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IceStone Offers Green Countertop Sealed with Corporate Eco Principles

Anna@Green Talk — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:20:18 +0000

: Icestone Countertop

Generally when people write about green building products they laud the aspects of the product. Seldom do they let you peek into how deep a company’s colors run. In the case of IceStone, a manufacturer of ecofriendly durable surfaces, they bleed dark green through out their company ethos from manufacturing to their stance on social responsiblity.

Simply put, this company is a poster child for sustainability. Just in case, the world doesn’t get the virtues of IceStone they backed it up with obtaining MBDC’s Cradle to Cradle™ Gold certification with a third party audit, which is no easy feat. In addition, the Company is a certified B corporation.

What Exactly is Icestone?

IceStone durable surfaces are made of 75% pre and post-consumer glass, pigment, and 25% Portland cement. (The recycled glass is predominantly pre-consumer.) The cement is the binder that holds the slab together. Some other engineered stone products contain petrochemical binders for their aggregates.

In addition, the use of this product can earn credits toward LEED certification.

According to the Company, the product rivals granite. Its dimensional beauty is undeniable. So much that IceStone’s customers who have purchased slabs have diverted over 10 millions pounds of glass from landfills since 2003.

All surfaces are made in Brooklyn, NY and the cement is sourced from York, Pennsylvania. IceStone can used in many residential and commercial applications such as kitchen countertops, bath vanities, bar tops, conference tables, reception areas and window sills.

How Do You Properly Use the Product?

The Company does not recommend placing a hot pot on their surface. In fact, they even discourage putting a hot plate on granite, which I am totally of guilty doing. Just like granite, one should clean up any liquids or stains on the slabs. Portland cement is porous so staining could occur.

What about scratching? When I think of glass, I immediately think of scratching. The Company stated that scratching is not an issue unless you take a key and run it across the surface. (We all know what a key does to a car. Ouch.)

Maintenance and Care

Commercial Bathroom Application

The product should be sealed and waxed every 6 months to a year depending on use. I asked Sarah Corey, marketing manager at the Company, how do you know when it is time to seal the slab. She explained if you put water on the slab and it beads up, you can go a bit longer without sealing. However, don’t wait too long. If the water sinks into the slab, it is time to seal.

IceStone provides a list of cleaner, sealers, and wax products for use. One of the products, H2O, I used on my own granite. Sarah advised that solvent based sealers will hold up longer than water based. Seek the recommendation of a professional before choosing which product is best for your application.

What about Cracking?

I was concerned with cracking since it is an old rule of thumb that when two different aggregators are used, they expand and contract at different rates. In this case, Portland cement and glass. The Company stated that they have perfected their manufacturing and process so that cracking is virtually eliminated. As mentioned above, all slabs are created in Brooklyn rather than overseas so that the Company can keep a tight control on how the product is made.

How Much Does it Cost and Where can I find it?

The Company maintains a location search box of its showroom and distributors in the US and Canada on its website. Sarah explained the cost varies based on location and mix. However, as a general rule, a square foot costs $90 to $120 a square foot. The cost may decrease in certain areas but freight cost must be taken into account since the product is sourced in Brooklyn. At this point in time, the Company does not have a west coast production facility.

What is Cradle to Cradle Certification?

I use turn my green nose up at this certification since in my opinion, it wasn’t very transparent. Who the heck knew how anyone got certification? One of its founders, William McDonough, had received some pretty harsh criticism. In 2009, the founders gifted the certification analysis to a not for profit Cradle to Cradle Products Innovative Institute.

In order to receive cradle to cradle certification, there are certain criteria you need to meet for each level. Without going into great depth, the following areas must meet certain criteria: material health, material reutilization, energy use, water use, and social responsibility. After the audit is completed, it is verified by partner third parties. Many of the companies listed on their site obtained a basic or silver certification. However, several obtained a gold certification like Icestone: Certain Aveda products, Rain Tube, and certain Steelcase and Herman Miller chairs.

