Introduction
Building a fence does not have to be a negative experience from the perspective of the environment. In fact, you can use your new fence as an opportunity to build something beautiful that will last for years and years—all while being environmentally responsible. There are many ways in which fences can be constructed, and they come in all different heights and sizes. This guide will cover some of the products you may want to consider using when building your new fence.
1.Use FSC-certified Wood
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is an international organization that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC-certified wood is a good choice for building a fence because it is sustainable, renewable and non-toxic.
It’s important to know that FSC certification does not guarantee that your wood comes from sustainably managed forests. A sign of a good builder using FSC-certified materials is if they are able to provide you with certificates that show where your timber came from and what type of tree it was – and this should be available upon request by customers.
2.Use a Non-Toxic Stain or Paint
- Use a non-toxic stain or paint.
- Bio-based or non-toxic stains are available, but more expensive than traditional products.
- Examples of these include:
- Cedar Barrels (http://www.cedarbarrels.com/)
- Earth Safe Stain (http://evapoartistsnetwork.org/ecosafe_stain)
3.Avoid Using Plastic and Synthetic Materials
- Avoid Using Plastic and Synthetic Materials
As we have discussed in previous articles, plastic is one of the most harmful materials used in building a garden fence. It releases toxic chemicals into the environment and can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. The best way around this is to use wood, stone and other natural materials instead. If you are using recycled material for your garden fence building project then it will be easier on the environment as well as being cheaper than using new materials that would otherwise need to be manufactured from scratch. Similarly if you use renewable resources such as bamboo or wood from your own backyard then there will be no waste left behind after construction has been completed which means less pollution released into our atmosphere! Finally, try using non-toxic paints even if they cost more money initially because over time this extra expense will pay off when you don’t have any nasty chemicals coating your fence posts anymore!
4.Use Local Products and Services
- Use Local Products and Services
When you buy local products, you are supporting the local economy. If you hire a local company to do work for you, then the money spent on their services will go back into your community. You can also use local resources like recycled lumber or other materials that won’t harm the environment in any way. You should always try and use labor from within your area as well because this helps support those who need jobs most during hard economic times and allows them to provide for themselves and their families without having to move away from where they grew up in search of work elsewhere (which is what often happens with migrant workers).
5.Renewable-Energy Powered Tools
If you want to be as green as can be, why not opt for tools that run on renewable energy? You can buy them from a hardware store or make your own. If you have the skills, it’s easy to build solar-powered tools yourself. But if not, there are plenty of pre-made options available online at places like Amazon and Walmart. These include:
- Solar Powered Fence Post Driver
- Cordless Drill/Driver with Lithium Ion Battery Pack
- Handheld Leaf Blower with Rechargeable Battery
6.Create a Garden on Your Fence!
A great way to build a green fence is to create a garden on your fence! You can do this by planting plants that are native to the area, hardy, easy to maintain, drought tolerant and low maintenance. These types of plants will require less water than other types of plants.
While there are many different types of fences you could use for your garden, including bamboo or split rail fencing that is eco-friendly as well as beautiful!
Building a fence can be environmentally friendly and beautiful
Building a fence can be a great way to make your home more environmentally friendly. You can build it from FSC-certified wood, you can use non-toxic stain or paint, avoid using plastic and synthetic materials, use local products and services, and even use renewable-energy powered tools!
FSC-certified wood is from wood that has been harvested in an environmentally responsible manner. It’s also important to choose the right kind of lumber because some types of lumber are treated with chemicals such as arsenic that might harm the environment when they decompose into soil. Instead of using pressure treated (PT) lumber—which means it has been soaked in preservative—choose naturally durable species like cedar or redwood as opposed to plywood sheets instead of PT treated plywood sheets which contain formaldehyde; another harmful chemical used during manufacturing process. Also avoid using plastic wherever possible: plastic tends not biodegrade naturally while other materials break down into smaller pieces over time which makes them easier for plants to absorb nutrients from them when put into compost piles rather than landfills where they don’t decompose fully until thousands years later!
Conclusion
As you can see, building a “green” fence is easier than ever. While wood is still the most common choice for fences and other structures, there are many other options for sustainable materials that look great. Furthermore, using nontoxic stains or paints will help keep your fence in tip-top shape for years to come without polluting our precious environment with harmful chemicals. If you need more inspiration about how to build green, check out this list of green fence ideas from HGTV!