Just to start conversation, I will respond to my own topic.

As a lay person, rubber jumps out as a fantastic green flooring option.

It can be made from 100% recycled material

Installed with little waste and with green / environmentally friendly adhesive.

Very Durable

Broom / Soapy water for maintenance.

And at the end of its life, it can be recycled.


And it only costs around $2.50 a square foot and is easily installed.

 

tlynch, can you provide some examples of rubber flooring, links or names?

I see a lot of bamboo flooring being touted as a green alternative. I wonder if it really lives up to the hype.

If you have a concrete slab, then leaving the concrete as the finished floor seems like a pretty green idea - you're not adding any extra material at all so there is no question about whether it can be recycled, et cetera. The downside is a relatively uncomfortable floor - I guess the feasibility of this depends on what type of room it's in.

Nora Rubber
http://www.norarubber.com/

Eco Surfaces
http://www.ecosurfaces.com/

Rubber Cal
http://rubbercal.com/Residential_Applications.html



I just spoke with a contractor who said that he thinks rubber floors would smell, although most claim to be odor-free.

The same contractor also just mentioned that he does not think Bamboo lives up to the hype, unless you get the very high-end bamboo, which is expensive.

Bu the bamboo that you can find online that appears to be very affordable is not nearly as hard and people are not nearly as happy with.

Natural Linoleum is biodegradable.

www.domco.com

www.forbolinoleumna.com

--------------------------------- From: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1216/is_4_206/ai_72704381

First produced more than 150 years ago, linoleum is made primarily from natural materials: linseed oil (derived from flax), ground cork and/or pine rosins, wood flour, and natural pigments. Available in sheets (with jute backing) or tiles (with polyester backing), it costs somewhat more than vinyl flooring products: The 79-inch-wide sheets are $3 to $5 per square foot, installed; the tiles, available in 13- and 20-inch squares, are slightly higher. However, the appearance and virtues of the linoleum products make them worth consideration.

Linoleum is a durable, biodegradable product that's comfortable and quiet underfoot. It's hygienic-certain ingredients halt the breeding of microorganisms-and it has natural antistatic qualities that repel dust and dirt.

A handy homeowner can install the tile, but sheet linoleum should be installed by professionals because the seams must be heat-sealed with special equipment. In the hands of an expert, sheet linoleum can incorporate precisely fitted curvilinear or interlocking patterning that makes a floor almost an art form.

---------------------------------

I've seen a lot of those Nora style rubber floors in use, and they don't seem to hold up visually. They tend to show scuffs and have a chalky appearance. I suppose it wouldn't matter so much in a retail environment, but in a home you want something that's going to last and remain beautiful.

The linoleum looks interesting. I wonder how hard is it to cut? The usual square tiles just have that "linoleum" look. If the tiles were of a different dimension they wouldn't look so institutional. Maybe the use of sheets would allow more creativity. At least the forbo colors were a lot more interesting than the other brand. It's really hard to overcome long-held perceptions.

Natural wood flooring, grown locally from a sutainable certified forest, hardwood or softwood, beats all others hands down. Carbon neutral to carbon storage, based on years in service. Only takes nails or screws to install. Easily can last 20-100 years or more. Just sweep or vacuum as needed. Occasional new varnish, but note that those old wood floors you see and comment on their character likely have no varnish or all of it has worn off. When finally time to replace, burn the floor for heat - carbon neutral.

We put in (self-installed) 9" fir flooring in our dining area and hallway, re-sawn from old timbers. Three coats of poly varnish 12 years ago, and no refinishing since. Also put in white pine, 18" boards, from one of our own trees in the bedroom. Two coats of water based poly 6 years ago, no refinishing since. Both floors are developing that old floor character, areas where varnish has worn off, grain is raised from dogs tearing around the house, and comments we get from frieds ("where did you get that wood?") are common. Except for the varnish, 100% environmentally friendly.

This article discusses how toxic some flooring options are.

It states that some carpets can emit toxic odors. Although I doubt this affects the global environment, it does affect your homes environment.

When using laminate flooring, it is important to determine what type of glue is used, as the glue can be toxic.

http://greentot.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/baby-non-toxic-floors/

I think that the petrolium based rubber products also can emit toxic vapors.

Linoliem and hardwood appear to be two good options from this perspective.

Real linoleum is amazing stuff.  It seems to be biofriendly as any other covering and has an amazing lifespan.  My grandparents removed the linoleum in their kitchen in the 1960's after 30 years of use because they wanted to update the looks.  But they put the old stuff in their summer home.  My uncle lived there for years.  That floor is now being "updated", but my cousin is using the best pieces on the countertops!  Amazing.  I wonder where it will serve the next generation?

I've gone with concrete because I need the mass for my hydronic heat.  Any biofriendly calculation depends on how many issues you can address, and thermal mass isn't in most people's equation. 

Mark