Greenwashing is the practice of misleading or exaggerating the environmental status of a company or product. The DIY, building and construction industries are keen for a share of the green pound so how do you make sure you’re choosing ethical and sustainable materials for your property?
InsideOut Buildings’ director Lynn Fotheringham believes it is important to look behind claims about ‘eco-friendly’ DIY and construction materials. Make sure you know the facts when building ‘green’. Here is her simple, seven-point plan for choosing sustainable materials:
1. PVC windows
Problem: People think that double-glazing is eco-friendly because it saves energy, which is true. But look further and you discover that the amount of energy used to manufacture UPVC is enormous. Also PVC frames are bigger and wider than wood and so reduce the amount of light coming through a window.
Solution: Buy locally from a joinery manufacturer and check the wood comes from renewable forests, ideally in Britain or Western Europe.
2. Wooden cladding and flooring
Problem: This is often used on garden buildings and around the house but the assumption that wood is eco-friendly, is simplistic. Many cladding and flooring products are pressure treated and imported, both of which use unnecessary energy. So while wood is better than man-made claddings and floorings, it can still be energy-expensive.
Solution: Choose untreated British or European wood from well managed local forests. “Our beautiful larch cladding, for instance, is grown in Scotland, then cut and planed by our local timber merchant, with no treatments or preservatives,” says Fotheringham.
3. Insulation
Problem: Insulating your home or garden room properly will help the environment by saving energy. To do the job properly, you have to use a lot of insulation material. In garden offices, for instance, all surfaces should be insulated to an absolute minimum of 100mm. Think about using UK manufactured insulation materials e.g. sheepswool or Rockwool, who have an excellent environmental policy in their factory. This means walls can be insulated to a generous 200mm for maximum insulation efficiency while remaining environmentally responsible.
Solution: Look at the manufacturing process before choosing an insulation material. Can it be recycled? Has it been imported? Does the manufacturer run their factory processes sustainably?
4. Green and living roofs
Problem: These are undoubtedly eco-friendly and can be highly effective on larger buildings but there are drawbacks. You need at least 600mm of soil to achieve a practical level of insulation. The insulating properties are reduced when the soil is dry. In summer you have to irrigate and weed your roof. You have to use several different layers of plastic for waterproofing and containing the soil.
Solution: On the other hand when insulation isn’t so important, say for a garage or shed, a green roof is a great way to conceal an eyesore, add interest to your garden and provide an important space for wildlife.
5. Wind turbines
Problem: Wind turbines simply don’t hit the mark unless you live in a rural area with very strong winds. Current technology means that a small urban turbine will probably generate less energy than it takes to make.
Solution: Instead, use low energy light bulbs, don’t leave equipment on standby and insulate your home properly… both you and the environment will benefit much more.
6. Recyclable materials
Problem: Even the word ’recyclable’ can be misleading. Thousands of products claim to be recyclable but so what? Are you really going to re-use a load of exhausted plastic insulation in fifteen years’ time? Is anyone else?
Solution: Ensure you choose materials designed to last for a very long time and not fall apart after a few years. If you build for life rather than for the short term, the need to recycle becomes less relevant.
7. Paints and wood stains
Problem: Avoid these ingredients in paints and stains - solvents and white spirit, turpentine, terpenes, ethereal oils and acrylics.
Solution: Ingredients to look for are water, binders, non-toxic pigments, mineral fillers and waxes.
It can be hard for consumers to tell if a building firm or product is truly eco-friendly but Fotheringham is not content to sit on her laurels: “Finding a green solution is an ongoing process as more affordable, sensible and sustainable products become available.”
InsideOut Buildings – designer and builder of environmentally responsible garden offices and granny annexes.
