green pieces

The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program encourages architects and builders to specify salvaged and reused building materials wherever possible. Short of that, the group sanctions products made with recycled content. Fortunately, manufacturers have rushed to fill this niche with a bevy of green goods, including flooring, insulation, and countertop surfacing. Bio Glass is one such product. Distributed by Miami-based Coverings Etc, the distinctive surfacing material is made from 70 percent to 100 percent recycled glass, depending on the color, and is nonporous and easy to clean. Cooler still, its textured, multidimensional appearance changes with the light. Available in four colors with polished or natural finishes. Coverings Etc, 305.757.6000; www.coveringsetc.com.

Cali Bamboo's marbled, fossilized bamboo flooring offers funky durability through an innovative process of compressing and intertwining the material's fibers. The San Diego-based company says the scratch-resistant planks that result have “twice the density and strength of almost any other flooring,” making them appropriate for use with radiant heating systems and in high-traffic areas. Cali Bamboo, 888.788.2254; www.calibamboo.com.

EcoDomo takes tannery leather scraps that would otherwise end up in landfills and gives them a new lease on life. After shredding the scraps, the company binds them with natural rubber and acacia tree bark and then rolls the pulp into floor and wall tiles. The products come in eight colors, six textures, and a variety of shapes and sizes. Rolls measuring 54 inches wide by 100 feet long are also available. EcoDomo, 301.424.7717; www.ecodomo.com.

The bamboo yarn used to make Anji Mountain's shag area rugs is naturally hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and antibacterial, so your clients can tread comfortably without fearing the buildup of dirt and germs. The cushy pile blend of 80 percent bamboo and 20 percent cotton yields a soft floor covering with a stylish sheen. Select from rich hues such as sage, merlot, latte, coffee bean, and pewter. Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Co., 888.344.5004; www.anjimountainbamboorugco.com.

Trend Q is a glass-based surfacing material whose thin profile makes it suitable for installation over existing walls, counters, and floors. Produced by Miami-based Trend USA, the ¼-inch-thick product is comprised of 72 percent post-consumer recycled glass and pigmented polymer. The company says the material is impervious to stains and fading and ideally suited for kitchens and baths. It comes in 12-inch-by-12-inch tiles or can be custom-sized in 50 colors. Trend USA, 866.508.7363; www.trendgroup-usa.com.

Want a Scandinavian-style freestanding wood stove for that apartment you're doing, but building codes forbid it? Luckily, Portland, Tenn.-based RAIS has unveiled a gas version of its popular wood-burning units. The Gabo Gas II has steel side and top plates (a soapstone top plate is optional), a curved-glass front, and ceramic logs. Available in black or gray, the stove has an output of up to 20,000 BTUs. RAIS, 888.724.7789; www.rais.com.

Stainless steel isn't the only metal being fashioned into countertops these days. Portland, Ore.-based Eleek custom-forms 85 percent recycled aluminum into counter sections measuring up to 3 feet wide, making necessary cutouts for sinks, faucets, and appliances. A thin bead of clear silicone seals the nontoxic, stain-proof, ¼-inch-thick sections together. The company also manufactures recycled aluminum tiles. Eleek, 503.232.5526; www.eleek.com.

Beam has added an electronic user-information panel to the Serenity IQS central vacuum system's list of features. A vivid blue LCD screen monitors the 640-air-watt system's cleaning efficiency, the amount of dirt in the collection tank, and service needs. As an added perk, it also delivers up-to-the-minute time and temperature updates. Beam Industries, 800.369.2326; www.beam.com.

Richlite's latest offering is a paper-based countertop made from 50 percent recycled corrugated cardboard and 50 percent softwood pulp. The Tacoma, Wash.-based manufacturer says the material is stain-, scratch-, and heat-resistant and dense enough to accommodate long cantilevers without additional support. Richlite Co., 888.383.5533; www.richlite.com.

According to its Brooklyn, N.Y.-based manufacturer, DriTac 7500 eco-urethane floor adhesive can be used in areas where other types of compounds are restricted. The company also claims the VOC- and odor-free product meets EPA requirements. It can be used on various types of wood-based flooring and ships in 2-gallon and 4.5-gallon containers. DriTac Adhesive Group, 800.394.9310; www.dritac.com.

Pavers aren't made of clay alone. Wausau Tile combines concrete and recycled glass (25 percent by volume) to produce them in sizes ranging from 12 inches to 36 inches square. The company also recently introduced a hexagon-shaped design. The pavers can be speced in more than a dozen iridescent colors with a shot-blasted or washed surface. Wausau Tile, 800.388.8728; www.wausautile.com.

Mountain Lumber has acquired wooden planks from 100-year-old barrels once used by Ireland's Guinness brewing company and has repurposed them into a limited-edition flooring line called Entique Guinness Oak. The English brown oak reclaimed from those storied vats has been kiln-dried and re-milled into boards that showcase their distinctive markings and knots. Mountain Lumber Co., 800.455.2671; www.mountainlumber.com.