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Which materials from your recycling bin are suitable for constructing a home? Explore more green living images.
Comstock/ThinkstockIf you're interested in living in a house made of glass bottle walls, go ahead and begin stacking. It's been done numerous times before.
Following the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, an architect created a method for constructing walls using plastic bottles bonded with concrete and reinforced by a mesh of recycled materials. However, bottle houses are typically rare, experimental, off-the-grid projects.
However, green homebuilders report that high-end clients are now commissioning custom homes with a higher proportion of recycled materials than those constructed with traditional methods. In the Bentley home in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the walls are insulated using cellulose, a recycled material. The carpet is made from recycled plastic bottles, and the floor tiles are crafted from recycled car windshields.
Other recycled materials, such as steel, are also becoming increasingly popular in home construction. A house frame made from recycled steel uses no more material than the metal found in six scrap cars [source: Steel Recycling Institute]. Composite lumber made from recycled wood and plastic is another viable option, particularly for decks and outdoor living areas.
As recycled materials become more accessible to builders, it’s often the buyers who push for their widespread use. With more people joining the "go green" movement, these eco-friendly products are becoming more common. It may not be long before houses like the Bentley home are popping up in your own neighborhood.
Yes, you can go off the grid, collaborate with builders who specialize in adobe and straw-bale techniques, and minimize the amount of virgin materials in your home. However, even in the most minimalist homes, whether in the heating or wiring, some manufactured materials will still be necessary.
