1. Recycle and Reuse

We should try recycling and reusing materials in all aspects of our lives, and gardening makes no exception. The main concern here is paying attention to the origin, manufacturing process, and installation of materials in garden structures such as sheds, paths, walls, and patios. Using recycled materials should always be a priority but with a little bit of creativity, this process can become quite fun.

Don’t shy away from exploring second-hand stores, yard sales, junk shops, and websites that sell used materials. You’ll be surprised by the variety of things that you will find from clay pipes to scaffolding boards. Recycled materials aren’t just more eco-friendly, but they’ll also allow you to use your creativity and show your kids that there are many different options out there.

Container houses are a great example of repurposing and reusing. These structures are made from recycled shipping containers and make perfect garden houses. Whether you’re looking for a hobby room, a summerhouse, or a garden office, an eco-friendly container house is a great solution.

2. Choose Eco-friendly Materials

Reduce your carbon footprint and become more environmentally friendly in your garden by using green materials. These materials should come from your local community instead of different countries, or even worse, different continents. When buying materials for your garden it is best to avoid buying something that comes from a different continent. Ideally, we should always try to buy things that haven’t travelled very long distances. A few examples of eco-friendly materials that are usually locally sourced are reclaimed wood, cork, cob, recycled steel, recycled plastic, straw bales, bamboo, wool, hempcrete, ashcrete, mycelium, clay bricks, recycled rubber, etc.

If you don’t have access to these materials, you can choose wood as this material might be the most environmentally-friendly one when it comes to building things. Wood is a naturally renewable resource and in the United States, more wood is grown than harvested. When trees are used to create wood products, there is no waste, as the bark, sawdust, and trims are all used to make different products. Wood is a durable material that is easy to recycle and that contributes to fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

If you were planning on installing a garden house in your backyard, you can rest assured that wood is a great material. High-quality garden houses that are made of slow-grown Nordic spruce harvested from sustainable forests are eco-friendly, durable, and versatile.

You can use eco-friendly materials for your plants as well. Instead of growing your plants in plastic containers, opt for biodegradable containers such as egg cartons, coconut husk, or containers made of materials that can be recycled easily such as metal ones. It is also recommended to water your plants with rainwater. In fact, plants don’t tolerate tap water very well because it contains chlorine. So, harvesting rainwater will actually be better for your plants and it will also save you some money.

3. Create a Wildlife-friendly Environment

Attracting wildlife to your garden is a great way to become more eco-friendly and have a balanced ecosystem. Many insects are beneficial for your plants and should be protected and cared for such as ladybirds, butterflies, moths, native bees, ground beetles, and hoverflies. These beneficial insects will help with pollination, but they will also protect your garden from harmful insects. Soldier beetles for example feed on greenflies, ladybugs feed on aphids, and ground beetles prey on snails and slugs. So, by attracting ‘good insects’ you can prevent infestations. Attracting beneficial insects is pretty easy; all you have to do is to fill your garden with wildlife-friendly plants such as butterfly bush, borage, daisies, dandelions, goldenrods, coneflowers, and any other type of native flowering plants.

4. Prolong the Life of Gardening Tools and Equipment

Having to buy new tools and gardening equipment each season is not ideal. With proper maintenance, you can extend the lifespan of your tools, save money, and help the environment. A great way to ensure that your power tools, garden furniture, and other useful things don’t get damaged due to bad weather is by investing in a tool shed. A high-quality wooden garden storage shed is a great investment. It is easy to install, and durable and it will make gardening a more enjoyable and less expensive activity.A garden shed is an ideal storage solution that will help you avoid clutter, provide you with safe storage space, and increase the value of your property.

The post 4 Easy Ways to Make Your Garden More Eco-Friendly appeared first on Green Building Insider.

Projections show that the decking market will grow by $4.19 billion between 2021 and 2025. It is difficult to project exactly how much people spend on eco-friendly decking services, but that figure is almost certainly growing as more people transition to eco-friendly lifestyles.

Decking can be a great addition to any home. It can serve as a place to relax and entertain guests while increasing the value of your property.

However, many eco-friendly homeowners are more reluctant to invest in decks, because they worry about the use of natural resources and the chemicals that might harm the planet. The good news is that there are a lot of ways to have a deck that is not bad for the environment.

