Hello! This is Episode 427. This is Way #27 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series, and we’re continuing through Section Six: Choosing Materials, Fixtures and Finishes.

In this section, I’m covering specific criteria for choosing the products, materials, fixtures and finishes for your future home. Last episode, in Episode 426, Way #26, I talked about choosing for longevity and durability, and the five financial costs of any material decision.

Way #27 is: Choose for Low Carbon Footprint.

[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/427]

Selecting your interior and exterior products and materials with this in mind can be one key way to improve the sustainability of your home, especially in the impact that lower embodied carbon can have over the lifetime of your home overall.

Calculating the embodied carbon of buildings has been occurring in other parts of the industry for some time now, especially in public and commercial projects. And now, I’m seeing this be considered in residential projects as well.

You (or your team) can now do formal carbon calculations that take into account the life cycle of any products and materials you’re using in your home. This measures the carbon used in material and product sourcing, manufacture and production, transport, installation and end of life as well.

As you can imagine, this can get quite involved, so it’s great to see carbon calculators making this simpler for homeowners, and manufacturers and suppliers discussing the carbon content of their products. From low carbon products such as timber, through to innovations in high carbon products like concrete to reduce its carbon content, you have lots of options.

As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/427.

Now, let's dive in!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:

For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/427

Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways

Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/

Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.