eco-friendly techniques & materials

Good environmental stewardship is a core value for us at New Prairie Construction. By recycling, reusing salvaged materials, promoting energy efficiency, and using eco-friendly supplies, we strive to improve the quality of a structure’s livability and lessen impact on the environment.

 Did you know that construction debris accounts for over 60% of what is dumped into landfills? We take this statistic seriously and do all we can to reduce waste from our work. We sort cardboard, metal, and other materials for reuse and recycling. We donate usable supplies to our local Habitat for Humanity resale shop and to the Preservation and Conservation Association’s salvage warehouse. We contribute cabinetry, trim, appliances, fixtures, and architectural features such as trim and fireplace mantels.

Another health and environmental concern in the construction process is the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted from various materials. New Prairie encourages the use of natural, sustainable products, including bamboo and cork flooring, natural plasters, clay paint, and natural resin finishes. When standard paint products have to be used, we use low-VOC paints as often as possible.

At New Prairie we have always concerned ourselves with helping homeowners reduce energy loss in their houses. We address air infiltration by adding insulation, caulking, and replacing leaky windows and doors. We also advise customers on the use or purchase of energy-efficient equipment and appliances.

Because dust created during remodeling work may contain hazardous particles, several New Prairie staff have become certified lead abatement supervisors, and we are painstaking in protecting you from exposure. Using lead abatement site preparation techniques on every remodeling project not only ensures a safer working and living environment, it also creates a cleaner, more comfortable space for the duration of your project.

Our commitment to energy-efficient and sustainable construction led us to explore straw bale construction, and we decided to break new ground in Champaign-Urbana with the community’s first straw bale house, completed in 2005. This extremely energy-efficient house serves as one model for folks interested in building environmentally responsible custom homes.