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Our Guide to Building Materials
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Construction in the midst of climate change can be a real challenge – as making sure that using the right production methods and building materials can have a difference on the impact of your building long-term, and help to ensure it is climate resilient.
The types of building materials serve as a foundation for an eco-friendly unit, and is all the more imperative as natural disasters and extreme weather events continue to take precedence.
In this article, we’ll provide an overview of building materials, which are eco-friendly and not, and more.
What are building materials?
Building materials refer to any type of material that is used in construction, such as elements found in nature sure as clay, sand, and wood – in addition to man-made building materials such as brick, metal, and plastic.
We use building materials to help construct our office buildings, schools, hospitals, and more – making them a pivotal component of our everyday lives.
“ It is not the beauty of the building you should look at: it’s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time. – (David Allen Coe, American singer and songwriter). ”
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Types of Building Materials
- Natural Materials – Elements like wood, stone, clay, bamboo, and straw are all more natural elements that can be used in construction projects as building materials.
- Synthetic Materials – Building materials which are more manufactured include concrete, brick, steel, glass, asphalt, engineered wood, and various plastics.
- Sustainable Materials – Building materials such as recycled elements, rammed earth, solar panels, and hempcrete are often best for more eco-friendly construction projects.
The type of building materials chosen for a specific project will be contingent on what the construction project is trying to achieve – such as if it's for benefiting the environment, then solar panels and recycled material are the better choice. However, if trying to make a building more cost effective and durable, then a building material like engineered wood would be a better option.
Remember, each different kind of building material is presented with its own benefits and drawbacks – as various building materials can have varying degrees of durability, cost, and environmental impact.
What does our choice of building materials matter?
The building materials we choose matter because they can have a significant impact on the environment, economy, and human health.
When we opt for more sustainable building materials, it can help to boost energy efficiency and aid in reducing global emissions – all of which are pivotal now more than ever before.
Here’s a breakdown why our choice of building material are important:
Environmental Impact
Certain building materials such as concrete, plastic, and steel can further exacerbate climate change. In addition to this, the use of non-renewable building materials creates excessive waste in landfills – which contributes to more GHG emissions.
Therefore, opting for eco-friendly building materials like bamboo and hempcrete could help us to protect our air quality and conserve natural resources.
Energy Consumption
The use of non-renewable building materials can lead to higher energy consumption as a result of poor insulation, and the need for central heating or air conditioning more often.
Luckily, sustainable building materials such as cork and hempcrete could help to improve insulation and avoid skyrocketing electricity bills.
Health & Indoor Air Quality
As some building materials, such as PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and VOC-emitting paints can emit toxic chemicals and impact air quality and therefore, our own health – as respiratory diseases could be triggered by compromised air quality.
In this case, using low-VOC paints and sustainable building materials for natural insulation such as hempcrete could prove useful to avoid the negative downsides of some traditional building materials.
Economic & Long-Term Savings
Choosing more durable and sustainable building materials can help to not only reduce the long-term cost of maintaining the building, but it can also help to expand the life of the building – allowing for schools, homes, hospitals, and universities that can stand the test of time in the midst of climate change.
Waste Reduction & Circular Economy
The construction industry generates massive amounts of waste – up to 40% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions.
This makes it all the more important to use eco-friendly building materials, as it can help to reduce waste and promote a circular economy.
Overall, our choice of building materials is important to help boost building performance, prevent environmental harm, and encourage a more sustainable future.
What are non-eco-friendly building materials?
Examples of building materials that are not eco-friendly include concrete, steel, bricks, and asphalt.
The use of these types of building materials can have an impact on our environment, as they can contribute to resource depletion, excessive carbon emissions, and air pollution.
“ We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us. – Winston Churchill, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom ”
Here’s a breakdown of the various kinds of building materials that are not eco-friendly:
- Concrete – Since concrete produces excessive amounts of emissions during cement production, it is imperative to realise how concrete contributes to global warming and resource depletion. Furthermore, concrete can exacerbate the effects of urban heat islands.
- Steel – This building material requires an excessive amount of energy, as it requires mining iron ore – which in turn can also contribute to deforestation and air pollution.
- PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) – Commonly used in vinyl records and all the more relevant as record players have made a comeback in the past decade, polyvinyl chloride can contribute to microplastic contamination and water pollution.
- Brick – As bricks use high energy in kilns, it contributes to air pollution, land degradation, and more – making it one of the less eco-friendly building materials.
- Asphalt – Most commonly found on roads and on school blacktops, asphalt is bad for the environment as it’s derived from fossil fuels, releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and contributes to non-renewable resource depletion.
- Non-Recycled Glass – As glass requires energy-intensive manufacturing processes, it can contribute to a high carbon footprint and excess waste – which in turn increases the amount of GHG emissions from our landfills. In addition to this, producing glass from scratch requires silica mining – which contributes to resource depletion.
Overall, certain building materials can contribute to the negative impact of climate change we are still experiencing today – making it all the more important to switch to the use of sustainable building materials, as this can help to reduce the environmental impact of buildings.
What are examples of eco-friendly building materials?
