Eco-Friendly Custom Home Building Materials
Alvarez Homes knows there are benefits of being able to design your custom home from the ground up. You will have the ability to add every detail you can think of, including what materials you want used. When designing your custom home, you don’t have to stick to generic materials. With energy efficient homes becoming more and more popular, homebuyers can easily find green materials to meet their needs. For those looking to make their home as energy efficient as possible, we’ve provided an overview of some of the more popular eco-friendly materials used when building a custom home.
Recycled Steel
About two out of every three tons of new steel are recycled from old steel, making it one of the most recycled materials on Earth. Steel is an ideal green material because it uses less energy and emits fewer hazardous CO2 emissions that are in many other building materials. In addition to steel being eco-friendly, it’s also incredibly durable.
Thermostat Radiant Barrier Sheathing
Thermostat Radiant Barrier Sheathing, a Georgia-Pacific building product, is typically used for both the roof and walls. As energy efficient home builders in Tampa, we know that the buffer zone that thermostat radiant barrier creates will protect against heat penetration. This results in a reduction of energy usage, as well as a lowered attic temperature of up to 30 degrees.
Spray Foam Insulation
For those homebuyers looking for an alternative to fiberglass and cellulose insulation, we suggest spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation will trap more conditioned air within the home, and allow for less leakage. This will result in reduced energy use all year round. As green home builders in Tampa, we are aware of that because spray foam insulation contains a rapidly renewable material, it does not produce harmful emissions. Spray foam insulation is also water proof and shrink proof, which will translate into no framing distortion over time.
Bamboo Plywood
Typically, bamboo plywood is used on interior design elements, such as flooring, cabinets, and wall coverings. Not only is bamboo plywood a beautiful material, it’s also a zero-VOC, rapidly renewable, sustainable resource. Bamboo plywood is all natural and non-toxic, adds a greening elegance to your custom home, and is as easy to work with as hardwood or laminates.