If you have decking, it’s very important to make sure that it’s safe and eco-friendly, and if it’s not, you may need to replace it immediately. For three major signs that you need to replace your decking, keep reading.

1. Footings

When first installing decking, it’s placed on concrete foundations. These are essential, so they’ll need replacing if they start to fail.  The two common reasons for failure are heaving and dropping.

Heaving usually comes as a result of freezing and thawing during winter. Dropping tends to occur if the footings have been installed on disturbed soil. The result of both of these is uneven decking which can then become unstable and potentially dangerous.

In some circumstances, you might be able to repair these, but it’s more likely that you will have to install new decking.

The good news is that there are a lot of eco-friendly materials that you can use for your deck. Mother Earth News has a list of the best.

2. Metal Connectors

Decks are comprised mostly of wood, but metal connectors are generally used to connect the different pieces together, creating strong joins.

Inspect the connectors regularly to make sure they’re all in good condition, and you actually have one at every applicable joint. Missing connectors can make the decking unstable.

There should be a strong metal base connected to all footings to hold the posts in place. When installing a deck all of these bases can benefit from including a stand-off base. These hold the posts above the footing and prevent water from collecting.

If you’re installing new decking you want to make sure all metal bases and connectors are durable and well made. A company like Intsel Steel West can custom manufacture such parts to whatever specifications you need.

Building codes require metal joints in certain connections:

• Post to beam
• Joist to beam
• Joist to ledger

These can be especially helpful if any of the wood rots as they will help hold the decking together until you can replace it.

You might think that using wood that is treated to avoid rot isn’t good for the planet. However, there are actually some environmentally friendly treatments that you can use. This will actually be better for the planet long-term, because you

3. Railings

While railings can serve as an ornamental component of decking, the main reason they are used is for safety. A sturdy railing around the edge of your decking will prevent accidental falls, and if your decking is quite high off of the ground this is crucial.

You can test your railing by simply seeing if it moves at the top. If a bit of force won’t move it at all then it’s considered very safe. If it moves more than an inch or two this is an indication that it’s not too stable and needs replacing.

When installing a deck the railing is one of the main health and safety considerations. You want it to be strong, and it should be built to last. Stairs leading to decking should also have a railing installed.

If you don’t want your railing to ruin a view, cable railing is a good option. It’s still safe and will obstruct the view less than other railing types.

The Importance of Replacing Decking for Your Eco-Friendly Home

There are a lot of things that you have to do when you are trying to run an eco-friendly home. You will need to decide whether or not to upgrade your deck and think about the impact on the environment.

If you notice any of the above signs or anything else that makes you think your decking is unsafe you should replace it as soon as possible. Unsafe decking can break building regulations and is unsafe for anyone using it. You can find ways to make your deck safe without harming the environment.

If you’re interested in more eco-friendly home improvement articles check out some of our other blog posts.

The post 3 Signs Your Eco-Friendly Home May Need a New Deck appeared first on Green Building Insider.

The affordability of solar panel systems has increased over the years. In fact, the cost of solar power fell 12% in just the 12 months between 2020 and 2021. As more individuals realize their need for solar energy, the construction industry is being directly impacted.

Keep reading to learn how solar energy can transform your eco-friendly construction company.

Solar Energy and the Construction Industry

The increase in demand for solar energy is due to several factors. One factor includes technological advancements in the construction industry. Solar power is now more affordable and can produce more efficiently.

The demand for more environmentally friendly practices drives construction techniques. Businesses are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and solar energy offers a solution.

More solar panels mean more job opportunities for construction companies.

Solar Energy and Construction Equipment

In construction, uncharged and dead batteries are a common and costly problem.

During idle periods when equipment sits and is not used, the batteries get drained slowly. A battery that sits in a low charge state for long loses the ability to recharge and hold enough power to restart equipment.

Since heavy equipment gets loaded with additional electronics, this issue is more prevalent. Jump starting batteries or replacing them is an everyday task for some construction businesses.

Switching to solar energy is the solution to the problem. A small amount of daily charging can offset loads to keep batteries in good condition. Jump starts get eliminated and batteries can last up to 10 years.

Related to solar energy are back-connect solar technology and return on investment.

