Green Build Grand Traverse

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4 Comments

Comment by Kevin McCarty-Blue Bay Builders on June 26, 2009 at 6:47am

I used Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces in one of my recent kitchen remodels and it is a beautiful product. It's a good alternative to granite, as it is made in Minnesota so does not have to be transported from overseas.Their web-site is www.cambriausa.com - they have a full explaination of why it is considered a green product. We like it because it's beautiful and easy to maintain. Following is from their site:

"Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces™ are durable, nonporous composite products composed of 93% quartz. Cambria surfaces do not off-gas and contain zero formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). Cambria surfaces are GREENGUARD for Children and Schools® certified and GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified®. Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces™ may help projects achieve LEED points towards certification in the Indoor Environmental Quality category and/or the Materials and Resources category of various LEED Green Building Rating Systems.
Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces™ have a lower "carbon footprint" compared with other imported quartz products - Cambria is made from quartz primarily mined in North America. Cambria is the only quartz product made in the United States. It is produced and shipped from Minnesota to North American partners, then to the end user. Other quartz products, primarily manufactured in the Middle East, Asia and Europe, require greater shipping and transportation resources than Cambria."

Another product we haven't used but one that we're looking forward to using is PureWood Decking, wood thermally treated without chemicals and processed in Indiana www.purewoodproducts.com
From their site: What is PureWood? Simply put, PureWood is real wood. But thanks to a unique combination of science and nature, it's real wood, only better.
Process is 100% free of added chemicals and metals
Non-toxic — no health, disposal or environmental issues
Resists rot and decay
Performance enhanced with factory-applied, premium sealant
Excellent dimensional stability
25-year transferable warranty
PureWood™ Thermally Modified Wood Decking begins as natural, renewable lumber. Then it undergoes a unique heat-based, chemical-free process that changes compounds in the wood. Then PureWood is further enhanced with a factory-applied, premium sealant specifically designed for thermally modified wood.

Comment by Kevin McCarty-Blue Bay Builders on June 26, 2009 at 6:45am

As a member of the Home Builders Association of Grand Traverse, I recently took a tour of the American Waste Recycling facility in Kalkaska. It's a state of the art facility that can break down builders' waste and give a recycling readout for LEED points.

Comment by Deward Knapp on June 22, 2009 at 7:50pm

Lissa, have you found any takers to be part of the article?

Comment by Elizabeth Edwards on June 11, 2009 at 4:57pm

Hi Members of Green Build Grand Traverse,

This is my last call asking for green builders and designers to recommend products for an article we're running in August called 25 Great Green Home Products. You can put your recommendations in the comment box. I'm looking for products as varied as wind generators to floor covering.

Thanks!

Lissa Edwards