Green Kitchen Trends - Part 4 Tile
Tile is one option for backsplashes and flooring within a kitchen that is environmentally friendly because of its durability. Tile typically is made of either natural stone, ceramic, or glass. Like all building materials, tile whether it is natural stone or manufactured tile, it has both beneficial and negative environmental aspects. One of the strongest positives is that stone, tile and grout release few if any VOCs or other problematic air emissions. Also, it is important to note that all earth-based products (stone, tile, and concrete) will contain traces of radon, a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil and rock throughout the U.S. and elsewhere.
The durability of stone and tile varies according to type and depends upon each material’s hardness and resistance to wear by abrasive substances, water and physical impacts. With proper maintenance (sealing and grout repair) these materials last a very long time, from 50 to 100 years. However, stone and tile products, because of their weight, require more energy for transportation than other finish materials for walls and floors, which require greater use of fossil fuels to transport them. Ceramic tile is more energy-intensive to produce than store or wood, as it is not inherently a green product from an energy point of view, but this is offset to some extent by the greater longevity of the product. There are few specifically green ceramic tile products, although most manufactures recycle their production clay wasted. Glass tile is another classic tile material that is now incorporating some pre- or post- consumer recycled glass. Recycled glass tiles are more energy-efficient to manufacture than ceramic tile, utilizing about ½ as much energy.
this really looks artistic and its great to have more environment friendly things for home. It makes the house more safe and enjoyable.