by Tania Asnes
During their tour of the greenest home in Santa Monica, Ed and Rachelle see many pleasing combinations of eco-friendliness and aesthetics. Among these is sustainable flooring made from pao lope. Just what is pao lope and why could it be a green choice for your floors? Read on to find out.
Pao lope is another name for ipe wood, also known by many other names including ironwood and Brazilian walnut. The ipe is one of the tallest trees of the Amazon region. It grows in a variety of locations, but is known for being one of the types of trees that forms the rainforest canopy. The ipe can grow up to about one hundred and forty feet tall and six feet wide. Several natural features make its wood attractive: its strength, its beautiful mahogany color, which lightens to a gray over time, and its resistance to fire, decay, and insects. (With millions of insect species in the rainforest, it's not hard to see why the ipe evolved this last special characteristic.) Ipe heartwood is also free of knots, so it provides a very smooth look.
Because ipe resists deterioration, it has the green benefit of not needing harsh chemical coatings or preservatives. When harvested in a sustainable way, it is an attractive and responsible choice for decks or indoor floors. However, we must be careful what kind of ipe we are buying when building or renovating our homes. Being a rainforest tree, ipe is at high risk for clear-cutting and other environmentally damaging foresting practices. In fact, the RAN (Rainforest Action Network) counts it a vulnerable species and one to avoid unless it has been certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). Fortunately, there are many flooring companies that can provide you with sustainably harvested ipe, so with a little research you can install a gorgeous, eco-friendly floor that will last many years with a minimum of upkeep.