Examples of sustainable building materials include bamboo, hempcrete, cork and solar panels – as all of these can help to conserve resources, encourage the use of renewable energy, and boost energy efficiency.
Eco-friendly building materials are becoming increasingly important as the climate crisis persists, and we must find ways to make our everyday homes, offices, and schools more sustainable for the long-term as we continue to battle climate change.
“ Good buildings come from good people, and all problems are solved by good design. – (Stephen Gardiner, English Catholic Bishop and Politician During the English Reformation Period). ”
Here’s a breakdown of some eco-friendly building materials:
- Bamboo – We’ve already written an in-depth article about bamboo, as it’s an intriguing type of building material that is renewable, durable, and easily replenishable. As a result, bamboo is often used in bedding furniture, and even to make sustainable toothbrushes.
- Recycled Steel – While using traditional steel isn’t the best choice for the environment, recycled steel reduces the need for mining and can help to preserve energy. Just like traditional steel, recycled steel can be used for beams, roofing, and structural framing.
- Hempcrete – A mix of hemp, lime, and other natural materials – hempcrete can be used for wall insulation and lightweight blocking.
- Reclaimed Wood – As an effort to reduce deforestation and use existing materials, almost like upcycling wood – reusing old wood allows the chance for old wood scraps to be made into something new and useful, such as engineered wood. This can be used for flooring, doors, walls, and more.
- Cork – A 100% renewable resource, cork is a naturally fire-resistant and insect repellent that can be used for insulation and flooring.
- Straw – Although straw is often mistaken as useless and tossed to the incinerator – it can actually be used as a sustainable building material for wall insulation.
- Ferrock – Serving as a viable alternative to concrete, ferrock is made from industrial waste and is able to absorb CO₂ once it hardens – making it the perfect choice for a sustainable building materials for pavements and other buildings.
- Solar Panels – Despite this not being a building material in the same as the components listed above, this is still worth mentioning – as solar panels serve as an effective alternative to traditional roofing as they help to harvest solar energy and serve as adequate roofing at the same time.
Overall, by using eco-friendly building materials – we can make the construction industry more environmentally conscious and work to reduce the carbon emissions, pollution, and resource depletion often caused by traditional construction projects.
What are additional ways to ensure your construction project is sustainable?
It’s important to choose eco-friendly building materials, the manner in which we construct buildings can be equally as important and effective.
Here are some ways to ensure that your construction project remains sustainable beyond the materials:
- Energy Efficiency in Design & Construction – Using natural ventilation and sunlight can help to dry certain components of the building process and reduce the need for heat and cooling.
- Improving Water Conservation – Making an effort to use low-plumbing fixtures and rainwater harvesting systems can help to reduce water usage.
- Promote Recycling – Implementing more compost or recycling bins in the office, in addition to using repurposed building materials such as reclaimed wood and recycled steel can help to reduce the environmental impact caused by construction projects.
- Optimise Land Use & Site Selection – Opting for construction projects on previously developed land can help to avoid deforestation.
- Transport Building Materials Sustainably – Seeking to source materials locally can help reduce the carbon emissions caused by transporting building materials from one location to another.
The table below will provide you with more ideas on how to ensure your construction projects are more sustainable:
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Use Sustainable Building Materials | Opt for recycled, reclaimed, or eco-friendly materials like bamboo, engineered wood, or recycled steel. |
| Improve Energy Efficiency | Incorporate energy-efficient designs, LED lighting, and smart HVAC systems to reduce energy consumption. |
| Reduce Construction Waste | Implement waste management plans to recycle or repurpose leftover materials instead of sending them to landfills. |
| Utilise Water Conservation Methods | Install rainwater harvesting systems, low-flow fixtures, and efficient irrigation to reduce water use. |
| Incorporate Renewable Energy | Use solar panels, wind turbines, or other renewable energy sources to power buildings and construction sites. |
| Prioritise Green Certifications | Aim for LEED, BREEAM, or other sustainability certifications to ensure environmentally responsible construction. |
| Choose Sustainable Transportation | Use electric or hybrid construction vehicles and source materials locally to reduce carbon emissions from transport. |
| Enhance Indoor Air Quality | Use non-toxic, low-VOC paints and materials to create healthier indoor environments. |
| Design for Longevity and Adaptability | Plan buildings with durable materials and flexible spaces to extend their lifespan and reduce future waste. |
| Support Biodiversity | Integrate green roofs, plant native vegetation, and preserve natural habitats to maintain local ecosystems. |
What about Greenly?
If reading this article about building materials has inspired you to consider your company’s own carbon footprint, Greenly can help.
At Greenly we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance on how to reduce emissions, optimise energy efficiency, and more to help you get started on your climate journey.
Learn more about Greenly’s carbon management platform here.
Sources
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Institute of Materials, Minerals, & Mining https://www.iom3.org/resource/beyond-glass--silica-sand-applications.html
American Iron and Steel Institute https://www.steel.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Steel-Sustains-in-Recyclability-Fact-Sheet.pdf
Natural Building Alliance https://natural-building-alliance.org/hempcrete/
Weber https://www.fr.weber/en/hempcrete-insulating-lining
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