The potential for the implementation eco-friendly and sustainable materials into domestic dwellinghouse construction are enormous. There are however constraints to a ‘pure’ approach including issues relating to practicality, maintenance and ultimately cost.

Consequently the methodologies upon which we gauge the inclusion of eco-friendly and sustainable, components are based upon a need for a balanced approach. This means trade-offs. When evaluating trade-offs it is important to consider the full life cycle of the component from the extraction of its’ raw materials, through the manufacturing process to its installation, its useful life within a building, and ultimately its potential for re-cycling or disposal . This situation is complicated by the fact that it is often impossible to consider the value of an individual component in isolation. Indeed often the true value of a component only becomes apparent when it is used sympathetically in conjunction with others to provide an integrated solution.

We have included a basic narrative of our company’s position in respect of the principal material that we often use in the construction of domestic dwellinghouses in Scotland.