There are several reasons why you should think about using green building materials for your projects, whether you’re a contractor or a property owner.
To reduce the project’s environmental impact, companies, contractors, and homeowners are transitioning to alternative, sustainable materials. Investing in a green building project will lower carbon emissions while improving the company’s reputation as an ecologically conscious organization.
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What Are Green Building Materials?
Green building materials, often known as eco-friendly materials, are those used in construction that have little negative environmental impact. Instead of non-renewable resources, they are made of renewable ones. These ought to be organic and resistant to heat, humidity, and cold.
The purpose of employing green building materials is to create energy-efficient buildings and to develop those buildings, one needs to be knowledgeable about the various green building materials, their qualities, and how they help to conserve energy.
Green Materials for Building Construction
Here are some sustainable and green materials for building construction
- Bamboo
- Precast Concrete Slabs
- Cork
- Straw Bales
- Recycled Plastic
- Reclaimed Wood
- Reclaimed or Recycled Steel
- Plant-based Polyurethane Rigid Foam
- Sheep’s Wool
- Rammed Earth
- HempCrete
- Mycelium
- Ferrock
- Timbercrete
- Terrazzo
- Composite Roofing Shingles
- Stone
- Cob
- Adobe Brick
- Cordwood
- Earth Bags
- Smart Glass Windows
1. Bamboo
One of the most environmentally friendly building materials is bamboo. It grows extremely quickly and is the fastest-growing plant on the planet, with some specimens reportedly reaching heights of three feet in just 24 hours.
Furthermore, unlike trees, bamboo doesn’t require replanting after harvest to continue spreading and growing. It also grows on every continent except Antarctica and Europe because it is a perennial grass and not a tree.
Additionally, the strength-to-weight ratio is high. Bamboo is two to three times stronger than hardwoods like oak and steel, both of which have tensile strengths of 23,000 pounds per square inch (PSI).
Naturally, that also means that it is more durable and stronger than brick and concrete, and will endure considerably longer than either. Because of this, bamboo is a sustainable material that is also sturdy enough to be used for flooring, cabinets, and other things.
However, even as we get ready for the move, it’s important to remember that bamboo needs to be treated to fight decay and insects. It includes starch, which if not treated, can attract insects quite well.
2. Precast Concrete Slabs
Precast concrete slabs are the other choice we ought to take into account when developing. These slabs are created at a manufacturer’s location and then delivered to construction sites in whole portions. Some, like concrete blocks, are built entirely of concrete and have substantial empty air holes.
Precast concrete slabs can withstand a variety of weather conditions, making them ideal for walls and building facades. Some slabs can also be used for floors and flat roofs.
Concrete slabs are a cost-effective building material and a great technique to manage heat inside a structure. Precast concrete slabs are also more environmentally friendly than many standard concrete solutions because they frequently require less energy to make and build.
Instead of exposing the material to unfavorable weather conditions while curing at a construction site, precasting concrete enables the material to cure properly in a controlled environment. Precast concrete slabs prevent fissures and structural issues with the concrete as a result, as well as potential demolitions.
3. Cork
The third green building material on our list is cork. It grows just as quickly as bamboo, which is a similar characteristic. Additionally, a living tree can be used to harvest this material, and as it grows, the tree will continue to produce cork. That contrasts with timber, where trees must be felled.
The substance has outstanding qualities that make it the ideal building material. Even after being subjected to sustained pressure, it is flexible and resilient and returns to its original shape.
In fact, due to its durability and tenacity, it is frequently used in floor tiles. Additionally, cork has good noise absorption properties, making it ideal for insulating sheets, and has excellent shock absorption characteristics, making it ideal for subflooring.
But it doesn’t stop there; because it’s fire resistant, especially if left untreated, and doesn’t burn toxically, it can also serve as a strong thermal insulator. Furthermore, this substance does not absorb water or decompose because it is almost impenetrable to it.
But there is a condition.
It’s hard to find cork everywhere. Because it can only be obtained in the Mediterranean, shipping it is somewhat expensive. Because of its incredible lightness, shipping only uses a small amount of energy and produces fewer pollutants.
