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Eco materials
A green guide for your homeSourcing eco materials can take a lot of time and is quite a mine field as you cannot really compare like for like. There is also the danger of greenwashed maerials which try to fool you into believing they are green. This section of my resources will help you on your way to understanding what eco materials are currently available and what exactly makes them eco, green or sustainable.
Let’s say I am trying to make greening your home and lifestyle a lot easier.
It can be challenging avoiding non eco materials and in fact most materials have some negative effect on the natural environment. Consider the bigger picture when buying materials and evaluate all of the credentials including embodied energy. Look at the two options below, which do you believe is greener?
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To summarise the main points to think about when buying eco materials: * Local processing, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers. * Overall embodied energy (origin to use). * Sustainable & renewable sources. * How energy/resource intensive material extraction is (e.g. metal has to be mined, timber has to be felled). * How energy intensive processing & manufacture is (e.g. metal & plastic have high embodied energy during manufacture). * Chemical additives used in manufacture. * Durability and performance (short and long term). * Recycled or reclaimed content. * Recyclable after use. * Disposal (biodegradable, landfill sites).
These factors count towards how eco friendly materials are, and this may affect your decision. We all live in a throw away culture, however with some careful interior choices you can make a difference to the way we all live now to benefit your future generations. Most importantly be aware of greenwashed materials which make false claims about their eco-friendliness. Choose reputable manufacturers whose materials are certified.
Sourcing & Selection ServiceAlongside my eco interior design services I offer a material sourcing & selection service if you do not have the time to spend on selecting eco materials for your home. This is a great way to sit back and relax, whilst an eco professional works for you. This is a paid for service where I will do my best to source an eco material or product for your home renovation project. I will offer you a range of eco recommendations based on my findings.
Eco material articlesEach of the following eco materials articles look at particular material in detail and they are full of great advice whether you are renovating, refurbishing or redesigning your interior spaces.
Who says going green has to be complicated!Solid surface materialsPaperstone The recycled content composite alternative to natural stone and synthetic hard/solid surface materials.Building materialsRecycled glass An analysis of the eco properties of this material used in interior design and your homeConcrete A highly durable material which has both eco-friendly and non eco-friendly qualities Clay plaster An alternative to gypsum plaster with lower levels of embodied energy & excellent eco properties. Lime plaster The natural more eco friendly alternative to gypsum plaster for your interior walls. Natural fibre materialsSisal A durable natural fibre alternative for flooring and wall coveringsSeagrass The sustainable natural fibre alternative for wall and floor coverings TimberFirst choiceReuse timber Reclaimed, recycled, salvaged, second hand & waste timber. Second choice Locally produced certified sustainable timber (reducing energy resources used during transportation & distribution). Locally produced sustainably managed timber (non certified).
Third choice Locally produced non sustainably managed timber. Non local/imported certified sustainable timber.
Avoid: Imported timber, exotic timber, tropical timber, hardwood timber and softwood timber from non certified and non sustainably managed forests.
Timber alternativesPalmwood Harvested from sterile coconut palms once nut production has stopped. An alternative to exotic hardwood timber.Lyptus Wood A hardwood alternative that is fast growing, renewable and sustainable. Bamboo Rapidly becoming the eco alternative material to replace traditional non sustainable timber products with a fast growing alternative Cork Rapidly becoming the eco choice of interior materials to replace traditional timber products with a sustainable alternative. Timber board substitutesFormaldehyde free & certified sustainable fibreboard Fibreboard alternative (e.g. MDF) for use in your home benefiting your health and reducing destruction of natural forests. Not the 1st eco choice, but in the right direction to a healthier home.Wheat/straw board The eco alternative to timber particleboard Kirei board A plywood alternative found as a waste product of grain harvesting. Other building & material resourcesHemp is a very versatile fiber that can be manufactured into a variety of products such as fiberboard, wallboard, roofing tiles, insulation, paneling, and bricks. Click here to learn more about Hemp Building Materials
Green Building Press Information and publications to help you create healthy and ecological homes and buildings.
www.okohaus.ie Timber Frame Homes and Houses in Ireland.
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