[Greenbuilding] "Green" wall coverings for commercial kitchens/cafes

[Dan Antonioli]

I'm working on a commercial cafe that is being built in two phases.  
The owner is cash-strapped and wants to open up a "lean and mean"  
phase one version that will later be replaced by a much larger and  
greener version. Unfortunately, this means that a lot of what goes  
into phase one will be ripped out in about a year.

A significant section of wall covering is speced to have ceramic  
tile. The designer and I are suggesting that we don't use tile and  
instead a simpler, less embodied energy surface that will meet the  
minimum health code requirement of a wipeable surface. The designer  
is suggesting FRP, which is plastic, and I'm suggesting linoleum or  
some such "green" material.

Any suggestions on wall coverings that would meet that requirement?  
The walls will be sheetrock over metal framing. We need something in  
the kitchen over the sheetrock to meet code.

Dan Antonioli