Squak Mountain Stone looks and feels like natural soapstone but is made from a mix of post-consumer and post-industrial waste.
By FrontDoor.com
When greening up your countertops, granite's not the only way to go; there are many eco-friendly surfaces that look great and are just as sturdy.
Countertops made from recycled paper or hemp are extremely durable and easy to clean, but the color selection can be limited. Squak Mountain Stone looks and feels like natural soapstone, but it is actually made of more than 60 percent post-consumer and post-industrial waste, including recycled paper, recycled glass, coal fly ash and Portland cement. The result is an environmentally friendly product that weighs 50 percent less than traditional concrete slabs of similar size, but is just as durable.
If you prefer tile surfaces, look for pieces that are recycled from previous installations or made from recycled materials.
Natural stone countertops can also be considered green because of long life. "Think about things that won't end up in landfills and they're probably green," advises Linda Woodrum, interior designer for HGTV's Green Home and Dream Home. "You don't see people pulling out granite counters and throwing them in the local landfills."
If you select stone or granite countertops, try to find locally mined ones so excess energy and fuel isn't spent on transporting to the manufacturer and you.
Provided by FrontDoor - http://www.frontdoor.com/
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