With the way so many companies today tout that their products are ecofriendly or recyclable, it’s easy to see why choosing the most ecofriendly building materials for your home improvement project can be difficult at best. But you don’t have to be “green washed” when you’re looking for the most environmentally friendly building materials. Use these basic tips and you’ll be sure to get an ecofriendly building product that’s perfect for you, your home and the environment.
Clay Roofing Tiles
An obscure but practical building material to say the least, clay tiles are the ultimate in ecofriendly building materials. Clay tiles are 100 percent recyclable, placing them high on the list of ecofriendliness. They are very durable as well, ensuring you don’t need to use vast materials and manpower to replace or repair damaged shingles down the road. Best of all, many clay tile companies now offer 100 percent post-consumer recycled tiles, ensuring your roofing system is as ecofriendly as they come.
Sustainably Harvested Wood
Wood is a great product for ecofriendliness. But not all woods are harvested in an ecofriendly manner. Many forests are stripped, slashed and burned for all available materials. When this occurs, it takes many decades for the forest to repair the damages. A sustainably harvested tree is cut at its optimal growth height in the least damaging way possible to the surrounding trees. Only select trees are cut while the remainder of the trees are left to grow, making for a healthy forest for years to come. Look for the sustainably harvested label before buying any wood products.
Cork Flooring
Cork is a great building material in that it provides the user with soft yet durable materials underfoot and lasts through many years of heavy use. Cork is the original sustainably harvested wood. It is cut from the bark of the tree and is allowed to grow back each year before being harvested again. No cork trees are killed in the production of cork flooring tiles.
Denim Insulation
Typical insulation is made from toxic materials and heavy energy wasting industrial processes. Used blue jean denim can provide a great insulative barrier and uses 100 percent recycled materials. No toxic substances, no itchy fiberglass and no messy waste materials make blue jean insulation one of my top choices for ecofriendly building materials.
Natural Pigmented Paints
Painting can be one of the most toxic chemicals you put in your home. Volatile organic compounds leach into the air supply for decades after your walls have been painted, reducing indoor air quality greatly. Using a low or no VOC paint is a great choice for you and the environment, but using natural pigmented paints is the ultimate in ecofriendly building materials.