As we face a world impacted by global warming many of us are turning to green living as a means of reducing our carbon footprint and helping to heal the planet in any ways we can. Finding the right home is a big part of that, as the wrong materials could severely damage the nearby environment, or cause toxic pollution into the air.

When it comes to log cabins, there is a definite negative connotation. People remember the warnings from decades ago about fallen trees and dangerous chemicals. But times have changed and it is now not only easy to live green in a log cabin, but prefab log cabins in particular offer you some awesome opportunities to do so.

Here are ten ways that you can live green in log cabins, wherever you are.

Ways To Live Green In Prefab Log Cabins

 

1. 1. Look at the chemicals used when staining. For many years this was the biggest concern with log cabins. The staining and sealant used on the wood was incredibly dangerous for the environment and sometimes even bad for the people living inside the home. That is no longer the case and safe, eco-friendly chemicals have taken their place. You can find green products that will keep your log cabin in tip top shape without striking out at Mother Earth. Look for cabins with the green seal of approval.

 

1. 2. Go for log cabins that use recycled lumber. The second biggest environmental concern was that log cabins require the felling of trees… a lot of them. Whole forests have been cleared out in the name of building and it has wreaked havoc on natural beauty across the globe. Don’t fret, you can find a ton of recycled lumber anywhere from lumber yards to junk yards. Many kits and prefabs now use this lumber themselves to offer greener kits that don’t waste materials while also being cheaper to produce (and cheaper for the consumer).

 

1. 3. Keep critters out. How could having critters in the home be a hazard to the environment? They aren’t, in and of themselves. But having to use an exterminator who comes in with dangerous poisons and sprays around might be a serious problem. Not to mention certain animals can become disrupted if they become reliant on humans for things like shelter and food. Keeping them out from the start is always a better idea. Make sure the prefab you choose doesn’t have any off gaps, unusual crawl spaces or easy access inside for anything not meant to be there.

 

1. 4. Make sure your cabin is properly sealed. Another way that we hurt the environment is by using certain resources more than we have to. Maybe the most common examples of this is heating and air conditioning. It is easy to forget how much we are using up when we flip on the climate control in our homes. If nothing else, your bill at the end of the month will remind you. Making sure your log cabin has no leaks where air is escaping can really change that.

 

1. 5. Take care of damage quickly. Prefabs log cabins are usually made much sturdier than most of their counterparts. Logs are better equipped for handling the elements than drywall and plastic sheeting. But damage does happen, especially if the cabin hasn’t been restained in awhile or if you live in an area that has harsher weather at certain points of the year. The faster you fix damage the less damage there will be. That means less materials to fix it.

 

1. 6. Add some enhanced features. Want to make your cabin especially eco-friendly? It may be worth adding a feature or two to make it that way. For instance, are you worried about how much energy you use? Put up some solar panels and start making the switch to a more green form of fuel. Want to use less water? Go for a prefab with low flush toilets, or add a water tank in back that captures rain water. You would be amazed at how customizable prefabs can be, especially when it comes to green enhancements and upgrades.

 

1. 7. Place your cabin in an urban area. This may seem like an odd one but hear me out. A log cabin doesn’t just have to be in the country and with prefabs they can be placed anywhere. By living in a city instead of the country you can use public transportation and lessen your car use. You can find community gardens and take part in city wide efforts to lessen harmful environmental habits. Not to mention you can walk more, which is great for your health!

 

1. 8. Change household consumer habits. Sometimes it isn’t our home that sets the standard but the day to day choices we make which have the most influence over our footprint. Take a look at the items you buy. What is in them? How are they packaged? Are they local or do they have to be imported in from somewhere else? Are there ways you could change your shopping choices to better reflect your desire to be more green? Even the stores you choose can make a huge difference into what is being done to our planet, as well as the brands we choose to give our money to. Spend wisely.

 

1. 9. Recycle, recycle, recycle. Of course, recycling is a major part of keeping the world clean. As long as you are using recycled lumber, why not also go all the way and start recycling items you use in your home? Cans, plastics, even wood from projects or repairs that you take from your cabin can be passed forward. Less trash means less in the landfill and we could definitely benefit from that.

