Building Green

Living green goes beyond just the construction of the log home, which is a true green form (the logs, of course).  Building green means that the planning, the construction, and the ultimate living environment all encompass a green lifestyle. 

What exactly is a green log home?  We’ve touched on this lightly already and we will touch on it again in the future.  Today, we’re going to talk about the philosophy of green building for your log home.

The green building philosophy encapsulates how people can create living environments that:

• Are wise uses of resources.
• Are cheaper to operate.
• Are healthier to live in.
• Are easier to maintain.
• Are good for the environment.

As mentioned before, green building is not a new innovation.  Its rise in popularity is due in part to the raise in consciousness about global warming, changing climates, wastefulness, and being more responsible with our Earth.  If you buy an existing log home, it is still possible to “get green” through renovations, with future remodels, and with lifestyle choices within the log home.

You’ll notice right away that a green built log home doesn’t look a lot different than a log home that wasn’t consciously built to be green.  There’s nothing wrong with that reality because you know what practical choices you have made during the design, build, and life lived in your log home.

With the growing popularity in green building, there is no doubt reclaimed wood has become a very obvious choice for log homebuilders and log homeowners alike.  The availability of reclaimed wood is abundant from the tearing down of old barns to the tearing down of homes.  What exactly is reclaimed wood?  Here is a good definition from antiqueandvintagewoods.com:

“Salvaged, Recycled and Reclaimed Wood
Then there are the terms salvaged, recycled and reclaimed wood. Is it recycled wood from structures over 100 years old or salvaged wood from structures 50 years old? There are certainly differences in these terms (salvaged, antique, recycled, reclaimed). But do these differences really matter, if you find the floor that you love with the characteristics you desire? For instance, some of our products such as Antique Wood countertops were salvaged from glue lam beams or reclaimed wood from bowling alleys are certainly not antique in the strictest definition of the word, but are reused in a different form. The finished look is just as intriguing and unique.”

Reclaimed wood can be incorporated into log homes in the following ways:

• Flooring
• Wall coverings
• Cabinetry
• Doors
• Architectural enhancements
• Furniture

Bringing the history of reclaimed wood into log homes and log cabin construction enhances the beauty and the charm.  In addition to the green benefits, the finished look of these woods is unsurpassed.  There is a certain element log home owners are looking for when it comes to ambience and esthetics, and reclaimed wood can and does deliver this.

What are renewable resources?  I found a clear definition of this term on Wikipedia.com:

“A natural resource qualifies as a renewable resource if it is replenished by natural processes at a rate comparable to its rate of consumption by humans or other users. Resources such as solar radiation, tides, and winds are perpetual resources that are in no danger of being used in excess of their long-term availability.”

Here are some examples of renewable resources used to build a green log home:

• Energy: solar energy is the most popular example of a renewable resource because, no matter how much energy the log homeowner uses, the sun won’t stop shining.  Another good example is wind power, because like the sun shining, the turbines will continue to blow in the wind.

• Flooring: Bamboo flooring is a renewable resource and it also appeals to the wood textures and patterns found in log homes.

• Decks, fencing, and porches: use of recycled plastics and non-virgin trees create eco-friendly composite decking.  The wood finishes are another appealing aspect of a log home design.

• Furnishings: Use of hemp fabrics is eco-friendly because it doesn’t require any chemical treatments and it is very durable.

• Wall coverings: Bamboo, as well as cork, is growing in popularity as a wall covering choice in green built log homes. 

Once you start digging into what renewable resources really are, you’ll feel compelled to introduce them into your existing log home or in a log home build.  This green building trend is growing in popularity due to the increases in environmental dangers; so homeowners are doing what they can be contribute positively.

What is green building?  This is not a new idea, but it is growing steadily in popularity, particularly in recent years.  The primary goal behind green building is to create homes that are more eco-friendly.  This can be achieved by:

STEP ONE: The Design Phase
Position the home to make best use of the sun, choose eco-friendly stains (and other finished), choose eco-friendly heating options (renewable resources), and use materials (like cork flooring) that is a renewable resource.

STEP TWO: Timber Choices
Select a log homebuilder that is aggressively using standing dead trees, as well as who are involved in reforestation efforts.  Many log homebuilders will boast about these choices, so it shouldn’t be hard to weed through choices. 

STEP THREE: Primary Materials
If logs are the primary building material in the home, it will be one of the “greenest” choices you can make over a traditional timber frame home.  It has also been proven that log homes are 17% more energy efficient than a stick built home.

STEP FOUR: Finishing Touches
Because log homes are built with a “surface as finish,” which means the walls don’t need any additional treatment.  Not only does this save the homeowner money, but it also reduces the amount of chemically treated materials used in the home.

These steps will get you started if you’re interested in a green build.  There are a lot of very well written guides, and reports outlining specific guidelines to being a green builder.