In today’s eco friendly world, everyone has become more conscious of Mother Earth and has embraced the going “green” philosophy. The building industry, answering consumer demand, has also shifted to more earth conscious construction. In fact, log home and timber frame builders reassure clients that log homes are very environmentally friendly-perhaps even more so than traditional homes.
Consider that logs insulate themselves; they do not heat up as quickly as the walls in a standard home, but they absorb and maintain heat longer and can then dispense heat more slowly over time. Likewise, log cabins also don’t absorb heat to the same degree in the summer. So, the logs stay cooler, which reduces air conditioning expenses.
Energy Star furnaces and air conditioning systems are also now available to help heat and cool log and timber frame homes in the most energy efficient and environmentally conscious manner.
Log homes can further benefit from solar energy via the use of ample windows and skylights. Windows with the Energy Star seal can minimize energy costs, in addition to being eco friendly.
The same is true of energy efficient appliances like washers, dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators. Check for the Energy Star seal whenever you go to purchase, and you’ll notice the difference in your utility bills almost at once with these energy saving appliances.
Finally, water-based (or latex) stains with low or no-VOC product keep log cabins and timber frame homes on the green side. The less toxic the stain, the more eco friendly it is!
If you are particularly concerned with having an environmentally friendly log cabin or timber frame home, make sure to let your design and building teams know. They can tell you more about the most cutting edge, eco friendly design and building options available.