Sustainable building, also known as green construction, or green building, is a process in which materials used, building processes, and use of the building when complete are environmentally responsible and resource efficient. The purpose of sustainable building is to minimise the impact the structure might have on human health and the environment. This is done by utilising technologies and practices that reduce the use of water, energy and other resources, and by reducing pollution, environmental degradation, and waste.
One of the most prominent green building materials today, and throughout the history of the human race, is hemp. Hempcrete, are blocks made of hemp that are similar to concrete blocks. They regulate moisture, insulate and lack the brittleness of concrete; eliminating the need for expansion joints.
Another fascinating building material of the future is wool brick invented by Spanish and Scottish researchers. The researchers wanted to develop a building material that was more sustainable, non-toxic and locally abundant. When mixing wool with the clay of a normal brick, the brick was found to be 37% stronger and more unyielding to the cold, wet climate found in Britain. Wool bricks also dry hard, which means they do not need to be fired like traditional bricks, which saves energy.
Developers have recently taken the solar panel to the next level and created solar roofing tiles. Conventional roof tiles are mined, or made of clay or concrete, which uses up valuable resources for something that only serves one purpose; to protect the structure from the elements. Companies are now combining the solar panel and the roofing tile to create a multipurpose roof that both protects the home and provides energy; saving money and resources used for building and utilising the structure.
Paper insulation is becoming more and more popular with those who wish to build an eco-friendly home. Paper insulation is made entirely from recycled materials. A common fear that accompanies the use of paper insulation is that of fire, but with the use of the all-natural fire retardants borax, boric acid and calcium carbonate paper insulation is made perfectly safe in the case of a fire.
Recycled steel is perhaps one of the most obvious and yet most effective building materials used in the sustainable building practice. It takes, on average, 50 trees to build a 2000 square foot home. When using recycled steel, it only takes the metal from about 6 scrapped cars to build a 2000 square foot home. Seventy-five percent of the energy used to create steel is saved when using scrap steel rather than traditional steel; and it also saves space in landfills.
Recycled wood/plastic composite lumber has been found to be less toxic and more durable than conventional treated lumber. It’s made of recycled plastic, such as plastic bags, and wood particles, combining the best of both the wood and plastic world. Though this is a great choice as a sustainable building material, it can be very costly.
Earth is the most abundant of all sustainable resources, and it has been used in the building of homes for centuries. Countries like China and Peru actually have codes written to regulate building with earth. Though it would be costly to find craftsman skilled in the art of building with dirt, an estimated $80 per square foot, research has found that dirt walls provide exceptional thermal mass.
The Fast, Convenient and Cost Efficient Solution
The process involved in building a sustainable home or building can be overwhelming. There are a lot of products that may or may not actually be environmentally friendly, and can also be incredibly costly. However, there are ways to make building a sustainable building just as simple as building a traditional building, if not more so. Kit homes and structures are growing in popularity every year. Fortunately, there are companies who build kit homes and keep the health of the environment and the occupants of the building in mind. Rather than hand picking and researching every material that goes into building your home, it is much more simple to use a credible company who can guarantee the use of state of the art materials, which saves you money and frustration in the long run.