This article was originally published at My Efficient Planet
Log homes are gaining popularity these days. Not only because of their unique looks but also the eco friendly nature of them. Log homes present many benefits that the conventional homes cannot offer. These log homes are not only beautifully, but also are kinder to the environment.
1. The Environment friendly home
There is a misconception that log homes lead to deforestation that in turn leads to serious environmental problems. The point to be noted here is that these log homes are made from this planets best renewable resource, ‘the trees’. The logs required for building the log homes are obtained from legal loggers. These loggers re-plant where they cut the logs and hence do not lead to deforestation. Recent surveys indicate that conventional homes contribute 40% to the total harmful CO2 emissions. Hence the log homes are excellent opportunities to reduce the Co2 emissions and save the planet.
2. The more energy efficient home
Log homes are more energy efficient when compared to the traditional homes. Energy statistics on log homes prove that they consume 30% less energy. To confirm this energy efficiency of log homes, ‘the National Bureau of Standards tests’ conducted a test. The test results where amazing. Log homes used approximately 46% less energy for heating during the spring heating period. They then tried an 11 week cooling solution during summer through the log homes. Here the log homes used 24% less cooling energy when compared to other conventional homes.
3. Unique and good to look home
Apart from being Environment friendly and energy efficient, the log homes are unique pieces of art and elegance. The log homes are very easy to maintain and the maintenance cost associated with the log homes are very low. There are so many house plans available and often you can assist in designing the home of your dreams.
Building Log Homes
After seeing the benefits that a log home offers, if you are interested in building your own dream log home, there are many places that you can do some more research. From flooring plans to roofing, there are many options available. If you are not sure about the log home plans, it is always better to some professional help. There are professional log home builders out there who offer free log home plans. To save your valuable time and money, there are log home packages too. These packages include everything from log home flooring plans to living area layout and roofing. If you like to know more about the benefits of the unique log homes, there are many log home shows and log home seminars conducted everywhere.
Bottom line
“Modern technology owes ecology an apology” is an old saying. Things are very different these days. The latest technology of log homes makes the saying change to “Modern technology owes ecology great thanks”.
The author of this article is an expert in log homes design. He is also a well wisher of the environment
and knows the importance of log homes in being Eco-friendly. He has written many articles on the eco friendliness and the energy efficiency of the log homes so that people can understand the benefits of log homes and save the Grinning Planet.
With every new construction of a building you have the environmental factor of waste to consider. In years past contractors have dumped excess materials into local landfills and companies have made no attempt to be eco-conscious during the manufacturing process. The times have changed and companies like Mountain Creations Log & Timber Homes are making the environment a priority.
During the milling process, we make sure that we use each part of the tree as best we can. The production of a log package emits little to no toxins in the air as compared to the manufacturing processes of concrete, brick and conventional homes using pressure treated lumber. Trying to keep the carbon footprint as low as possible, the excess cedar is chipped into mulch and used for landscaping and even fueling machines.
Once the construction process has started, our builders work to minimize waste by perfecting cuts and managing time and materials properly. We can put you in touch with local wood-working artisans, kitchen cabinet makers as well as construction recycling programs in the area to make the most of the materials you may have remaining.
After 25 years in the log home industry we have learned what works best and alongside our builders and subcontractors are committed to creating your perfect log home experience.
Keep checking out our blog to learn about the newest innovations in eco-friendly building as we look forward to the days of hybrid tractor trailers and environmentally friendly shipping.
What is green (sustainable) building?
Although the "green initiative" has been talked about for decades, green building is a relatively new approach to building more eco-friendly homes and commercial buildings. Due to the awareness being created about global warming, climate changes and sustainable building solutions, the world is now embracing these green ideas. Green is a color whose time has come!
Our homes are more than just a place to provide shelter from the weather; this is where we live, play, eat, entertain, sleep and raise our families. Creating an ecologically friendly environment isn't just good for the planet, it also provides enormous health, economic, social and esthetic benefits. It simply makes good sense, and building with logs, a sustainable resource, makes really good sense.
