We're using poplar wood cut a full 1" thick and oiled with linseed oil. I've had temperary counters built using yellow poplar for the last 7 years, and it looks new today. I'm not interested in formica and other expensive countertops.

How long does Poplar take to grow, and where is it sourced from?

- Stacy

How does concrete do in the sustainable/green scoring? Made onsite with materials readily available even in rural, rural America, it seems like a good choice.

*** What a good suggestion and question. Concrete can be a pretty sustainable/green solution, and many concrete applications score points according to the USGBC's LEED criteria. It's durable, local (provided that the materials are extracted locally), low VOC, and can be recycled, and use recycled content. There's another post here from Melissa (a very good one!) that raises other concerns with Portland Cement that are important.

The only "design" concern I have is that it's an incongruous design choice for our kitchen (in some ways) because the property is so rustic (but the house is pretty modern). I recent saw an article in Natural Home that featured a recycled slab of concrete for the kitchen counter (a little too industrial looking for my taste).

- Stacy

just saw on spice up my kitchen a recycled glass and concrete countertop (this was in green but she did say they had other colors the recycled glass backsplash on the show looked icky but the countertops were neat. guess i should not say anything tho because i have stained plywood counters and probably will for a while check out your local habitat restore they may not have the latest in eco friendly stuff but dagnabbit you can get some great deals

Stacy - I am a third year interior design student and would like to share what I know about Paperstone and sustainable/green products.

It sounds like you have a good grasp on what constitutes sustainable and green products. As you might be aware, the word "green" is becoming a part of everyday vernacular, but we must also be aware that companies may see "green" as money and be quick to jump on the "green" bandwagon; the term "greenwashing" is already being used for such companies.

As you stated above, you would prefer that the product not be shipped from a distant source to conserve energy costs. There is a standard that is now used by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) with just this in mind. The program is called LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), most professionals and a growing number of manufacturers use this standard. Purchasing a product that is manufactured within a 500 mile radius of your home is considered to be acceptable by these standards. It might be a good rule of thumb to follow for you since you're aware of these issues.

I like that you also consider the safety and well-being of the workers and environment during the manufacturing process. Without getting too bogged down, keep in mind that a product may not be considered truly "green", but it can still be sustainable.

With regard to your countertop, let's say that you chose to use concrete; the primary ingredient is Portland cement which has a high embodied energy, and can produce large amounts of greenhouse gas. This probably wouldn't be considered green, but there are many companies which replace a percentage of cement with other materials that are considered to be a greener choice. You can also look at it this way, a concrete countertop has a very high durability factor, this means that it will take a very long time to wear out as apposed to possibly another material that you may have to replace several years down the road (which you said you didn't want to do).

My point, there are a lot of questions to ask when considering a product, but it sounds like you're definitely on the right track.

Here are some resources to aid in your search:

Interiordesign.net (magazine) - look for "Green Zone" - you can search for products.

FSC.org - Forest Stewardship Council. This is an international organization which certifies responsible forest management.**

**just a side note about bamboo - there really isn't governance overseeing responsible forest management. Although bamboo is a renewable resource (regenerates approx. every 7 years) some countries are deforesting their native trees to make way for the bamboo forests. Also, in some cases forests are being harvested by private owners for money and are endangering the lives of animals that may be dependent on these plants for survival. For example, the Bamboo Lemur of Madagascar is just one animal that was named on the recent world report of endangered animals, 90% of their diet comes from bamboo.

Finally, to your question regarding Paperstone. One of my fellow classmates chose Paperstone as their product in our bi-weekly green product report. She was able to get a sample and passed it around so that everyone could look at it (this maybe a good idea for you if you haven't already done so). Not having researched the company myself and going on hers, it seemed to me that a paper product in the kitchen felt a little questionable. I believe that my classmate said it could be coated with a water-based sealant, but when she passed it around I remember thinking the product seemed a little soft, like it could be scratched. You should do some research on your own though to make sure.

I hope you find a product that works for you and for the environment. Good Luck and you're right...every girl deserves to have a nice kitchen!

Melissa

Melissa, thanks for your awesome, well thought out discussion. Such good points!

