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The term “greenwashing”, which refers to the misleading of consumers or exaggerating about a company or a product’s environmental status, is being used more often now that everyone wants to get a share of the green pound.

So InsideOut Buildings have come up with a five point plan for choosing sustainable materials:

1. PVC Windows
Although double glazed windows do save energy, manufacturing them also uses a lot of energy. To solve this problem, buy from a local joinery and check the wood comes from renewable forests.

2. Wooden cladding and flooring
There is often the assumption that wood is always eco-friendly but products are often pressure treated and imported, both which use unnecessary energy. To avoid this, try to source untreated wood from local woods.

3. Insulation
Look at the manufacturing process before choosing insulation material. Can it be recycled? Has it been imported?

4. Green and living roofs
Although they can be eco-friendly and can be highly effective on larger buildings, green roofs require at least 600 mm of soil to achieve a practical level of insulation.

5. Wind Turbines
Current technology means that a small urban turbine will probably generate less energy than it takes to make it. “Instead, use low energy light bulbs, don’t leave equipment on standby and insulate your home properly.”

What to read more about eco-friendly issues?