Sustainable homes are more than just a buzzword that you’ll find in brochures and on social media. For many homeowners today and future home buyers sustainability matters. Sustainability in home design means using materials and design elements that will maximize efficiency and provide durable design without a huge environmental cost.

Sustainable home elements are designed to last and to need minimal maintenance so that homeowners don’t need to put a lot of resources into maintaining their homes. The modern focus on sustainability is changing the way that houses are built and encouraging home owners to give their homes sustainable makeovers.

Improving Efficiency

A sustainable way to improve the efficiency of any home is to add a house wrap, like a Barricade’s house wrap. A house wrap is a synthetic material that is used as a barrier that protects the interior structure of the home. A wrap allows moisture vapor to pass out of the interior of the home but doesn’t let any moisture drops from wind, rain, condensation or other sources get near the structure of the home. That protects the home from potential mold and fungus infestation. And when the house wrap is properly sealed it will increase the efficiency of the insulation in the home and seal leaks and drafts thoroughly. Without leaks the HVAC can function more efficiently which will lower energy bills and reduce the environmental footprint of the home.

Breathable house wraps together with a high quality exterior wall sheathing are also a great way to protect homes from excessive wind in areas that are prone to storms like tornadoes or hurricanes. The house wrap acts as a windbreak that can protect the interior structure of the home by slowing down the wind before it hits the interior structure of the home.

ICF Homes

ICF homes are a great alternative for home buyers and builders that don’t want to use materials like wood that are not sustainably produced for their homes. ICF homes are insulated concrete forms where the interior structure of the home is made from pressed concrete. The highly pressurized concrete is cut into forms that are used to create the interior structure of the home.

ICF homes are also incredibly strong. They can withstand all kinds of extreme weather while maintaining energy efficiency. The strength and sustainability of ICF forms combined with the very affordable building cost to build an ICF house  makes ICF houses the most popular choice among environmentally conscious house buyers and house builders.

Sustainable Siding

Thanks to modern technology homeowners now have many options when it comes to beautiful siding that is made from sustainable materials. Real wood siding is not sustainable, it requires a lot of maintenance, and it doesn’t last long. But now homeowners that love the look of real wood siding can get the look they want with new innovative products that look like wood but are sustainably made and much more durable than real wood siding.

Trulog log siding is one of the many sustainable siding products that homeowners can get for their homes. Trulog’s log siding is made from steel so it can withstand even the toughest weather without warping, cracking, or rotting. But it looks like attractive wood slab or wood log siding. And steel log siding is so maintenance friendly that you can wash it off with a hose and be done. It requires almost no maintenance at all over the years.

Another siding option that is sustainable and looks great is fiber cement siding. Fiber cement siding looks like traditional wood siding so it’s ideal for homeowners that want their homes to have a vintage or Craftsman style appearance. But it’s made from sustainable materials that are more durable, weather resistant, and flame resistant than wood. Fiber cement siding can also be placed horizontally or vertically for a customized look. Allura’s vertical siding comes in many natural wood colors that will perfectly mimic the hues of natural wood without the drawbacks of real wood siding.