The idea of “home” is changing. Homeowners no longer view their homes as the isolated space contained within four walls and a roof. In today’s world, “home” also includes the world at large, and new homeowners have made sustainable building one of their top priorities. Potential customers want to be sure that the architects or builders they partner with take green building as seriously as they do.
As home designers, builders, and engineers, we play a very important role in this eco-friendly evolution. By incorporating more sustainable and less-impactful materials into the design and construction of your projects, the following outcomes are possible.
Eco-friendliness can be included in projects that are both profitable and sustainable. It aligns with much of the criteria we traditionally associate with successful building projects, such as ease of installation, durability, cost efficiency, and manageable maintenance.
Why do ecological projects seem so challenging? Many of us perceive them to be
The truth is that with the right tools and information in your back pocket, managing environmentally sustainable housing development is attainable for any builder! Are you ready to find out how? Let’s look an incredibly important process: the why.
Source: Dwell.com
Environmental building practices are clearly better for the planet, but they also offer big benefits to developers and builders as well as the actual homeowners and their communities.
For example,
While it might take a little bit more effort to employ for your organization, the end results are worth it for your customer’s experience, your bottom line, and the bottom line of the environment.
Obviously, there are many benefits to leveraging eco-minded building methods, but it doesn’t require the dramatic shift you may be imagining. We’re going to focus on one of the simplest ways to incorporate more sustainable practices into your builds: eco-friendly siding and trim. The first step is to ensure a common understanding of what qualifies as “eco-friendly” so we can take a more honest look at some of the materials we routinely use and determine their real impact on the environment.
One of the most challenging aspects of incorporating eco-friendly design into your portfolio is whether or not materials that claim to be eco-friendly actually meet that definition. We’ve put this article together to help you understand what to shoot for and to debunk some of the common hidden environmental costs we all wind up paying.
Eco-friendly siding and trim is made of materials that don't have a negative impact on the environment in their manufacturing and construction processes. Some of the most basic factors of an eco-friendly trim material include
We want our homes to last a lifetime, but we have to balance that need by using the right materials can help protect the environment for generations to come.
Source: saint-gobain.com
As an architect or builder, there's more than meets the eye when choosing trim materials. While most professionals are aware of basic concepts within the sustainability movement, such as energy conservation and pollution reduction, there are many more factors to consider for a holistically environmental approach.
Eco-friendly siding materials are biodegradable, come straight from nature, and meet green certification standards.
Ecological trim material considerations don’t just stop with responsibly sourcing renewable material; they also consider the energy and labor required for transport and installation. For example, it takes more energy and resources to transport and install stone than wood.
The R-value of a construction material indicates how well it preserves thermal heat. Siding and trim with a higher R-value has better insulation quality and can help save on heating and cooling costs in the long run. The good news is that many ecological options have a fantastic R-value.
Siding and trim material that's made from recycled materials and/or can be recycled at the end of the product means less waste and has a smaller carbon footprint.
Some manufacturing processes can be quite energy-intensive or can create toxic by-products.
Transporting materials over a long distance is both environmentally and financially expensive. Using locally sourced siding and trim can help reduce the environmental impact of transporting the materials to the construction site. However, when locally sourced materials are not an option, shipping large quantities of materials together on a vessel reduces the amount of fossil fuel therefore reducing carbon footprint..
Some siding and trim material can even pull double-duty. For example, trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and then they store the carbon in their second lives as wood trim materials, reducing their overall carbon footprint.
While it may seem like there is a lot to consider when choosing a siding material, a little due diligence can go a long way in selecting a product that will benefit the environment and give your customers peace of mind about their building choices. As a community of builders, we owe it to ourselves, our customers, and our world to make responsible choices that reduce pollution, produce less solid waste, and use fewer ecological resources than other materials.
Here is an honest look at some of the most common types of siding materials and some of the hidden costs and benefits of using them for building projects.
Wood is a top eco-friendly siding and trim material for many locations and project types. It comes directly from nature and is sustainable, recyclable, and renewable.
Not all wood materials are responsibly sourced, so you'll need to do your due diligence to find a reputable supplier. You can achieve this by choosing vendors certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).
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Vinyl is an incredibly common siding material, and we’re often asked to weigh in on its environmental impact.
Source: mariosroofing.com
Fiber cement is often seen as the green alternative to vinyl siding and trim because it's made of sand, cement, and wood pulp.
Source: greenenergytimes.org
Also known as flue ash, this is a by-product of coal burning plants that generate electricity. It is widely adopted (currently more than 75% of concrete in the US is fly ash) Here’s what you need to know:
Source: bridgersteel.com
Metal siding and trim (such as steel or aluminum) is a popular option that balances cost with durability. Steel is considered a “greener” option than aluminum due to its recyclability.
Source: 3rpcontracting.com
Fired bricks were invented in 3,500 B.C. and have been in a staple in homes ever since.
If this seems like a huge undertaking, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. We can work together to make small improvements that lead to big changes in the overall sustainability of your project. If you’re looking a good place to start, here are some certifications that ensure an eco-friendlier approach to building materials.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Certification
An internationally recognized system, LEED certification creates more attractive investments for clients due to reduced energy usage and increased resale value.
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Certification
BREEAM certification helps your clients balance cost with lifecycle value while reducing operating and maintenance costs and limiting developer and investor risks.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification
The gold standard for lumber from responsibly managed forests, FSC-supplied building materials means your customers can rest easy about the source of the building blocks of their home.
Change does not come about all at once. It happens with every small step in the right direction until we’re all doing our part to protect the environment for ourselves and generations to come. So let’s start with those small shifts in siding and trim material that can make the difference between a constant struggle for survival and scarcity of resources by providing environmentally-friendly homes that meet your client’s needs and protect the bigger “home” that we can all enjoy together.