Heart Pine from in New York City. This building is not being demoed, but they are taking the wooden frame work out of it and replacing it with steel to preserve the building. I did a quick google search, and there is a lot of info available on this building.
The Claremont Riding Academy, the last riding stable in Manhattan, was located at 175 West 89th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues in New York City. Built in 1892, and a National Historical Site that was designed by Frank A. Rooke [1], Claremont was the oldest continuously operated equestrian stable in New York City[2], and a regular attraction for horsey tourists.
Claremont was a very sophisticated yet homey environment. It was an unusual multistory barn, its floors connected by ramps, housed its horses in individual stalls in the basement and on the second floor. There was an indoor riding ring, but it was quite small and obstructed by posts.
Continue reading "Recycling History: The Claremont Riding Academy" »
Author's Name: Rich Marrila
Posted Date: February 12, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products
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Tags: antique wood, Heart Pine, New York City, reclaimed wood
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A few months back, I was interviewed by Green Living Idea's founder and Carlisle customer Sean Daily. We discussed a variety of topics from our selective harvesting techniques to reclamation of old wood to tung oil and more.
If you have a moment, check out this podcast - you can even download it to your iPod! Nothing will keep you moving at the gym quite like this discussion :)
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: February 5, 2008 at 2:10 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, Green Living Ideas, lindsay barczuk, podcast, reclamation of old wood, selective harvesting, tung oil
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If you are working on a new construction or renovation project, you've probably given some thought to making your home more eco-friendly. Using wide plank wood floors from a responsible provider can be a step in the right direction and here's why:
Reclaimed wood gives another lifecycle to an existing material. Using it means that you will be straining our resources less and avoiding sending old materials to the landfill. When you are looking at providers, keep in mind that 3rd party certification like Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) will be a sign that the materials are credible - however, that certification is not the end-all be-all.
Newly sawn wood from a well-managed forest is another GREEN option. These forests can be found nationwide and offer a really good local option. Focusing on the use of local materials is a great approach because transportation increases the amount of carbon we emit into the atmosphere.
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: January 30, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: 3rd party certified wood, eco-friendly, FSC certified wood, green building, hardwood floors, source wood locally, wide plank floors
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With the market full of companies claiming to be GREEN, it's more important than ever that we critically assess the intentions and actions of these supposedly eco-friendly companies. Third party product certifications are an insightful way to evaluate the product(s), but how will we - as consumers - ever really know what happens behind the scenes?
A few days ago, we received an email from an architect who was rightfully challenging our GREENness after he received a triplicate mailing, which (interestingly enough) advertised our AIA Continuing Education Program - Building Green: One Plank at a Time. This potential client stated his concern that - for a company claiming to be so green - we were sending him a mailer (contained within an envelope) instead of communicating via a more GREEN method like email.
His concern is admirable and valid. To this point, it's refreshing to know that the public is being judicious in evaluating companies and their claims. We absolutely recognize the potential drain that such correspondence can place on our resources.
We have and will always be committed to reducing our carbon footprint, in every aspect of our business from procurement & manufacturing to sales & marketing. We pledge to the following:
We have reduced the amount of printed materials that we use by over 25% over the past year and will continue to reduce our dependency on paper communications in the future.
Where printed materials are the best medium for our customers to best understand our floors, we utilize the highest recycled paper content available and print exclusively with VOC-free soy ink.
In many cases, as in the mailer and envelope that this client received, the printed items were created from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, 100% process chlorine free, post consumer recycled paper and were printed with soy ink.
If any of you have additional questions or concerns about our internal procedures, I welcome your feedback. We are indubitably compelled to act within the best interests of Mother Nature and will work to make our practices increasingly transparent, as not to leave a doubt in your mind. For more insight into our efforts to remain faithful to our goal of conducting business in the most eco-friendly manner and to understand our passion for the planet, click here.
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: January 24, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: accountability, Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, communicating as a green company, consistency of commitment, corporate transparency, eco-friendly company, evaluate products, Green company, Lindsay Barczuk
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How long do you think that a home built today should last? 50 years? 100 years? 150 years? Incorporating durable materials into construction means that the product will last longer - they will not need to be replaced. When a product does not need to be replaced, that means less strain on our natural resources and fewer items going to the landfill.
Another aspect of durability that we should take into consideration is the concept of Timeless Architecture. Timeless Architecture takes into consideration that a product might be designed well enough to last - but the aesthetical implications need to be long-lasting, as well.
I use the example of avocado refrigerators. These were the stainless steel appliances of the 1970s. Everybody wanted one. Nowadays, many of these appliances are still working perfectly in people's kitchens, but the durability of visual appeal is debatable.
So, the question becomes: how can you incorporate products into the design of a home that will not only last for years to come, but will also appeal from a design standpoint? Check out a couple sites where you can find eco-friendly products designed and built for timeless architecture:
- www.wideplankflooring.com
- www.lowimpactliving.com
- www.greenhome.com
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: at 3:17 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: durability, eco-friendly products, green building, lindsay barczuk, product lifecycle, product selection, timeless architecture, waste reduction
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When I was in San Fran at a the PCBC Green Conference in 2006, one of the speakers told us that "Green Building is like pornography. It's difficult to define, but you know it when you see it"... I like that idea - it's not a black and white topic. If you ask 10 people what they think it means, you may see some similarities, but you will get 10 different answers.
Carlisle Wide Plank Floor's definition: Green building applies to the process of incorporating sound environmental consideration into design, planning, and construction.
How would you define Green Building? I think we've all seen some oxymoronic green buildings - like the 6500 sf Green Home (maybe not the best short term use of raw materials and long term use of energy). What Green Building agendas do you think are non-negotiable?
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: January 22, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, define green building, definition of green building, Green Building, green building agendas, Lindsay Barczuk, what does it mean to build green
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I recently read an article in the USA Today about Clarum Homes founder John Suppes. The article focused on how he started the company years ago based on green principles - even "before it was cool".
The story sounded so familiar and that's because Carlisle was founded over 40 years ago on the foundation of being a responsible steward of the environment. I hope to spend a lot of time talking about the foundation of our company, our current forestry and manufacturing practices, as well as our goals for the future.
The other point I'd like to address from the Clarum article is his position that "the most reliable material is timber harvested in an ecologically sound manner". Carlisle floors are made of these materials - timbers that are harvested selectively with long-term sustainability in mind.
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: January 14, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Filed under: Green Building and Eco Friendly Products, Lindsay Barczuk
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Tags: carlisle forestry, carlisle wide plank floors, Clarum Homes, deforestation, eco friendly flooring, eco friendly home, eco friendly wood harvesting, green building, green home, hardwood floors, safe forestation, USA Today, wide plank floors
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