The Greenest Brochure I’ve Ever Seen

by Chris Moline, LEED AP
This one sets the standard.
Check out the logos and keep an eye out for them in the future.

By the way, this was a brochure sent to my home regarding the 2009 Biodiesel Conference in San Francisco.
I wonder what the carbon footprint of the conference will be?
As an aside, since I’ve been onboard here, we’ve scaled back electricity usage by over 34 million watts/year just through replacing all showroom lighting with cfl’s.
It all just makes sense!
If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by our Alexandria showroom and walk through our green area. We’ve got everything from undyed wool carpet with natural latex back, to floating marmoleum flooring, cork, bamboo, fsc-certified wood, and more!

Chris

Not ashamed to be a tree-hugger!

Chris Moline, LEED AP
Email
703-370-0000

Zero-Landfill Company? Yes We Are!

by Chris Moline, LEED AP
Had to post these stats. Commercial Carpets of America is a zero-landfill company.
Here is a calculation from a recent project…

Number of square yards reclaimed 18,440
Environmental Impacts
Equivalent # of pounds reclaimed 82,980
Cubic Yards of landfill saved 410
Average Equivalent BTU’s saved 829,800,000
# of avg. US homes that could supply for 1 Yr. = 5
Global warming potential averted (CO2 Equivalent lbs.) 580,196
Gallons of water saved 253,089

Note: This information is based on some life cycle analysis work done by
DuPont along with some assumptions developed through experience handling used carpet.
Some of these assumption are:
1) An average pile of mixed used commercial broadloom carpet weighs about 4.5 lbs per SQYD
and takes up approximately one cubic yard of space per 45 SQYD of carpet.
2) About one half the weight of used carpet is plastic face fiber versus backing adhesives and dirt.
3) The average US home uses 179,893,777 BTUs per year.

This is how seriously we take our commitment to the environment.
I  sincerely enjoy discussing all matters “green” up to, and including, home-based production of biodiesel! Of course, we are a flooring company and biodiesel is my hobby. That said, if we can post and comment something that can help lower the overall carbon footprint we leave behind, then this blog will have served its purpose.

Not ashamed to be a tree-hugger!

Chris
Chris Moline, LEED AP

703-370-0000
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Interface: Ultra-Green Flooring Company

by Chris Moline, LEED AP

… and we represent them to the Northern Virginia/DC/Maryland area!
Stay tuned for additions to this post. I just had to put it here after watching the Weather Channel’s eco-focused show this weekend featuring the CEO of Interface.

They, along with Milliken, are far ahead of the curve in the flooring industry when it comes to running their businesses by the “green” book. In fact, their headquarters is certified Platinum by the US Green Building Council under the LEED certification system.
Here is a brief look at their take on green business:

Seven Fronts
Eliminate Waste: Eliminating all forms of waste in every area of business;

Benign Emissions: Eliminating toxic substances from products, vehicles and facilities;

Renewable Energy: Operating facilities with renewable energy sources – solar, wind, landfill gas, biomass and low impact hydroelectric;

Closing the Loop: Redesigning processes and products to close the technical loop using recovered and bio-based materials;

Resource-Efficient Transportation: Transporting people and products efficiently to reduce waste and emissions;

Sensitizing Stakeholders: Creating a culture that integrates sustainability principles and improves people’s lives and livelihoods;

Redesign Commerce: Creating a new business model that demonstrates and supports the value of sustainability-based commerce;
We’ve created this ourselves, and it hasn’t been easy. Sustainability is complex. It involves the thousands of ways our company connects to society and the natural world.

Our largest and most difficult problem to overcome has been the existing laws and regulations governing commerce. The current infrastructure subsidizes unsustainable industrial processes. To make significant progress, we will need the cooperation of government and other industrial partners to shift taxation away from economic and social benefits, (labor, income and investment) to detriments, (pollution, waste, and the loss of primary resources).
In fact, check out Interface’s “Mission Zero” concept:

THAT’S what I’d call a worthy ambission.

Not ashamed to be a tree-hugger!

Chris

Christopher Moline, LEED AP
Residential Group Manager
Commercial Carpets of America
Alexandria Carpet One Floor & Home
Email
703-370-0000

Eco Brokers, real estate and green flooring

by Chris Moline, LEED AP

If you are an Eco Broker, I want to talk to you!
You may even be a guest “blogger” if we can determine a newsworthy post topic.
Let’s send the “green washers” home!

If you want to know more about eco-friendly homes and real estate services, kick off the conversation with a comment here.

Chris

Christopher Moline
Residential Group Manager
Commercial Carpets of America
Alexandria Carpet One Floor & Home
703-370-0000

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Hugging more than trees!

Chris Moline, LEED AP
703-370-0000

Eco-Friendly, Dustless/Dust-Free Hardwood Refinishing in Northern Virgina, Maryland and DC

by Chris Moline, LEED AP

We are proud to be Magnus Anderson Master Floor Refinishers.
Dust Free
Fast
Environmentally Safe
20 Year Warranty and Guarantee
Experts in Wood Flooring

At Magnus Anderson, our goal is to be America’s #1 choice for hardwood floor refinishing. Our unique dust-free, virtually toxin-free refinishing process, performed by highly-trained, certified Master Craftsmen exemplifies our commitment to providing you, our customer, with the best experience and results. Our intensive training programs, attention to detail, and unparalleled 20-year warranty mean you’re getting the best in the business.

