Green home building in Europe vs US
View PDF | Print View
by: hugatree
Total views: 64
Word Count: 395
Green home building is very popular in the United States today, but many people do not know that Europeans have been building green homes for decades. We have many technologies that are just emerging in the United States that seem to be new and innovate...they are not. This phrase "green home building" is talked about in such a way that people are astonished by new technologies, but really, these technologies are only new to us.
In Europe, for example, there is a building material called Autoclave Aerated Concentrate, or AAC, which has been used in new construction for years. GreenHomeBuilding.com says that this substance is popular in Europe because it is completely fire proof, highly insulating, and very lightweight. This means that it can be easily transported in larger quantities, which will consume less fuel. Additionally, AAC is made of water, sand, cement, lime, and aluminum powder. Eighty percent of the AAC is made up of air, which is the main ingredient. An important factor in the greenness of this substance is the fact that its production causes no byproducts. Builders have been using this building material in Germany for almost a century; however, it was introduced in the United States in 1996 and still is not widely accepted.
Another example of a green home building technology that is widely used in Europe, but is not very well known in the United States is the Wood Fiber Board. This type of board is created from the wood chip waste which is a byproduct of sawmills. GreenHomeBuilding.com explains the fact that these boards do not emit toxins when manufactured. They are cheap to make, durable, and totally compostable. But, we do not use those very much here in the United States. We like to cut down new trees to make new boards. We do not like using what we already have to make something new.
Europe is way ahead of us when it comes to green home building practices. They have been doing these things for about one hundred years, so for Europeans, there is nothing new or innovative about green home building; it is a way of life. We are in the right mind set to become equal in greenness to Europe, but I just hope it is not too late.
About the Author
More sites related to syndicate, read spicyrss.com.
Rating: Not yet rated