Tired of having guests over who take one look at your living room and squeal, “Oh, you’ve been to IKEA!” and then roll their eyes in contempt of corporate deforestation? Then it’s time you checked into the idea of hiring a local, natural builder to craft some eco-friendly, unique add-ons for your home. In the last few decades, small crafting businesses have popped up around the country, offering hand-made, specialized domestic additions. And while their creations can be more expensive than the Swedish behemoth, they will generally last for generations, save you money (if they’re involved in energy creation or conservation), and bring years of satisfaction in an object well commissioned.
One such business, Acorn Enterprises, based in Mt. Horeb, WI, espouses a wide natural building philosophy that serves as a template for many similar craft shops:
- Build small: Do not worship the false god of square footage! Use the savings to buy higher quality interior finishes; you will enjoy high quality cabinets, built-ins, trim, stone countertops, etc. more than big rooms and big tax bills.
- Build for the ages: Use the most durable materials and processes to ensure your hard work will survive for many generations to enjoy.
- Recycle and Reuse: Utilize existing structures and materials whenever possible.
- Reduce life cycle energy inputs by choosing less processed materials, high quality windows and doors, roofing and superinsulation (which sounds bad, but is actually good).
- Avoid toxic chemicals, finishes, and products: a natural alternative exists for nearly every one.
- Orient buildings for solar gain and employ overhangs to provide shade in summer. Use windbreak trees and cluster buildings to create courtyards and sheltered passages. Provide more outdoor living areas.
- After these principles are considered, “go all the way” and utilize straw bale, straw/clay, cob, earthen plasters and other traditional natural techniques to create the “ultragreen” sustainable home.
Try ordering some custom-made, green add-ons for your home, and then, next time your friends come over, you’ll have a lot more to say about your furnishings than, “Yeah, we went to IKEA.”
Photo via Acorn Enterprises.