1. Back-Connect Solar Technology

Thanks to back-connect solar technology, solar panels can survive on a construction site. Not only that but you can install them on the roof of construction machines directly.

Solar innovation allows panels to be flexible and resistant enough to handle possible damage from debris. Solar panels can produce power even when covered in dirt or when there is cloudy weather.

2. Return on Investment

Although solar panels are more affordable than ever, the upfront cost is high. However, owning the technology reaps many benefits.

Along with ROI, these are other benefits that make the cost worth it:

• Future longevity
• Energy independence
• Tax benefits
• Environmental returns
• Greener image
• Low maintenance

In general, a construction business will see a return on investment (ROI) in less than a year. Plus, businesses can take advantage of the solar tax credit offered in their state.

Can Your Construction Company Benefit From Solar Energy?

With the advancements in solar technology, it’s hard to deny the benefits of using solar energy for construction companies.

The obvious reasons that solar transforms the construction industry are that it creates more jobs and can lead to a return on investment.

The much more prominent reason is that solar panels can help with the dead battery problem that construction industries face. Avoid dead batteries, jump starts, and replacement batteries by purchasing panels for your equipment.

For more articles on technology and other important topics, check out the posts on our blog.

The post How Solar Power Can Transform Your Construction Company appeared first on Green Building Insider.

We previously talked about some of the flooring materials that are popular in eco-friendly homes. One of the eco-friendliest materials is cork, because it doesn’t use nonrenewable resources and requires very little energy to install. Marble seems like a good material because it doesn’t leave a large carbon footprint to extract. However, due to its weight, it can take a lot of energy to actually install. Eco-friendlier materials that are better suited include linoleum, tumber and glass tiles. MyMove gives a full list of eco-friendly flooring materials.

Another option to consider is engineered wood. Some people think that it might be less eco-friendly than traditional lumber. However, the opposite is actually true! It is a great option for green homes.

Sustainable Homeowners Should Use Engineered Wood for their New Floors

If you have been considering hardwood flooring for your home, you might have come across the term ‘engineered wood.’ It is pretty popular these days, though most people don’t have an exact idea about what engineered wood is. But is it actually eco-friendly? You will want to know more about its carbon footprint before using it.

Lack of a clear idea about what engineered wood is has given rise to several myths and misconceptions. You might have heard people question the durability of engineered hardwood and someone else talk about its looks. Far fewer people talk about its environmental impact, which has led to some misconceptions that it is harmful to the planet.

So, here’s clearing all your confusion about the environmental impact and other properities of engineered wood floors once and for all. Read on!

What exactly is engineered wood?

Engineered wood, also called ‘manmade or composite wood’ happens to be a versatile alternative to solid hardwood. It is made from several layers of wood known as ply that the makers reform using pressure, glue, and heat. Every layer goes in a different direction and that makes it highly stable and has better qualities than solid hardwood.

It is easy to confuse engineered hardwood with laminate flooring. Engineered hardwood has a top layer of actual hardwood, but laminate flooring has a high-quality picture of wooden flooring laminated on HDF (high density fiberboard), not wood.

Top eight misconceptions about engineered hardwood

Myth 1: Engineered hardwood is worse for the planet

There are many variables that people have to take into consideration when trying to create or renovate an eco-friendly home. The most obvious factor is the enviornmental impact.

Some people shy away from using engineered hardwood, because they have heard that it is not good for the planet. This is not at all true!

In fact, you can get more engineered hardwood from a tree than traditional lumber. This means that it is actually better for the environment than traditional wood.

Myth 2: Engineered hardwood and solid hardwood do not look the same

There are only a few minor differences between the looks of these two flooring options. In fact, the differences are mostly negligible and unimportant. The tools and technology used in engineered hardwood have managed to reach a point where most people would not even be able to tell the difference between the actual product and engineered hardwood.

Myth 3: Engineered hardwood is not durable enough

Durability is a very important factor for eco-friendly homeowners. In addition to worrying about the obvious economical issues of replacing a floor, it would also take its toll on the environment to need to replace it more than you need.

Fortunately, this is another reason that engineered floors are better for the planet. Despite the common misconceptions and myths, engineered hardwood floors are very long-lasting and durable. After all, the surface layer is still solid, strong hardwood. Manufacturers are pretty confident about the durability of engineered hardwood. So, expect warranties of twenty years and more.