For PDF seminar of about C2C certification and how Icestone received the gold standard, see here. The webinar is on AEC Daily, a website which provides free continuing eduction for architects and LEED APs. (Note, you will have to sign up with AEC Daily free of charge to access the seminar.) I viewed this course for my own LEED maintenance and commend Icestone for a through presentation.

IceStone Mission

In addition to its green product, the Company prides itself on the green operation of its facility and its social mission. With regards to the facility,

a 90% of their waste is recycled, re-purposed or composted.
Installed skylights to insure natural daylighting to reduce electrical consumption
Offset of 100% of their energy with renewable energy credits
State of the art water recycling system with the sediment being compacted and recycled for agricultural purposes.
Used glass and cement is reused for roadbeds.

Their employees receive living-wages, health benefits, education programs and life-skills training. Beyond the factory, the Company donates materials and time.

“IceStone’s donation program provides free or discounted material to projects that share similar social and environmental goals, with Habitat for Humanity receiving annual donations. We also partner with community, nonprofit, academic, industrial assistance and local social services groups to promote green-collar job creation, sustainable business practices, and the development of the green building industry. Finally, this year we worked through the NYC Pencil Program and adopted a K-5 school, and worked with them to create a curriculum on sustainability for their Fifth Graders.”

Join the Conversation

Have you or would you use this type of product in your residential or commercial building?
If you do have this product, how has it held up? Maintenance woos?
Would cost deter you?
Does the C2C designation and B corporation certification increase your likelihoods of buying this product?

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Bathroom Remodel: Easier, Greener with Bath Simple’s Design Tool

Anna@Green Talk — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 16:32:59 +0000

My Bathroom Design Using Bath Simple's Design Tool

Do you hate your bathroom? Do you wish for a simpler way to create a painless bathroom remodel without trudging to different stores to find the perfect products? Well, you are in luck. Bath Simple is a nuts and bolts concept of designing your bath online and having it installed by certifed Bath Simple installers. Kind of like a field of dreams version of bath remodel. You design it and they will come.

What I love about Bath Simple’s concept is the ability to see with your own eyes what your bathroom will look like. The Company provides this amazing virtual design tool so that you can hand-pick a myriad of products to complete your bathroom. Not loving the idea of picking with a virtual tool? No problem. The Company offers free in home consultations. What can I pick? Tile, cabinets, grout, shower doors, the works. And the best part? All the components are delivered to you at your door in one box. So, say good-bye to your old carbon footprint ways of driving from store to store in search of the holy grail bathroom.

Seriously, Anna? I am not fooling you. I spent literally an hour playing with their design tool. And trust me, it can be very addicting since you have several products to choose from. (See here for a generic list of what products you can choose.) And, to boot, you can sprinkle in green bath products as much as you want. The Company offers:

“water-efficient plumbing, including EPA and Eco-certified low-flow and dual-flush toilets, low-flow vanity faucets and low-flow shower heads

energy-efficient lighting, including Energy Star light fixtures

resource-efficient materials and products, including low- and no-VOC paints, adhesives and sealants that are Green-Guard certified, recycled solid surface countertops, recycled ceramic tiles, CARB-compliant wood products.”

Even better, your products come in one box, which consolidates shipping, and reduces contractor time. And I am not done. You can send them back all of your old products for recycling in the same box. The Company partners with local companies to dispose of the old bathroom materials. I know. This sounds too good to be true. So Founder, John Crowley, how the idea of Bath Simple was conceived, he stated:

“[o]ne day I was sitting on a toilet contemplating why it took so long to remodel my master bath and reflectively drawing upon 30 years of experience developing systems for buildings and a recent session with my daughter at build-a-bear, I hypothesized that the bathroom is an ecosystem of components that could be organized into a menu of fashion forward choices, that would make designing the dream bath fun rather than frustrating and overwhelming and then aggregate all the selections and deliver them together like Santa does every xmas, which would make the contractor very happy. Why? because he could then schedule his elves to do the bathroom remodel in a predictable period of time, on budget, which in turn would make the homeowner very happy. Who would in turn tell the neighbor about this unusual experience of getting their bath remodeled in less than 2 weeks and within budget. And after I flushed the toilet I started to research if anyone was doing this, as it seemed like a cool idea. And there you have it…Bath Simple was born.”