4. Straw Bales
Straw bale is another environmentally friendly building material that may be utilized in a range of construction applications, although few people may choose to use it.
The substance can serve as a soundproofing substance and has strong insulating qualities. The material is an excellent choice for keeping the house cool during the hot summer months and may be used on walls, attics, and ceilings. Straw bales can also be collected and replanted with little harm to the environment.
The material can quickly catch fire, so you’ll need to use additional caution when working with it. This is another significant drawback. Other than that, it makes a terrific building material for individuals who seek a better world in the future.
5. Recycled Plastic
Concrete is being produced by manufacturers utilizing recycled plastic and other ground-up waste rather than sourcing, mining, and milling new components for buildings.
Instead of filling landfills and adding to plastic pollution, the practice lowers greenhouse gas emissions and finds a new market for waste plastic. Additionally, polymeric timbers made from a mixture of recycled and new plastic are used to create fences, picnic tables, and other constructions while simultaneously conserving trees.
Two-liter bottle plastic can be spun into fiber and used to make carpets. Products like cable pipes, roofs, floors, PVC manholes, and PVC windows can all be made from recycled plastic.
6. Reclaimed Wood
One of the most eco-friendly ways to save trees and reduce the amount of timber in landfills is to use recycled wood. Reclaimed wood is available in salvage yards, shipping crates, pallets, excavating businesses, renovated homes, and retired barns.
Reclaimed wood works well for flooring, cabinets, and structural framework. Because of its low strength and small weight, each component should be evaluated for integrity before being selected for a given project.
The majority of wood is also vulnerable to insects and deterioration, necessitating reinforcing and further treatment.
7. Reclaimed or Recycled Steel
Steel can be utilized in place of wood during the framing process to increase a structure’s resistance to earthquakes and strong winds. Building a 2,000-square-foot home requires the equivalent of 50 trees, yet only six junk vehicles are needed to make a steel frame.
Steel is entirely recyclable, which greatly lessens the environmental impact of new buildings. Aluminum and steel products require a lot of energy to mine, heat, and shape, but properly and effectively reusing or recycling them into new products reduces the energy requirement and increases the sustainability of the material.
Additionally, recycled metal is durable and does not need to be replaced frequently. Recycled steel also doesn’t wrap or burn. It is ideal for roofing, building facades, and structural support as a result. Naturally, repurposed steel is also resistant to water and pests.
8. Plant-based Polyurethane Rigid Foam
For a very long time, rigid foam has been utilized in buildings. It was originally employed after a renowned surfboard material producer received a fine from the EPA and lost business as a result of utilizing a harmful ingredient.
The business of making surfboards was revitalized by the use of plant-based polyurethane rigid foam, which was produced from hemp, kelp, and bamboo. It is now used in the production of furniture and turbine blades, among other things. The substance can be utilized for insulation because it is hard and largely immobile.
It also provides defense against pests and mold. Additionally, it can be the ideal sound insulation material and is heat-resistant as well as pest and mold-resistant.
9. Sheep’s Wool
An excellent substitute for chemical-filled insulation is sheep’s wool. It uses less energy to manufacture and insulates the home just as well as traditional insulation. Sheep’s wool can soundproof your building and improve energy efficiency.
Sheep’s wool is more prevalent, easier to gather, and regenerates more quickly than some other insulation materials like straw and some natural insulators like cotton. It also does not decay nearly as quickly as those materials, like straw.
Sadly, it is not the most inexpensive insulator. Additionally, it needs to be treated to keep off insects and stop the development of fungi. Depending on the chemicals employed, such treatment can render sheep’s wool less environmentally friendly.
10. Rammed Earth
Rammed earth is a technology that has been used for thousands of years and has lasted a very long time throughout human civilization. Natural materials like chalk, earth, gravel, or lime can be compacted to form sturdy foundations, floors, and walls. This method is popular and reasonably priced.
It produces walls that seem like concrete when compacted firmly in wooden forms. Rebar or bamboo are used to make rammed earth buildings safer or more robust.
