While it goes beyond saying that eco-friendly building methods can be quite frugal, this is not the only reason why they’re getting more popular with each passing days. You see, our planet has a limited amount of resources and is already getting dangerously close to the limit of the pollution that it can take (while there are those who claim that we’ve passed this border a while back). This is why we need things to change and what better place to start than the construction industry.
Why here? Well, because A) the construction industry is one of the oldest and busiest fields there are and B) because it impacts the environment, the above-discussed resources and the world in general in more than several ways. Still, in order for this industry to systemically change, we need to change our mindset and the way in which we perceive it, in general, therefore, there are several things you need to know about the philosophy behind eco-friendly house building methods.
Which materials are eco-friendly
The first and the most obvious question that we have to answer here is one of the eco-friendly materials. Which materials are eco-friendly and what makes a material an eco-friendly one? First of all, there are some materials that are eco-friendly by their nature. This means that their production doesn’t significantly increase the carbon footprint of the industry and that their overall environmental impact is not that high. Here, we’re talking about straw bales, bamboo, earth, hempcrete and much more. On the other hand, this also entails recycled steel. Why? Well, because it helps you avoid the necessity of smelting, which is on its own a massive aid in turning this industry green.
Another thing worth keeping in mind is the fact that the very source of material can make it eco-friendly. What we mean by this is the fact that the very transportation of the material can make it more or less green. For instance, think about the environmental impact of transporting even the greenest construction material half-way across the globe. The carbon footprint caused by the transportation would be through the roof and all the hard work that you’ve invested would be undone. This is why going for locally produced or extracted materials might be a much greener practice. This alone should change your outlook on the green materials in general.
The process itself
Practices used in the process of building an eco-friendly house are something to be considered, as well. While hiring independent contractors may seem like a simpler and a more frugal way to handle things, a professional crew is bound to cause a smaller environmental impact. How? Well, in several ways actually. First of all, they know how to construct an efficient construction site and dismantle it, later on, leaving the place, more or less, how they found it. Second, going with a professional crew minimizes the amount of wasted, misused and ruined materials, which is a huge boon on its own.
Lastly, they can cut short the time spent building, which is both energy- and environment-friendly. From the practical standpoint, this is particularly important if you’re doing some extra work on the place, which means that you would have to find an alternative lodging by the time it’s done. Some companies like Interline Manufacturing specialize in patio work, which means that they would occupy a part of your property for a shorter amount of time than a layman contractor.