Can You Live Green In Prefab Log Cabins?

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!