Myth 4: Engineered hardwood cannot be refinished

This is one of the biggest myths about engineered wood flooring. Most of the engineered hardwood floors can easily be refinished several times. Remember that the number of times you refinish it actually depends on how thick the veneer is. It is important to keep this in mind because when you sand excessively, you can wear away the entire layer of hardwood on the floor. 

Myth 5: Installing of engineered hardwood floors is difficult

As engineered hardwood is prefinished and has an interlocking design, installations are easy breezy. Needing hours to fit, sand, and stain the floors can now be a thing of the past for you.

Myth 6: Engineered hardwood is not as economical as solid hardwood

Sustainability is obviously important, but it isn’t your only concern. You have to also make it a priority to use materials that are economical. The good news is that engineered hardwood meets that standard.

As the planks are just partially made of hardwood, each piece of an engineered hardwood tends to be more affordable than solid hardwood. In other words, you get to choose a more opulent and striking wood piece for a lot cheaper rate than solid wood. Certain types of solid wood might be out of your budget, making you settle for something that doesn’t appeal to your senses. In such cases, opt for engineered hardwood – save your money and open up more options.

Myth 7: Engineered hardwood has limited uses

You cannot go for a solid hardwood floor below grade, but that is not the case with engineered hardwood. It means that you will be able to install quality engineered hardwood in such places that you would not usually see hardwood. Such places might include kitchens, basements, and so on. In fact, it can also be carefully installed on concrete subfloors.

Myth 8: Engineered hardwood is not quite stable

The cross-lamination factor makes engineered hardwood more stable compared to solid hardwood. Also, it is a good alternative to solid hardwood when you expect to see the area to have major changes in relative humidity. Keep in mind that in terms of solid hardwood, the width of the material is directly proportional to how much it contracts and expands from summer to winter.

Engineered hardwood is a great eco-friendly flooring material

Eco-friendly homeowners have to use the right flooring materials. Engineered hardwood is eco-friendly and has many other benefits.

So, the fact is that if you have chosen engineered hardwood, you have made a wise decision. Now that all the myths and misconceptions have been cleared out, it must be amply clear to you that engineered hardwood floors are a good choice.

The post Misconceptions Over Engineered Hardwood Floors in Eco-Friendly Homes appeared first on Green Building Insider.

There are other important factors to focus on when creating a sustainable home. Your driveway is going to be one of them. You need to use eco-friendly materials and processes to construct your driveway.

You also have to make sure the driveway will be resilient against the elements. This will reduce the amount of materials and energy that you will need to replace or maintain it in the future.

One of the greenest options is concrete. This may surprise a lot of people, because the material itself doesn’t seem so eco-friendly. However, the fact that it can last for decades makes it a greener long-term option. There are also more ways to make concrete better for the environment these days.

In the US, around 91.3% of households have access to one or more vehicles.

Parking on the street isn’t always ideal, so you might be thinking about building a concrete driveway. It is quite a labor-intensive task, but with the right equipment and understanding, it’s something you can more than likely take care of.

For our guide on how to build a concrete driveway, keep reading. 

How to Build a Concrete Driveway

A driveway can be very helpful, especially if you live somewhere with limited on-street parking. There are a number of steps that need to be carried out correctly if you want to produce a high-quality driveway that is free of cracks or uneven areas.

1. Make a Plan

The first thing you need to do is find out if you need a permit to build a new driveway. After that, you can plan the size and shape of your driveway.

Once you have the dimensions, you can use a concrete yards calculator to work out how much concrete you need. Once you’ve done that, you should decide on the materials for forms and stakes. With this, you can calculate a cost estimate of a new driveway construction.

Use clay to firm up the base of your driveway if it’s too loose, and sand or gravel to level it out if needed. A vibratory plate compactor can help with this.

2. Prepare Your Driveway

Use stakes to mark the layout of your driveway and ensure it matches up to your plan. Anchor your forms to the stakes. These are typically 1 x 4-inch pieces of wood, but you will need plywood or masonite if there are any curves in your driveway.

Excavate the soil and add roadbase to stabilize the base. Note that roadbase isn’t always necessary, but it does help. The base should be at least 4 inches thick, so check this all around and use filler material to make any adjustments where necessary.

