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Install environmentally-friendly countertops

Tags: Kitchen or bath addition, New construction, Kitchen or bath expanded existing space, Kitchen or bath existing space, Interior Finish & Trim, Kitchen or bath existing space, cold, Countertops, dry, hot_humid, marine, mixed_humid

Green options are easier than ever to find.
Choices include tile, solid surface (some with recycled content), locally quarried stone (excluding exotic imported varieties), and wood and plastic laminates over substrates that don't off-gas formaldehydeChemical found in many building products; most binders used for manufactured wood products are formaldehyde compounds. Reclassified by the United Nations International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2004 as a “known human carcinogen.". Preferably these are from a certified wood source. Durability and ease of maintenance are important considerations.

Green Points

LEED for HomesLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED for Homes is the residential green building program from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). While this program is primarily designed for and applicable to new home projects, major gut rehabs can qualify. : 1/2 point for using environmentally preferable countertops (MR 2).
NGBSNational Green Building Standard Based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and passed through ANSI. This standard can be applied to both new homes, remodeling projects, and additions. /ICC-700: Up to 3 points for using particleboard, MDF or hardwood plywood meeting CPA 2 guidelines (901.4).