| Thinking of building a shed? Do you want to be as | | | | use it in. It is safe to handle, and it only takes a |
| environmentally friendly as possible? | | | | fraction of the production energy to make than glass |
| More and more people are starting to be concerned | | | | fiber insulation. |
| about their 'carbon footprint' and their environmental | | | | Cellulose insulation is another environmentally friendly |
| impact on the world. To that end, many people have | | | | product that is made primarily with recycled and fire |
| started looking to making their homes and outside | | | | retardant treated newspaper. In the past cardboard, |
| building 'greener' here are three steps to help you in | | | | cotton, straw, sawdust, hemp, and corncobs have |
| the right direction. | | | | also been used to make this type of insulation. Like |
| 1. Use recycled building components | | | | sheeps' wool insulation, it is moisture resistant as well |
| The first thing you can do is look for products and | | | | as acoustically sound proof. So if you're tinkering in |
| materials that are in great shape and can be reused. | | | | your shed with noisy tools, the only person you may |
| Recycling building products is a great way to go | | | | find you're bothering is yourself |
| green if you are planning on building a shed in your | | | | 3. Include a green roof in your shed design. |
| garden. Not only will recycling building materials help | | | | When you design your shed you will know exactly |
| the environment, it can save you money as well. | | | | how you are going to use it, whether or not you |
| Check out your local landfill for salvageable lumber, | | | | want to make it cool in the summer and warm in the |
| millwork, hardware and other useable items that | | | | winter, and if energy consumption is going to be an |
| someone else has just thrown away. More often | | | | issue. Adding a green roof to your shed can help with |
| than not these items can be cleaned up and make | | | | all of these considerations. |
| the perfect fixtures for your new shed. Plus, if the | | | | An extensive green roof is a thin layer of soil on the |
| items you find are of an older style, it will give your | | | | shed roof that allows drought resistant plants to |
| new shed a unique and individual look. | | | | grow and thrive. The soil along with a waterproof |
| 2. Insulation to prevent heat loss | | | | membrane and a drainage layer form the green roof |
| If you plan on insulating your shed, then you will want | | | | system. |
| to use a natural product such as sheeps' wool or | | | | A green roof replaces the growing space taken up |
| cellulose. Both these types of insulation have a low | | | | by the footprint of your shed. The drought resistant |
| embodied energy and require few petrochemicals in | | | | plants effectively create a new habitat in the garden |
| their manufacture. | | | | which is very attractive to pollinating insects. The |
| Sheeps' wool insulation is breathable, can absorb | | | | thermal mass of the roof also helps regulate the |
| moisture without losing thermal efficiency, and | | | | internal temperature. |
| release moisture to help cool whatever building you | | | | |