Green Countertop Choices
There are dozens of choices for countertop materials. While countertops are a small part of your home, they can represent an intensive amount of money, time and emotion spent in small areas. While finishes don’t typically improve the energy efficiency of your home, they can certainly impact the indoor air quality. From a sustainability perspective, like the lumber or masonry in your walls, energy and natural resources were in their manufacture.
Without necessarily thinking about it too much, you can go to your local counter install and pick out a stone which is mined in Pakistan, for example. It’s an amazing world we live in! A huge amount of energy goes into not only cutting and extracting huge chunks of stone from deep within the ground, but into slicing the stone into useable slabs, polishing it, shipping it around the world, cutting it to fit over your cabinets and trucking it over and installed in your home. In sustainability terms this represents an awful lot of “embodied energy.”
Likewise, if you choose an abundant, renewable and relatively locally available material which is not durable or appropriate for the intended location and it needs to be replaced several times more often than the aforementioned granite counters, then that may be an even less sustainable choice.
Below, we’ve put together a brief summary of some the many available materials with their pros and cons, both in terms of durability and environmental sustainability.
3form
Resin and recycled product based. Not heat resistant. Can be repaired. Translucent colors available. Some materials are imported to the USA. http://www.3-form.com/ $$$-$$$$
Butcher Bock
Can be made from FSC hardwood. Bamboo butcher bock is also available. Wood is a renewable resource. Manufactured locally by woodworkers everywhere. Needs to be sealed periodically, though sealer can have health benefits. Can be repaired and used as a cutting surface. Requires maintenance. $$-$$$
ECO by Cosentino
Non porous and does not require sealing. Made from 75% recycled materials including mirrors, glass, bottles, porcelain and glass & corn based resin. Substitute for engineered stone. Cradle-to-Cradle certified. Cosentino is a Huge Spanish corporation which also manufacturers Silestone. US manufacturing plant in Texas means slabs use lots of gasoline to get to DC. http://www.ecobycosentino.com $$$
Engineered woods including Kirei Board, Wheatboard, Plyboo, Dakota Burl, etc.
Sustainable materials when appropriate material is paired with appropriate application. In many cases, less expensive than other materials. Can be installed by a carpenter. Not heat resistant or moisture resistant in many cases or as durable as some other alternatives. May be more maintenance intensive. Needs to be sealed. May not be suitable for kitchen or bath locations. $-$$
Laminates – Wilsonart, Formica, etc.
Laminates are made of high density plastic applied to plywood. They are an inexpensive choice, but are petroleum based and not considered to be a sustainable material. $
Linoleum - Forbo Marmoleum, Armstrong
Linoleum, unlike laminate, is a renewable resource made from linseed oil. While it is more typically used for flooring, a good carpenter can made a striking countertop with Linoleum on a plywood base. Linoleum can be repaired, is durable, affordable and can be recycled. An excellent choice. See Linoleum counters on a Landis Construction project at the following link: http://www.landisconstruction.com/our_portfolio/g_05.htm
$-$$
Natural Stone – Granite, Marble, Soapstone
Granite, marble and Soapstone are beautiful and highly durable and there are literally hundreds of colors in a rainbow of colors and textures. Jumbo environmental footprint and embodied energy. Stone typically needs to be sealed. Marble is prone to chipping and staining and extreme heat can damage the finish. Some stones are rumored to emit radon. $$-$$$$
Ice Stone
Made from recycled glass in a cement matrix. Made in New York. Cradle to Cradle Gold Certified. http://www.icestone.biz/ $$$$
New River Concrete Countertops
Manufactured local to DC Metro Area. Made from reclaimed river aggregate and other recycled content from dredging operations. Custom Fabricated. Heat and stain resistant. $$$
www.newriverconcretecountertops.com/
Paperstone
100% Post consumer waste made of paper and resin. Shipped from Washington State (not local to DC). Heat and stain resistant. Structural. Can be fabricated and installed by a carpenter. www.paperstoneproducts.com $$-$$$
Quartz – Silestone, Zodiaq, Cambria, Caesarstone Quartz counters can in some cases contain some recycled content depending upon color and manufacturer. Quartz has a high embodied energy from the manufacturing and mining process and from shipping, but is a greener choice than granite. Some quartz counters do not need to be sealed. Quartz is durable, heat resistant and scratch resistant. $$-$$$$
Richlite
Made from wood fiber. Two products contain recycled content. Shipped from Washington State (not local to DC). Heat and stain resistant. Structural. Can be fabricated and installed by a carpenter. $$-$$$ http://www.richlite.com/countertop/
Squak Mountain Stone
Fibrous cement comprised of recycled paper, recycled glass, fly ash and cement. May be maintenance intensive. Premade slabs need to be cut to size like granite. Need to be sealed $$$
Subterra Cork
Engineered cork product. 25”x36” sheets can be seamed with wood glue. Needs to be sealed. Non structural. Not recommended for kitchens. Cork is a renewable resource from the bark of the cork oak. This can be installed by a carpenter. $$
Tile – Porcelain and Ceramic
Tile can be utilized to make a durable counter that is also heat and stain resistant. Many tiles are available with high recycled content. Though heat resistant, tiles are more prone to cracking than some other materials. Porcelain is typically stronger and more durable than ceramic. Large grout lines can be a problem for staining. More popular in the West and Southwest than in the DC area. $$
Michael Gotthelf – Landis Construction
