These materials will lower your cottage's carbon footprint

INSULATING YOUR COTTAGE saves energy. But what about the energy that went into manufacturing that fibreglass or extruded polystyrene in the first place? If you’re trying to reduce energy use and carbon emissions as you travel to the cottage and use it, you should also pay attention to embodied carbon—the emissions from manufacturing, transporting, installing, and disposing of building materials. Cement and concrete, metals, and plastics are generally high-emissions building materials, but there are alternatives with lower embodied carbon. Portland limestone cement Producing concrete and Portland cement contributes up to nine per cent of all human CO2 emissions. But there is an easy alternative to standard Portland cement. Portland limestone cement just has more limestone—it costs the same, performs the same, and is widely available. Plus, making it emits 10 per cent less…