Materials that are great for upgrading your modern home
Being one with nature does not necessarily mean going camping with zen, yoga and relinquishing all the benefits of our modern way of life. By living in a way that does not cause harm to Mother nature and practicing a more eco-friendly way of life, you can contribute a lot to your local community and wider. And it can all start with the way you look at your housing improvement. Building your home with bio-friendly materials has come a long way, and are currently in some areas vastly superior to their counterparts. With a bit of research and knowledge, you can use these innovations in modern architecture and apply them to your home to reap the benefits of an eco-friendlier way of life.
1. Steel can be reused.
If you are planning on expanding your home with additional rooms or perhaps want to install a wall in, opt for recycled steel. Not only is it cheaper and eco-friendly, but it is also far better suited than its wooden counterparts. Since the material itself is already mined and processed, the carbon footprint is minuscule from the recycling process. Local manufacturers and distributors will help you a lot when it comes to finding such versatile material. And, for a far better price than regular brand-new steel. And you can use it for all the same places, purposes and situations as their regular counterpart.
2. Bamboo is the material of the future
Bamboo is taking flight as an eco-friendly solution when it comes to housing materials. First off, it regrows itself at an astonishing rate. It’s durable, shock resistant and versatile in implementation. Of course, that the plant itself is eco-friendly to the max and in abundance. While you can use it on small scales, like various furniture and mats it does have appliable benefits when it comes to building material. Its strength to weight ratio is equivalent to steel or even brick and mortar while being only a fraction of their weight. It can be used for isolation and decoration at the same time. If you don’t want to use it indoors, the outdoor application is also possible due to the plant’s multiple usage options.
3. Acrylic
Think of this material as an alternative to glass. Glass manufacturing produces a high carbon footprint and, as a material, we all know that it’s easily breakable. Acrylic on the other side is about twenty times more resistant with all of the benefits of its glass counterpart. You can use it on cooking surfaces or as window replacements. The acrylic sheet you pick out can come in any shape or size, fit for any surface or area you may find in your home. As it’s made from plastic, it is completely shatter-resistant when compared to glass, much lighter and easier to maintain. To add to the growing list of its benefits, it’s also cheaper for the areas you want to implement it in when compared to glass solutions.
4. Bio isolation
Fiberglass and Styrofoam insulations are a thing of the past. In the future, these will be seen as incredible obsolete options when we compare them to the new bio polyurethane foam product. Made entirely out of natural, plant-based materials this green foam is used in the same matter as its counter options. Poured between wall sheets or in other places where you usually put isolation, the eco-friendly solution of the future is almost non-toxic, cheaper and incredibly environmentally friendly. It also offers bonuses such as pest and mold repellant as its natural, bio-friendly properties protect your home from said effect. This example goes to show us how using products made entirely from respecting Mother Nature benefit us all.
5. Green roofs
This is not just an expression but a literal application of the term. While humanities first homes all had them, today’s technology has, of course, vastly improved the concept with no downsides. Its self-sustained from the rains and thrives on Sunlight while protecting your home from mold, leaks and floods. It provides a cooling effect as the natural material keep the heat away. As green roofs keep the temperature above your house more or less the same, there is no sudden expanding or shrinking of the material, which leads to negligible wear and tears for other materials. This is all, of course when we compare it to standard roofing solutions, and, once again, it pays off to go green.
Natural solutions are all around and have been part of our culture through the ages. While many of them may seem dated and primitive at first, modern technology has achieved amplifying their benefits while eliminating the archaic downside. Turning to nature for help is the fundamental principle in engineering and, many examples are found worldwide in many architectural projects. With a bit of effort, your home can become part of that process as well in the quest for a green and clean tomorrow.
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