Compact the fill material using a plate compactor. Adding a small amount of water can help with this step. If you are using any steel to reinforce your driveway this is the point to add it.

3. Pour and Cure Concrete

You can now pour the concrete. You can do this with a wheelbarrow, but it is quite labor-intensive, so for a larger driveway, a concrete truck may be better. Other methods include:

• Skid steer
• Tractor
• Engine-powered wheelbarrow

Before the concrete dries, make sure it is flat (this is not the same as level). You can do this with a hand trowel. You’ll then want to add 1-inch deep contraction joints roughly every 4 feet to stop the driveway from cracking as it dries.

To help your vehicle get traction (especially in wet conditions), you can texture the driveway by dragging a broom or a sack across the concrete as it is drying.

You can cure the concrete using a moisture-retaining barrier. Plastic sheeting or a chemical compound will make sure the concrete doesn’t dry too quickly. Allow at least 3-7 days for this process to finish.

Now your driveway should be ready for use. The first time you park on it check for any signs of cracks or crumbling, which you may be able to repair. Remove the wooden framing, and you are finished.

Follow the Right Practices to Create a Driveway for Your Eco-Friendly Home

You have to plan carefully when creating a green home. One of the most important things to do is make sure that you use the right procedures to create a driveway.

While this guide explains how to build a concrete driveway for your green home, there are still several mistakes that can easily be made. Throughout the whole process, you need to ensure you are taking a lot of care, otherwise, your driveway may not come out how you want it to.

For more DIY guides, check out some of our other blogs.

The post Guide to Building a Concrete Driveway for a Sustainable Home appeared first on Green Building Insider.

However, eco-friendly companies still face a variety of challenges. They have found that a lot of customers don’t always put their money where their mouth is. Katherine White and her colleagues writing for Harvard Business Review pointed this out in the article The Elusive Green Consumer.

They also found that the cost of creating products and services is higher for eco-friendly businesses, because they have to use less readily available materials and often use more complex manufacturing processes.

This means that green companies have to pay close attention to important decision-making processes. This includes using the right security systems to protect your goods.

The Right Security System is Essential for Your Eco-Friendly Business

There are a lot of things that you need to do when running an eco-friendly business. You are going to need to pay close attention to accounting, marketing and staffing issues. However, there are other issues that don’t always get the attention that they deserve. One example is the important of security systems.

Having a reliable security system can be especially important for an eco-friendly contracting business. Green building materials can be very expensive, so you can’t afford to leave them vulnerable to theft.

If you’re thinking about installing a security system for your business, knowing the many types of alarm systems, the available features, and the benefits they give is important. Doing your research can help you choose an inexpensive, practical system that will benefit your company for years to come.

Best Security Systems Characteristics

Security systems for businesses safeguard your company’s assets, personnel, and inventory while lowering utility costs. The specific features you should seek in a security system are determined by the layout of your building and the demands of your company. On the other hand, many organizations opt for these top qualities when purchasing a security system.

Detection of fire/smoke and environmental hazards

Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and elevated temperature can all be detected by sensors, triggering alarms. Low-temperature sensors can also be put in bathrooms, kitchens, break rooms and other places with water lines. Sensors can also be used to detect water in flood-prone locations. This is going to be important for eco-friendly contractors, because they have to make sure that all of their materials will be protected.

When these sensors identify any unexpected readings, an alarm is dispatched to the security system monitoring provider, police and fire departments, and corporate-approved individuals, allowing these responders to act immediately and reduce possible harm.

If your commercial security systems are linked to local law enforcement, you should be aware that you need to register with the police department in your area.

Logs of access

Electronic access control not only removes the inconvenient usage of keys to gain entry to your office building (and other secure places), but it also keeps track of who has entered and when. Any authorized, web-enabled machine can see data files. If someone tries to obtain unlawful entry, the access control system and the alarm system can be linked to send out notifications.

Identity verification

Identity verification systems allow only permitted personnel to enter a building or a specified region, ideal for firms that value secrecy and security. Unauthorized persons are prevented from having access to locations where they should not be.