The amount of labor necessary to build robust walls can be considerably decreased through mechanical tampering. When utilized as thermal storage, rammed earth walls and floors allow the sun to warm them during the day and gradually release the warmth during the cooler evenings.
11. HempCrete
It is made from the woody core fibers of the hemp plant and resembles concrete. Lime is used to bind the fibers together, resulting in strong, lightweight structures that resemble concrete.
Because hemp concrete blocks are light, less energy is required to transport them. Hempcrete is strong, provides high acoustic and thermal insulation, and is fire-resistant.
The fact that it is CO2 negative, or that it absorbs more CO2 than it releases, is also one of its most sustainable qualities. The resource itself, hemp, is quickly expanding and regenerative.
12. Mycelium
It is a naturally occurring building material. The mycelium that makes up the roots of fungi and mushrooms is a naturally occurring unicellular creature. In molds or forms, it might be coaxed to grow around a composite of other organic elements, like ground-up straw. To produce robust and lightweight bricks or other shapes, it is then air dried.
Mycelium could be shaped into virtually any shape and used as a remarkably durable building material when combined with pasteurized sawdust. There is a chance to produce bricks and distinctively shaped building components that are sturdy yet lightweight.
The mushroom-based building material is an organic and compostable substitute for home insulation, Styrofoam, and even concrete because it can resist high temperatures.
You currently cannot live in (or insure) one because this new technology has not yet entered the mainstream. According to mycologists, mycelium can be more durable than concrete. Since mycelium is portable, once it becomes more common, homeowners may pay less for it.
13. Ferrock
It is a relatively new substance, and it makes use of recycled resources like ferrous rock left over from industrial processes, which is often disposed of in landfills, or steel dust from the steel industry.
It produces a building material that resembles concrete but is stronger than the actual concrete. Additionally, as it dries and hardens, carbon dioxide is trapped and absorbed. As a result, ferrock is carbon neutral and significantly less CO2 intensive than conventional concrete.
It can be mixed with water and poured to create driveways, stairways, pathways, and other constructions. It is a suitable substitute for cement. According to some scientists, ferrock is more resistant to the elements than concrete.
14. Timbercrete
This is a unique building material comprised of a sawdust-concrete mixture. It has fewer transportation emissions and is lighter than concrete. Additionally, the sawdust recycles trash and takes the place of some of the labor- and energy-intensive elements of conventional concrete. Additionally, wood concrete might be shaped into classic forms like pavers, bricks, and blocks.
15. Terrazzo
Small chunks of marble or granite are put in polished concrete or epoxy resin to create a mosaic-style floor. Terrazzo floors can remain brilliant for up to 40 years with proper maintenance. The original terrazzo was laid in cement and was inspired by Italian art from the 20th century.
Today, epoxy resin is used to create 90% of terrazzo floors. A business like Terrazzo & Marble Supply Company creates “forever floors” from their epoxy, which includes recycled glass, beer bottles, marbles, porcelain, brass, aluminum, and zinc.
Although terrazzo flooring may cost more than carpeting, carpeting will need to be changed. Contrarily, terrazzo flooring has a lifespan of more than 40 years, making it a sustainable building material.
Additionally, you can create the floor of your choice and utilize the color of your choice before pouring the terrazzo into place. It produces simple-to-clean floors that can be installed in busy places like stadiums, airports, and schools.
16. Composite Roofing Shingles
Construction materials require a lot of resources to be managed and replaced continuously. Because they require so much maintenance, common roof tile types like wood shakes and asphalt shingles that constantly rise, fracture, and fade can become energy guzzlers in terms of allowing air and moisture to enter and exit the home.
The preferable choice would be composite roofing shingles because they require less maintenance while maintaining the natural appearance of more traditional materials.
17. Stone
Living in a stone building is low maintenance and environmentally friendly, and any leftover stone from the construction may be used to finish the home with countertops or tile.
Stone is a naturally occurring material, so there are no more resources required to make it when you build with it. It also doesn’t emit any toxic substances or harmful chemicals into the interior of your home. Because stone is stunning on its own, you’ll also save on paint and finish, and the reliability of stone structures makes it an easy building to insure.
