Green Building Elements

As responsible citizens of Earth, we are obligated to nurture and sustain this planet. Eco-living in green, healthy homes is taking precedence these days over traditional building materials.

With a growing amount of education and technology in Eco-sustainable resources, many countries are leading the way towards a paradigm of green building and construction. In the world of home remodeling and landscaping, there are many things that should be taken into consideration.

There are many green, Eco-friendly materials that replace the need for asbestos and can reduce energy costs annually. The implementation of Eco-construction,  energy efficient solutions and energy reduction solutions has continued to play an important role in the transformation to a healthier and sustainable world.

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Asbestos was highly regarded throughout the 20th century as an ideal building and construction material. It’s fire resistant, durable and versatile qualities made it sought out by many industries. Asbestos was used in industrial applications such as insulation, piping, roofing and automobiles.

Many homes, buildings and public facilities may still contain asbestos and other hazardous materials. In many instances, the best action is no action at all. Disturbing asbestos in good condition may cause its fibers to be released into the air. If asbestos removal is recommended by a professional, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained in handling hazardous materials. Upon removal, recycled building materials should be considered as viable replacements for asbestos.

The inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to the development of lung ailments such as peritonial mesothelioma and asbestosis. This form of asbestos lung cancer takes the lives of thousands every year. With a latency period that lasts from 20 to 50 years, it isn’t until the later stages of progression when physicians usually are able to accurately diagnose. This also affects accurate mesothelioma prognosis for patients.

Green Eco-living

Most people are unaware to the fact that Eco-friendly products can cut energy costs by 25 to 35 % per year.  Rather than expensive and Mal-treated wood, interior walls can be made from steel and concrete, avoiding many of the problems associated with asbestos and other insulation methods. Green alternatives to asbestos include the use of lcynene foam, cotton fiber and cellulose. Cotton fiber is made from recycled batted material and treated to be fireproof. A water based spray polyurethane foam, lcynene features no toxic components.

In the United States, the U.S. Green Building Council conducted a study which estimated a new savings of $50-$65 per square foot for positively constructed green buildings. As education and technology of green sustainable practices increase, the numbers will continue to rise.

Living in a world where environmental sustainability is a vital concern to the future of mankind, it is important to take note of the consequences of improper building materials and environmental degradation. These asbestos alternatives allow for a healthy, safe home, free of health damaging materials.

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