Live across the pond and want to downsize your home into something more eco-friendly? Consider a new line of modular homes created by U.K. company Affresol, as reported by Fast Company magazine.
The prefab homes are made from a recycled plastic waste product called Thermo Poly Rock, which creates homes that Affresol says are "well-insulated and completely waterproof, fire-retardant and rot resistant."
While perusing the Greater Kansas City Home Show, I repeatedly passed a booth advertising soy-based insulation. Intrigued, I had to find out more about this clever use for one of the nation's most bountiful crops.
Blue Springs, Mo.-based Soysation Insulation has developed a product that fits seamlessly with rising eco-awareness: environmentally friendly soy- and corn-based insulation.
Roofing is arguably one of the most important parts of your home, a vital structural piece that not only protects your home's interior but also aids in insulation, energy circulation and temperature regulation.
While at the Greater Kansas City Home Show, I stopped to chat with Michael Vaught of Larry L. Vaught Roofing, Inc., who shared with me his opinion on future environmentally friendly roofing trends.
Vaught says white shingles are an optimal choice for those who want maximum temperature regulation, yet a drawback of the light shade is its tendency to quickly show streaks and other marks that would otherwise go unnoticed on darker shingles.
The Central Plains chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council is at the Greater Kansas City Home Show this weekend, offering tips and resources for homeowners interested in going green, especially when building a home.
According to a tip sheet compiled by the Central Plains chapter, the top 10 ways to build green include:
When considering energy-efficient and environmentally friendly improvements to make to your home, the attic is an often overlooked area that, if poorly insulated, results in higher heating/cooling costs, not to mention a general inefficiency that compromises your home's interior.
To find out if you need to replace your insulation, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends an insulation thickness of at least R-30, or 11 inches of fiber glass or 8 inches of cellulose. If you find yourself below those amounts, it's time to add more.