Go Green - Go Log!
Green building is an exhaustive topic encompassing everything from building materials, landscaping, construction designs and practices to appliances and waste disposal. For our purposes, we will primarily address green as it applies to log and timber homes.
Planning to be green
Building green actually starts with the design phase of your eco-friendly home. As an example, positioning your home so that it makes the best use of the sun, window size and placement, ceiling heights, heating options, landscaping, lighting and your choice of stains and finishes all contribute to how green your home can be.
Logs vs. studs
Using logs rather than commercial lumber reduces the amount of time, processing, and handling that is necessary with most stick built and conventional houses. Only the timber that is prime for building a home is harvested so there's no waste of unwanted younger trees being unnecessarily cut. This not only keeps cost down, but it also decreases transportation expenses for fuel and processing at a minimum. There's less expense all the way around.
Renewable resources
The use of wood is by itself a renewable resource. As trees are harvested, replacements are planted. In addition, most major log home manufacturers are heavily involved in reforestation programs that replace more trees than are harvested. Not only are the trees renewable, all parts of the tree are used beneficially with minimal waste. Bark is recycled for landscaping, bedding, and mulch. The trunks are kept primarily for the walls for homes and the smaller trunks and branches are valued for their furniture making abilities.
Surface as Finish
Log homes offer what is known as "surface as finish". What this means is that the interior walls themselves don't require additional finishing materials. This in turn cuts down on chemicals or materials that use chemicals in their processing, and because less interior finishing needs to be done, you save money.
Log homes also require fewer metal fasteners to erect the building which means less cost. Because the solid construction of a log home isn't dependant on it's fasteners but rather the gravitational weight of the logs themselves as the home continues to "settle", the energy efficiency of it increases, not decreases as more traditional houses.
Green Logs?
The words 'green' and 'log' are not usually found in the same sentence in log home construction. Green logs are taboo when you are discussing materials to be used in building a structure.
Better thermal properties
Many studies have been done concerning the thermal properties of a log home versus a traditional stick-built house. The evidence shows on average, log homes perform 17% better in holding heat than other types of houses, and in some cases this is even greater. The climate, location and design of the home itself, and the windows and doors are all factors that help in the assessment. A major difference was determined to be the thickness and solid makeup of the logs.
A Green Future
In the future, if it is decided to replace the house, the environmental benefits of log homes carries forth... Rather than demolish the home, it can often be de-constructed. The timbers are extremely valuable and can be recycled for hundreds of other uses as demand for them is always high. At that time, those same logs may become someone's kitchen cabinets, a dinette set, bedroom set, picture frame, wall paneling, ceiling beams, baby blocks, a desk, or one of a thousand other items all made from the wonderful logs that housed a family for many years.
There are so many possibilities with logs homes and the choices are endless. They can be designed to be as individual as you are and their eco-friendly footprint rests lightly on our fragile planet. Everyone needs a house, but a log or timber frame home will serve your family and our environment best.
What color are your political beliefs?
Doing the right thing for our planet will save energy, natural resources and money. Additionally, the environmental impact of green building is habitually underestimated, while the costs of building green are typically overvalued. Effectively employing green building practices can lead to:
Decreased operating costs and increased productivity by using less energy, materials and water
Healthier conditions due to better indoor air quality. "Recent studies reveal that buildings with good overall environmental quality can reduce the rate of respiratory disease, allergy, asthma, sick building symptoms, and enhance worker performance. The potential financial benefits of improving indoor environments exceed costs by a factor of 8 and 14." See more...
Reduced environmental impacts by doing simple things like lessening storm water runoff and the heat island effect.
Green building supporters usually strive to achieve harmony between the structure and its natural surroundings. With log homes, the appearance and style of the building is not discernible from less sustainable homes.
