Saskatchewan's Green Directory Helping Saskatchewan choose a better environment

What to look for

Some flooring products have a deleterious effect on indoor air quality through the release of chemicals such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Others, such as PVC (vinyl), are responsible for release of poisonous chemicals into the water table or the atmosphere when finally disposed of. However, environmentally preferable products exist.

In this directory we follow—with some slight modification—the definition of Environmentally Preferable Products given in the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes programme. As this programme changes (and particularly as the Canada Green Building Council develops its own version), the criteria here may also be expected to change.

Acceptable flooring types

• Forestry Stewardship Council approved timber flooring
• reclaimed timber flooring
• cork flooring
• bamboo flooring
• linoleum (but not PVC)
• wool carpet, provided that it meets the strict criteria listed here

Criteria

Vendors