In addition to quality and price, another key consideration with hardwood flooring is sustainability. Many of the popular hardwoods used for flooring come from exotic woods that are harvested from our diminishing rain forests around the world.

With the growing interest around sustainable building materials, coconut wood flooring provides a luxurious hardwood flooring solution that is also environmentally friendly.

Coconut wood comes from the palm family. Coconut palms are some of the fastest growing trees in the world. They rejuvenate much faster than most hardwood species, growing to full maturity in 5 to 6 years. This makes the Coconut Palm a sustainable resource.

Coconut wood for flooring is harvested from coconut palm plantations at the end of the tree’s coconut bearing years. Typically, coconut palms produce nuts (coconuts) for up to 80 years. At the end of their coconut bearing life span, the palm trees are then harvested for their wood, and replaced with new palms.

It’s interesting to note that the coconut timber byproduct from felled coconut palms that have reached the end of their effective nut producing years, has had no developed secondary market. This useful and renewable hardwood resource has frequently gone unused prior to more recent trends to leverage the wood for coconut flooring products and other palmwood applications.

Coconut wood can vary widely in density and hardness. The hardest coconut wood is found at the perimeter or outer ring of the palm trunk. The closer you get to the center of the Palm stem, the softer the wood. For durability, it’s important that you find a coconut flooring manufacturer that uses only the hardest wood from the outer perimeter of the palm stem.

Coconut wood flooring products are manufactured in a similar manner to bamboo flooring. Coconut wood is naturally a light tan color, and the darker honey-brown colors are achieved through “carbonized” coloring processes. The flooring is offered in vertical, horizontal or strand configurations, also similar to the bamboo flooring products.

Durapalm®, a palmwood flooring product from Smith & Fong, is manufactured from plantation grown coconut palms, which are abundant throughout the world.

Coconut palm lumber can vary greatly in color and density. Smith & Fong uses only the hard, dark palm for a luxurious look and superior durable surface.

Better quality palmwood can range in price up to $9.00 per square foot or more.

Compared to other traditional hardwood flooring solutions, high quality coconut wood flooring may be better suited for the more expensive home remodeling projects.

For more hardwood flooring ideas, contact Z.Z. Daily Construction about your next home remodeling project.

Hardwood floors provide a luxurious and beautiful improvement for your home. They can also be expensive, and with the growing interest and concern about sustainable and renewable building materials, many have turned to the fake laminate flooring products.

But there may be another choice to consider …

Bamboo flooring may be an ideal alternative hardwood flooring solution for you. Bamboo is an eco-friendly, totally renewable material. A member of the grass family, bamboos are the fastest growing woody plants in the world. While it may take over 100 years to replace a hardwood tree such as a Brazilian teak, bamboo reaches full maturity suitable for hardwood applications in about 4 years, and can actually regenerate without replacing or replanting (remember, bamboo is a grass).

Typically, bamboo flooring products have had durability issues. Generally softer than the hardwood flooring materials, bamboo floors have a reputation of being prone to dents, nicks and scratches. But this “softness” legacy may be more an issue in the past. New manufacturing techniques have improved and some of the better bamboo flooring products available today are actually quite durable and sturdy.

Consumer reports has tested bamboo flooring products in the past and found the same typical issues with durability. However, for the first time in a recent test, consumer reports has found the best bamboo flooring products actually out-performed the top selling oak.  See the following video.

Different Types of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is typically made by slicing bamboo poles into strips, destarched through a boiling process, glued into boards, and milled. There are basically four different bamboo flooring types:

• Horizontal Grain:  bamboo strips glued on top of one another to form a surface.
• Vertical Grain: bamboo strips glued side-by-side in longer, narrow bands
• Grainless or Stranded: shredded bamboo is pressed together with a binding agent. This method generally produces the most dense and hardest flooring product.
• Engineered: bamboo veneer is applied over a substrate.

With the various bamboo flooring types, some of the binding and gluing processes often use formaldehyde agents. These resins and binding agents are responsible for releasing certain levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

By comparison, bamboo products use far less of these volatile compounds than other materials such as particle board (which is far more prevalent throughout many homes).  Today, you’ll find many more manufacturers sensitive to modern environmental concerns have come up with a greater range of environmentally friendly bamboo products.

EcoTimber Bamboo Flooring, courtesy of hardwoodinstaller.com

You may be surprised by the range of bamboo flooring choices you have.

At the lower range, the prices can be more attractive than the hardwood floor counterparts, but durability and quality may be an issue.

With the higher end bamboo floor products, the pricing is comparable to hardwood floor materials, and the durability has improved considerably. As suggested by recent Consumer Reports testing, bamboo flooring durability can actually surpass some of the hardwood products including oak.

