The industry of environmentally friendly building materials has come a long way. Where there used to just be gray and brown, now there is complete customization available. Products that used to be bland and boring are now the most sought-after products on the market. It truly makes a designer’s job so much easier. Being able to give the clients what they want all while using sustainable, earth-friendly materials is a great feeling. It used to be very difficult for designers and builders to mix design, function, and sustainability. With the conservation movement really taking off, green building is a top priority for many people. This pushed the industry to improve their products. And the industry did so in some of the most beautiful ways. Every home builder in NJ is grateful for the upgrades.
What Makes a Material Green
According to the State of California’s website CalRecycle, “Green building materials are composed of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources. Green materials are environmentally responsible because impacts are considered over the life of the product (Spiegel and Meadows, 1999).” Meaning, a product can b e green because it is made from a sustainable source. Additionally, a product can be considered green if it is energy efficient and its environmental impact over the lifetime of the product is less than other products. Being able to design an elegant home with products that check both boxes used to by a fairy tale. However, now, thanks to a large green movement, innovations and improvements in products, builders have a wide availability of environmentally friendly products.
Home Builder in NJ Loves Sustainable Options
Natural products are front and center in all home design right now. Examples of some of the favorites of the home builder we spoke to are bamboo, wool, and straw. This may seem like the ingredients for a folk tale. Yet, thanks to inventions and the modernization of some classic building techniques, natural products are much easier to incorporate into home design. In some cases, the green product may be insulation. Natural products are much better at insulation than synthetic products so it is a welcome change in the industry.
Wool is a Popular New Material
Wool is becoming a much more popular choice for insulation. Due to its natural characteristics, wool can absorb water, retain it, and get rid of it, all while maintaining its insulative properties. Other naturally occurring attributes of wool are that it can diminish noise, it is biodegradable, it is non-toxic, and also flame resistant. On top of all this, wool regrows quickly and the purchase of this product supports farmers.
Home Builder in NJ Loves Bamboo
Bamboo is another sustainable material. This grass has a much faster growing rate than other widely used sources like trees. This makes it a much better option for the environment. The diversity in the uses of this material has really expanded also. It is already popular for floors. It is so visually pleasing that many people are now using it as a material for walls. Also, it can be used behind the scenes, or rather, under the floors, as a supportive material.
Straw Bales are now Used in Construction
This is another option that is making a resurgence in the market. Straw bale construction is making a come back in a very niche corner of the housing market. This is an extremely insulative material also with a very high R rating. Walls made of straw bales will obviously be wider than traditional construction material walls. That being said, they are used in just about any design. Also, like wool, this product is fire resistant.
Watch this video from The Home Depot to learn more about R Values.
Home Builder in NJ is Happy with New Choices
While so many innovations have already happened, there are many more to come and home builders couldn’t be happier. It is a welcome change to be able to offer homeowners so many beautiful options. Knowing that these products are better for the environment is a real bonus. The best home builder in NJ mixes sustainability with design and function and you can contact them here. They truly excel at elegant homes with a priority on using environmentally friendly materials. One of the reasons these materials are becoming so much more popular is that the price point on many of these products lower, making them much more accessible. The increase in building with environmentally products means this impact doesn’t just reach that homes owner, but the environment as a whole.