Okay, creating a virtual tool seems a little teensy bit harder than dreaming up the theme on the toilet unless you have an extensive product design background like Crowley. He holds numerous awards and patents and a Master of Architectural and Planning degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Crowley teamed up with Bill Hunscher, an entrepreneur, who found his passion in “building businesses with a focus on vastly improving the way customers are served.” And they had a plan. Taking the nightmare out of bath renovations.

Green Design Options:

However, as happy as I was creating my virtual bathroom, I was disappointed in the website’s lack of clarity on the green elements. I was confused about which products were green or which were not. Such confusion could have easily been avoided by working with a green building/marketing consultant to make sure their message was clear. (Sorry for the shameless plug, but this comment is coming from the heart. While penning Green Talk, I have seen so many poorly written green marketing strategies, which in my opinion compromises the company’s message.) Bath Simple green products are as follows:

Recycled Content Countertops: The Company offers Caesarstone countertops, which are countertops made from leftover quartz from mining operations and Greenguard certified for indoor air quality.
Packaging: They obtain commitment from the Company to select vendors (as much as possible) who are committed to non-petroleum based packaging materials. They also work with manufacturers to help them reduce the quantity of packaging material as well as increase the recycled content of the packaging. In addition, in the market where the Company provides installations, they recycle all of the packaging.
Green certifications: The majority of their manufacturers are certified under various green accreditations.
Paints: Their paints are from Benjamin Moore, and they offer three lines: Natura (zero -VOC) which Bath Simple recommends for powder rooms; Aura (low VOC and the most expensive of the Benjamin Moore line) and Eco Spec (zero-VOC/very durable) for high moisture areas such as full and master baths.
All Bath Simple’s products are CARB compliant,which means they are in compliance with emissions standards set for the by the California Air Resource Board.
Built in Cabinets: All Bath Simple’s built in cabinets are FSC certified (Forest Steward Council,) which means the wood was derived from sustainable managed forests. (Note, not all of their cabinets are green. Only the category labeled as “built in cabinets.”)

Price Comparison:

When I completed my 12 by 12 virtual bathroom renovation, the cost could have easily been over $20,000 just for the materials. What about the cost of installation? The Company explained that installation costs seems to be 1.0 to 1.7 times the cost of the materials depending on the region. However, if you choose a Bath Simple certified designers, they guarantee “complete and on-time delivery directly to the job site.” I was in sticker shock and wondered if I was truly getting my best bang for the buck. The Company further stated:

“By using Bath Simple, customers save time and money in shipping and driving costs, while also reducing their carbon footprint because they can order from the comfort of their home. Bath Simple is extremely price competitive in that there is favorable pricing from suppliers which is passed along to customers. Also, Bath Simple packages show up 100 percent complete, saving time and money.”

To give you a comparison, the 2010-2011 renovation costs for a mid to upscale bathroom renovation in the mid-Atlantic area (where NJ is located) ranges from $16,000 to $53,000. This areas of the country is quite pricey to live in. For Cost vs Value Remodeling Report for 2010-2011 for your area, see here.

My Wish List for the Site:

I love what Bath Simple is seeking to create but I have a green wish and designer wish lists:

Green Wish List

More green transparency: Provide a list of the manufacturers with any green commitment which includes green efforts about their packaging and certifications.
Add a green product category: Create a category called “green” so the consumer can easily select green products before I use the design tool. In an ideal world, I would love there to be a designation like a green leaf on products in the design tool.
A list of what green certifications and what they mean: Many people have no idea what CARB, FSC, or Greenguard certified means. Bath Simple could add a page to their website with green certification definitions as a teaching tool for consumers. Green education is key.

Design Standpoint Wish list:

Allow the option to create either a shower/tub combo or shower only bathroom. Right now, you have to create a tub and shower. Now, this may be because I couldn’t understand the program. If this is the case, make it more obvious to the end user how to obtain the results that I listed above.
How about giving me an option to tile the walls if want? Right now, I can only add trim to the baseboards not tile. Some people like to add tile halfway up the walls.
I would love a recycled glass tile option.
What about adding cork as an option? When I asked for this option, the Company expressed concern with the glues of the cork substrate. I can understand. Many floating floor cork substrates are made of MDF, which contains formaldehyde glues. However, you would never put a floating floor in a bathroom due to the potential for water damage. The MDF just curls up if it gets too wet. (Been there; done that.) You could easily use glue down tiles in a bathroom, and then seal them.

