-- Wood flooring is gaining an eco-friendly reputation and status as a smart investment, as consumers become more savvy about green products and sustainability.

In fact, a 2008 Consortium for Research on Renewable Materials study verified that solid wood flooring uses less energy and water to produce than other flooring options, improves indoor air quality, and emits little or no harmful air emissions that contribute to global warming. In addition, the USDA Forest Service reports that U.S. hardwood forests are sustainable, with average annual net growth being greater than average annual removals. In fact, the average growth to removal ratio is 1.66, which means that for every cubic foot of hardwood removed, 1.66 cubic feet is added. In all, the standing hardwood volume currently is 328 billion cubic feet, an increase of nearly 90 percent since 1953. All of this scientific data has encouraged many homeowners to embrace wood as an environmentally friendly flooring alternative.

To create a healthier home environment, indoor air quality will be better with wood floors, especially for people with asthma or breathing problems. Wood floors won't provide a hiding place for pollen, animal dander, mold, and other allergens. Since they don't accumulate a lot of dust and debris, maintaining them can be as simple as using a soft-bristle broom, dry mop, or brush-less vacuum.

"The consumer trend is toward blending of healthy and green design in the home," says Ed Korczak, National Wood Flooring Association Executive Director/CEO. "Wood floors have proven to be beneficial for people with chemical sensitivities. Wood floors are the best choice for healthy indoor air quality.

"Homebuyers also like hardwood floors for resale value," Korczak adds, "as they are a good financial investment."

Wood floors are often cited in a home sales pitch and have been known to spur faster sales and higher prices according to a survey among licensed U.S. real estate agents and brokers. In 2006, 99 percent of real estate professionals surveyed indicated that having hardwood floors influenced a home's salability. In addition, nine out of 10 agents suggested that homes with mostly hardwood floors will sell faster and for more money. In addition, people who have lived in homes with hardwood floors are more likely to buy another home with hardwood floors.

If you are remodeling your home or building a new one, it is helpful to understand the options available in wood flooring. "Solid wood" flooring is made from a single piece of wood and comes in three basic types:

• Strip flooring accounts for the majority of installations. Strip widths range from 1 inches to 3 inches, but usually are 21/4 inches wide.
• Plank flooring boards are more than 3 inches wide.
• Parquet flooring, conducive to dramatic geometric effects, comes in standard patterns of 4-inch by 4-inch blocks, with specialty patterns ranging up to 36-inch square units.

The thickness of solid wood flooring can vary, but generally ranges from inch to 5/16 inch. One of the many benefits of solid wood flooring is that it can be sanded and refinished many times.

Engineered wood floors are real wood floors that are manufactured using three to five layers of wood, with the wear layer a species of choice. The sublayers can be of the same species, or of different species. Engineered floors can be sanded and refinished, but not as many times as solid wood flooring. All hardwoods are sustainable and are available in a wide variety of styles, species and colors.

Often an overlooked resource is reclaimed wood, or wood from old barns, buildings, lofts, and rural structures, which is an ideal choice for green flooring. Wood can also be salvaged from urban areas, orchards, and river and lake bottoms.

Reclaimed wood is old-growth timber, which is harder, denser, and more stable than wood from young trees. It also tends to have fewer knots. Using reclaimed timber as recycled wood for flooring can make a home beautiful and unique. Nail holes, cracks, marks, and dents are part of the appeal and the history that lies within the floor.

Wood is sustainable, and wood flooring is a proven "green" choice. It will look as good now as it will in 10, 20, and in some cases, 100 years into the future. Known for their warmth and beauty, wood floors give a humanizing touch to any setting, and their versatility enables a range of looks from formal to modern.