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Floor Coverings (Non-Carpet)

Last Updated: 02/25/24 Click to see brand name products that meet these requirementsopens in new window
Floor Coverings (Non-Carpet)

Products, other than carpet products, that are designed for use as the top layer on a floor. Examples are bamboo, hardwood, and cork tiles.

Product Details
  • asterisk Federal agencies are required by statute to purchase products as designated or specified under this program.
    asterisk asterisk Federal agencies are required to purchase sustainable products and services meeting EPA’s Recommendations to the maximum extent practicable.
Procurement Info

Where to Buy

Legal Requirements Lists federal requirements related to the purchase of this item, including applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements
Life Cycle Cost Savings

Life Cycle Costing (LCC) aims to quantify the financial impact of a product over its entire life cycle to assist consumers in making decisions that will save them money over the long term.

An efficient product is cost effective when the energy costs saved over the life of the product exceed the additional upfront cost (if any) of the more efficient model. Energy Star considers both upfront costs and lifetime energy cost savings when setting required efficiency levels. Federal purchasers can assume that Energy Star-qualified products are life-cycle cost effective.

To calculate life cycle cost savings, explore these tools:

  • NIST’s BEES Online v2.0opens in new window offers detailed environmental lifecycle analyses. Life cycle costing is available as an option. It is recommended that users have some experience with life cycle analysis in order to answer the tool’s questions.
Guiding Principles
Contributes to meeting The Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings
Additional Guidance
Federal Programs

According to BioPreferred, floor coverings (non-carpet) are described as products, other than carpet products, that are designed for use as the top layer on a floor. Examples are bamboo, hardwood, and cork tiles. BioPreferred maintains an electronic product catalogopens in new window listing products that either (1) are eligible for preferred federal procurement, or (2) have earned the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Recommended Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels

Executive Order (EO) 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainabilityopens in new window, (08 DEC 2021), requires federal agencies to purchase sustainable products and services certified to the standards/ecolabels included in the Recommendations to the maximum extent practicable.

Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings

For products such as floor coverings, the applicable Guiding Principle for High Performance and Sustainable Buildings depends on what characteristics are included in the product.  If it has biobased content it would be GP 5, if it is low-emitting it would be GP 4, if it's both, it would be included in both. "Low emitting" would be any product that has a low emissions or low VOC standard.

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