Sustainable flooring is any product that offers long-term durability and lifespan while consuming the least total resources after the installation is complete. North America has incredible sustainable forest resources with species that are readily available in the marketplace and originate from places that don't require extravagant methods of harvesting or recovery.

According to the National Hardwood Lumber Association, substantially more wood is added in new growth each year than is harvested on the 486 million acres of commercially classified forestland in the U.S. Over the last 50 years, the inventory of hardwoods standing in U.S. forests has doubled as harvesting levels have remained well below the level of growth.

Popular hardwood species include red oak, white oak, walnut, cherry and maple. Additional species such as ash, hickory, birch and beech are also very easily adapted for use as wood floors.

Bamboo has been marketed as green or sustainable flooring, generating buzz among earth-friendly consumers. Although it is indeed plentiful in supply, there are concerns regarding how the land is managed. Bamboo is not a tree but a source of fiber and strips that are processed into flooring. The places where bamboo grows are not available for recreation, making it more of an agricultural product.

Flooring products made from palm lumber are another sustainable option that is often overlooked. Coconut palm trees only produce fruit for a limited number of years before they must be replaced. As these trees are removed from the plantations they are often discarded because of the hazard of insect infestations, which could damage the living trees. This waste is a large ongoing source of raw material that could be converted into wood flooring, making it a truly sustainable product. Although there are some difficulties in the processing, it's an abundant and handsome wood type worth looking into.

It's also important to look at what we do with the wood once it's harvested. Since almost all commercial building is concrete and steel, wood-flooring products need to be adapted to facilitate installation. Although solid slat-type wood parquet flooring is the most easily installed product over concrete, it is infrequently used since interior tastes currently prefer the look of traditional solid tongue and groove flooring. Perhaps it is time to take another look at parquet. It is a lower-cost alternative to engineered wood flooring that uses fewer natural resources to manufacture and install and provides a wood floor that is as durable and easily maintained as traditional solid tongue and groove flooring.

Howard Brickman founded Brickman Consulting in 1984 with the goal of providing expert-level guidance on wood-flooring manufacture, storage, installation, finishing and proper job site conditions.

Web resources:

• www.natlhardwood.org
• www.woodfloors.org
• www.certifiedcleaners.org