From beauty and cost-effectiveness to low maintenance needs and easy installation, wood floor benefits are well known. But the advantages of hardwood floors go beyond one's immediate home by providing an environmentally responsible, ecologically sustainable decorating option. Below, three environmentally related wood floor benefits are explored in more detail.

Hardwood Floors & the Environment: 3 Wood Floor Benefits

1. Saving Energy

Carpeting is typically thick, dense, and a sap on energy resources. With hardwood floors, however, less energy is needed to heat or cool your home. Not only will you save on your utility costs, but you will have a direct impact on the environment by using less energy. Furthermore, hardwood is far more durable and longer lasting than carpet, so all the energy costs associated with more frequent carpet replacement will be eliminated.

2. Recycling

Hardwood is an all-natural product, an organic material that comes directly from Mother Nature. Even after your hardwood floors have outlived their usefulness, they can still be recycled and used for other purposes. Found wood from other locations is often made into beautiful flooring, giving second life to such a hearty and functional resource. And all of this is good news for the environment and for better standards of living.

3. Improving Air Quality

Carpet can trap potentially dangerous matter like dust, allergens, and even mold. Those with sensitive breathing conditions may experience health issues as a result. With hardwood floors, there are no solid fibers to trap possibly detrimental substances, meaning the air quality in homes with hardwood is generally healthier than homes with carpet. Improved air quality benefits the environment, your home, and all who live within it.

Choosing hardwood flooring helps you leave a lighter carbon footprint and have a positive impact on your home, the environment, and the planet. Carolina Wood Floors Inc. has been providing new flooring installation to the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, area for more than 25 years. Call CWF at (336) 765-0680, visit their website, or connect with them on their Facebook or Twitter page to schedule an estimate.