If you have been thinking about designing a forever home, you may have wondered about environmentally-friendly steps you can take to complete that goal. If you have, in fact, found yourself in such a position, the experts at Ecosmith Architecture and Consulting can teach you some of the ways that you can build a new residence to meet your unique specifications and provide information about some of the benefits of sustainable architecture.

One of the benefits of sustainable architecture is that using healthy building materials can potentially help you lessen the severity of allergic reactions or sensitivities. Many products that are used to build structures, including particle board, paint, and other materials, can contain chemicals that could lead to a negative reaction down the road. When using the aforementioned things to construct a building, you may also experience headaches or other irritations.

As a result, you may decide to stray away from using volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as you begin learning about the benefits of sustainable architecture. If you are looking to build in a way that may not produce the aforementioned results, looking for low to no VOC content is a good place to start. If you are unsure what you should or should not be using, asking a knowledgeable contractor about what is being utilized during the construction process is a great place to start. Inquiring about what type of primer, construction adhesives, and sealants are being used could provide the information you are searching for.

Building in such a way may also include using FSC-certified wood, which stands for the Forest Stewardship Council. This certification program was founded in 1993 in order to promote decision-making that is not only environmentally sound, but also economically prosperous and socially beneficial. Determinations are made based off of 10 principles and 57 criteria in order to properly manage the world's forests. Not only are there many benefits of sustainable architecture that you will personally experience, but paying attention to the specifics of how you build can also benefit the planet as a whole.

As you go about purchasing trim, plywood, lumber, and other wood fiber-based products, looking for the FSC trademark label is a good step to take in order to promote proper forestry efforts. As you can see, there are many benefits of sustainable architecture and countless resources as you begin learning more about thoughtful practices.

Aside from decisions when it comes to actually building your home or business, you will also need to think about how you want to go about purchasing the land on which you will build. "Critical area" boundaries are defined by planning and land use, and zoning will determine what, where, and how much you can build on a certain area of land. Close proximity to wetlands, streams, and other natural features may play a role in both residential and commercial architecture. There are many benefits to suitable architecture and having a base knowledge may help you see the most success.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of sustainable architecture, feel free to reach out. We are located at 353 Wallace Way NE #5 in Bainbridge Island, WA. Our phone number is 206-380-4910. Our service area also includes Bainbridge Island, Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Bremerton, Shoreline, WA. Contact us today to begin. We look forward to partnering with you.