Remodeling House Ideas: Designed For The Future Part 1

Remodeling House Ideas : Designed For The Future Part 1

Rob Clarke, managing director from Lodgico, advises on the benefits of building o flat pack home

Everywhere you look there seems to be an ever increasing interest in environmentally sustainable homes. We are all more conscious of our carbon footprint and the emissions we release into the atmosphere. Perhaps this is why there is a growing interest in flat pack log homes. Could these be the ideal solution for green living in an
economy where first time buying is becoming an unobtainable target?

Flat pack houses are becoming one of the fastest growing products in the housing market, and there are many reasons why. The three main advantages of flat-pack homes are that the systems are very affordable, they are relatively easy to put together, and they are last to build. Not only that, but as all of the components are pre-made in the Factory, the standard of manufacture is usually very high.

Rising numbers of eco-conscious house hunters are also encouraging the industry into these uncharted waters, particularly with the added pressure of meeting the government's target for new homes to be zero carbon from
2016. The definition of zero carbon currently used is contained in level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, a national standard produced by the Building Research Establishment. This is one of the most stringent regimes in the world demanding that all emissions from the home and any activities that take place within it
have a net zero carbon impact over the course of a year.

The economic benefits with flat pack homes are clear: it takes only a few hours to erect the shell of one of these homes so labour charges are kept to an absolute minimum. There are substantial environmental benefits, not least the fact that the construction process produces little waste.

By using the sustainable material of raw wood, energy sources are spared rather than exploited. Very little energy is required in wood production: the drying process uses heat from an eco friendly waste recycling plant which does not require the use of fossil fuels or nuclear energy. Solid timber is also naturally waterproof and regulates the humidity of the air in the home, helping to generate an atmosphere that is purer and fresher, so it comes as no surprise to hear that this type of accommodation is strongly recommended for those suffering from asthma or respiratory problems.

Compared to lighter construction materials wood stores free solar energy, especially in spring and autumn when the sun is low on the horizon. It warms up the log walls and this warmth is slowly released during the night through the walls of the house, saving on heating bills. In summer it works the other way as the eaves and porch canopies protect the house from the heat of the overhead sun and the coolness of the summer nights is stored in the massive wood walls which then maintain the interior temperature at a pleasant level even on the
hottest days.