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THE PLANET WILL THANK YOU
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The Best Green Site
THE SOURCE FOR GREEN PRODUCTS AND INFORMATION
Building with recycled Materials
Recycle and Reclaim
Recycling is one of the most overlooked resources available to the modern builder.
Growing up in the Midwest I remember that most of the barns and outbuildings in our
area were built from salvaged materials from other barns and outbuildings. Some wood
beams and siding had been reused for over a hundred years. I can only imagine the
stories some of these old buildings could tell about all of their past incarnations.
Some recycled materials are as simple as mulch made from everything from ground up
used tires to chipped saplings taken from the construction site. Other recycled materials
can be as exotic as hardwoods and specialty pieces retrieved from pre-Civil War era
cabins and buildings.
Every recycled part that goes into a new home is a piece that leaves its' "new"
counterpart intact and preserved.
It is not only cost effective as in the case of recycled tires. But can also add value to the
new home. Consider it is almost impossible to match the beauty and charm of some
items from a bygone era that can no longer be duplicated.
The resourceful builder should be able to find a place for using some recycled products
that can be used in any green home design. Modern technology has permitted recycled
materials to show up in such items as engineered wood products, high efficiency
insulation, composite siding materials or even solid surface counter tops from recycled
paper.
Growing up in the Midwest I remember that most of the barns and outbuildings in our
area were built from salvaged materials from other barns and outbuildings. Some wood
beams and siding had been reused for over a hundred years. I can only imagine the
stories some of these old buildings could tell about all of their past incarnations.
Some recycled materials are as simple as mulch made from everything from ground up
used tires to chipped saplings taken from the construction site. Other recycled materials
can be as exotic as hardwoods and specialty pieces retrieved from pre-Civil War era
cabins and buildings.
Every recycled part that goes into a new home is a piece that leaves its' "new"
counterpart intact and preserved.
It is not only cost effective as in the case of recycled tires. But can also add value to the
new home. Consider it is almost impossible to match the beauty and charm of some
items from a bygone era that can no longer be duplicated.
The resourceful builder should be able to find a place for using some recycled products
that can be used in any green home design. Modern technology has permitted recycled
materials to show up in such items as engineered wood products, high efficiency
insulation, composite siding materials or even solid surface counter tops from recycled
paper.
Recently in Pennsylvania an
entire building was recycled in
order to make way for
"progress". The building in the
photo was picked up and
moved to a safe location.
Without this effort a historic
landmark would have been torn
down and added to the landfill.
entire building was recycled in
order to make way for
"progress". The building in the
photo was picked up and
moved to a safe location.
Without this effort a historic
landmark would have been torn
down and added to the landfill.
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