- Stacy

They also have coutertops made of recycled glass that are durable and they look cool. Check out the website www.builditnaturally.com for other ideas. They may be able to give you local providers for your area.

that's a great one, and here's another out of California: http://www.vetrazzo.com/products_intro.html made from recycled glass. Don't forget concrete countertops too. Here's a few more:
http://www.shetkastone.com/
http://www.icestone.biz/new/
http://www.syndesisinc.com/index-syndecrete.html

All from GreenSpec guide.
-Frank

Thanks, Frank!

Granite (lasts forever)It will outlive you, there's no possibility you'll outlive it. Available everywhere in any size/configuration you like.

Concrete (seriously, it's being used increasingly by innovative and imaginative interior designers)It will outlive you, there's no possibility you'll outlive it. Available everywhere in any size you like

Stainless Steel: could there be another surface that is as attractive and never needs much beyond a quick wipe down with a damp cloth? PLUS It's cheap these days. It will outlive you, there's no possibility you'll outlive it. Available everywhere in any size you like

Thanks, there's actually a local granite source in Missoula, apparently... I'd like to know more about energy/carbon output during mining. And stainless steel seems great, but I worked in restaurant kitchens for too long. It would feel industrial in my home!

- Stacy

Check out my cast recycled glass and concrete counters! Sometimes I work with recycled bottles on the sides or even melt them in my kilns to use as tiles in the top. Although most of my work is outdoors, there is no reason why any of these counters could not be incorporated into an indoor kitchen. Call with questions 800-675-5296

http://www.greenscenelandscape.com/bbq.htm

Thanks for your shameless self promotion! ;) Actually, your work is gorgeous. Offer me a discount and I'll consider it. :)

Shamelessly,

- Stacy

just remember that shipping across country and/or the energy used to produce a product may offset any "green benefits" the producer may claim. i'm going with concrete on my next counter top. it's about as close to "local" as you can come and looks great.

In building my kitchen I used a paper and resin product called Richlite. It looks great and so far has performed wonderfully. It gave that soapstone (matte black) look that I wanted.

FYI...most poplar takes about 8 years to mature...very short time. In the Northwest, along the Columbia Gorge there are multiple poplar farms...this got started in the early 90s...for paper pulp. It is a very clean & easily harvested wood. Don't know about the environmental impacts of growing it, but it is very sustainable...

Yay! Free design help on the new house and getting to populate your blog with real, worthy posts. That's so efficient, you should get a LEED point! (sorry, just being silly).

While not necessarily a 'green' practice outright, it's nice to be able to spend money on products and/or craftspeople in your community.

I have lived with the recycled glass counters made by a company in the San Francisco/Berkeley area. They were great in appearance and performance, as well as a good use of hard to recycle materials (tempered glass). Shipping is a killer, if there isn't someone more local you can purchase from.

There are some other new, sexy materials you can spec out that are pretty green/sustainable/etc, if you can find local resources.

I personally love the concrete counter tops, but have some reservations about the embodied energy of the cement (as stated above), the CO2 that results from the chemical curing process, and lastly, the hazards to the workers regarding breathing the dust and the burning from the lye in the mix. I'm sure you remember your old colleague, Bruce D, who has poured a lot of concrete countertops in his time. He may be able to give you more perspective.

I think I'm probably with the wood crowd overall on this topic, given the location. I know several people with butcher-block counters that look great. It doesn't seem like they do all that much maintenance...

Good luck!
-Eric

I have learned recently that mango wood is a good renewable resource. I am not sure of the quality or if it would be good in this situation? I am not sure where you live or if it's local, but you might try looking it up...

I also have Richlite countertops - AND LOVE THEM!! I did the "gouge test" on every surface I could get my hands on that was black and matte: soapstone really, really soft; granite -SO overdone and shiney but durable - honed shows oil rings; slate - super scratch prone, concrete?on my counter?no thanks, my old house shifts seasonally and couldn't deal with potentiak cracks... Almost went with stainless steel until I found the countertop of my dreams!!Richlite!! Recycled- paper/hemp, heat proof, bacteria resistant, matte finish like soapstone,cool like marble - spread a little flour and roll dough out on it, tough as nails! If it does get scratched, just lightly sand area with 600 grade sandpaper. It's solid color all the way through. I just can't see why everyone has to have granite? Richlite is IT! My friend has an old bowling alley's floor for counter tops - very cool! Good luck! get a sample of Richlite - you'll love it.