Green House Building Products

Rubber Shingles

• Slate is a roofing material with a long life. Eventually, though, it needs to be replaced, which is an expensive proposition. An alternative is recycled rubber shingles. Rubber shingles realistically mimic slate at a much lower cost, and they are made from recycled materials. Old car hoses and discarded tires are used in the manufacturing process, which has the added benefit of reducing the weight of the roof, compared with slate. Authentic slate often needs additional structural support, while rubber shingles do not. Rubber roofing lasts longer than asphalt, which is the most common type of shingle. Asphalt often carries a 10-year warranty, while some rubber shingles are warrantied for 50 years.

Engineered Wood

• Engineered wood is a wise choice for many construction applications. Engineered wood is compressed from wood chips and particles, which makes use of what is otherwise considered waste, explains carpentry and home improvement expert Bob Vila. Its fabrication gives it superior strength over traditional lumber because of the density and varying grains that result from the manufacturing. Old-growth trees are not necessary for its manufacture, so engineered wood does not deplete as much of the planet's natural resources as traditional lumber.

Bamboo Flooring

• Bamboo is strong, flexible and suitable for many indoor applications, especially flooring. Because it is a grass that grows to maturity in three years, bamboo is not in danger of being eradicated to produce flooring. Bamboo flooring is smooth and has a slight cushion underfoot. It installs the same way as common tongue and groove hardwood. Flooring is usually available in two shades; neither are stained. Natural bamboo is light yellow, similar to pine, and heating the grass during its manufacture causes it to darken, which offers a deeper color option.

Cellulose Insulation

• Cellulose insulation is blown by a machine into empty cavities in attics and walls, and it fills spaces more completely than rolls of insulation batting. It is extremely fire-retardant, and most varieties are made from more than three-fourths recycled materials, notes Planet Green, a website devoted to providing information about conserving natural resources. Chemicals are added to cellulose insulation to aid in fire resistance, but those chemicals are not toxic, even under extreme heat.