The benefits of Eco-friendly materials
There are many advantages when it comes to designing a eco-friendly home. ‘Going green’ can help you save time, money and protect your health. It can also help reduce your impact on the environment, from improving indoor air quality to mitigating global climate change. Green buildings help people live a more resource-friendly and sustainable lifestyle. Green buildings incorporate unique construction features that ensure efficient use of resources to reduce waste on water and energy. When it comes down to thinking about building an eco-friendly home there are many construction materials out there to help our environment, and build you a unique home. Here are a few main ones to take a look at:
- Recycled steel – saves 75% of the energy costs. Steel is the most recycled material in the world and it is used in the manufacturing of all new steels.
- Bamboo – is a very popular building material, as it can grow very quickly. Like wood, bamboo has a very high strength to weight ratio and very useful for structures. Believe it or not bamboo has a higher compressive strength than wood, brick and concrete.
- Straw bales – have fantastic insulating properties. When building a green home the straw bales are placed in the walls, attics and ceilings to help contribute to cooler temperatures in the summer and warmer temperatures in the winter. Straw can also be harvested and then re-planted, this will not have an impact in our environment either. Straw bales are believed to have a massive impact on energy saving needed for heating and cooling.
- Precast concrete – is a natural material that can be recycled, making it a very good choice for an eco-friendly home, However, precast concrete is even more eco-friendly, it can be poured into pre-made moulds over rebar or even wire. Then once the precast concrete has hardened it can be shipped and then placed into multiple structures,
- Recycled wood – has much less of an impact on our environment than harvesting new timber. It can be used for unique flooring, or exposed beams with an antique look.
- Plant-based foam – is often used for insulation material when it comes down to building. It is made from bamboo, kelp and hemp. It goes by the name rigid as it offers protection against mould and pests, as well as sound insulation and heat resistance.
That will give you a little more of an insight of the different types of main construction materials needed to build a eco-friendly home. All the benefits will help improve our health, our own lives and support the local community and businesses. This will help strengthen the local economy, making more places desirable to live in and our environment friendly.
The advantages of going green
Going green is more likely to lower your utility bills. Green buildings significantly reduce dependancy on non-renewable sources, which are expensive and major contributors to the environment.
Sustainable homes are energy and water efficient. These features would include solar panels, closed foam for insulation and low-emissivity windows. As a homeowner your costs are reduced straight away with the decrease of heating and cooling requirements.
Green homes are durable, this means you’ll spend less money on maintenance over time, due to long lasting recycled materials. This is great news, because it means you are in your life long home!
Building homes that are made to last considerably reduces your environment footprint. When living in a non green home, there comes tasks like changing your carpet or decking every few years. With the materials used for going green this will reduce costings again and have a huge impact in climate change. Green homes offer sustainable substitutions from the very first phase of development.
The environmentally conscious trend for going green has spilled into the market value, for all homeowners. Green homes result in higher value rates across the country. If you become a green homeowner you will benefit from state and federal credits for your homes energy efficiency. Eco-friendly properties are the way of the future.
Indoor air quality is considered very important for your health and a green home building incorporates products that use low, or no volatile organic compound, This will mean fewer harmful chemicals will be in the air. Apart from air quality green homes will offer more to your health, reducing stress levels which will improve your quality of life. Emphasis on harmonious design, reduce costs and simplified processes that not only benefit you but the whole community, contributing to long term happiness all round!