Thanks to www.logcabindirectory.com for providing this resource.
http://www.logcabindirectory.com/green_building
Mountain Creations Log Home is the Original Green Building Solution™
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Mountain Creations is pleased to announce that our Artisan Lodge log home floor plan was featured in the November issue of Country's Best Log Home for Ultimate Kitchens. This log home floor plan boasts a dramatic open gable dormer which is the focal point of this culinary masterpiece. Distinctive touches, such as the copper backsplash, crown molding, and leaf themed lighting and hardware, offer many functional advantages while adding elegance and sophisitication.
Mountain Creations Log & Timber Homes offers state of the art computerized custom log home blueprinting and drafting for both the Preliminary Blueprints and the Final Construction Blueprints. Denny & Mary Lou Haramic custom designed this beautiful log home floor plan with the assistance of Mountain Creations.
To view this functional and free flowing log home floor plan, visit www.moreloghomeplans.com
We offer FREE custom designed service to fit all of your log home ideas. Bring us photos of the log homes you love or even a rough sketch of your plan and let us transform your ideas and dreams into a working set of blueprints. Envision your dream log home today! Call 800.661.5647 to begin designing your dream log home floor plan and design today!
A special thanks to Country's Best Log Homes for their diligence in promoting log homes to log home lovers everywhere.
LOG HOME FALL DISCOUNT DAYS
Mountain Creations Introduces
The Diamond Lake
FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BUY THIS CEDAR LOG HOME PACKAGE FOR ONLY
$39,250
Mountain Creations is pleased to announce our Fall Discount Days with unbelievable savings on our cedar log home packages. We are offering 3 log home packages at savings that CANNOT be beaten! Here's the deal...From Friday, September 4th until Thursday, September 24th, this special will be active. All you have to do is call our toll-free number to register to enter our drawing to purchase a cedar log home package at 50% off suggested retail. Yes, that's right...we are offering a cedar log home package for HALF PRICE. We will also be offering 2 additional log home packages at a 25% discount. These savings are truly amazing! Let's look at an example.
If you were to enter and win a log home package at 50% off, and you wanted to build our new Diamond Lake plan shown above, the package would ONLY be $39,250. Yes, that's correct, your cedar log home package would cost $39,250. The retail price of that package is $78,500. You would be saving almost $40,000 on your dream cedar log home.
To take this a step further, let's look at the overall cost to build the Diamond Lake. Without any discount, the Diamond Lake can be built for appoximately $140 a square foot. At 1,752 square feet, the Diamond Lake costs $245,000 to build excluding land, utilities, and driveways. With this special, you can build this beautiful cedar log home for ONLY $200,000. That brings the square footage price down to $114 per square foot. Those are prices comparable to the year 2000, and that's all equity in your new home.
So, how do you take advantage of this phenomenal savings? Simply call our corporate office and tell us you want to be eligible for our Fall Discount Days. On Thursday, September 24, we will randomly choose one entry to receive 50% off ANY cedar log home package. You can pick one of our standard plans, bring us your plan, or we will custom design the log home of your dreams. In addition, 2 more entries will be drawn to receive 25% off any cedar log home package.
This is an event you don't want to miss! If you would like to attend an Open House at one of our models, please click here for a schedule of September events.
800.661.5647 CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION
CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS APPLY
CLICK BELOW FOR YOU TUBE VIDEO ON LOG HOME BROKERS
Mountain Creations Log Home Brokers
Mountain Creations Log Homes is pleased to announce the launch of our
National Log Home Broker Program. MCLH is currently searching for
motivated individuals and businesses to join the Mountain Creations
family in Exclusive Regional Metropolitan Areas. Mountain Creations has
established this opportunity for national expansion and growth.
Unlike
the typical log home dealership programs offered by most companies in
the log home industry, Mountain Creations has created a National Log
Home Broker program which gives our Brokers more flexibility and
freedom to operate their business in accordance to the demands of their
local markets. MC Brokers will have the ability to set prices of their
log home packages while optimizing their profits.
