Wooden windows or plastic windows which one is better for the environment? As society becomes ever more aware of the need to become more friendly to the global ecology, for a number of reasons, the question about just which type of window is better for the environment becomes important to consider. For one, certain waste products from window manufacturing can last hundreds or even thousands of years, so keep that in mind.
In looking at windows, it's important to understand that the issue with them usually never involves the glass contained within, because that material is almost completely organic in nature. Made from sand and its constituents, it poses little threat to the environment, quite frankly. However, depending on how they're manufactured, woods and plastics can present more of a burden though, it has to be said, wood is generally less so.
When it comes to plastic, no matter how it's used or made, there are a number chemicals used to manufacture polyvinyl chloride (plastics) that are toxic and not likely to be made less so in the coming years. Plastic also is generally non-biodegradable, at least as it's currently made on a large scale. Most such plastic windows, if they're not recycled, can last in a landfill for literally thousands of years.
Wooden windows, on the other hand -- especially when they're made from organically-grown and then processed wood -- can be significantly less burdensome to the environment. The cost of making a wooden window in an eco-friendly manner can be higher when compared to the cost of manufacturing a plastic window, but the benefit to the environment can be quite significant. The use of natural lacquers and preservative shellacs also helps to make wood attractive.
Given all of the considerations that need to be looked at when it comes to wood versus plastic when it comes to just which would be better for the environment, the issue of how easy each is to recycle is probably the most important issue to examine. When disposed of properly, plastic can be recycled as easily as wood, but it isn't biodegradable and the chemicals used to make it are toxic to the environment. Wood degrades, and if it's made organically, it isn't dangerous to the environment, either.
So, then; the question at hand (wooden windows or plastic windows which one is better for the environment?) would seem to be easy enough to answer. At present, there's really no way to make plastics nearly as safe for the environment as wood can be, especially when natural processes are used to cull, cut, shape and then join the woods used for the frame. It would seem, then, that wooden windows are better for the environment, generally speaking.
In looking at windows, it's important to understand that the issue with them usually never involves the glass contained within, because that material is almost completely organic in nature. Made from sand and its constituents, it poses little threat to the environment, quite frankly. However, depending on how they're manufactured, woods and plastics can present more of a burden though, it has to be said, wood is generally less so.
When it comes to plastic, no matter how it's used or made, there are a number chemicals used to manufacture polyvinyl chloride (plastics) that are toxic and not likely to be made less so in the coming years. Plastic also is generally non-biodegradable, at least as it's currently made on a large scale. Most such plastic windows, if they're not recycled, can last in a landfill for literally thousands of years.
Wooden windows, on the other hand -- especially when they're made from organically-grown and then processed wood -- can be significantly less burdensome to the environment. The cost of making a wooden window in an eco-friendly manner can be higher when compared to the cost of manufacturing a plastic window, but the benefit to the environment can be quite significant. The use of natural lacquers and preservative shellacs also helps to make wood attractive.
Given all of the considerations that need to be looked at when it comes to wood versus plastic when it comes to just which would be better for the environment, the issue of how easy each is to recycle is probably the most important issue to examine. When disposed of properly, plastic can be recycled as easily as wood, but it isn't biodegradable and the chemicals used to make it are toxic to the environment. Wood degrades, and if it's made organically, it isn't dangerous to the environment, either.
So, then; the question at hand (wooden windows or plastic windows which one is better for the environment?) would seem to be easy enough to answer. At present, there's really no way to make plastics nearly as safe for the environment as wood can be, especially when natural processes are used to cull, cut, shape and then join the woods used for the frame. It would seem, then, that wooden windows are better for the environment, generally speaking.
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