February 1/8; Volume 30/Number 16
By Ken Ryan
Las Vegas—Bostik, known for its branding efforts and green gecko, got a welcome plug for its adhesive products from actor/environmentalist Ed Begley Jr., who accepted an invitation to speak about affordable sustainability at The International Surface Event (TISE).
Begley Jr., perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the NBC television series “St. Elsewhere,” is in the final stages of completing a 4,200- square-foot, LEED Platinum home in Studio City, Calif. He said he is using reclaimed oak for his hardwood floors. “The problem was I needed a really good adhesive to fasten the wood to the [sub]floor,” Begley Jr. told FCNews. “But my thought was, ‘What is green about adhesives?’”
Begley Jr. said his builder recommended Bostik’s Ultra-Set SingleStep2, a high-performance adhesive, moisture control and sound-reduction membrane all in one. This adhesive contains 1% recycled rubber material, has zero VOCs and does not contain water, according to Bostik.
“I love green products, but green products have to work,” Begley Jr. said. “As it turned out this product has incredible sound-deadening properties; there is a little bit of give to it — not spongy — but it’s easier on the feet.”
According to Begley Jr., the Bostik products were an important piece of the puzzle in getting LEED points for his home. “It was a sum total of different attributes,” he explained. “No other product would fit the bill for what we were trying to do here.”
Begley Jr. said he became environmentally aware in the 1970s when he was growing up in smoggy Los Angeles. In pursuit of a greener lifestyle he bought his first vehicle, a Taylor-Dunn electric car, which he said was more like “a golf cart with a windshield wiper and a horn.” However, it was good for the environment and less expensive than a traditional automobile.
Begley Jr., who has long advocated for people to reduce their carbon footprint, leads by example. In 2015, he rode his bicycle to the Academy Awards wearing a tuxedo — in the rain.
He said all Americans can lead a greener life and save money in the process. “We are saving the world one rooftop at a time, one flooring panel at a time.”