For more information on the National Log Home Broker Program, visit LOG HOME BROKERS here.
Take a moment to explore the Mountain Creations web site and join the Log Home Academy
to see for yourself what sets apart MCLH from the rest. These links
will take you directly to the Log Home Academy of Mountain Creations
where you will have full access to information on where to begin, log
home podcasts, design ideas, photo galleries and the ability to
download our FREE LOG HOME PLAN BOOK.
The Author of this article knows the benefits of living in a log home.
After experiencing the benefits such as energy efficiency and
eco-friendliness, Abby explains the benefits of living in energy saving
log home to the world. When it comes to buying energy saving log homes
, Abby recommends
Mountain Creations Log & Timber Homes. As seen on
Article Base.
Energy Efficient from the Ground UpLog
homes are typically associated with quaint, isolated locations. These
hidden getaways are normally seen as more of a retreat than a living
space.
But, with the trend of going green rising and continuing to rise,
energy saving log homes
are making their ways into more populated locations. With building
resources available, like Mountain Creations Log & Timber Homes, it
has never been easier to build the “green” home of your dreams.
Most
of these energy saving log homes are built with Northern White Cedar
wood. This wood is notorious for being environmentally friendly since
it is one of the longest lasting and most durable building material
.
When you lower the impact that your home makes on the environment,
you’re making a small, but effective, step towards a cleaner, greener
world
.
Instead of spending your money on costly paint or siding for the
exterior of your home, let its beautiful natural finish shine through.
Who knew that giving back to the environment could end up saving you
money at the same time?
The energy efficiency doesn’t just stop
at your log home’s gorgeous exterior. With the option to incorporate
energy star panels, fixtures, and appliances into your home – the
decision to build an energy saving wood home can be just the beginning
of your positive impact on the environment. Once you start this
exciting change in your life, you’ll notice that you go green in
multiple ways – both in and out of your home. By getting in the “green”
mindset by making the decision to build a log home, you’ll open the door
to a plethora of opportunity.
Beauty Meets BrainsAside
from energy saving log homes being efficient and environmentally
friendly, they’re absolutely stunning. This investment will be one that
you, your family, and friends will cherish for years to come. Your home
is the most important place in your life. Whether you’re a newlywed,
beginning to raise your family, or looking to retire – building a
beautiful new log home can benefit you now and in the future.
In today's world of designer handbags, exclusive vacations and 60' yachts, the luxury home has become more of a mainstay than most would expect in this economy. Leading this trend is the new log home & timber frame hybrid. The log home industry has taken off with a new brand of living that includes infinite pools, movie theaters, granite countertops and custom designed beauty.
Log home and timber frame companies have joined forces to create a hybrid home that rivals the popularity and beauty of the most lavish homes around. Start building your dream home by educating yourself on what you need to know.
1. The quality of wood should be first on your list of priorities. Companies like Mountain Creations Custom Cedar Log & Timber Frame Homes use only the best by incorporating Northern White Cedar logs with a structurally sound Douglas Fir timber frame.
2. Choosing the right company is imperative to the success of your project. Choose a company that is knowledgeable and customer service oriented. Mountain Creations will hold your hand through the entire process whether you are DIY kind of person or want to move right in.
Combining old world architecture with innovative designs the log home & timber frame hybrid can offer some serious advantages to those who love the little extras.
If you are concerned about the effects on the environment, don't be! Mountain Creations Custom Cedar Log & Timber Frame Homes can help you go green by incorporating simple touches like Energy Star appliances & recycled flooring or give you an Energy Star rated house complete with Structural Insulation Panels and a sustainable Northern White Cedar siding. By using all natural elements in your home you are reducing the emissions that large manufacturing plants cause in most conventional home construction.
One of the most appealing characteristics of this new log & timber frame hybrid is the nostalgia & simple solitude of log home living combined with the allure of having your own Aspen getaway or lakefront estate. Spend your days living the hustle & bustle of everyday life a little easier knowing you have your own retreat to come home to.