Wooden houses have a low carbon footprint and are an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional brick buildings. They also allow you to take advantage of natural sunlight by positioning windows facing south.
Green woodworking involves using wood that has been recycled or repurposed. This reduces the demand for new lumber and promotes responsible forestry.
Reclaimed Wood
Woodworking with reclaimed materials is becoming increasingly popular in the design world. Reclaimed lumber can add a unique style to furniture pieces and decor items while also being eco-friendly. It’s a great way to add character and charm to any home, and it can be used for anything from floors to coffee tables to buffet servers to bed frames.
Reclaimed wood is typically used from old buildings, barns and fences. It often has withstood the ravages of nature and time for decades or even centuries, giving it a distinct character that’s difficult to duplicate in newer timber. Reclaimed timber is often sourced from over-forested species or older styles of milling, helping to ease the pressure on existing forests.
It’s important to check with your supplier to make sure that reclaimed wood is safe for use in the home. Some salvaged materials may contain lead and other contaminants from paint or chemicals that were used on the structure it came from, so you should always have any wood tested to ensure its safety before using it in your home. Many reclaimed timber companies can test the wood for you, and they can give you advice on how to best treat or seal it if necessary.
Reclaimed timber can be purchased online or at salvage and lumber yards. It’s a good idea to look for timber that’s certified sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council. This certification indicates that the timber was harvested in a way that minimizes damage to the environment and helps support new growth in forests. You can also search for timber that has been repurposed from other sources, such as old pallets or shipping crates.
Sheep’s Wool
Sheep’s wool is not something you normally think of when shopping for building materials, but it’s a great choice for insulation. Each sheep produces two to 30 pounds of wool per year, which shearers turn into batt insulation. Sheep wool is a much better insulator than fiberglass or mineral wool and it has natural fire retardant properties. It’s also naturally moisture-resistant and has a good sound absorption value.
When sheared, wool is called fleece or rovings, and it comes in many colors and textures. The best rovings are soft and shiny with a high amount of crimp, which is the way the fibers bend around each other. The more crimp, the better the insulating quality. Sheep’s wool is also naturally anti-microbial and hypoallergenic, so it’s a great alternative to polyester insulation for allergy sufferers.
However, it is important to note that the wool used for insulation must be scoured. This is a process that removes vegetable matter, dung locks, and sweat residue. It can be as simple as bathing the greasy wool or as complex as an industrial process with detergent and alkali in specialized equipment.
Homeowners interested in trying sheep’s wool insulation can purchase it online or at local shearing markets, where you may be able to pick up a bag of raw, un-spun fleece for about $10. To do your own scouring, you’ll need a sink or tub filled with hot water and dish soap (just a few squirts is enough). While wearing rubber gloves, place one or more bags of fleece into the hot water and hold them there for a few minutes. Then, gently brush the fleece, and let it dry in a warm place like an airing cupboard.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a renewable material that can be used in place of wood for a wide range of applications. Its popularity stems from its resiliency, beauty and “green cache.” The versatile material can be found in floors, stairs, molding and furniture. Bamboo is easy to work with, although it can be tough on tools due to a high silica content (similar to quartz and sand).
It grows incredibly fast, often in groves that are more like wild grass than woodland. The material can be harvested in a fraction of the time it takes to grow and mature a wood-based hardwood such as oak.
Because of its relative ease to harvest, bamboo is a sustainable alternative for areas where natural forest resources are scarce. In fact, according to The Habit of Woodworking, it is also more eco-friendly than hardwoods, requiring less energy and chemicals to produce. The material is durable and resists dents, scratches and moisture.
The plant’s natural resiliency is an asset in the woodworking world, as it can be cut to various lengths for different projects. For example, the editors of Fine Woodworking magazine have used whole culms to make room dividers. They’ve also split culms, made woven baskets and textured surfaces using the material.
While the majority of bamboo lumber is produced and processed in Asia, it’s available as flooring, stair treads and plywood sheets in the U.S. The material is often dyed to add a rich color and resembles traditional hardwoods. The light colored material can be easily changed with Liberon Water Based Concentrated Dye to match a new color scheme. As an added benefit, bamboo is a moisture-resistant material that doesn’t require the use of VOC-heavy sealants.
Recycled Building Materials
A home that is sustainable is desirable among smart home buyers, and incorporating recycled materials into new homes can be a great way to do so. There are several ways to do this, from using reclaimed wood to creating an energy efficient building out of shipping containers. Regardless of the type of building material you use, it is important to talk to your contractor and architect about this from the beginning so they can incorporate it into your home design.
One of the most common types of recycled building materials used in construction is wood. This is because it is easy to recycle and repurpose. However, this type of material must be sourced responsibly to minimize the environmental impact. For example, wood products that contain adhesives or laminates can be difficult to recycle. It is also important to consider the source of the wood when choosing it for your home.
Another type of recycled building material that can be used in construction is steel. In fact, more steel is recycled each year than paper, aluminum, and glass combined. This material is highly durable and can be shaped into different forms for construction. It can even be mixed with concrete to create a composite material called plasphalt, which is strong and energy efficient.
Reclaimed lumber is a popular option in construction because it is usually cheaper than purchasing new wood. It can be used for everything from windowsills and stair treads to beams in high ceilings. It also offers a unique look that can’t be recreated with new wood.
If you are interested in building with reclaimed wood, visit your local salvage yard or home improvement store to find out what is available. You may also want to check with your local Habitat for Humanity Restore or other reuse centers. Often, these places will have an outlet where they get donated materials and sell them for cheap.
Local Materials
Local materials are those that are found naturally within a particular region. They are often renewable, easy to work with and have a low environmental impact. These materials also offer a unique aesthetic that can help to preserve cultural identity and provide a sense of place in the built environment. Examples include clay bricks for load-bearing walls, straw bales for insulation and stone for decorative elements. Locally sourced materials also have a lower carbon footprint as they don’t need to be shipped long distances for processing and distribution.
Another way to go green in woodworking is by reducing waste. It’s a good idea to sketch out your project before starting cutting. This will help you to visualize the best use of your materials and ensure that there is no waste. Another tip is to always double-check your measurements before making a cut. This will save you time and money in the long run. In addition, be sure to keep any small offcuts. These can be used for plugs and patches in future projects or pressed into wood pellets for fuel. Even bark and sawdust can be put to use as mulch or wood chippings in gardens.
Whenever possible, choose certified hardwoods and locally-sourced lumber for your woodworking projects. This not only supports sustainable forestry practices, but it also helps to minimize the risk of harmful chemicals entering the ecosystem.
Lastly, when it comes to paints, stains and finishes, try to find eco-friendly alternatives that contain fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are harmful to the environment as well as your health. The use of these products can be easily reduced by simply finding and using more natural, environmentally-friendly alternatives.