Log Home Living – Going Green

“Going green” seems to be on everyone’s minds these days, especially with the economy still struggling and the news about global warming. What many people don’t know is that log home living has always been environmentally friendly. Log home owners not only save money on energy costs but also do their part to promote the health of our environment.

What exactly does going green mean? It means taking steps to use less energy, building and/or buying more energy efficient products, using more renewable resources and limiting greenhouse gas emissions. Log homes accomplish all of these goals and more.

Log homes are more energy efficient than the average home. Solid wood walls have natural insulating properties which offer increased energy efficiency, resulting in lower heating and cooling costs. This is because logs absorb heat energy in the daytime and radiate it at night, which evens out the temperature and makes families feel more comfortable while using less energy.

Also, the log wall joinery and roof systems of log homes eliminate air infiltration and moisture, thus conserving energy. A study conducted by the Department of Energy showed that a solid wood home saves approximately 45% in heating costs and 24% in cooling costs compared to a stick frame home.

Log homes are built with renewable resources- solid timber grown from trees. Robare Custom Homes, with the help of our environmentally friendly log providers, uses only certified wood from sustainable forests.

The bottom line is: log home living is, and always has been, green. But, whether you live in a log home or not, there are things you can do to help the environment while saving money. The following five tips are just a few easy ways you can get started on the green path…

  • Plant trees around your home. They will serve as barriers from the cold and shade from the sun’s rays.
  • Purchase “Energy Star” products and appliances for your home. Products with the “Energy Star” label are approved to conserve energy.
  • Use fluorescent lights where possible. They cut energy by 70%.
  • Use heat pumps as an alternative to furnaces and air conditioners.
  • Use ceiling fans as much as possible instead of turning up the air conditioning during summer months.

Did you know that Robare Custom Homes has been building custom log homes for almost as long as we have been building standard custom homes? Since building log homes is a different process than building standard custom homes, we have decided to create a separate division specifically to highlight our expertise, process, experience, including our portfolio of log homes. Stay tuned for Robare Custom Homes new custom log home division with a new website release coming soon.