Market Watch

Green Products

Kermit The Frog may have once said that it isn't easy being green, but the affable Muppet was obviously not referring to the current state of products available to design professionals and builders. Each year, more eco-friendly products come on the market that will help you achieve LEED certification for a building or, at the very least, make you feel good about specifying something you know was manufactured in an environmentally or socially responsible manner. Here's this year's crop of "greens."

PaperStone countertops and surface coverings are made of post-consumer recycled paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and formaldehyde-free, natural resins. The integrally colored material, which can be cut using standard woodworking equipment, comes in various thicknesses and colors. Available through aka Green, Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 946-9600, www.akagreen.com; and www.paperstoneproducts.com.

Giati's new Fifty-Five collection of interior and exterior furniture gives teak an edge with stainless-steel detailing. The collection, made of plantation-grown teak and recyclable stainless steel, includes an armchair, chaise and two tables. The pieces are designed to stack for easy storage, and the table legs detach from the bases for convenience. www.giati.com.

Albuquerque, New Mexico rug artist Joan Weissman thinks green, globally. Her new line of soumak rugs is woven in the Hunza Valley of northern Pakistan by adult women, who are paid fair wages that enable them to contribute to the local economy. The wool for the contemporary rugs is dyed with natural colorings made from such items as walnuts, cochineal and rose madder. Available through John Brooks, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 675-8828, and Denver, CO, (303) 698-9977, www.johnbrooksinc.com; and www.joanweissman.com.

EarthKind Carpets are luxurious wool carpets made of biodegradable materials using no dyes, chemical bonding agents, mothproofing substances or added stain protection, which makes them suitable for applications in which occupants are suffering from chemical sensitivity or simply are concerned about the environment. The product works for both residential and light commercial applications, and is available as broadloom carpet or area rugs. Available through Floor Coverings by CPA, Denver, CO, (303) 722-4700.

Ecoshield by Dunn-Edwards Paints is a low-odor and zero-VOC high-performance paint that outshines competitive products in scrub resistance, flow and leveling. Like all Dunn-Edwards paint products, Ecoshield is free of ethylene glycol, a toxic air pollutant common in other paint products. It's available as a primer and in flat, low-sheen and semi-gloss finishes. www.dunnedwards.com.

Caperton Furnitureworks' Gat Creek collection is made from black cherry or red oak, harvested from responsibly managed Appalachian forests, which has increased the population of hardwood trees in the area during the last 40 years. Shown here are the Carmel chairs and the Amber table. Available through Traditions, Denver, CO, (303) 722-5525.

Smith-Laredo's handmade concrete tiles are made from crushed limestone, sand, water and aggregate, quarried near the firm's San Diego base. Pigments are derived from naturally occurring iron oxides. No energy is used to fire the tiles—they cure naturally during a 21-day period. www.smith-laredo.com.

Exotic Home features furniture made from coconut timbers, a process that is equally about recycling and renewing. When coco palms stop producing, plantation owners must cut down old trees to plant new ones. Old timbers were often discarded; however, this furniture line gives them new life. Look for tables, chairs, lounges, sectionals and beds. Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 443-8100, www.exotichome.net.

The Source One collection of wallcoverings by European textile designer Ulf Moritz features a construction that includes textured granules and tiny pearls, which contrast with the matte background finish. Colors include turquoise, sapphire, sand, ivory, gold, silver, rosewood and brown. Manufactured in Germany, the wallcoverings carry the RAL quality mark, which means the products will not harm health or the environment in manufacturing or disposal. Available through Design Surfaces, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 946-2565.

Daylighting is a simple, effective way to rack up those LEED points or lower a residential client's electric bills. Solatube has a variety of daylighting systems for both commercial and residential applications, including the Brighten Up series shown here. Use these 10- and 14-inch round models to bring light into dim interior rooms, such as bathrooms, closets or hallways, or use multiples for expansive spaces, such as great rooms with limited window openings. www.solatube.com.

MacKenzie-Dow Fine Furniture has introduced the Barberini pedestal table, which is available in a variety of sizes and can be customized. The table is manufactured in West Virginia of cherry wood harvested from renewable Appalachian forests. MacKenzie-Dow is a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council. www.mackenziedow.com.

Indika Organics specializes in natural textiles for the home, including toweling, upholstery fabric, throws and bedding. Shown here, the Malabar bedding collection features solid and print fabrics made of organic hemp, silk and flax combinations. Available in finished bedding products or by the yard, the textiles are woven locally, dyed using environmentally low-impact methods and constructed in the United States. Available through Hoff Miller, Ltd., Denver, CO, (303) 698-0800; Natural Territory, Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 998-2709, www.naturalterritory.com; Hunter and Co., Whitefish, MT, (406) 862-1402, www.hunterinterior.com; Casa Natura, Santa Fe, NM, (505) 820-7634; and www.indikaorganics.com.

The Eden collection from LG Solid Source, LLC is an acrylic surfacing material made with recycled content. Suitable for kitchen and bath applications, the material is manufactured with 12 percent recycled content from previous sheet goods. It is available in low-key hues, as well as a variety of textures and patterns. www.lghi-macs.com.

The J. Mish Black Tie carpet collection includes Wall Street, a sophisticated series of black, white and gray stripes. Made of 100 percent New Zealand wool, the product has been classified as CRI Green Label Plus by the Carpet and Rug Institute, which indicates that the carpet emits low VOCs and exceeds the green building standards dictated by California schools. www.jmishinc.com.

Viking dishwashers are Energy Star certified and use at least 41 percent less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption. Made of recyclable stainless steel, the dishwashers use about 4.5 gallons of water per normal wash cycle. In the manufacturing process, Viking recycles all metals, including aluminum. Available through Sunwest Appliance Distributing, Tempe, AZ, (480) 784-6611, www.sunwestdist.net.

TruStile Door Company is offering a no-formaldehyde MDF option for its doors for builders and homeowners concerned about indoor air quality and formaldehyde emissions. Shown here is a door with a double-hip raised panel and a low-profile bolection sticking, one of 300 standard door styles. Available through Mile High Trim Company, Denver, CO, (303) 777-7070, www.milehightrimcompany.com.

American Clay Natural Earth Plasters are made in the United States with natural clays, recycled or reclaimed aggregates and vibrant natural pigments, and can be used on walls and ceilings in residential or commercial interiors in place of paint, stucco or other traditional finishes. The plasters are nondusting, mold and fade resistant, repairable and moisture controlling. Available through aka Green, Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 946-9600, www.akagreen.com; and www.americanclay.com.

Maistri La Cucina's Crystalia kitchen cabinetry features a sleek glass door, available in 12 opaque colors and one semi-translucent polarized version that changes looks depending on the light. The door features a flush aluminum frame with an integrated handle. Maistri La Cucina's production process includes the use of components made with recycled content; all raw materials, including paints and glues, are covered by European certifications on low formaldehyde content and noxious substance emission. Available through NYLoft, Phoenix, AZ, (602) 745-2600, and Las Vegas, NV, (702) 818-8140, www.nyloft.net.

The rustic Woodsman dining table and chairs by Flat Rock Furniture, Inc. are made of renewable hickory saplings harvested from Appalachian tree plantations. The tree plantations convert what was once poor farmlands into woodlands, easing logging pressures on natural forests. The pieces work as well in a modern loft as in a woodsy mountain retreat. Available through Jack Pesarcyk Associates, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 739-0525; Whitney Evans Ltd., Denver, CO, (303) 777-1886, www.whitneyevansltd.com; and www.flatrockhickory.com.