Log Cabins: The Most Environmentally Friendly Way to Live

Devin is a freelance writer from Daly City, CA. He writes about small business marketing and SEO. On his downtime, he enjoys experimenting with car modifications and collecting vinyl records. He also enjoys hiking and downtime with his dog, Scrummy. If you want to contact Devin, message him at his (rarely used!) Twitter account: @DevMorrissey 

Posted on Wednesday 24th July 2019
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There is a lot of talk today about sustainable living. People share tips about how to cut down on waste, reduce carbon footprints, and save energy in their homes.

One of the most environmentally friendly ways to live is to live in a log cabin. By using natural building materials, log cabins can be built and produced without many of the toxic manufactured materials that go into conventional houses. Log cabins can also boast great energy savings with inhabitants often spending less on air conditioning, hot water, heating, and lighting.

By learning about the importance of sustainability, the environmental and energy-saving benefits of living in log cabins, and some eco-friendly improvements that can make your log cabin even greener, it will be clear to you that log cabins are great for the environment in many ways.

The Importance of Sustainability

In order to fully appreciate the environmental benefits of log cabin living, it is important to understand the importance of sustainability and how climate change is threatening our planet.

Too much carbon dioxide in the air threatens our way of life and increases temperatures around the globe. This causes distress and even death to animal and plant species and puts pressure on our planet’s natural resources. In fact, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is higher than it has been in three million years.

Climate change affects everyone and the impact will only become more severe as time goes on. That is why it is so important to do what you can in your daily life to reduce your carbon footprint, save natural resources, and tread lightly on the earth. Thankfully, living in a log cabin can help you do just that. If you want an eco-friendly living space, look no further than a log cabin.

Environmental Benefits & Energy Savings

There are many environmental benefits of living in a log cabin. They are often built using natural materials, can be designed for energy savings and efficiency, and can contain less toxins than conventionally built homes.

However, not all log cabins are created equal. While the most environmentally friendly log cabins use sustainably harvested wood and green building methods like post and beam construction, other methods are less than ideal and can actually contribute to climate change.

"Several popular constructions styles make use of dimensional lumber and treated wood poles,” according to construction experts. “These building methods are both wasteful and less structurally reliable, with treated timbers rotting after 40 years or so. Post and beam construction never requires the use of chemically-treated wood, which makes for a building that is more attractive, longer lasting and better for the environment."

It is clear that building or living in a log cabin will not magically make you more environmentally friendly, but it will set you up for environmental success if you are aware of the building’s potential. According to energy.gov, “Logs act like ‘thermal batteries’ and can, under the right circumstances, store heat during the day and gradually release it at night.”

As long as there is adequate sealant between logs to prevent air leakages that could result in energy inefficiency, log homes can be far more efficient than conventional ones. Log homes can actually be built to be 15-20% more energy efficient than their conventional counterparts.

Eco-Friendly Improvements for Your Log Cabin

Once you have your log home and are enjoying the energy savings and environmental benefits it offers, you might be wondering what else you can do to be even more eco-friendly. Even small improvements can offer huge benefits, both environmentally and for your own personal quality of life.

Updating your appliances to be energy efficient is one of the easiest and best things you can do to improve the sustainability of your home. Any up-front costs will be covered in the long run as your appliances will use less water and energy, therefore saving you money and helping the environment. Investing in water conserving appliances, fixing leaks, and covering your pool are great places to start.

Additionally, you could choose to dabble in the zero-waste lifestyle, which requires you to pay very close attention to everything you purchase and the amount of waste it would potentially bring into your home. Finally, choosing green decor options like sustainably sourced furnishings can further reduce your environmental impact and contribute to a clean and green lifestyle.

Living in a log cabin instead of a conventional home can greatly improve the sustainability of your way of life. When you understand how important that is, the benefits of log cabin living become even more clear. The use of sustainable materials and the opportunities for energy savings make log cabins a clear choice for the environmentally conscious.

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