I wish this product had been available when I did a remodel of my kitchen a few years ago.

I had granite countertops installed, believing that a natural product was more eco-friendly than laminate. But once granite or marble is mined, that’s it – a one-time extraction.

Enter beautiful countertops made of recycled glass and concrete. When this product originally came on the market I thought they looked a bit clunky, but what a difference a couple of years make! The product available today is nothing short of stunning.

Just think of the glass saved from the landfill then repurposed. And when in future years, the product is removed from the home, it can be broken down and recycled again and again.

And not just countertops; this product is fantastic for backsplashes, shower walls, tabletops, flooring and even outdoor pavers. You can even have a choice of finish as you can with granite or marble – gloss, honed or sandblasted for slip resistance. One cautionary note, always use a cutting board – not because you may mar the countertop surface, but to protect your knife.

I would love to have a magnificent outdoor dining table made of pale green glass. I can see friends around the table, a delicious dinner, a great bottle of wine and candles flickering and sparkling against the glass tabletop. Along with the certainty that this product will emerge from the ravages of winter looking great and just waiting for the next dinner party.

Because this product is VOC (volatile organic compounds) free, has a recycle content and Cradle to Grave Certification, it qualifies for a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or Green Build certification. Should I ever build a house, I would definitely go for polished concrete floors. I love the spare look of them, and from an environmental viewpoint, they are superb. No more discarding carpet and tile into the landfill, and heating and cooling needs are dramatically reduced by a combination of concrete floors and radiant heating because of the thermal properties of the concrete. Indoor air quality is greatly improved when carpets are removed, no more exposure to the glues and adhesives from both carpet and vinyl, and no harsh cleaning liquids needed for maintenance – just a quick sweep and a damp mop. An interesting point is that ambient light is increased by up to 100 per cent off polished concrete floors, so you save money on energy and help the environment. It would be exciting to build from scratch using all the amazing green products coming to market, but for most of us changing to sustainable products is a slow process as rooms in our present homes are remodeled. The good news is more and better products are constantly coming on stream so our choices, and the cost, are improving.

maggiec@blackpress.ca