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With increased national and international attention placed on the effects of ‘global warming’ and our depleting natural resources, the trend toward taking care of our environment has developed into what is now known as the "Green" business principle. As our youth come into their own, we, their elders are finding that we must move with their times. The average consumer is learning the importance of healthy living and looking for products that support this ideal. Cork is one of those products. Cork is environmentally friendly and works as a product that helps improve health and comfort for human indoor living. In homes and businesses, cork floors create a warm, comfortable, resilient surface that is gentle underfoot, is anti-microbial, will not spread flame, and is inherently resistant to molds, mildews, and common pests. From harvest to production to installation, cork is environmentally sustainable, non-toxic, and healthy. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings as administered by U.S. Green Building Council. It is imperative that cork construction products meet LEED credits to be able to register itself as a green product. The determining factor for indoor air quality is the quantity of noxious emanations from volatile organic compounds in adhesives/binders and finishes. Forna Cork floors are produced with environmentally-friendly, water based adhesives/binders and finishes, and meet the European Air Quality Standards. These standards are far and away the toughest standards for indoor air quality in the world. As ahighly renewable resource, cork is harvested from the living bark of the Cork Oak tree, or Quercussuber. The properties of cork are derived naturally from the structure and chemical composition of the inner cells as each cubic centimeter of the honeycomb-like structure contains between 30 and 40 million polyhedral (14 sided) cells. It is these air-filled cells that give cork some of its unique properties. Typically, new growth oak trees will not be virgin harvested until the 25th year, and reproduction cork (the first cycle) may not be extracted for another 9-12 years. Laws have been set to ensure cork is harvested in a steady cycle that promotes healthy growth to the tree over its expected lifespan of over 200 years. Cork bark is removed from trees in spring or summer. At this time of year the cork comes away easily from the trunk because the tree is growing, the new, tender cork cells being generated break easily.The Cork Oak can flourish in many climates, but the conditions that permeate Western Europe and Northern Africa along the Mediterranean coastbest favors commercial viability. Armed with the knowledge of cork, join the green movement and make it a part of your home building experience. Environmentally friendly living has become the catchphrase today and cork floor meet the standards in all respects. To start your go green initiative, check out the stunning range of cork flooring available at iCork Flooring.
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