A user’s identity is verified and approved in one of four methods in place of a physical key:

• The employee uses a card reader at the entry point to swipe their identity card (or a smart card or key fob).
• Employees use a keypad located at important entry points to input a personal identification number or password.
• Photo identification is used to verify the user’s identity.
• The technology recognizes a person’s fingerprint or faces via biometric recognition.

Video recording

If you use video cameras with your system, you may choose to record continuously or when a specific condition is satisfied. For example, if your system senses movement, a sensor determines that a door or window has been opened, or you want to record at specific times of the day, your system can start recording (or night). While continuous recording necessitates additional storage, it may be required, particularly in high-risk regions where security is critical.

Eco-Friendly Businesses Can’t Afford to Use the Wrong Security Systems

The features you need in commercial security systems are determined by your company’s size, budget, and the security concerns you encounter regularly. For example, if you run a large warehouse with a lot of inventory, you’ll need a different security system than if you run a small brick-and-mortar business.

The post Business Security System Features Every Eco-Friendly Business Needs appeared first on Green Building Insider.

Unfortunately, green homeowners also have to deal with some of the frustrating challenges that plague all homeowners. This includes dealing with home improvements.

Resolving Home Improvement Challenges as an Eco-Friendly Homeowner

Home renovation is far from easy, but people generally indulge in the arduous process happily. They want to raise the standard of their lives and make their homes more luxurious. Many people feel that their furniture starts wearing down or windows or doors breaking apart; thus, they update their abodes.

You may be more reluctant to do this as an environmentally responsible homeowner. These types of improvements leave a large carbon footprint and use natural resources that damage the environment when extracted. However, even eco-friendly homeowners have to eventually engage in home improvement projects.

Although they understand that remodeling means hard work and turning the house upside down, the thought of having a more stylish home makes them do the laborious work. People indulge in home improvement projects with hopes of having an upgraded space adorned with modern facilities. Sometimes their ideas do not turn out great. They regret spending money and doing the laborious work of home renovation.

Home improvement projects are all about creativity, especially if you are trying to minimize your carbon footprint in the process. While there is no wrong and right in the creative process, some home improvement ideas can turn out a nightmare. Some people might rush up the process and go for inexpensive and low-quality products resulting in an unfunctional yet unstylish home. Experts suggest that people must have a plan before starting a home improvement project. Planning and preparation minimize the chances of committing renovation mistakes.

Many people want to learn about home improvement nightmares to avoid them. Below we are listing some home improvement nightmares for green homeowners and how you can stay away from them.

1. Hire Experts for Key Roles

Many people feel the temptation of saving money and think of indulging in activities by themselves. Since many DIY videos are available on the internet, people get an idea that installing flooring, painting walls, or carpenter stuff is a piece of cake. The results are generally not satisfying, and they often have to get the process redone. Several hire amateurs for essential tasks; thus, they receive low-quality work. The secret is to get experts on board. People can make their tasks easy by roping in a reputed home renovation company.  People residing in Atlanta or nearby cities are fortunate as they can contact Networx leads for their renovation. Networx has earned a reputation for exceeding clients’ expectations by providing them with exemplary services.

2. Inspects Walls

Before tearing the wall down, you must examine all the walls closely. Sometimes walls have underlying sealing issues, and they can, later on, ruin the whole renovation. People must indulge in the scrutinizing process of the walls and examine the bathrooms, kitchens, balconies, and porch walls meticulously to see if there are any hidden problems.  They can get the wall treatments, paints, and wallpapers of texture started once they have catered to all the walls concealed issues.

3. Practice Open Communication

Miscommunication leads to disasters. Contractors, plumbers, carpenters, or other professionals working in the house cannot read your mind. It would be best if people were explicit while telling them exactly what they want from them. Practicing open communication and monitoring the process throughout ensures that the professionals and people are on the same page. Once the procedure is over, they do not shock the results as they exactly receive what they have communicated.

You need to also communicate your sustainability goals, such as trying to save energy.

4. Invest in Quality

Another grave mistake people can make while renovating is to purchase cheap, low-quality products. Purchasing substandard material may save some money during the renovation; it can become a nightmare when the paint starts wearing down, cabinets fall off, or shelves or hooks come out. People must invest in quality as homes are generally people’s most significant investment. The high-quality material ensures an ROI as they last for a long time.

