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Making eco-friendly choices when building or renovating your home can help reduce your carbon footprint. Your driveway is a significant part of your property, so considering sustainability when installing or replacing it is important. Here are some of the most environmentally friendly driveway options to consider for your home.
Permeable Paving
Permeable paving, sometimes called porous paving, is an excellent eco-friendly driveway choice. Unlike concrete which is impermeable, permeable paving allows rainwater to drain through small gaps between the pavers or blocks. This helps reduce stormwater runoff and flooding while recharging groundwater supplies.
There are a few types of permeable paving:
- Permeable concrete blocks – Concrete blocks with open, porous spaces that allow water drainage.
- Permeable asphalt – Open-graded asphalt that permits water to filter through.
- Plastic grid systems – Sturdy plastic grids filled with gravel or grass.
Permeable paving provides great environmental benefits. But it requires proper installation and maintenance to keep it working effectively.
Recycled Material Driveways
Using recycled materials is another way to make your driveway more eco-friendly. Some options include:
- Recycled concrete aggregate – Crushed concrete from demolition projects can be repurposed for driveways. This stops waste concrete from going to landfills.
- Recycled glass aggregate – Crushed recycled glass can replace gravel or sand. It’s a sustainable option as glass can be recycled repeatedly.
- Recycled plastic pavers – Plastic driveway pavers made from recycled plastics like milk bottles divert waste and reduce plastic use.
- Reclaimed brick or cobblestone – Relaid brick or cobbles give a heritage look with a recycled material.
Renewable Material Driveways
Some driveway paving materials are from renewable resources. Using these sustainable materials avoids depleting finite resources like quarried stone. Renewable options include:
- Wood – While not as durable as concrete or asphalt, wood offers an eco-friendly, renewable choice. Use sustainable harvested wood species.
- Bamboo – Bamboo can be pressed into tiles for attractive and sustainable driveways. It grows rapidly without pesticides.
- Cork – Granules of compressed cork make a seamless, soft-textured driveway surface that’s comfortable to walk on.
- Grasscrete – Concrete lattices with soil and grass in the openings provide a green driveway.
Resin Driveways
Resin-bound gravel is an attractive and eco-friendly driveway surface. It consists of decorative stone aggregates bound together with a clear resin. The resin binds the gravel firmly so it won’t shift or loosen over time. Resin-bound driveways installed by a driveways Solihull specialist allow rainwater to permeate through the gravel surface into the ground below. This prevents surface water run-off and localised flooding.
Available in a wide range of aggregate colours like slate, quartz and granite, resin-bound gravel gives a stylish finish. It’s a durable and permeable driveway solution that provides sustainability benefits compared to impermeable paving. With minimal maintenance required, resin-bound gravel is a great eco-driveway choice.
Choosing renewable or recycled materials reduces the eco-impact of your driveway installation. Speaking to a contractor about eco-friendly driveway options can help you pick the most suitable sustainable choice for your home and lifestyle. Investing in an environmentally friendly driveway is a smart way to reduce your carbon footprint.