For the most part, bamboo flooring installation is similar to installing hardwood floors. But it’s best to find a flooring installer with bamboo floor experience.

And Remember, try to have your your hardwood floors installed toward the end of a remodeling project to avoid your new floors becoming damaged while other work is completed.

Cleanboard, a San Francisco based drywall startup, is a new company with a slightly different twist on a drywall product manufactured using a more environmentally friendly process. Cleanboard promotes their ecology friendly drywall product as “the most environmentally friendly drywall on earth“.

CleanBoard has created a solar powered system that uses mirrors to concentrate the sun’s rays on a heat collector which heats a transfer fluid to store the sun’s radiant energy. The heated transfer fluid heats the drywall baking ovens up to 200 degrees Celsius. And the transfer fluid can store the heat in pressurized chambers up to 24 hours enabling the company to manufacture drywall even on days when the sun isn’t shining.

The traditional gypsum drywall manufacturing process typically relies on fuel expensive gas fired ovens that represent a significant carbon footprint. Moving to a solar based technology to heat the ovens provides a carbon free solution and should reduce the energy costs to manufacture the drywall by more than 50%.

The solar powered drywall facility will be based in the Mojave Desert where an almost year-round supply of radiant sunshine is available. CleanBoard expects to be in full production able to produce 2 million square feet of drywall in 2010, with projections to expand production to 10 million square feet of drywall in 2011, and the ability to produce a peak volume of 100 million square feet of drywall.

Today’s homeowners are not just interested in remodeling their homes for beauty, comfort and convenience. Improving the energy efficiency in their homes and protecting the environment are becoming increasingly important home improvement considerations as well.

Keeping an eye out for environmentally friendly and energy efficient building materials will help you make the best green remodeling decisions for your next home improvement project.

One such company, Serious Materials, has released a new drywall product they call EcoRock. The company claims this is the first significant change in the way that sheetrock is manufactured in over 100 years, and has recently won the Popular Science GreenTech award for best of what’s new in ‘08.

For environmentally conscious home builders and home remodelers that are looking for better sustainable building materials solutions, EcoRock may be an interesting advancement worth looking into.

EcoRock improves on traditional gypsum sheetrock in several ways.

• Uses 80% less energy to manufacture than gypsum drywall.  Traditional gypsum wallboard manufacturing processes uses energy intensive drying ovens to fabricate drywall. EcoRock is naturally dried and cured using an oven-free process that consumes much less energy to manufacturer.
• Made of 80% recycled materials - made using recycled industrial waste products including waste from steel and cement plants. No gypsum is used to manufacture EcoRock.
• Mold and Termite resistant – outperforms all other mold resistant drywall as much as 50%. And no harsh anti-fungal chemicals are used to make EcoRock.
• Can be fully recycled at end of life – can be used as a pH additive for soils and can be returned to the production of EcoRock and other building materials as a useful raw material. And unlike gypsum drywall materials, EcoRock can be safely disposed of in landfills if necessary.

According to the manufacturer, EcoRock should be available from building material suppliers in the Western states later in 2009. The manufacturer indicates there is no difference in hanging, taping and installing EcoRock over standard drywall products.  The cost for the new drywall building material is not currently published, but expect it to be higher priced than gypsum based wallboard.

Creative Green Remodeling Ideas

There are so many creative ways to apply green home improvement ideas. For example, if you enjoy a climate like we do here in Southern California that promotes the integration of an indoor and outdoor lifestyle, consider the following creative application of an outdoor shower.

This concept, courtesy of Jeremy Levine Design, provides an enclosed open-air shower off of the indoor bathroom.  The outdoor shower offers a serene exposure to the open air while protecting your personal privacy.

The green friendly design recycles the shower water into a grey water garden outside. An aesthetic and pleasing lifestyle design that is smart for the environment as well!

photo credit: Jeremy Levine Design

The possibilities for green remodeling concepts are wide-open, but most homeowners choose to start with the basics first. Here are five of the more common green remodeling improvements that you might consider for your next remodeling project.

