ADU Salvaged Materials and Sustainable Construction

Reduce, reuse, recycle. This simple slogan can be both the most ethical and the most economical option for you as a homeowner in the state of California. We at A+ Construction & Remodeling in Sacramento, California offer options of using repurposed, recycled materials to achieve the most sustainable and cost effective ADU construction journey.

Keep reading to further your understanding of the way the environment is a priority when building an accessory dwelling unit.

Sustainable Materials ADU is a Normal ADU

It might surprise you, but when you chose your ADU project, you already picked the greener building strategy. ADUs utilize space that is already on your premises to house more people. This means that your ADU potentially saved a land spot from an unnecessary house. It does not interfere with your main house, just adds more liveable rooms or buildings with minimal recyclable resources.

Accessory dwelling units also take up less space on average. ADUs are normally hundreds of sq. ft. smaller than other ADU construction projects. This means fewer materials, less labor force, and less potential construction waste after the building is completed. The transportation is noticeably easier as well.

ADUs are already more sustainable by definition, but there are many reasons not to stop at that.

Future Materials for ADU Construction

Many people might believe that environmental impact should not be your priority, but there are many ways in which that can help you. By themselves, ADUs are already more sustainable than their traditional counterparts. So, what are the reasons for choosing a more sustainable future by using environmentally friendlier materials?

First of all, eco-friendly options are often the same as durable options. By going green with your ADU material choices, you normally go with the higher quality ones that also demand less replacements. They have served for years and have saved you money on changes and repairs.

While longevity is a well-known factor in environmentally conscious buildings, another point to consider is energy efficiency. When thinking of our planet, designers try to make it so that their ideas spend less energy than traditionally expected. This not only makes your ADU more ecologically responsible but also saves you money on bills.

Going green is the responsible choice both for the ecosystem and your wallet.

Sustainable Material Alternatives to Traditional Ways

When people build ADUs, what they often fail to consider is the heating. Some options that might help you with sustainable ADUs include electric options instead of gas appliances, gas heating, gas heat pumps for water. These alternatives to heating can create an eco-friendly building in no time for ambitious homeowners.

You can also help by opting for solar panels and not traditional electricity, and limiting the amount of water your structure consumes. Traditional incandescent bulbs can go, leaving the position open for LED bulbs. These all make a more positive impact on the environment.

This all will really make a difference when building sustainable ADUs, in addition to choosing sustainable materials. We at A+ Construction & Remodeling in Sacramento, California can make your dream ADU a reality. If sustainability is a priority for you, then it is also one for us.

Create the future of today by choosing the options that produce less harm to nature.

Recycled Materials

There is a well-known list of materials that meet the criteria of sustainability while offering additional benefits.

It is as follows:

1. Plaster of natural origins. They are not toxic, as opposed to traditional drywall. Unless you opt for fully wooden walls, it is unavoidable.
2. Bamboo. This Asian green plant grows infamously fast, so it is cheap and easy to get. It also provides a unique aesthetic. Consider this alternative to lumber for a unique ADU.
3. Straw bales. Straw can offer thermal regulation when used as insulation, and their short degradation time demonstrates peak sustainability. Consider straw bales when you want to keep nature safe.
4. Recycled Brick. Brick is a durable material that can handle repurposes easily, so it is a natural choice. It also offers heat regulation, keeping cold in the summer and hot in the winter.
5. Reclaimed Wood. Wood that you take from older structures is an eco-friendly way to turn potential waste into your future ADU parts without additional costs.
6. Recycled Steel. Steel that you get from older structures is always a perfect fit for future projects that help alleviate the climate change struggle.

Interestingly, even some utilities can create recycled materials opportunities. There have been successful cases of implementation of bath and sink recycling. Additionally, you can recycle doors to maximize efficiency. These interior choices might surprise you, but they can also become unavoidable when you are on a budget.

Aside from traditional ideas of structures and elements, you can also hope for some green furniture styling. You can get your sofas, beds, and other house essentials second-hand, often for a very reduced price. The furniture you get this way might be even better than some alternatives currently on the market. Be mindful of your sourcing and approach this critically to maximize the results.

The choice of recycled materials is wide enough to fit any project comfortably and minimize waste.

Materials Criteria

There are a significant number of ideas that you must consider when you look for sustainable building materials. These help arrange your space in a way that maximizes the benefits and by a significant amount.