Overall, I still feel Bath Simple is exactly like its name. Simple and painless. So, stop hating your bathroom and renovate.

Join the conversation:

Have you recently renovated your bathroom? Tell us about the good and the ugly.
Would you use a tool like Bath Simple?
Would you choose style over green products? Be honest. I won’t come find you.
Play with the tool and tell me what you think.

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Vetrazzo: Green Countertops You’ll Love to Show Off

Anna@Green Talk — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:08:39 +0000

Updated: 12/29/2011:

Kitchens reflect our personalities. They are the heart of the house. As much as you want the kitchen to be durable, you yearn for it to create a piazza that stops everyone in their tracks. And the crown jewel? Of course, the countertops. I compare countertops to a scrumptious topping of a delicious cake, beaconing you take that first bite.

With everyone going green these day can you have your cake and eat it too? Durability, glam and green all rolled up into one? The makers of Vertrazzo think so, with their selection of 22 different colored recycled glass counter-tops that are durable yet have an unmistakable glimmer that will light up any kitchen.

Eighty five (85%) percent of the components of the countertops are composed of recycled glass, with a majority coming from post-consumer sources. The balance is a non-resin binder of Portland cement. No petroleum resins or additives are used.

According to the Company,

“the glass comes from curbside recycling programs. Other glass comes from windows, dinnerware, stemware, windshields, stained glass, laboratory glass, reclaimed glass from building demolition, traffic lights and other unusual sources. Every Vetrazzo surface has its own history. We track that history, and after you purchase and register Vetrazzo, we provide a Certificate of Transformation that tells you where the glass in your Vetrazzo came from.”

This product is not a new green invention. Vetrazzo countertops have been around since 1996; however the Company made only custom-made countertops. In 2007, Company started offering the countertops through distributors to the US and Canada.

(Update 12/29/2011) The Company was acquired by in 2010 by Polycor Inc, one of the largest fully-integrated granite and marble group in North America. All products are made in Polycor’s facility in Tate, Georgia.

Depending on your taste, Vetrazzo has a countertop suited just for you. If you are a traditionalist at heart and like warm, understated colors, Champagne Flint, is the countertop for you. It is made out of flint, which was used to make glasses prior to the use of crystal. Now, you can find flint in rhinestones and clear bottles.

Thinking you want that one of kind countertop that is deep and rich? Turn to Cobalt Skyy® with Patina, in which the countertop is made out of cobalt blue colored Skyy ® Vodka bottles. Talk about a statement. As noted above, each countertop has a history of where it has been before it graces your kitchen.

The countertops are polished to a high gloss finish, but can be sandblasted by a fabricator to have more of satin look.

When I asked what makes the Company’s countertops different than its other competitors, Craig Murphy, the Company’s Marketing Coordinator, replied that they are the only one he knows of who makes their countertops with a recycled content as high as 85% as well as using larger pieces of glass to give it a distinctive appearance. In addition, the Company provides a ten year limited warranty as well as a recycling program at the end of its life. (End of life, means you are tired of it and want to remodel.)

When I think of glass, I immediately think white glove treatment. Murphy assured me that the countertops are comparable to granite in strength, scratch resistance, heat resistance, durability, and care and maintenance. In fact, according to Murphy, you can place a pot with temperature of 600 degrees Fahrenheit right on the countertop.

I was also concerned with cracking since the countertop contains two different materials: glass and cement. Again, I was assured that Vetrazzo countertops do not crack over time. In fact, due to the countertop’s thickness, there is no need to install a plywood underlayment. All countertops are 1 1/4″ thick. See here for pictures of residential and commercial installations.

