[Greenbuilding] Green counters?

[Jason Holstine]

PaperStone is becoming quite popular for us, especially in comparison to
Richlite:
- 2 options: 50% and 100% post-consumer recycled content
- binder is their own invention of cashew-nut oil and water-base 
- half the price. 
- cuts like wood so no fabrication is needed--this saves energy and
expense--and it invites cool design opportunities

Is still made in western Washington so transportation emboddied energy isn't
insignificant to us on the East Coast, but we're working on this. The best
available option: build demand so we can get it here on rail.

Jason Holstine
Amicus Green Building Center
Kensington, MD
t: 301-571-8590
f: 301-571-8597
c: 301-537-7996
e: jason at amicusgreen.com
www.amicusgreen.com and www.amicusdb.com


-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Stephen Young
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 12:32 PM
To: greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Subject: [Greenbuilding] Green counters?


At quite high expense, I purchased and installed Richlite countertops -
http://www.richlite.com/ - because I thought them a eco-friendly choice.

However, I'm wondering if I my choice was poor, or at least less good than I
hoped.

Richlite counters are, the website says, primarily paper treated with
phenolic resin and baked to create a solid sheet.

The paper comes from sustainably harvested North American forests, they say.

But the baking process uses I don't know what, gas? electricity? to heat the
counters to make them hard.

Gas or (most) electricity are not sustainably harvested. 

And, of course, the counter was shipped from Washington State to Washington
DC for installation.

Those two strikes (sustainable and less shipping) were two reasons I ruled
out marble/granite countertops, but Richlite isn't perfect on these counts
either.

Could there have been a better choice? 

Actually, I seriously conisidered wood counters, but the maintenance issues
are quite high.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Stephen

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