When a homeowner decides to take measures towards energy conservation, it is always a win win situation. The investment goes a long way and actually saves money in the future. Also, the environmentally conscious manufacturing of the sustainable products contribute to a sense of pride in "Going Green"!  

Steps to your own green home

• Use water-based paints (with low or no V.O.C.s*), finishes, and sealants. Avoid oil based paints and varnishes that emit harmful chemicals in the air.
• Choose carpets, rugs, window treatments and other textiles made from natural fibers like cotton or wool, that are untreated with toxins such as pesticides and chemical cleaners.
• Ask for flooring products made from rapidly renewable materials like bamboo or linoleum.
• Reuse materials such as brick, stone, glass, tile or metal in new and interesting ways. Old wood can also be safely treated and reused in various innovative ways.
• Maintain indoor air quality by using cleaning products with less fumes. Some of the personal grooming products such as aerosol hair sprays contribute to polluting air with harmful chemicals. Avoid using such products.

Easy ways to energy efficient home

• Conserve energy by purchasing major appliances with an Energy Star rating and by activating “power saver” and “sleep” features to control usage. Check out “www.pge.com/ homeupgrades” for rebates on hundreds of appliances. Also, consider switching to fluorescent light bulbs and using more natural lighting with windows or skylights.
• Seal drafty air leaks around the windows. If the water heater is  12-15 years old, consider replacing it with tank-less water heater and take advantage of the Federal tax credit program.
• Add a layer of a “green” insulation product to your existing attic insulation.  This is the best way to minimize your utility bill. Ultra Touch by Bonded Logic is one good product.
• Consider using ceiling fans. Conserve energy by choosing natural ventilation (weather permitting).
• Install low-flow shower heads and faucets.

F.A.Q.s- Linoleum flooring

• I have to get rid of my old carpet. Why should I choose linoleum over laminate?
• Can we install Marmoleum on stairs?
• I want to have Marmoleum upstairs, in all bedrooms, and loft etc, which is about 2000 sq.ft area. Any suggestions?
  

F.A.Q.s- Recyclable carpet

• I have to get rid of my old carpet. Why should I choose linoleum over laminate?

If we compare laminate to linoleum, it will be like comparing apples and oranges. Normally, people go for laminate floating floor system because it is easy to work with, the surface is harder, and it is an inexpensive option. It being a synthetic material, the touch and feel is nowhere close to natural material, though. The tactile feel of a laminate is quite artificial underfoot. Linoleum and laminate are both easy to maintain. But some people find the sound laminate makes, when one walks on it, quite annoying. The experts in the industry are researching to find out the level at which the VOCs*, emitted from adhesives used in laminate floors, are affecting the indoor air quality. With linoleum, especially Marmoleum from Forbo, that possibility has been eliminated. So, if you want to have "healthy" floors for your home, linoleum is your option. Also, the design flexibility it offers is appealing to many people.
                       
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• Can we install Marmoleum on stairs?

Marmoleum Click can be very easily installed on stairs. The stair nosing is available in coordinating colors that blend well. One thing to consider though, any hard floor material installed on stairs will have less friction as compared to carpet. The edge molding / stair nose trims do provide some grip underfoot, but if you have young kids or an elderly person at home you should consider putting a stair runner rug to avoid falls with any hard surface material.

                                                                                                                                                                          

• I want to have Marmoleum upstairs, in all bedrooms, and loft etc, which is about 2000 sq.ft area. Any suggestions?

There is no problem in having Marmoleum Click in all the bedrooms and continuing in hallways, as long as the length of the floor in any one direction does not exceed 26'. If the length of the floor exceeds 26', it is advisable to have an expansion joint.  Expansion joints are created to allow the movement in the material due to temperature changes. (contraction in winter, and expansion during summer) This means if any continuous segment of the floor measures more than 26' in length, you should consider breaking it up with a transition strip. Ideally, this can be done in a door threshold  for a bedroom or similar locations in case of large spaces.
                                                  

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