Evy Coe
If you’re after a new shed, the chances are that you enjoy being outside and want to look after your natural environment. A great to do this is to make your new shed an eco-shed. And even if the outdoor life isn’t for you, doing your bit to make your home eco-friendly is no bad thing.
Building an eco-shed doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Follow these 4 steps to get a shed that helps to reduce damage and support the environment.
1. Choose your shed material carefully
When it comes to shed materials, wood is the most eco-friendly option as it’s a natural material. But to make sure that using wood for your shed doesn’t add to deforestation, ensure you get timber that’s FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) verified. This proves that it’s from a sustainable and ethical source. Or alternatively, use recycled wood. Both of these options help to preserve the number of trees on the planet.
You should also try to source your wood locally, if possible. This will reduce the amount of carbon emissions involved in getting your wood from the source to your garden.
2. Create natural lighting
Another way to make your new shed an eco-shed is to maximise its natural lighting. Fit some roof windows if you can – these are a great way to let in as much natural light as possible. Large, multiple windows in your shed walls are also a good option. Maximising the amount of natural light in your home will help to reduce the amount of electricity you use lighting your shed artificially.
3. Insulate wisely
If you’re mainly going to be using your shed for storage purposes, it probably doesn’t matter what temperature it is. But if it’s somewhere that you’re going to be spending a lot of time in, you want to make sure that it’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Insulating your shed is a great way to do this. It will regulate your shed’s temperature and reduce the amount of electricity you use heating it up and cooling it down. Try to use recycled materials for your insulation if possible or materials that can be recycled in the future.
4. Be picky with your paint
You should also think carefully about any paint you use on your eco-shed. Avoid paints with high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or heavy metals in them. These are made using non-sustainable resources and their manufacture produces around 30 litres of toxic waste per litre of paint.
Instead, try to pick paints with more natural ingredients in. The best ‘eco paints’ are compostable and have a low-carbon or carbon-neutral production process. Just make sure that they’re still suitable for outdoor use if necessary – you wouldn’t want to invest in eco paint only to see it wash off.
Following these 4 tips should help you to create a top quality eco-shed for your garden.