Over time, stone requires little upkeep and cleaning, so homeowners will incur few fees. This material should perform well in a natural disaster because it is fire resistant, works well in many temperatures, and is durable.
18. Cob
Cob is a natural building material that even beginners may use to create their own eco-friendly home. Cob is a type of mud created from a variety of organic materials, including soil, sand, straw, and occasionally even lime.
Cob houses often have a lovely and whimsical appearance, much like the Hobbit houses in The Lord of the Rings. Cob houses do require more time to build than conventional homes, and you’ll also need to keep an eye on the humidity level to avoid mold growth and other health issues.
Since most house insurers view cob homes as high-risk, it could be more challenging to find coverage via conventional carriers. A cob home can be built for almost one-tenth of the price of a conventional dwelling. Cob homes’ slower rate of heat transmission aids in better temperature control, allowing owners to reduce their reliance on electricity.
19. Adobe Brick
Brick made of adobe is another conventional building material that is both old and environmentally friendly. Clay and straw are used to make adobe bricks, which are common in the Middle East and the Americas. Additionally, adobe insulation helps maintain stable indoor temperatures, just like other natural materials.
The Southwest region of the United States is where this architectural style is most prevalent. The majority of home insurance providers classify adobe dwellings as having masonry structures, which means that the material is thought to be non-combustible and simple to insure.
When a home is situated next to a busy street or a bustling business district, natural noise protection can be a significant selling advantage. Adobe home designers can get inventive with shapes and angles since the sun-dried mud bricks are easily cut and altered.
20. Cordwood
Consider using cordwood to build your cottage if you want it to be warm and inviting. This variation on a log cabin is constructed of logs that range in size from 40 to 60 percent wood. A mortar mixture that serves as insulation makes up the remaining building materials.
While it is possible to construct a cordwood home without using a general contractor, difficulties could occur if you attempt to obtain insurance and lack the necessary licenses. You shouldn’t have any trouble receiving insurance from most providers if you make sure your home is constructed according to the regulations for masonry homes.
The low price of cordwood is well known. Because it was so inexpensive and simple to build, cordwood masonry was very common during the Great Depression. When constructed properly, cordwood homes may simply be converted to passive solar home designs and offer excellent insulation against heat and cold.
21. Earth Bags
This natural substance, also known as sandbags, is comprised of (mainly) soil that is then packed into bags and stacked on top of one another in a manner akin to bricklaying. Earthbag dwellings, also known as rammed earth homes, are normally constructed in a trench and raised from there before being plastered with stucco or adobe.
The major issues with earthbag homes are the legality and permits required for construction, coupled with finding an insurer willing to cover your home because these constructions are seen as alternative buildings.
Earthbag homes offer natural insulation that is healthier for the health of the occupants and are filled with lightweight materials (such as crushed volcanic stone or rice hulls). Since these dwellings are constructed from bags of earth, using local earth for the natural combination will help the construction be as environmentally friendly as possible.
22. Smart Glass Windows
Wide windows have become a prominent environmental trend in recent years, allowing more natural light to enter a space while lowering the need for electric lighting.
It is impossible to emphasize the benefits of this construction style, but by using smart glass for the windows, the benefits can be amplified. “Smart glass” is an innovative material that changes its thermal properties based on how heat and air conditioning are delivered within the house.
Conclusion
Construction, known as “green building,” makes use of largely natural and renewable resources. In addition to having a truly stunning design, these buildings also have safety features and benefits for thermal efficiency.
The materials you choose will affect your house insurance policy, so keep that in mind. It can be challenging to secure insurance for unusual homes if they can even be insured at all.
Forward-thinking house insurers may reduce your rate by as much as 5 to 10% if you employ natural building techniques to reduce your home’s energy usage.
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A passion-driven environmentalist by heart. Lead content writer at EnvironmentGo.
I strive to educate the public about the environment and its problems.
It has always been about nature, we ought to protect not destroy.