5. Measure Correctly

People need to have various measurements while updating their homes. Whether it is for kitchen cabinets, floating shelves on living rooms walls, or installing closets, they must ensure that they take measurements multiple times to ensure accuracy. A slight negligence in measures can completely ruin the work as their cabinets, doors, or shelves become useless if they do not fit appropriately. Furthermore, they might not be functional due to the wrong measurements.

6. Monitor Expense

Renovation can be a cumbersome and tiring process. People often have to invest money constantly, and they fail to keep track of expenses. Once the home improvement project is over, checking account balances may throw them off. To keep everything in budget, people must monitor the expenditure on the go. They must jot down the cost of every product, fees of every service and accumulate it regularly.

7. Focus on Functioning

Who does not like stylish homes? We all do, but people must not forget that functionality is the primary purpose while renovating homes. They must opt for the things that are functional for the long run. Sliding doors may appear trendy, but if your kids are playing with them repeatedly, they might come off. Similarly, sleek handles and knobs appear minimal and chic. Still, if they are pointed and tearing things apart, they may not be an ideal choice. People need to realize that they focus on functioning while going for home improvement and consider style and trends. Something that might appear stylish and classy in magazines may not be functional for your homes.

8. Have Appropriate Lighting

People often opt for warm hues of lights in their entire house to create an ambiance. They must not forget that homes are not for short-term living and they have to indulge in reading, typing and other essential tasks that need proper well-lit rooms. Having appropriate lighting is the key to setting a stylish and functional home, as lighting establishes the house’s mood.

9. Concentrate on Details

Focusing on prominent aspects and ignoring minute details can turn into a nightmare afterward. People must understand that the home remodeling processes are done once in several years. They need to be vigilant while going about them. They must concentrate on details while installing cabinets, purchasing floorings, or setting up the furniture. People need to keep their functionality in their minds and focus on details to prevent them from turning into nightmares.

Follow the Right Home Improvement Steps as an Eco-Friendly Homeowner

Home improvement are mentally draining for green homeowners, and the process tires them. People have to turn the house topsy turvy to give it a new look. Not taking care of the details, reviewing before hiring a plumber, contractor, carpenter, or other professionals, or setting a low budget can turn the home improvement into nightmares. Remodeling homes is not a process that people often do. They must be careful while planning, establishing a budget, and having realistic expectations.

Furthermore, they must be ready to experience some setbacks during the process. It is doubtful that everything goes as per the planning. Proper research before getting people on board, inspections of the entire house, and monitoring the process throughout minimizing the chances of home improvement turn out like a nightmare, and people get their dream homes.

The post Avoiding Home Improvement Nightmares as an Eco-Friendly Homeowner appeared first on Green Building Insider.

That said, the process of construction itself is still rather harmful to the environment. The construction industry accounts for 36% of global energy usage and 39% of energy-related carbon emissions annually, according to the United Nations. 

Modular construction, an alternative to traditional building techniques, offers a possible remedy through efficient processes and shorter project timelines. Overall, modular construction—while not a perfect solution—is a marked improvement in the environmental sustainability of the construction industry.

Read on to learn how modular construction works and how it benefits the environment. 

How Modular Construction Works

Traditional buildings are built directly on site, but modular buildings are mostly constructed in factories and later assembled on the building site. 

Using an assembly line process, workers and machines build modules—which are small, cube-like portions of a building—including the walls, floors, roofs, insulation, and windows. Often, fixtures and finishes are also adding to the modules at this point, eliminating the need to add these later at the building site. 

By the time a modular building leaves the factory, it is already “built” and only needs to be assembled. On the building site, construction workers use cranes and other equipment to hoist each module into place. After each module is set down, workers “lock” the modules together to form a seamless building, then tradespeople connect pipes and wires that were already pre-installed in the factory. 

One notable advantage of modular construction is that projects are completed on average twice as fast. This increase in efficiency is easy to understand: Whereas on a normal building site, construction can’t start until the building site is prepared, a modular building is constructed in the factory at the same time the building site is being prepared. 

Once a modular building is completed, it is indistinguishable from a similar structure built in a more traditional way and often has numerous environmental advantages that traditional buildings cannot compete with. 

