Page 49 - Green Builder Sept-Oct 2016

Natural products.
Instead of using harsh
stains and chemicals,
Stem products use
natural oils for coloring.

CREDIT: STEM Avoid VOCs. Let carpets air out for a few days before
CREDIT: STEM installing them in a home. Better yet, use natural fibers.

Back to basics. Stem replaced using polyester-based products with IAQ Issues Lurk
natural materials.
in Carpets
Clay says.“There are entire sections of national parks and campgrounds
that are closed because the trees are falling and killing people.” Carpets, adhesives and sealants can
lead to compromised air quality.
Instead of using healthy, live trees for its products, Azure decided
to harvest those dead pines. “The rubric we started the business with Yet another factor impacting the quality of your indoor air quality is carpets.
and still use to operate business is: How much good can we create It’s a two-part problem:
under bad situation? It’s silly to cut down live trees when there are
so many dead trees,” Clay says. 1. Carpets trap dust and bacteria; and
2. Carpets, padding and adhesives contain unhealthy chemicals.
GROWING PAINS The first problem is easier to fix than the second. By keeping a carpet
However, the company has trouble selling products using the wood clean and vacuuming regularly, much of the dirt that pollutes your air
in the beginning du e to its unique coloring. As the beetles infect the can be removed.
trees, they carry a blue fungus that stains the sapwood. The result is The second issue is not so easy to solve. New carpets often contain
a blue and gray-colored wood. benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, styrene, ethyl benzene and acetone, all
harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC). They also contain chemicals
At first, Azure tried to cover the blue streaks with stain and that can cause nerve damage, hallucinations and respiratory illness, such
market the product as an alternative to alder or rustic cherry. as p-Dichlorobenzene, according to Natural News.
A few years ago, the company began embracing the wood’s unique Instead, choosing an alternative flooring is a healthier option, such as
coloring and started using a clear finish. It focused on photography bamboo, stone or tile. But if you’re set on carpet, look for those made out
that demonstrated ways to make the blue and white pine fit well into of natural materials such as wool. Also, make sure to let the carpet air out
a room. In addition, the industry began focusing on blonde wood, for a few days before installing it in your home. Once it’s installed, keep the
which helped market the beetle kill pine. room well ventilated. It’s also important to make sure the carpet is installed
using low-VOC adhesives—or using no adhesives at all.
Like the building industry at large, the future of indoor furnishings
is sustainably manufactured products, using all natural materials that How to Find Better Carpets
leave little footprint on the environment. Homeowners are becoming
ever more aware how furniture, carpets and other manmade objects To help solve the carpet issue, the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) created
impact indoor air and human health. GB Green Label and Green Label Plus. Green Label tests carpet, cushions
and adhesives to help specifiers identify products with low VOC. Green
www.greenbuildermedia.com Label Plus helps ensure customers are purchasing the very lowest emitting
carpeting, sealants and adhesives on the market, according to CRI.

Green Label Plus-certified carpets go through a two-week testing
process to measure emissions. Then, consumers can look for Green Label
Plus carpets, adhesives and cushions to be sure the product is low VOC
emitting. For more information, visit www.carpet-rug.org.

September/October 2016 GREEN BUILDER 47