Five Green Home Improvements That Save You Money

• High Efficiency Heating System – Depending on where you live, heating your home can consume as much as 35% of your overall home energy bill. Today, new high-efficiency heating systems can significantly reduce your heating costs, sometimes by as much as 50%. Look for units with AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency ratings defined by the US Department of Energy) of 90 or better. And don’t forget the insulation in your home. Upgrading your heating system for energy efficiency is a waste if poor insulation simply allows the heat to escape.
• High Efficiency Air Conditioner – If you live in a warm climate, air conditioning is a must have. Surprisingly, air conditioning in the US accounts for approximately 5% of the total energy consumption and costs American homeowners $11 billion annualy. Many of the modern air conditioning systems are designed for much improved energy efficiency and can save significant costs on your monthly energy bill. Energy Star rated units are required to have SEER ratings of 13 or higher. Some of the highest energy efficient air conditioning models on the market today actually have SEER ratings of 20 and higher. Higher SEER ratings means you save more money!
• High Efficiency Replacement Windows – One of the most popular home improvement upgrades, modern energy efficient windows can reduce your home energy usage by as much as 50% year round. And today’s window upgrades will add beauty, comfort, convenience and security to your home. With this kind of energy conservation performance, upgrading the windows in your home can often pay for itself in a few short years. Look for Low-E coatings, multiple-paned windows, insulated frames and remember that proper installation is important to get good results.
• High Efficiency Insulation – One of the often overlooked opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of your home and reduce your monthly bill is home insulation. Don’t make the mistake of putting your investment in high efficiency furnaces, air conditioning systems and windows without attending to the insulation as well. Leaky windows and doors and poorly insulated attics cost you money and are good places to start. A professional can help you determine where your biggest insulation opportunities reside in your home.
• High Efficiency Appliances – your home appliances consume a big chunk of your energy usage each month. Today’s modern appliances, including dish washers, refrigerators, ovens, washing machines and dryers, can reduce energy consumption by as much as 45%. When choosing your appliances, look for the Energy Star rating to determine the level of energy efficiency.

Going green is a smart, win-win move all the way around. You not only save money on your monthly bills, you will benefit the environment and help better preserve our precious resources.

And don’t forget, many of the energy efficient green remodeling upgrades will qualify for tax credits, which make these green improvements even more compelling.

To find out more how you can benefit from green remodeling, contact Z.Z. Daily Construction today!

Originally, these residential home improvement tax credits were set to expire in 2009.

Well, here’s some good news. These energy based tax credits have been extended through the end of 2010.

Energy Based Home Improvement Tax Credits

First established by congress and signed into law by President George Bush in 2005, the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) provides tax credits to individuals for a number of energy conservation home improvements.

The tax incentives offered are credits, not deductions. A tax deduction discounts the tax payer’s gross income which lowers the amount of income on which taxes must be paid.  A tax credit differs from a tax deduction by directly reducing the amount of taxes owed rather than decreasing gross income. Most homeowners regard tax credits as more beneficial.

These energy conservation credits were initially set to expire in different years, with the first expiration dates starting in 2009. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has extended many of the consumer energy tax incentives through the end of 2010.

Remember, always consult your accountant or tax specialist first to fully understand the specific tax benefit you might receive. The current tax laws are subject to change, and these various tax credits are scheduled to expire at different times.

Many improvements that qualify an individual for the tax credit are Energy Star-certified. Energy Star ratings were created by the Environmental Protection Agency to inform consumers of the most efficient products. An Energy Star rating means that the improvement meets specific levels for energy efficiency in categories relevant to that product.

Tax Credits Reward You For Improving Home Energy Efficiency

Consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in existing homes are eligible to receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost, not to exceed $1,500. The improvements have to be placed into service starting January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010.  For more details, see EnergyStar.gov for a complete summary of energy efficiency tax credits available to consumers.

Keep in mind tax credit for roofs, insulation, doors and windows applies only to the cost of materials and not to installation costs.

Renewable Energy Tax Credits For Residential Applications

Another interesting category of tax credits that benefit consumers focuses around renewable energy.  Homeowners who install solar energy systems (including solar water heating and solar electric systems), small wind systems, geothermal heat pumps, and residential fuel cell and microturbine systems can receive a 30% tax credit for systems placed in service before December 31, 2016.  The previous tax credit cap no longer applies.

Don’t Wait To Take Advantage of These Tax Incentives

While these tax incentive extensions are definitely good news, don’t delay. Tax laws and initiatives are always subject to change, and these energy conservation tax credits won’t remain available indefinitely.

It takes some time to do the proper planning and homework before you undertake these type of home improvement projects. So best to get started now. Many of these energy saving home improvements fall under the “home maintenance” category.

For example, if you’ve been in your home awhile, or you just moved into an older home, you may already be facing a roof replacement or repair in the next five years anyway. Why not take advantage of these tax credits now, and think about doing that roof work a little sooner?

How about those window upgrades you’ve been thinking about, but keep putting off? Today’s modern energy efficient windows not only save on your energy bill and improve the beauty and value of your home, if you get in now, you’ll also qualify for some significant tax saving credits.

Energy conservation home improvements create benefits in many ways

• Save you money on your energy bill
• Many qualify for tax credits and savings
• Improve the value of your home
• Green remodeling helps protect the environment

Not only can you feel good about improving your home, these energy conservation improvements fall under the growing “green home remodeling” trend, and that’s good for the environment.

But you need to act before these energy tax credits expire.

Contact Z.Z. Daily Construction if  you’d like to find out more about energy saving home improvements.