You can relax knowing that at Magnus Anderson, we’re not just refinishers – we’re Master Craftsmen.
Magnus Anderson Points of DifferenceDust Free
Dust Containment System
Environmentally safe
Waterborne, toxin-free finish & cleaner
20 yr. No Dulling Guarantee
Certified Master Craftsmen Magnus Anderson Institute
No need to leave the house
Walk on 3-4 hours
Furniture 48 hours
Affordable Rates
Nationwide
Residential & Commercial

Keep Your Floor Looking Beautiful

At Magnus Anderson, we want to keep your floors looking beautiful for as long as possible. With proper care and cleaning, your floors can look as good as new for years to come.
Floor Care TipsVacuum or sweep your floor regularly to prevent scratching. We recommend general cleaning once a week.
Clean up spills promptly using a clean cloth and Magnus Anderson Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
Use floor mats at exterior doors to catch most dirt and grit. Use area rugs in high-traffic areas, at the ends of steps, and near doorways. Avoid rubber backing or non-ventilated rugs.
Use protective pads or caps under furniture.
Examine your floor’s finish so wear is caught early, before complete refinishing is necessary.
Maintain a consistent humidity level year-round in all areas with hardwood flooring. Excessive variations in humidity levels can cause hardwood to swell, shrink, cup, crack, and show gaps between boards. We recommend the use of humidifiers or dehumidifiers in areas where humidity is inconsistent.

Email for a quote
703-370-0000

Refinishing gives new life to your hardwood floors, bringing back the luster and beauty they once had. Traditionally, refinishing your floors meant leaving your home for 2-3 days and coming home to a house covered in dust left from the sanding process. At Magnus Anderson, we care about you, the environment, and your floors. We feature waterborne treatments that are specially formulated to be environmentally friendly, so you don’t have to leave your home while we work. Our finishing treatments can be walked on in as little as 3 to 4 hours. The Magnus Anderson Dust Containment System guarantees you’ll have beautiful floors without the nightmare of airborne dust in your air ducts and throughout your home. With a treatment from Magnus Anderson, you can relax and breathe freely knowing that you, your family, and your home are safe.
Real Craftsmen Don’t Leave a Mess

Refinishing your hardwood floors shouldn’t be a battle with dust. There is a cleaner, healthier, and faster process for restoring your hardwood floor’s natural beauty. The Magnus Anderson Dust Containment System eliminates airborne dust from the sanding process, leaving you with beautiful hardwood floors without the mess. We use the most advanced, most powerful dust containment technology on the market.

The Magnus Anderson Dust Containment System uses high-powered vacuum hoses connected directly to the sanding equipment to remove dust generated from the sanding process from your home before it can escape into your home. The dust is collected outside, leaving you with beautiful, newly-finished floors – and no mess.
Magnus Anderson Waterborne Classic Finish
Magnus Anderson Cares

Traditionally, refinishing your floors meant leaving your home for 2 to 3 days to avoid the toxic fumes produced as the finish was applied. At Magnus Anderson, we care about you, the environment, and your floors. Our Swedish waterborne finish, Classic Finish, sets the standard for environmentally-responsible hardwood floor finishes. Classic Finish is specially formulated to be environmentally friendly, so you don’t have to leave your home while we work. It uses water – not toxic solvents – so there are no toxic fumes putting your family at risk.
Quality Finish, Beautiful Results

Magnus Anderson Classic Finish brings out the true beauty and richness of your hardwood floors. It is the most durable hardwood floor finish of any kind – waterborne or solvent-based. Classic Finish is fast-drying, long-lasting, non-yellowing, and will not change color over time. In just 3 to 4 hours after a Magnus Anderson treatment, our finish is dry enough to be walked on with stocking feet. After 48 hours, you can place (not drag) furniture back on your floor.
We’re Not Just Refinishers, We’re Master Craftsmen

Every refinisher at Magnus Anderson is trained and certified through the Magnus Anderson Institute for Master Floor Refinishers. This highly specialized training program certifies that all craftsmen have an advanced understanding of the Magnus Anderson process of refinishing. Ultimately, it is through this hands-on training of the Magnus Anderson process and its products that we are able to pledge the highest level of professional service available.
Email for a quote
703-370-0000

Indoor Air Quality, Allergies & Flooring

Get ready for a shocker!

by Chris Moline, LEED AP
Darn, I blew it right off the bat.
Now you’re going to know something out-of-the-ordinary is about to come when I ask the question – Which floor type is better for people with allergies… carpet or hard-surface?
Well, a study by the German Allergy and Asthma Society appears to prove that levels of airborne fine dust are reduced (in places dramatically) by the use of carpeting.
In fact, according to the study, the average fine-dust concentration in hard-surfaced rooms is twice as high as in wall-to-wall carpeted rooms.
Hooey, you say? Me, too, until I dug deeper.
Because that’s when the engineers spelled it out. Carpet, apparently, binds dust in the fibers and backing, trapping it and preventing re-release into the air.
From my early years in the business I can attest to the fact that every time I pulled up carpet, I could see the dust fly… dust that would normally have remained on top of a hard-surface floor to be re-released into the air by foot traffic or the opening of a door.
“…the average fine-dust concentration in
hard-surfaced rooms is twice as high as in
wall-to-wall carpeted rooms.”
And that’s not accounting for the “filtration” effect evidenced by the presence of very-fine dust particles on the subfloor that had migrated through the carpet backing and pad.
I’m still a bit hesitant to completely say “amen”, but it really does make sense.
The study, or at least what portion of mind-numbing statistcs I’d read, didn’t mention IAQ in regards to VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) and off-gassing. No one will ever convince me that vinyl is a healthy floor for someone with chemical sensitivities, but that’s another story.
I’ve told you what’s on my mind, now let me know what you think!
We have a complete section of our showroom dedicated to “green” flooring I’m sure you would find interesting. In fact, we have natural, undyed wool carpet with natural latex and jute backing, along with cork, bamboo, marmoleum… and that’s just the beginning!

Chris Moline, LEED AP
703-370-0000
Email

Not ashamed to be a tree-hugger!