Category Archives: sustainable homes

Recycled Timber in sustainable homes

reclaimed timber homeRecycled timber is term used often today to denote “green” timber practices, and environmentally friendly construction processes. In its most definite sense, recycled timber, like any recycled material, is simply timber that has been used before, most often waste timber getting a second life. If you’re planning your Melbourne sustainable home recycled timber should be on your list of building materials.

Recycled timber is not as new a concept as many would think. Although it gained popularity during the 1990’s, recycling timber waste has been in practice for decades previous, especially in Europe. Timber recycling is a very common practice in Australia, with large levels of timber available for reuse in eco friendly homes. Lumber recycling is most often taken from old buildings, which are carefully demolished during deconstruction. Taken to specialised mills to “de-nail” the pieces and cut them down to size to be reused.

Recycled timber has a variety of uses, especially for those conscientious about environmentally friendly construction; new environmentally friendly homes in Melbourne are often built partly through recycled timber. Another popular use is to create stylish timber furniture. There is an ever increasing market demand for “elegant and environmentally friendly” homes, and recycled timber is one way of filling that niche.

Today, timber recycling is more popular than ever, with more and more Australian homes making use of it; not just for their homes, but within their homes as well .If you’re thinking of using timber in your eco friendly home, consider using recycled wood in the construction.

What is a sustainable home?

An eco friendly home is a chic way to alleviate your impact on the environment.
An eco friendly home is a chic way to alleviate your impact on the environment.

Sustainable homes are typically family homes with minimal environmental impact. There is a growing demand for eco friendly homes in Melbourne, as people are becoming increasingly sensitive to their impact on the environment.

Not all sustainable homes have the same features. Companies that design sustainable homes may use recycled building materials, and include features that reduce the environmental impact of the home in its regular use. For example, the house may have solar panels to generate electricity, and double glazed windows to prevent heat transfer and save on heating and cooling.

An advantage of green homes is lower utility bills. Because the house will be designed to use a minimum of water and electricity from the grid, occupants will enjoy lower than usual costs over the lifetime of the house.

You do not need to be building a new home in order to make it more sustainable. If you are seeking to reduce the environmental footprint of your existing home, a green home building company can help you find solutions to reduce your home’s energy use.

Ideally a sustainable home will have a minimal environmental impact at every step of the way, from design to building to maintenance. The home will be designed to maximise energy efficiency. Electricity can be saved on lighting through use of energy-efficient LEDs and use of natural light. Appliances such as the oven and dishwasher should have a five star energy rating. A water tank may be installed to collect rainwater, and recycled grey water may be put to use for the garden. The builder may use recycled timber and materials with a low energy cost.

Eco friendly homes tend to be quite trendy and are a point of pride for many occupants.

Now you know all about green homes, Melbourne dwellers looking to build should find this information useful.