flooring
Restoration Timber (CA, NY)Over a dozen varieties of wood planks, available in rustic and more polished styles. restorationtimber.com
Trestlewood (UT, ID)In their former life, the company's signature Douglas firs held up railroad tracks across Utah's Great Salt Lake! trestlewood.com
Conklin's (PA)Salvaged barn wood gets a second chance as lovely chestnut, oak and pine flooring. conklinsbarnwood.com
Ecotimber (CA)In addition to reclaimed stock, including gorgeous antique oak, this outfit sells easy-to-install engineered hardwood flooring that is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). ecotimber.com
Pioneer Millworks (NY)Offering an extensive selection of reclaimed soft- and hardwoods, this supplier to the Smithsonian and Abercrombie & Fitch buys all its electricity from wind-generated sources. pioneermillworks.com
TrexThe beauty of this unique material, a mixture of recycled plastic and sawdust from reclaimed hardwoods, is twofold: Unlike wood, it won't rot or splinter, and the 20' planks look just like the real thing when installed. Our pick: the Brasilia line in chocolaty Cayenne. about $5.20/square foot, trex.com for stores.
Interface Carpet production is notorious for making an environmental mess, but this industry giant has shrunk its carbon footprint by half, has reclaimed 93 million tons of old carpet (much of it turned into new carpet backing) and has been working to make a product that is completely recyclable. 19.7" square $12.99 each, florcatalog.com
kitchen
RECYCLING
EcopodWe have a major crush on this nifty recycler. Drop in a soda can or plastic bottle, step on the pedal, et voilą, the flattened item falls into a bin you can take to the redemption center. BTW: Landfills are still clogged with 29 million tons of plastic materials annually. $328 williams-sonoma.com
CABINETS
Neil Kelly (Portland, OR)This early champion of green uses FSC-certified woods and low-toxin finishes. We particularly like the "Naturals" collection's chic farmhouse look. neilkellycabinets.com
Breathe Easy (Malverne, NY)Simply styled with classic panel doors, these units are made of responsibly forested and formaldehyde-free materials. breatheeasycabinetry.com
Henry Built (Seattle)For modern, artisan-quality green cabinets, this operation provides bamboo, FSC-approved wood and recycled counters as part of its kitchen systems. henrybuilt.com
COUNTERTOPS
RichliteLayers of paper (derived from renewable or recycled resources) are mixed with resin to form this highly stain-resistant material. from $85/square foot, richlite.com for stores.
DuratFrom the silky feeling, you'd never guess that it's generated from recycled plastic and is itself 100 percent recyclable. from $50/square foot, europeanhome.com for information.
IcestoneStrong like granite and heat-resistant like stone, but manufactured via a low-emission process in a day-lit factory. from $95/square foot, icestone.biz for stores.
lighting
RejuvenationThe best source for reproduction period lights, like this pendant designed to take both standard and compact-fluorescent bulbs, has pioneered special manufacturing steps to lower its VOC emissions and to reuse processed water. "Baldwin" $169 rejuvenation.com
Energy StarThis government program lets consumers know that certain products (especially appliances) have met EPA and Department of Energy criteria for efficiency. Brands with consistently high rankings include Bosch, LG, Asko and Kenmore. energystar.gov
