For hundreds of years, timber has been used from anything from building homes, offices, and animal shelters to business premises and other structures. The exponential growth in population has led to an ever-increasing demand for timber. The result? Pollution and the decimation of our forests, both having disastrous affects on the environment. On top of that, there has also been rising operational and maintenance costs. The timber industry has grown a lot since then though, and more eco-friendly technologies such as green building are being discovered and put in use all the time.
Today, the practice of using environmentally friendly and resource efficient processes in construction has come to be known as green building. The construction process typically involves identifying the right building site, designing and constructing the structure, as well as operation, maintenance and renovation needs. Even demolition in some instances. Green building, also known as green construction or sustainable building, provides an eco-friendly alternative to using timber frame construction. Instead of competing with or replacing regular building designs, it improves it by addressing the concerns involved with such methods-cost cutting, durability, utility , and comfort.
Regardless of what technology used, green building is a construction method that seeks to ensure the structures erected are both environmentally friendly and safe for humans to live. It aims at reaching several goals: ensuring resources like water and energy are being used efficiently, protecting the health of the inhabitants of the house, improving the workers productivity, and minimizing pollution, waste, and the destruction of the environment.
Closely related to green building construction is the concept of natural building. This concept aims to utilize sustainable methods of construction. It emphasizes usage of locally available natural materials. For instance, instead of using timber (as is the case in timber frame construction), one may opt to mix sand, clay, water and straw. These are all locally available materials, which, when mixed together, form clay blocks, also known as adobe or cob. However, unlike green building construction, the natural building concept is a small-scale practice that opts to utilize human labor as opposed to technology.
Green building has many advantages to using in the construction world. Construction materials used in green building are not only made in an environmentally friendly way, but they are also stronger and more durable and cheaper than materials used in conventional building methods. Since they’re also made in a safe manner, they help contribute enormously to healthy living environment for those living in or using the structures built. Apart from that, using green products helps to save and maintain our environment from constant destruction. This in turn helps to ensure a healthier society and more lively economy in the long run. Structures built using green building materials and methods are also more aesthetic than those built with traditional building materials. On top of that, they are less costly to maintain and offer more comfort to those who use it.
Darren Kumin is Manager of Double Up Roofroom Specialists, a Timber Frame Construction Company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. To get more information, go to Green Buildings
Simply put, reclaimed building products are building materials that would otherwise end up in landfills if they were not recycled. When old buildings and warehouses are demolished much of that material can be reused, but more often than not it ends up in the dumpster. However, as our focus shifts into more environmentally friendly options in the way we live there are more and more companies reclaiming old building materials and making them into beautiful products we can use in our own homes.
What Type of Material is Reclaimed?
When a building is torn down everything you can imagine can get reclaimed. From the roof to the floor and everything in between it can be reused. Many of the products are in near new condition even though they have been in homes and buildings for years. Some of the more popular reclaimed products are:
Wood floors
Tiles
Granite
Slate
Fireplaces
Brick
Floor / Ceiling Beams
What are the Main Benefits to using Reclaimed Products?
Okay, the biggest benefit in using reclaimed materials is that you are being friendlier to our environment. Millions of board feet of flooring are reclaimed each year and reused. This would have ended up in landfills, resulting in more trees being cut down, had the products not been reclaimed.
Some other benefits include the character and charm that can come from a reclaimed product. Anybody can buy a wood floor, but not many people can have a wood floor that is over 100 years old and looks brand new – you can if you choose reusable flooring options.
This article is not intended to talk you into using only reclaimed products on your next remodel, but take a look at what is out there you just may find something you love that has less impact on the environment as well. Everybody wins!
Roberta is an eco-consultant who focuses on environmentally friendly home design. If you want more information on reclaimed flooring check out Roberta’s latest site: http://reclaimedflooring.net
Here are the basic principles involved in green home building. Basic principles address the installation of energy efficient heating and cooling systems, electrical and plumbing systems, along with the latest architectural techniques. Global climate change is a growing concern. Home builders have begun to address the problems caused by global climate change. These principles should serve as simple guidelines to follow when planning construction or remodeling projects.
The technologies with the most potential are solar panels and wind power turbines. High efficient variable speed heat pumps must also be put into that category. Provisions of current federal tax law gives tax credits for the installation of alternative energy systems. Using tax credits will lower the total cost of installation making these technologies more cost effective. Home builders must constantly be aware of tax credits and other tax consequences.
For electric supply wind turbine power and photovoltaic solar cell panels are the most promising technologies currently being used. Photovoltaic cells are combined in arrays. They are attached to the house roof. Also mounted on the roof, wind turbines continue to improve in design and function. Both wind and solar systems interface with the electrical grid. Any excess energy produced by your solar and wind systems will be sold back to your utility company. Everyone should get into the habit of only using low energy LED and compact fluorescent lights.
Plumbing system must promote reduced water usage. Rainwater collection system will supply water to toilets, dish washers and clothe washing machines. Boost pumps used with in-demand water heating systems will reduced the cost of hot water heating. Water heating will be assisted with roof top thermal solar arrays. Further water reduction is realized with the use of low flow shower heads, faucets and toilets.
Minimize wood usage and at the same time increase insulation area. Create a sealed thermal envelope. Use structured insulated panels, which will increase home energy efficiency. Concrete walls should be of poured concrete with conditioned, sealed crawl spaces. With a sealed thermal envelope you will see your energy bill go down. You will find that the investment of energy efficient systems and environmentally friendly designs will save you a ton of money over the long run.
Appropriate roof design is a very important architectural issues. This is because both photovoltaic solar panel equipment and wind turbine equipment will be mounted upon the roof. Due to this fact, the architect must be experienced in the science of modern roof design. Roof design is not a simple matter. There are important structural and engineering issues that must be address in formulating the design of a roof.
As you can see, insulation is a crucial element in attaining the level of energy efficiency you are seeking. The objective is to have the home tightly wrapped in a thermal envelope. Two types of materials are used to obtain the tight seal necessary: structured insulated panels and open cell spray foam. The foam must be sprayed into all open wall cavities. Roof decks and band joists must be filled with foam also. Every tiny gaps and slit left over from framing must be sealed. The other material is structured insulated panels. Structured insulated panels are two pieces of plywood with four to six inches of foam sandwich between. Both materials will render the complete thermal seal for the entire home that you require.
As you can easily see, the principal of green home building will help you choose the building contractor who will implement these green techniques in their craft. Remember the best methods that have given us the environmentally friendly home. Use wind turbines, photovoltaic solar heat panels, variable speed heat pumps. Work with those architects who follow the right philosophy in their work.
Thomas Bleier is a professional carpenter and green building enthusiast. In a addition to writing about green home building, Thomas also covers urban gardening, permaculture, and clean energy.