 

10. Fill your home with used goods. Finally, we have items like furniture and other big ticket items. Buying used is one of the best things you can do for your green living goals. You can even get prefabs that have been owned before!

You may have heard that log cabins are really trending this year. They have been popular in the past, but never before has interest seemed to have reached such a peak. Maybe it is a backlash against the modern day McMansions and identical townhouses that are popping up all over the place. Or it could be people thinking longer term than retirement, considering generational aspects of passing down property to their family.

Whatever the case, it has never been a better time to get a log cabin. But there are many reasons that they are awesome… here are some reasons to consider getting your own.

 

They Are Real Estate Candy

The real estate market has never fully recovered from the bubble of a decade ago. But you can get around some of the more problematic aspects of the market by looking for the darlings of that world. Log cabins are a stable investment because everyone loves them. If you did have to sell you could be pretty much guaranteed interested buyers.

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Just look at the asking prices for already existing listings out there. You can be sure that the people who originally purchased them paid far less than they are asking for now.

Log Cabins Tend to Increase In Value

Speaking of which, value is a big part of property ownership. Most homes depreciate pretty much the moment you take over the keys. You have to do upgrades, maintenance or rely on neighborhood expansion or improvements in order to see an increase in property value.

Unless you have a log cabin. These are real earners on the market, probably due to the fact that they are sturdier than the average home. When you buy a wooden house you expect it to be a long term investment that can be inherited by others down the line.

Wooden Structures Look Awesome

Just the aesthetic reasons are enough for many people to want a log cabin. The richness of the wood, the way you can change the style based on your specifications, the versatility of the materials… it is all a pretty great trade off when compared to the less pleasing look of other modern homes.

Let’s say you want something that looks like an old fashioned log cabin. You can build one using recycled wood that has a feel of an old timey cabin out in the woods. Or perhaps you prefer something more modern and chic. That is totally within the realm of possibility.

Wood Trumps Other Building Materials

There are some reasons that wood is a better material for building than most. For one thing, it looks great, as was said earlier in this post. But it is also more versatile, breathable and easy to work with. It is highly durable and tough, resisting extreme weather conditions. It can be sealed to trap in heat or cool air. There are many decay resistant lumber options that are easier to maintain and keep healthy.

In the end, it is the number one building material out there. Is it any wonder people have used it for so long?

Maintenance Gives You a Sense of Pride

Some people are resistant to the idea of log cabins because they know they have to be maintained. That is true, you do have to take care of the wood. But anyone who has had a wooden house will tell you that they feel a real sense of pride in the work they do to keep it in tip top condition.

Luckily, it isn’t hard to maintain a log cabin. Every three to five years you will restain the wood to seal it. This protects it from rot, warping, cracks and wind or sun bleaching that can occur.

 

It Is Catnip For The House Proud

Just imagine having a gorgeous, well maintained log cabin that is your dream home. How does it make you feel when people visit? Probably pretty good. If you tend to be house proud you are going to be especially so with one of these beautiful dwellings in your possession. Just sitting in front of the fire on a cold winter day with friends or family is such a comforting image that can fill you with warmth.

If you want a house to be proud to show off, a log cabin is the way to go.

There Are So Many Styles to Choose From

You can have literally anything in your cabin. There are so many different options and models to enjoy, so many upgrades and customizations. For instance, tiny houses and mini log cabins are becoming a seriously popular option for people who was to utilize space and reduce the impact they have on the environment around them. Large scale cabins that are similar to lodges are another.

With so many houses that look exactly the same, it is nice to know you can customize things to be the way you want them.

You Can Customize or Prefabricate

So you know you can customize. But what if you don’t want to? There are prefabricated log cabins that are a better option for people who want more basic styles. But there is more to it than the design: these are cheaper and faster to erect, as well.

A prefabricated cabin is one that has been created in a factory in large pieces. These are then shipped to the building location and the crew working on it will put it up bit by bit. Everything is packaged together and it can be put up within a couple of weeks.

Pricing Is Within Your Control

You can work a log cabin in to any budget. Depending on your specifications, whether it is custom or prefabricated, how big it is and the features you select, your new home can cost as little or as much as you can pay. This budget versatility is yet another reason that so many people are choosing wooden homes over the status quo.

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