LivingHomes come in nine standard models, but this doesn’t mean they all look the same! Each model is customizable with a variety of finishes.

We’re always interested in new materials that meet the demands of our environmental program. That is, they must contribute to our Z6 goals: Zero Water, Zero Energy, Zero Waste, Zero Emissions, Zero Carbon, and Zero Ignorance. We look for materials that are produced from recycled or reclaimed materials, are manufactured with sustainable practices that reduce the building’s energy, water, or carbon consumption, and that are durable, recyclable, and beautiful.

These are some of the products we’ve used in LivingHomes.

Plyboo

Bamboo flooring is more sustainable than ordinary wood floors because it is harvested from a fast growing grass instead of slow-growing, old-growth trees. Thus, it takes only 1/10 of the time to grow to harvestable size. And It is durable and resistant to insects and moisture.

In 2008, Plyboo was selected as a “Top 10 Green Building Product” by Building Green. It is the first non wood-based material to achieve FSC certification. PlybooPure is made of FSC-certified bamboo and is now completely Urea and Formaldehyde-free.

Durapalm

Durapalm is a hardwood timber harvested from palm trees. It is produced on plantations, offering an alternative to rainforest hardwoods.

Coconut palms bear fruit until they are 70 years old, so aged trees are felled to make way for young ones on coconut plantations. Historically, this wood has been wasted, but it is a great source of underutilized wood that can be made into flooring, structural lumber, and furniture. Additionally, palm trees lack the imperfections of ordinary wood, like growth rings and branches, and is Urea-Formaldehyde-free.

Durodesign Floating Clic Cork

Cork is harvested from the bark of living cork oak trees, so it is completely renewable. Durodesign’s manufacturing process adds no PVCs or formaldehydes to the cork tiles. Cork also has excellent acoustical and thermal properties, so it dampens sound and is always warm— perfect for bedrooms! It is naturally hypoallergenic, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal.

Sealed Concrete

Originally Uploaded by twinsparc

LivingHomes adds fly ash content to our sealed concrete floors. Fly ash is an industrial byproduct from coal power plants. Fly ash is an abundant, cost-effective material, and it makes concrete stronger, easier to work with, and more resource-efficient! Fly ash enables concrete to flow better in its formwork, so it can reduce water in the concrete mix by 10%. A chemical reaction with the lime in the concrete mix makes concrete with fly ash stronger over time. Fly ash replaces some of the cement used in the mix, and the less cement that is used allows less cement to be produced.

All these products contribute points to LEED certification for a project.

Tags: configurator, flooring, materials, zero emissions, zero waste

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