2 Eco-Friendly Products That Home Builders Should Consider
More and more homeowners are concerned with running an energy efficient and eco-friendly property. Of course, when building a custom home, you want to use products that are manufactured in a sustainable manner, but that will also be efficient when it comes to running your home. That is, if you frame your house with cheap salvaged wood, it might not have the best insulation and you will end up using a lot of electricity over the years trying to compensate. So, home builders are always looking for products that have minimal impact on the environment, use sustainable production methods, and contribute to a more eco-friendly home. Here are 2 such products that home builders should consider.
Recycled or Salvaged Wood Siding
Many builders mistakenly think that salvaged wood siding is not energy efficient. But, this is not entirely true. Just like with standard wood siding, there are some products that have superior insulation qualities. Usually, the products with the best insulation are a little more expensive per square foot. But, if you measure by the insulation rating, a salvaged wood product will be comparable to a normal wood product. The one thing about salvaged wood is that you usually need to be more diligent when shopping for the perfect product. That is, you might struggle finding a finish and style that you like. You need to always be on the lookout for the right product and pick it up as soon as you find what you're looking for.
Artificial Turf
Artificial turf seems to be very polarizing to many homeowners. Many people complain that it looks cheap, tacky, and like mini-gold grass. Basically, it does not look real. However, newer products are looking more and more like real grass. They have longer blades with varied thickness for a natural grass look. They also feel more like real grass. The padding replicates the feel of natural soil. You can find many artificial turf products that are made from 100% recycled materials.
The amount of water (and money) you will save with such dramatically reduced water bills will have a huge impact on the environment. Home builders in hot, dry climates are resorting to artificial turf because it is so practical and eco-friendly. No matter how you feel about artificial turf, you will enjoy having such a low maintenance and affordable product.
These are two great examples of eco-friendly products for residential builders.