Environmental Benefits of Modular Construction

While everyone can appreciate the increased efficiency brought on by modular construction, it turns out that this efficiency is also hugely beneficial to the environment. 

For example, a modular building company that is constructing a number of different structures in its factory is able to reuse materials on multiple projects that would typically end up as debris on a traditional building site. This is very consequential, as the construction industry accounts for 56 million tons of waste every year. The sharp reduction in materials waste encouraged by modular construction methods has huge downstream effects for the environment. 

Because a modular factory is able to optimize deliveries for multiple projects to a central location, modular construction requires 90% fewer deliveries overall, leading to an enormous drop in carbon emissions from trucks and other commercial vehicles. 

Most importantly, the very fact that modular construction projects are more efficient is beneficial to the environment, since it involves lower energy expenditures. The factory optimizes its processes through machine learning, reducing energy needs, and the construction site has lower energy demands because the on-site timeline is so short. 

Beyond the construction process, many modular buildings have green features embedded, like solar panels, superior insulation, and recycled materials. All of these choices are an extension of the overall environmentally-friendly approach pursued by modular construction companies. 

Examples of Modular Construction

Modular construction is taking off in popularity, though it still only accounts for a small percentage of the $1 trillion U.S. construction industry. Nonetheless, examples of modular construction abound in both residential and commercial construction—with more buildings likely to pop up in the coming years, since modular construction can easily take place with smaller crews, a necessity during the pandemic.

Some modular buildings are created as fanciful experiments in sustainability. For instance, the Wikkelhouse is a small structure from the Netherlands made entirely from recycled cardboard. Despite its curious choice of material, the Wikkelhouse is hardy, expected to last upwards of fifty years. 

While this is a shorter lifespan than a typical house, a basic Wikkelhouse module costs just $35,000. Still, the Wikkelhouse is more of an exercise in creativity and clever use of materials rather than a practical solution to the need for green buildings. 

Others are taking the concept much further with the hopes of completely transforming the building landscape in favor of sustainable production and design. For example, Plant Prefab has recently raised $6.7 million with the mission of revolutionizing the housing market in favor of environmental building. 

Plant Prefab’s ethos revolves around their “Z6 Environmental Program,” which leverages the power of modular building techniques to meet six goals: 

• Zero Energy: Reduce each home’s energy demands with insulation, window treatments, low-energy appliances, and more.
• Zero Water: Integrate low-flow appliances and greywater systems to use wastewater for landscaping irrigation.
• Zero Emissions: Improve indoor air quality by eliminating dangerous chemical compounds from building materials
• Zero Waste: The modular building process eliminates waste by enabling the possibility of reusing materials across projects.
• Zero Carbon: Carbon offsets are purchased to account for all emissions made during building.
• Zero Ignorance: Make sure that homeowners are aware of the environmental impact of their choices.

While these goals are articulated clearly by Plant Prefab, they are not unique to that company. Across the industry, modular construction companies are committed to using their technological advancements for the betterment of our environment. The unique process of modular construction is creating the possibility for a revolution in housing that is vital in our current circumstances.

And modular construction is not limited to small projects. Entire apartment complexes have sprung up with modular building techniques. For example, the 1775 Federal Apartments in Denver were designed and built by a modular construction company, and the bulk of assembly took only a few weeks with a crew of just five men. 

Modular buildings also serve purposes beyond housing. An excellent example is High Tech High in Chula Vista, CA, an entirely modular high school that was completed in 18 months, now serving 600 students. 

The project focused on sustainability from the start with incredible results. For example, the modules were built with sloped roofs to align solar panels more effectively, and as a result, the panels produce 85% of the school’s required energy. Water systems were designed to reduce usage, so the building uses 52% less water than a building of comparable size. The contractor used locally-sourced, sustainable materials for construction, and 83% of materials were diverted from the landfill to be used in other projects. 

A well-designed modular project has environmental benefits throughout the entire life of a project, from the construction process all the way through the lifespan of a building. With a climate crisis looming, modular construction may be an effective approach to meeting housing needs while still remaining good stewards of our planet. 

Below, view the infographic from BigRentz for a detailed look at how modular construction benefits the environment. 

The post Major Breakthroughs with Eco-Friendly Construction with Modular Elements appeared first on Green Building Insider.