Sustainable Building Materials

Traditional construction materials are widely known as bricks, concrete and wood. Their regular use within the construction industry means deforestation and continued mining for cement, gravel, and bricks. To combat this, new processes are being adopted that are considered green alternatives to the status quo. 

HempCrete:

Hempcrete is similar to concrete but utilizes the fibers of the hemp plant. Bound with lime creating a material strong and low weight. Due to its lightweight characteristics, Hempcrete requires fewer energy emissions to transport.

Hempcrete has good thermal dynamics, it is fire resistant and even serves as a viable means of acoustic insulation. What sets Hempcrete above other alternatives is its CO2 negative characteristics- absorbing more CO2 than it emits. Hemp grows fast and is also considered a renewable material.

Terrazzo:

Terrazzo consists of small pieces of marble or granite are set in polished concrete or epoxy resin. Properly maintained Terrazzo floors can last up to 4 decades. Traditional Terrazzo is set in cement where the majority of terrazzo floors today are made with epoxy resin. this flooring type is known to incorporate materials like brass, aluminum, and even recycled materials like glass, beer bottles, marbles, and porcelain.

Notably, terrazzo is more expensive than other flooring options but its longevity makes up for the increased cost of fabrication and installation.

From a design perspective Terrazzo allows the use of virtually any color of your choice. It is easy to clean and is often installed in high-traffic areas like schools, airports, and even the Hollywood walk of fame.

Bamboo:

Bamboo is an eco-friendly building material. With its high self-generation rate, it's possible for a three-foot growth within a 24-hour period. Technically Bamboo is considered grass as opposed to wood and grows on almost every continent in the world. Additionally, Bamboo's strength-to-weight ratio makes it an excellent choice for flooring and cabinetry. 

The drawback to Bamboo is its necessary treatment to resist insects and rot.

Precast Concrete:

Precast Concrete is formed at a manufacturer’s site and are shipped to the jobsite. Their design is very similar to a typical CMU block.

Precast concrete is used for walls and facades as they hold up well against weather. Other common uses are floors and flat roofs.

Concrete naturally manages heat within buildings and is established as an affordable building material. 

Precast concrete slab sustainability is higher than other concrete options, as the slabs take less energy to produce and assemble.

The precasting process allows the material to properly cure in a controlled environment, rather than exposed to the elements while curing at a construction site. Due to this- precast concrete slabs don't typically crack and resist structural faults.

Cork:

Cork or tree bark is another material that grows very quickly. It is harvested from living trees, which continue to grow and produce more cork.

a surprisingly resilient and flexible material, cork has the ability to maintain its structure and form. You might find it a good option for floor tiles.

In addition to its resilience, cork effectively absorbs noise, making it a good option for insulation and sub-flooring too. finally cork is nearly impermeable, resistant to rot and will not absorb water.

Unfortunately, cork can only be sourced from the Mediterranean. Fortunately, it is low in weight and requires fewer energy emissions to transport. 

Reclaimed wood:

The use of reclaimed wood is a very environmentally responsible ways to save trees from deforestation and reduce the amount of lumber in landfills. Reclaimed wood can be sourced from many locations and is a growing industry.

Reclaimed wood works as structural framing, cabinetry, flooring, and in some cases exterior siding. Due to variance in age and strength, each piece’s integrity should be assessed appropriately for your project. 

Recycled Steel:

Recycled Steel can be used for the framing in place of wood for increased resistance of earthquakes and winds. A 4,000-square foot house requires about 100 trees to build, alternatively, a recycled steel-framed space of equal size requires the equivalent of just 12 scrapped cars.

Steel is a recyclable material reducing the global impact of new construction.

It's important to recognize the formation process of aluminum and steel requires vast amounts of energy, however, reusing and recycling steel into new products, reduces the overall energy used, therefore making it a more sustainable material. The recycled metal lasts a long time and does not require maintenance like timber and is water and pest-resistant.
 

Plant-based Rigid Foam:

New materials are made from plant-based polyurethane rigid foam- comprised of bamboo, kelp, and hemp. It is regularly used for manufacturing processes for household items like furniture and even large wind turbine blades

Additionally, rigid foam offers protection against mold and pests while maintaining heat-resistant characteristics.

Rammed Earth:

Rammed earth has been used throughout civilization for a milenia and lasts a very long time. It is an affordable solution to creating floors and walls, and even foundations by utilizing natural compacted materials like chalk, earth, gravel or lime,

When compressed it creates a substance similar to concrete. Like concrete, Rammed earth structures are reinforced by rebar or even bamboo. It is an effective means of thermal storage, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it in cooler evenings.

Ferrock:

Ferrock consists of recycled materials such as steel dust or rock waste from industrial processes, which would typically be sent to landfills. 

It creates a stronger than concrete material and it traps and absorbs carbon dioxide as part of its drying and hardening process.

Compared to traditional concrete, Ferrock is carbon neutral and less CO2 intensive. It can be used to form driveways, hardscapes and even structures.

Composite Roofing Shingles:

Common roof tile types like asphalt shingles and wood shakes rise, crack, wear out and can become energy inefficient and require upkeep. Composite roofing shingles make for a better solution due to their ability to maintain structure and appearance requiring less upkeep resulting in a lower emission impact.

Smart Glass Windows:

Smart glass alters its thermal properties based on the air conditioning systems that are applied within a structure. Windows allow natural light in without the use of electricity and are implemented in some of the most beautifully designed structures on earth. Smart glass windows are an incredibly advantageous option for individuals looking to utilize all of the natural tools at their disposal before relying on man-made power.