To begin with, you should understand that the material you salvage needs to still be durable and able to withstand the usage you plan for it. It needs to still have enough durability for your project, and some building materials cannot handle prolonged usage and will deteriorate shortly. You don’t want a dilapidated house.

What is more, your new materials need to be renewable. A renewable source is a source that indicates a minimal harm to the environment and the ecosystem, as well as being non-limited and not endangered. Pick renewable materials to enjoy their ecological nature.

The best-salvaged materials can be re-salvaged again, as they are recyclable. This means that you, or perhaps someone else, will use them long after your ADU has served its purpose. This will not happen soon if you remember the first key point in this section.

Remember to be mindful of these criteria to achieve the best experience with your sustainable ADU.

Sustainable ADUs and How to Approach Them

When you start your sustainable material journey, you might wonder about the origin of your desired materials for your building. We at A+ Construction & Remodeling in Sacramento, California are more than happy to consult you when needed. If you’re looking for a shorter guide, though, keep reading.

If you don’t have the salvageable materials at hand, to find your sustainable building materials, you will have to look elsewhere. A sound idea is to go to local providers. If you decide to support local employees, you make the greener choice automatically.

What is more, when you choose your local providers in the state of California, you can aim to get cheaper, ethical materials and fulfill your sustainable ADU dream. Many sustainable materials are available at local sites when you know where to look.

Leave it to professionals to get you cheaper, greener, sustainable materials from local sources.

Eco-Friendly Building Materials and Modern Trends

With the significant popularity of this approach rising, there are ever-emerging trends in the field. These offer innovative new approaches to recycling and energy cost mitigation.

Some positive trends include:

• Full or partial solar power choices instead of traditional energy. Solar energy is clean energy, so don’t shy away from solar power, especially when it offers energy efficiency and can reduce energy consumption for some regions.
• Structural Insulated Power panels. These offer a unity of standard insulation and structural aid while being pretty cost-effective.
• Biologically Based Insulation. Instead of normal insulation, you can use soy, textiles, and other experimental options for your building.
• High-performance windows. Those come in different varieties, but an example would be a window with multiple panels, which can utilize the existing space more effectively, all while being eco-friendly.

Each day brings new and exciting possibilities for your eco-friendly home.

Eco Friendly means Health Friendly.

While not normally your first thought as a beginner homeowner, the way you construct your home can also lead to a change in your health. A building that you make to leave a smaller carbon footprint can also save you some visits to the doctor.

First of all, reasonable energy consumption requires natural light instead of bulbs and electricity. Studies have proved that sun exposure, when moderate, is necessary for the production of Vitamin D in the body. This way, natural light can aid you both in health and in being energy efficient.

Another point is that the building materials you use when you go green are normally more natural and contain fewer artificial elements. These elements also include toxins, meaning that your building is free of harmful chemicals that can poison you.

Finally, when you look out for your community, you also look out for yourself. When you’re building your locally-sourced, energy efficient home, you boost your local economy and aid the community. Energy consumption can cause an unnecessary strain on the economy. This indirectly impacts your own well-built and eventually culminates in a situation where you can spend more money on your own health.

When you help Mother Nature, you also help yourself – the same is true for your ADU.

Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ

Can an ADU have a negative environmental impact?

While unlikely, an additional living unit can indeed harm the surrounding ecosystem. If you deliberately go with the most outdated options, it will leave a larger carbon footprint than necessary. Remember to keep your zoning permits in mind as well. When done properly, most ADUs will be environmentally friendly.

Can I reuse materials from my own projects?

Sourcing materials is a concern for you as the owner, not for the planet. If your ADU uses eco-friendly building materials, it doesn’t really matter if we can call them salvaged. Still, when you’re looking for cost efficiency, reusing your own construction trash is a perfectly reasonable strategy.

Is a sustainable ADU more expensive?

While the initial cost is often higher for sustainable accessory dwelling units, the maintenance cost falls significantly in comparison with old-fashioned constructions. You might spend more at first, but you save money in the long run. This makes the ethical choice also an economically logical one.

Can I hope for subsidies when going green with my ADU?

There are initiatives to make environment friendliness a priority with constructors and homeowners. For example, you can often hope for governmental help when choosing solar panels as your energy source. Build responsibly and reap the benefits with A+ Construction & Remodeling in Sacramento, California.