Surface Blog
Welcome to Surface, a blog by Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. Join us in discussion about hardwood flooring wood grains & styles, home decor, green building products, trends and more.
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Green Living Ideas hosts Carlisle Podcast
Posted by Lindsay Barczuk
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
Posted on February 5, 2008 at 01:10 PM in Green Building • (0) Comments
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What Makes Wood Floors GREEN?
Posted by Lindsay Barczuk
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.
Posted on January 30, 2008 at 01:07 PM in Green Building • (0) Comments
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Carlisle: Not Just Talking the Talk
Posted by Lindsay Barczuk
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.
Posted on January 24, 2008 at 03:22 PM in Green Building • (0) Comments
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Durability: An Important Consideration for Eco-Friendly Products
Posted by Lindsay Barczuk
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:
Posted on January 24, 2008 at 02:17 PM in Green Building • (0) Comments
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Green Building: Let’s Define it First…
Posted by Lindsay Barczuk
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?
Posted on January 22, 2008 at 01:17 PM in Green Building • (0) Comments
Cherry Blossoms
Washington, D.C.