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When Sharon Wobker started remodeling her two-bedroom condominium last fall, the yoga enthusiast longed for beauty and durability. As an instructor at Radha Yoga Center, in Spokane, Wobker spends a lot of time meditating and practicing yoga poses on the floor. So she wanted to install flooring that not only was long-lasting and easy-to-maintain but also the kind that originated from a renewable resource and reflected her own philosophy of caring for the Earth.
Several flooring options provide environmentally conscious alternatives. When Sharon Wobker started remodeling her two-bedroom condominium last fall, the yoga enthusiast longed for beauty and durability. As an instructor at Radha Yoga Center, in Spokane, Wobker spends a lot of time meditating and practicing yoga poses on the floor. So she wanted to install flooring that not only was long-lasting and easy-to-maintain but also the kind that originated from a renewable resource and reflected her own philosophy of caring for the Earth. After doing some research on eco-friendly materials last fall, Wobker found exactly what she was looking for at Eco Depot, a Spokane company that specializes in sustainable building practices and products. The company’s store on East Sprague Avenue offered her an array of choices—from bamboo and cork to other Earth-friendly materials such as marmoleum, which is a natural linoleum. While the materials cost more, using these alternatives to conventional flooring ensures the protection of native forests and ecosystems, says Nadine Sullivan, president of Eco Depot. With the growing awareness of environmental issues and their connection to health and well-being, more homeowners and builders are seeking to incorporate eco-friendly products and practices in to living and work spaces. In recent years, the number of customers who have inquired about sustainable flooring options has increased by about 50 percent, according to Sullivan. Installing Earth-friendly flooring can be gratifying for the homeowner, some say, but it certainly isn’t cheap—especially when you compare it to the widely available materials of vinyl and laminate floors. At Eco Depot, the price of bamboo ranges from $5.79 to $6.49 per square foot while some of the Forest Stewardship Council-certified hickories, which are hand-scraped, cost as much as $12.99 per square foot. Cork, on the other hand, ranges in price from $5.50 to $9.50 per square foot, according to Sullivan. If the price tag is making you think twice about using eco-friendly flooring, Sullivan suggests doing one room at a time if you’re remodeling your home. When talking to customers who inquire about sustainable materials, Sullivan often reminds them of the benefits of these Earth-friendly alternatives, she says. Cork, bamboo and marmoleum aren’t just good for the environment, Wobker says—they’re also good for people’s health. Carpet can serve as a breeding ground for dust, pollen, mold and other particles. Hardwood floors, marmoleum and cork, on the other hand, don’t hide dirt. Besides, these flooring options also look better, last longer and are easier to maintain, Wobker asserts. After much consideration, Wobker ended up using cork for the floors in her entryway and two bathrooms and then bamboo for the rest of her 1,000-square-foot condo. Since she was getting new flooring, Wobker decided to go ahead and install radiant floor heat as well. After getting some advice from Sullivan, Wobker splurged on STEP Warmfloor, a self-regulating heating system that uses energy-efficient, low-voltage electroplastics that are installed beneath the bamboo floors. This allowed her to remove the old baseboard electric heaters from her condo while saving on the price of energy down the line. The price tag, including installation, made her balk at first. “I was literally floored,” she says with a laugh. But after talking to a friend who shared her passion for both yoga and sustainability, Wobker realized the flooring was worth the extra money. “You’ll create something beautiful that you’ll enjoy for years to come,” her friend assured her. So Wobker went ahead and spent the $7,000 on materials, not including the STEP Warmfloor and the installation costs. Now, the cork and bamboo floors speak for themselves in this sparsely decorated home. In her commitment to sustainability and simplicity, Wobker uses only furniture made of out wood and recycled materials. She also has minimized clutter around her house. “You have to be willing to make the investment,” said Wobker, who also buys organic food as well as clothing made from natural materials. “I’m committed to the environment and using less energy.” For more information
www.greenhomeguide.com
www.ecodepotinc.com
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