Benefits to Pocketbook and Environment

One of the biggest costs in construction is the purchase of the materials used at the site.  To save money, more and more builders are turning to the reuse of existing materials.  The procedure is better for the environment as well.  Some beautiful structures have been recently built not from just scrap building material, but from recycled products that were originally manufactured for entirely different purposes.  Take for example the Buddhist Temple shown above.

It was constructed in Thailand from over a million old bottles and people marvel at its beauty.  Houseboats have been hauled onto land where they now serve as homes.  A mountain resort has been erected by the rebuild of a vintage airplane.  Many imaginative uses have been made of recycled products to make new structures.

Glass bottles make particularly good building material.  They are durable, strong, and allow light to pass through.  These very qualities however render them an environmental threat if simply tossed aside.  They will take ages to decay though they can easily shatter into sharp and dangerous pieces.  These are often hard to detect because their transparent nature can make them hard to see allowing unwary people and animals to be harmed by their cutting edges.  While there are not a large number of structures constructed entirely from bottles, it is becoming fashionable to use them in place of windows of regular glass.  Such apertures will refract the sunlight passing through giving a unique glow to the interior.

Silos, Cans, Shipping Containers and More

Many rural regions contain silos for grain storage that are no longer needed for such a function.  The structures themselves remain perfectly functional and can be turned into housing.  The circular form can prove an architectural delight allowing for unusual use of interior space.  This is one of the cheapest forms of home building around.  The resulting home will be eco friendly and make a personal statement about the owner’s commitment to the environment.  They are a fun place to live to boot.

Cans may also play a role in home building.  People have been adding aluminum siding to their houses for years.  Cans will accomplish the same thing, and they will provide a more decorative surface with more interesting patterns.

With the mushrooming of global trade, the world is now awash with shipping containers.  Many are sadly strewn onto empty lots where they corrode and leave an unsightly look to the area.  Others however are being adapted for use as low cost housing.  They are converted into office space in some instances or find myriad other uses.  Their rectangular nature allows them to function much like gigantic Leggos.  They can be stacked atop one another to create a building of any size desired.

Used tires are another product that often litters the landscape.  Packed tightly with compacted earth however, they are an extremely strong material for building.  Structures made from them will be well insulated from heat and cold.

More information on recycled materials may be found at Securr Trash Cans.