In this day and age, we have no choice but to be more environmentally aware, after all, global warming is something that will affect future generations. Policymakers and eco-friendly campaigners have done a sound job in bringing environmental issues to the fore and making recycling easier. With the rising cost of landfill and the knowledge that in some areas of the US approximately 30% of all landfill waste derives from the demolition and construction of property, there is a growing trend for more ecologically-friendly building practices. One such practice that is on the increase is "deconstruction".

Deconstruction is the practice of taking properties apart piece by piece and reusing the salvaged materials. Approximately 1000 homes are deconstructed each year by environmentally aware property owners. In most cases, the cost of deconstruction is not too much higher than the cost of demolition and many property owners who have their property deconstructed recover the additional costs by selling the materials by reaping a substantial tax reduction by donating the materials to the growing number of reuse stores.

As well as the environmental benefits, using recycled materials purchased from reuse stores is a cost effective way of developing properties in need of repair. As I discussed in a previous article, "Recycling Houses: How to Make a Profit While Helping to Save the Environment" many property investors are opting to purchase houses in areas of urban decay to refurbish for profit. More and more of these investors are coming around to the idea of using recycled materials for their projects, increasing their profit margins and ensuring their project is even more environmentally friendly.

My company, Cheap Investments, has been following several projects all over the US where people have successfully deconstructed their properties and rebuilt them almost entirely from recycled materials. Paul Pedini, used recycled concrete recovered from the city to save $200,000 on building materials. Alice Keeler, deconstructed her house and built a new one with 90% of the materials coming from the original structure.

It might sound like an awfully difficult thing to do, but with housing material recycling growing in popularity, finding suitable materials is becoming easier. There are many salvage organisations who offer tax deductions for donations of housing materials. One such organisation, Habitat For Humanity, has stores in 45 US states where property developers can purchase recycled materials. Many developers report that they enjoy going to recycling stores because they never know what bargains they will find. One developer in Detroit told us "It's fun. If you go to a DIY store, you know you'll get what you need if you are willing to pay the price. Finding recycled materials can be a challenge, but when you find what you need for a fraction of the cost, it gives you a huge sense of achievement".

Ecologically friendly property development isn't easy, however, the benefits for the environment and the reduction in costs to property developers should not be underestimated. Coupled with the benefits for the development of properties in areas of urban decay that I discussed in "Recycling Houses: How to Make a Profit While Helping to Save the Environment", deconstruction could play a significant role in changing the urban landscape and creating a lot of wealthy property investors!

Jay Neaves - Author and transatlantic property development consultant.
http://www.cheapinvestments.co.uk
Jay Neaves is the owner of Cheap Investments, a UK and Detroit based consultancy business helping match investors with suitable properties to refurbish. We also offer a comprehensive property management service for our clients who wish to resell or rent out their properties.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Neaves
http://EzineArticles.com/?House-Recycling---Environmentally-Friendly-Property-Development&id=2380929