A flooring is an important part of a building. However, improper construction can lead to increased energy consumption due to escape of moisture and heat. Therefore, you must hire a sustainability consultant in Australia to include eco-friendly materials in your flooring.

As a primary step, it is recommended to ask the supplier to show certified prducts and to purchase only those that are marked with appropriate eco-label logos.

Environmental impacts to consider
When choosing a flooring type, go for timber or some other hardwood category. It is better to avoid carpets because they produce energy from friction between the mat and the foot. Moreover, carpets require cleaning on a regular basis. Go for low-maintenance surfaces like bamboo, polished stone or concrete, or any resilient finishes like natural linoleum or cork. Remember, the longer the material lasts, the fewer resources are required over time. Carpets generally have a short lifespan, and generally last for five to ten years.

Even if a floor is certified as eco-timber, it may be finished with a high-embodied, toxic polyurethane coating. Therefore, it is a great idea to opt for natural-oil hard-finish coating. Beware of some floor coverings that are known to emit volatile organic compounds. This can lead to various health problems including damage to the nervous system, allergic reactions and cancer. Adequate ventilation can help, but may not be enough to ensure healthy air quality, so avoid these. The best option is to call a sustainability consulting team so that you can understand what's your requirement and what are the faults you have. They can help you choose the appropriate flooring even if you are low in budget.

Sustainability pros and cons of different types of floors

Timber

Pros:

• Can be recycled.
• Relatively hard-wearing and durable.
• Easy to clean.
• Low embodied energy.

Cons:

• May be sourced from unsustainable forestry, unless it carries proper certification labels.
• Benefit of low thermal mass is low.
• Some finishes or composite products can be petroleum-based and toxic.

Bamboo
Pros:

• Comes from a fast-growing base. These are more sustainable resource than timber or plastic flooring.
• Hard-wearing and durable. Easy to clean.
• Low embodied energy.

Cons:

• Some of the bamboo floorboards come with toxic glues.

The best way to save energy is to opt for sustainability building materials which can be difficult without sustainability consultants.

When you’re building or renovating, getting the energy compliance right is crucial to the approval process – as well as saving your time and money. In fact, using DIY methods to complete your assessment, or using someone without appropriate qualifications, can be very expensive.