In the Woods

Going Green

Going “green” is no longer a fad from the ‘70s, but is now a trend that is exploding across the United States. AmerLink & In The Woods has started fielding more inquiries from our customers who want to build a log home and make it as environmentally friendly as possible. There are a lot of different things to consider when building any home and trying to live a “green” lifestyle.

The very first thing you should do is look at the lay of your land and your proposed building site. To make a home passive solar, take into consideration the winter and summer horizon. Simply by orienting your home so that the largest expanse of windows faces south will capture the fall/winter sun. Pay attention to what needs to be cleared from your proposed building site. Natural barriers might help cut wind and/or sun exposure. Trees on the east and west sides of a building can dramatically reduce cooling loads. Hedgerows and shrubbery can block cold winter winds or help channel cool summer breezes into buildings.

Flooring, as well as walls, can actually be used to bank thermal heat. A good example of a flooring material that holds and slowly releases heat is ceramic tile.

Before deciding on an HVAC system, check to make sure it can be retrofitted for solar heating later down the road. Do your homework on solar panels, since the technology has changed so much over the course of a few decades.

Check with your state for tax credits when considering energy-saving technology purchases. Also, if there is a local co-op for green consumers, they will be a great source of information.

Consider a water reclamation system, which allows you to utilize as much of your water as possible in a safe and legal manner. Something as simple as a rain barrel at the end of your gutter will yield water for your outdoor plants and garden area.

Do research on radiant heat floor systems (pipes underneath your flooring that carry hot water), and also on solar water heaters.

For those homeowners planning on doing their own interior finishing on their log homes, consider utilizing reclaimed wood and cabinetry. A good source is Habitat for Humanity’s Recycle Store, where interior surfaces, molding, doors, etc. can be found at a great price. Some might even qualify as antiques!

Check into “living roofs” or “green roofing.” Roof gardens are a very old idea (c. 500 B.C.), and the primary benefits are storm water runoff reduction and filtration, reduced ambient temperatures, reduction in summer cooling requirements, and added thermal insulation. Many municipalities are now offering great incentives to people who install green roofs.

If you happen to be building in an area that has a lot of wind, check into technology that utilizes wind to generate electricity. The excess electricity you do not use personally could possibly be sold to your local electric utility company.

Just by building an AmerLink & In The Woods log home, you're joining the “green” crowd. Our company is proud to say that our logs come from suppliers that practice reforestation and that we are members of the National Arbor Day Foundation’s “Green Outlook Program,” where our donations support areas that have been decimated by wildfire.