US Green Living .com
When we construct our homes, we usually hire contractors and architects to design and build our homes. They will be utilizing machines to mix and attach different materials. It’s an ultimate dream for most of us to have a home according to our specifications. If you take a look at it in the environmental standpoint, every time you build a home, you cut down trees, you spend fuel not only in mixing machines but in transport and we use electricity to
attach things in our home. In fact, dedication to building is so much that almost 10% of the present fossil fuel is being used to build homes and buildings in the USA alone. Not to mention the trees and other resources cut down just to build a single home.
We have to lessen our use of these machines and materials in order to save the earth. If we could cut down our need to use other resources to build our homes, we could save the earth by as much as 10% of fossil fuel. We can still save it for future use or we’ll have more time to research for better alternative before it runs out. But we don’t just leave our dreams in getting a home. As humans we have to have shelter. It’s a dilemma that has to be answered fast.
There’s actually an answer and it’s easier than what we think. Called natural buildings, we can still build our dream homes without utilizing other resources that are not native to us. We only use our natural resources instead of using other resources that is not native in our environment. This type of building technique also fosters sustainability wherein the homes will last longer instead of using other resources that will not last longer since it’s not in its natural environment.
In building this type of homes, builders doesn’t look at the catalog of materials before they build, they look at the surroundings. Natural building is all about observing what is available in our community and using it to build homes. That is why natural building needs builders who are creative and has knowledge in using almost every material.
There are different techniques in natural buildings. They could be utilizing wood, straw, clay, water and earth. It could either be a rammed earth technique or simply a building technique that cleverly uses straw, mud and water. That is why around the country there are different courses offered to various builders who are ecologically aware of its impact.
With regards to durability, natural buildings are reputed to last longer. Instead of using too much concrete, most of the natural building will be using efficiently the available materials. Although there is still the need to utilize some machines to create these materials, it will be minimized.
If all upcoming home owners will utilize this, it will greatly help the environment. It will also boost local resources to record level and of course help delay the depletion of our fossil fuel while we look for a viable alternative.
