A lot of material goes into building or remodeling a home, and those materials can come from just about anywhere. Today, nails, screws and other fasteners are often made in China, and wood, even in heavily forested regions, typically comes from Canada or even overseas. The current shift toward green building practices, however, demands recognition of the environmental impact of transporting materials. The use of locally harvested or manufactured materials is essential to reducing a project's footprint, as evidenced by LEED's emphasis on the use of regional materials in its rating system.
Many building materials can be found regionally, from structural materials to kitchen fixtures. In addition to reducing the costs and pollution involved in long-distance transportation, buying regional materials supports the local economy and ensures that repairs or replacements are readily available in the future. Below are some valuable resources for finding regional materials in your area.
Products, Materiels, Homes and Manufacturers related to Regional Materials
Since 1981, Crossroads Recycled Lumber has employed sustainable building practices for both residential and commercial projects, most notably through... Continue Reading »
Trans-Ash Econo-Fill A Turnkey Solution Trans-Ash was founded in 1970 and has grown to a heavy equipment operating fleet. As the industry... Continue Reading »
In this day and age, green living has become more than chic… it’s essential. So, we at Green Home Improvement have compiled a... Continue Reading »
Recycled Barn Wood For Modern Beauty Black's Farmwood has been at it for more than a decade now. They reclaim wood from old decrepit... Continue Reading »
Boasting the Cradle-to-Cradle silver certification for all their natural stone products, Las Vegas Rock provides products for patios, gardens,... Continue Reading »
Building the Old-Fashioned Way One of the world's oldest building techniques, rammed earth has quickly gained favor with the advent... Continue Reading »
Ecoprocote was founded with the mission to adhere to green building standards. The company has grown to become a leading manufacturer... Continue Reading »
Handcrafted in Denmark, RAIS woodstoves feature attractively modern design. They also burn with incredible efficiency and produce... Continue Reading »
Locally-Sourced Lime PuttyAmerican Clay just announced the launch of their new lime putty, to be added to any of their line of wall plasters,... Continue Reading »
This beautiful flooring is suitable for kitchens and large halls, as well as for non-residential buildings. EnviroTRAZ, takes Terazzo... Continue Reading »
Once in a while, we overlook the obvious when it comes to sustainable homes--using pre-owned fixtures! There is so much effort put... Continue Reading »
Endurawood--wooden countertopsThere are so many great entries here about eco-friendly countertops, but what if you want the beautiful classic... Continue Reading »
Algoma Hardwoods has fully embraced their niche of the green building movement. Based in Algoma, Wisconsin, the company offers a full... Continue Reading »
Algoma Hardwoods came to life in 1947 as a manufacturer of fire doors and quickly integrated architectural doors into their portfolio. Available... Continue Reading »
Landscape pavers are generally thought of as being made from concrete, stone, or clay -- but there’s an alternative now, made from up... Continue Reading »