Sustainable materials and your custom home

Did you know that the average single-family home in the U.S. generates between 6,960 & 12,064 lbs. of construction waste? A home is only as sustainable as the materials used in its construction. Learn how you can keep your home out of the landfill.

Your home: the sum of its parts

While energy-efficiency is vital, there are other factors to sustainability. It’s crucial to discuss the selection of ecologically-friendly building materials with your designer and contractor. The source of your home’s materials is critical, as well as the manufacturing methods of the products.

When you select home-building materials, consider questions such as:

• Are the materials harvested in a way that endangers species or threatens communities?
• Do they require large amounts of non-renewable energy to manufacture?
• Are they non-toxic for the occupants?
• Are the materials ecologically friendly and recycled?
• Is the planning approach to build my new home ecologically sensitive?

Healthy and sustainable

Approach all material decisions with an emphasis on durability, longevity and environmental responsibility before price. The value of a material has less to do with how much it costs and more to do with how much use you’ll get out of it. If your budget is limited, it’s smarter to build small with better materials rather than to build big, compromising the quality.

High-performance homes are healthy and sustainable due to:

• Engineered lumber
• Solar-power system: makes electricity from sun, reduces carbon footprint
• Recycled decking material
• Eco-flooring: sustainably-harvested and reclaimed wood floors
• Eco-cabinets: Formaldehyde-free construction
• Drought tolerant landscaping: Conserves water
• High-quality windows and doors

Investing in sustainable materials today will pay off for you and the planet in the years to come. Ask your homebuilder about healthy materials and practices in the building process to get the conversation started.

Want to learn more about how Clarum can help you build the sustainable home of your dreams? Give us a call at 650.322.7069