Don't Take It for GRANITE ; IceStone Looks Cool and Offers Eco-Friendly Alternative to Stone Countertops

Stone countertops are the hallmark of many upscale home and commercial environments. Unique slabs of marble or granite tie in decorating schemes, provide a durable workspace and are a great talking point when entertaining guests.

Now, eco-friendly countertops, made of recycled glass and concrete that looks and performs like stone, are making their way into the mainstream.

While not cheap, the counters emit little to no toxins and are as durable and aesthetically pleasing as natural stone, according to local building pros. Installing the countertops also can count toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification of residential and commercial buildings, according to building professionals.

"We used to just carry granite and Silestone, but the demand for counters made out of recycled materials is there," says Mary McGarrity, sales manager with Artistic Tile & Granite in Albuquerque. "Customers want a safe, clean and nontoxic product in their home."

IceStone surfaces are composed of 75 percent recycled glass and concrete, and can be used for kitchen countertops, backsplashes, tabletops, bathrooms, walls and commercial flooring. The product comes in 20 standard colors but also can be customized.

The slabs are installed like granite or marble. The material is porous so it needs to be sealed annually. IceStone also recommends using waterbased sealants and adhesives during installation to reduce volatile organic compound, or VOC, emissions -- toxins released from building materials that have been linked to a host of health problems.

Dekker/Perich/Sabatini architectural firm in Albuquerque installed IceStone counters in a new GREG SORBER/JOURNAL headquarters the company designed and built on Jefferson near Journal Center. The counters grace the lobby and reception desk.

"It came up in the design process because we are seeing more clients wanting LEED-certified buildings," says architect Julie Walleisa. LEED refers to a national rating system for design, construction and operation of green buildings.

Environmental perks of the product include: IceStone uses 100 percent postconsumer and post-industrial recycled glass, which reduces waste going into landfills, and the company runs a lowemission manufacturing facility, is implementing a gray water system and uses soy -- versus petroleum -- based lubricants in its machinery.

"We did it for our own sense of (environmental) responsibility and to demonstrate green building techniques to clients," says Walleisa, adding that the 85,000-square-feet, three-story building recently received a LEED Gold certification.

IceStone costs $100 to $160 per square foot. Another recycled glass and cement counter made by EnviroGLAS Products Inc. costs about $100 per square foot. In comparison, granite costs at least $75 per square foot and Silestone runs at least $50 per square foot, according to McGarrity.

Green countertops have made their way into the mainstream during the past couple of years. Prices are coming down, but they remain high because demand isn't as great as it is for other stone materials, McGarrity says.

Price hasn't deterred Bill Roth, owner of Clear Creek Management Corp. in Santa Fe, from installing IceStone in the kitchens of two energy-efficient homes he's building in Santa Fe.

"One of the reasons is because one category LEED scores houses in is the use of recycled materials," says Roth, who specializes in green building. "But quite frankly I like the way (IceStone) looks."

The countertops fit well into his larger eco-friendly building philosophy.

He uses no-VOC paint, sustainably harvested lumber, highly insulated walls and ceilings, optimum value engineering -- where timber studs are placed on 24-inch centers rather than the standard 16-inch centers to reduce lumber use, and radiant heat flooring. Appliances are Energy Star qualified, which means they use 10 percent to 50 percent less energy and/or water than standard appliances.

Roth views the use of recycled countertops and other green products from a long-term perspective.

"Green is a new market, but you have to understand that spending a little more upfront may save money in the long run," says Roth. "In five years people will know to ask for these things, but right now they don't. When it becomes the standard, I will have already figured it out."

(c) 2007 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.