Order your free copy now and learn all you need to know about living the good life in the nation's fourth largest city!
| Building Your Custom Dream Home |
However, most people don’t realize that the opportunity to live in an earth-friendly home begins before the builder even breaks ground. It’s becoming increasingly popular for builders to minimize and recycle jobsite waste during the building process. Furthermore, builders are trying to use building products made partially or completely from recycled materials. Whether you call it environmentally friendly, green or ecological, the interest to build new homes with Mother Earth in mind is growing. Choosing the right building materials can make your home more environmentally friendly and economical to maintain.
If you are in the market for having a new house built, you easily can limit the toll your building project takes on the environment with a few conscious thoughts. Start by carefully selecting your building materials. Products made partially or completely from recycled products are now available and can be used on the foundation, the framing, the rafters and much more. Following are some examples of products that are now recycled and used in the home:
It’s important to pay close attention to the price of some of these products. Sometimes the cost can be significantly higher than their traditional counterparts. Do your research beforehand and choose the right building materials without adding to the cost of construction.
In addition to “green” building products, another important consideration is waste disposal. Reducing waste at the jobsite benefits the environment. The materials used and wasted during construction and demolition account for an estimated 28 percent of municipal solid waste. Waste disposal also can account for a significant portion of building fees. By simply reducing and recycling jobsite waste you can save an outstanding amount of money.
If you are in the market for having a new house built, you easily can limit the toll your building project takes on the environment with a few conscious thoughts. Start by carefully selecting your building materials. Products made partially or completely from recycled products are now available and can be used on the foundation, the framing, the rafters and much more. Following are some examples of products that are now recycled and used in the home:
- Ceramic tile is being made from old light bulbs.
- Carpeting is being made from recycled soda bottles and sheep’s wool.
- Interior wallboard is being made from newspaper and gypsum.
- Recycled concrete is used for drywall.
- Newspaper and reclaimed cotton are being used to make insulation.
- Decking materials can include recycled milk cartons.
- Low-density concrete can be recycled and used for insulation.
- Paint is being made from old paint.
- Shake shingles are being made from aluminum cans and nails from melted-down cars.
- Fly ash from burned coal can be used to make concrete.
- Bricks can be made of tightly compacted earth, clay and straw.
- Linoleum is a natural flooring covering material made up of linseed oil, resins and wood flour.
- Steel is 100-percent recyclable and an extremely durable building material.
It’s important to pay close attention to the price of some of these products. Sometimes the cost can be significantly higher than their traditional counterparts. Do your research beforehand and choose the right building materials without adding to the cost of construction.
In addition to “green” building products, another important consideration is waste disposal. Reducing waste at the jobsite benefits the environment. The materials used and wasted during construction and demolition account for an estimated 28 percent of municipal solid waste. Waste disposal also can account for a significant portion of building fees. By simply reducing and recycling jobsite waste you can save an outstanding amount of money.
1
2
3
4
5
