Building Materials
When caught up in the hype of going green, many people are quick to decide how they can help their environment. Energy saving light bulbs is flying off store shelves and shoppers are buying reusable shopping bags. The biggest impact a consumer can make on the environment, however, is choosing green building materials when constructing or remodeling their home. This sounds simple enough, but many find themselves confused when determining what makes these items green.
A good starting place is to look for materials that are made from pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled product, or that have been retrieved from a salvage yard. Pre-consumer building materials are created from recycled industrial byproducts that have never reached the consumer. Examples of these materials are scrapping PVC pieces that are used in making shingles, or fly ash used in concrete. Post-consumer materials are items that are used by the consumer and are retrieved and recycled from landfills or recycling plants. Rubber from car tires being reused to create flooring materials exemplifies post-consumer products. Salvaging items is an excellent way of recycling items in its current condition. By visiting a salvage yard, you can find lumber, bricks, and electrical and plumbing materials at a discounted price.
When looking for building materials that are eco-friendly, keep in mind that the less energy they require the better. Finding products that require little to no maintenance and have a long lifespan will make your life easier and help our environment. When using wood and lumber for your home's needs, make sure it has come from a certified forest. Trees grown on tree farms for the sole purpose of lumber are quickly replenished. Also, find construction materials that do not produce toxic gases or emissions. Paint that is low in VOCs will help your environment and promote a healthier home.
A great way to go green is to invest in building materials that are energy and water efficient. These may be more expensive to install initially, however in the long run your money will be reflected back in your utility bills. Using high performance windows and tinting, or installing insulated concrete forms, structural insulated panels or autoclaved aerated concrete will help to reduce the energy needed to cool down or heat up your home. Purchasing appliances that conserve energy will also make your home environmentally friendly. Water heaters, air conditioning units, washers and dryers, and refrigerators that are developed with these purposes in mind can drive down the energy being used in your home.
Taking the time to look into ecologically aware building materials is a responsibility of a homeowner and a concerned member of society. The payoffs are high, giving our children and grandchildren the chance to live and grow in a clean and healthy world.