Green Living Tips 10.06.08

Did You Know...

Syndecrete is an eco-friendly concrete alternative made from a wild array of recycled materials that includes everything from glass to old vinyl LPs. You can use this sweet, cutting-edge material to add a seriously spiffy touch to your green dwelling. You can use it indoor and outdoor, for big projects like a walled patio, or for small jobs like a bathroom countertop.

The McKinley residence featured on Worlds' Greenest Homes shows that Syndecrete is right at home as a haute design detail in a sleek, upscale dwelling. To start with, it's just plain cool that this material is made from fly ash, crushed record albums, metal, wood, and a whole jumble of other crazy recycled stuff, especially since you'd never guess its trash-y origins from the sleek end result. In addition to looking pretty fab, this high-end composite has half the weight and twice the compressive strength of regular concrete, so it's a material to be reckoned with, and you get plenty of substance with your style.

Although traditional concrete is easily recycled and salvaged, Syndecrete 's use of natural minerals and its diverse array of reclaimed post-consumer and post-industrial materials make it about as close to a green no-brainer as you can get. Syndecrete can even give you a leg up in getting LEED certification, which is a definite bonus. Everything you order, whether it's a couple of bricks or a whole set of pieces for an outdoor shower, is handmade. 

To learn more, visit www.treehugger.com.