What about maintaining it? Murphy advised me, that a couple times a year, you should wax the countertop with a product like Goddard’s Marble Wax. Depending on the color, you will need to seal it every 1 to 2 years. Murphy further assured me that the sealing process is a breeze. Put the product on and wait 20 minutes, then wipe it up. It is as easy as wiping down your countertops. For more information about the care and maintenance of the countertops, read here.

Are Vetrazzo countertops just for residential use? Think again. Half of the Company’s business is generated by commercial clients especially those wishing to LEED certify their building. The use of a Vetrazzo’s countertop contribute to the recycled content credit and the regional material credit if your building is located within 500 miles of Tate, Georgia where the countertops are made.

So, what are the biggest sellers for the Company? Charisma Blue and Alehouse Amber. I can definitely see why. Alehouse Amber was one my favorites too. It has a light Earthly feel to it. Just enough shimmer to make a statement but not bold enough to take over the room.

Thinking a gleaming Vetrazzo countertop may be in your future? See here to find a retailer in your area. Priced at $110-180 a square foot installed.

What does the furture hold for Vetrazzo? Murphy indicated that the Company will continue to expand their line of colors. So less waste in the landfills and more gleaming, beautiful countertops in the kitchen. Maybe one of your bottles could end up in someone’s kitchen! Drink to that.

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A Recycled Content Countertop That Looks like Granite

Anna@Green Talk — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 07:10:55 +0000

Sunset, one of Environ biocomposite’s^® Products.

See updated below 12/29/2011

Just to give you a recap, in my prior article, “What’s Next in Green Internet Shopping?” I listed my top ten favorite green building products that I used on my own home. (The article was written for This Next, a site where people make recommendations.) Number 2 on the list is the Environ biocomposite^® product line, which I used for my desk countertop. (Remember, I listed the products in a rambling fashion, so the products are not ranked.)

Environ biocomposite^®products are made out of recycled newspapers, soy based resin, and color additives. According to their website, they offer 8 different colors, such as emerald, lapis, and vermillion. I bought the Company’s Sunset product for my desk countertop. It looks just like brown granite.

Why did I choose this product?

I wanted a countertop that was eco-friendly and strong, but had the look of granite. According to the literature that I had, the Company touted their product as stronger than oak. From an aesthetic point of view, the product, Sunset, compliments my cabinets that are a lighter shade of brown.

Environ biocomposite^® products can be routed just like wood so you can create a countertop edge on the product. I would recommend sealing your countertop with a water based product. My countertop looks great even after two years of abuse by me. Just as a side note, you can not use this product for a kitchen or bathroom countertop.

What Other Product Do They Make?

Environ makes a product called Dakota Burl^®, which mimics the look of a burled wood.

“The material is created from an agricultural fiber, sunflower hulls, making this a beautiful environmental option to hardwood,” according to the information on Environ Biocomposite’s website.

It can be stained or left in its natural state.

Although this article is about countertops, just as a side note, Environ also produces a product called BIOFIBER™ Wheat, which is made out of wheatstraw. This product can be used as an alternative to traditional hardwood and paneling.

My kitchen cabinets are made out of wheatstraw particleboard; however, I used a product made by Dow called Woodstalk. Dow is no longer distributing this product much to my dismay. My cabinets have held up beautifully, and they are almost three years old.

Interested in the Product? Read this First

If you are interested in any of Environ Biocomposite’s products, their website contains very little information about any of their products. When I was interested in one of the Biocomposite products, I called their sales department and they sent me a sample of the product that I liked.

It is also a good idea to find out who distributes their products. When I bought the product, Sunset, I had to buy it directly from the Company, since no one in my area carried it. The shipping costs and upcharges for not ordering their minimum amount still made it cheaper than buying granite.

The added benefit is I now have this beautiful eco-friendly countertop that people still believe is granite!

Join the Conversation

Have you used any of their products? If so, how do you like the product?
Have you used a composite product for your countertops? If so, how have they held up?
Would you consider using a composite product such as Environ? If not, how come?

Update 12/29/2011: It seems that Environ is out of business. I have removed the link to the company’s website. Maybe someone is the future will pick up their technology. My desktop is now 6 years old and still looks great.

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