These days, many homeowners are ‘going green’ when it comes to home renovations and improvements. I have been reading a lot about Recycled Plastic Lumber and am convinced of its benefits for both homeowners and the environment alike.
Recycled Plastic Lumber (RPL) is a recycled high-density polyethylene that comes in a variety of colors and lumber sizes. It will not rot, splinter or crumble and does not require painting. Though it cannot be used for structural purposes, it is perfectly suitable for fences, benches, decking and docks among other uses. It is resistant to paint and marker graffiti and because it does not require paint is more efficient than conventional lumber. RPL can be cut drilled or nailed using common woodworking tools making it an ideal material for most carpentry applications.
RPL is a better choice for docks, decks and boardwalks because it will not crack, split, rot or splinter. In fact, it is ideal for any outdoor applications where the environment is a factor. RPL is not treated like weather-treated lumber and therefore, does not secrete chemicals that can end up polluting surface and groundwater. RPL also resists oil and chemical stains and has ultraviolet protection to offer longer life under the sun.
I like the idea of having to cut down fewer trees for building purposes and I especially like the fact that RPL is made from recycled plastics. Because most folks tend to drink bottled water these days, there are millions of plastic water bottles being dumped in landfills all over the U.S. It is hard to find someone in public these days who is not carrying a plastic bottle full of water. If you consider how much space this entails, recycling plastic to make RPL is a great way to reduce the size of landfills in the future.
Whether climate change should or should not be a concern is irrelevant. When you consider that technology now offers a way to use less lumber and, at the same time, recycle plastic, it is hard to deny the practicality of this new lumber.
If you are going to be undertaking some outdoor renovations to docks, decks, fences or boardwalks, I recommend finding out more about Recycled Plastic Lumber first. It may be a great way for you to save money and the environment while adding beauty and value to your home.
It’s not just homeowners, EVERYONE is going green. It’s the new trend that no one ever thought would take off. I’m telling you going green is like the new black. Recycled Plastic Lumber sounds cool for the home. I may even consider trying that. I just went green so I’m always looking for more interesting ways to be productive in my new habit.
One of the most interesting changes I’ve made is switch to bioheat. I’m usually a rusty nail about things like this, but after I found out about it I was sold. OMG , and the awesome part about it is that you would never believe that it’s heating oil blended with organic materials like soybean oil. Sounds funky I know, but it does WONDERS during the winter. It definitely keeps my buns warm and toasty.
Working for NORA is what did the trick. Otherwise I would have never found out all of this cool info.
Check out
http://oilheatamerica.com/index.mv?screen=bioheat.
See if you can find fabulous tip that make your transition as easy as mine.
This may surprise you, but if you consider the true measure of a green product – life cycle analysis – pressure treated lumber outshines any other decking product.
Pressure treated lumber products are produced from plentiful, fast-growing trees from managed forests, not old-growth or rain forests. The process used to treat one popular brand, ProWood Micro CA, is the first to gain Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) status as certified by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). SCS is a third-party certification services and standards development company. EPA guidelines require that such products have reduced impacts on human health and the environment when compared to other products that serve the same purpose.
When you compare the total energy costs of different kinds of building materials – including the costs to acquire the raw material, transport it, process it into useful product and then actually use it – wood far outshines its competition.
Because it can stay in service for decades, using pressure treated lumber extends the wood resource. In North America, the use of pressure treated wood saves millions of trees from harvest each year. Plus, the process of making steel and plastic involves extraction of non-renewable resources, while trees are renewable, sustainable and abundant.
Composite decking – recycled or not – takes a tremendous amount of energy to produce. It’s very heavy so the transportation costs are big too.
Composites are fine products, and many use up a lot of post-consumer waste. I’m not trying to sway anyone to go one way or another but when analyzing a product’s sustainability credentials you have to look at the whole picture.