This article is part of a blog series on new building materials used in the construction industry, exploring what they are, why they are cheaper and why they are more durable than traditional materials
Sustainable construction is now a global trend and energy conservation is a top priority for countries all over the world.
The growing driving factors, of these trends, in the coming years, will be:
The worldwide green construction market size will grow to more than $ 774 billion by 2030 increasing at a growth rate of 11.8% over the next 8 years.
Green buildings allow you to construct structures using environmentally friendly processes and materials through the life cycle of the construction, to reduce any possible negative impacts on the environment. If you plan eco-friendly features from the design stage to the assembly stage, they will materialize during the in-use stage of the asset.
Green building materials are made of renewable resources, and their impacts on the environment are measured through their life cycle. For example building materials like wood, steel, and concrete, have the biggest potential adverse impacts on the environment. The processes used during their production may cause
You could lessen the negative impact on the planet, if you would choose friendly natural materials making sure you:
You can easily and quickly find sustainable or green materials according to the Sustainable Living Association.
Green Materials
The Association considers that the three most environmentally friendly building materials are:
Other green materials include composites, stone, fiber, cement, and fiberglass. On top of using green materials, you could choose to add environmentally friendly features to your construction. These include:
Sustainable green materials help:
According to the latest construction market data the construction industry size amounted to $8.2 trillion in 2022 (Statista) and is expected to reach $17 trillion by 2029 with a compound annual growth rate of 7.3%.
To achieve such a high growth rate, construction companies need to continue improving their sustainability practices if they want to perform at that level. The use of cloud-based solutions like Plannerly or Procore helps manage and execute the delivery of your projects, using real-time data accessible anytime, anywhere, and on any device connected to the internet.
Technologies play an important role in green building processes. For instance:
Construction companies using systems management software on the cloud are able to:
The worldwide housing crises and global climate change are encouraging the building industry to find ways of reducing energy consumption. This might include new construction materials to construct structures that do not damage the environment, either by:
We have always been using natural materials in the construction industry, but the emergence of new techniques, we can now replace traditional materials with more eco-friendly alternatives. For example, concrete made of debris.
A few of the techniques, we describe below, were used in the past and are appearing, again, in the construction industry.
Here are 11 impressive eco building materials that are transforming the construction industry:
An alternative to concrete, it is made of 97% recycled materials. Ashcrete's main component is fly ash which is a good alternative to traditional cement.
AshCrete is:
It is the perfect sustainable alternative to wood and it is a perfect green material choice to use in construction. Although it is similar to wood aesthetically - bamboo is not wood, it is grass - it is one of the fastest-growing plants. So, it regenerates more quickly than trees.
Bamboo is:
Cob (rounded mass, lump, or heap) is an eco-friendly natural building material used to construct organic houses.
Cob is a mix of clay, sand, and (usually) straw mixed together to be used as a building material. It is an alternative to bricks and it can be purchased cheaply and easily as you can recycle its components found on almost any construction site. Cob has been used in construction for over 10,000 years and is making its re-entry into the industry.
Cob is:
The Cork oak tree is a highly renewable and eco-friendly resource.
For example, you can find cork in ceiling panels, acoustic walls, and flooring.
Cork is resistant to moisture and any liquid.
Ferrock is basically an iron-rich ferrous rock, made from recycled materials like waste steel dust, and silica from the ground glass.
In construction, it is used as an alternative to cement, essentially in marine applications, such as structures exposed to seawater.
Ferrock is:
Earth is one of the oldest long-lasting techniques used in construction.
Dr. Rongrong Hu, a professor at Xi'an University of Architecture + Technology and an expert on rammed earth said:
When I step on the thousand-year-old Great Wall of China built with rammed earth, or when I see the old and beautiful vernacular rammed earth houses in China, a question about rammed earth construction always comes to my mind: what is the future of this disappearing ancient construction technique with such a long history in China?
Rammed earth walls or floors can be used as thermic repositories, absorbing solar energy to heat them up in daylight, and gradually delivering warmth at night.
The technique uses low carbon emission mixing soil in layers and squeezing it into a solid and strong surface.
For example, you can use watershed blocks made of recycled materials as an alternative to masonry blocks needing less cement.
Plastic will take a very long time to disintegrate in waste yards - up to 1,000 years - so to protect the planet it is important to recycle it.
In construction, if you use materials made from recycled plastic you can reduce carbon dioxide and methane gas emissions compared to concrete blocks.
For example, ByBlock, have the same dimensions as standard concrete blocks (16x8x8 inches), but generates 41% less greenhouse gas emissions than concrete blocks during manufacturing, and holds the same thermal resistance value despite being 10 pounds lighter.
Recycled plastic is:
Steel when recycled does not lose its characteristics, probably the main reason why more steel is recycled each year, than all recycled plastic, paper, aluminum, and glass combined.
Steel is:
Wood is one of the most used types of building material. Recycled wood is:
Straw bales are a renewable material that allows the isolation of walls, attics, and ceilings, and helps to keep the temperature at a stable level.
The straw material is procured from farmers. It is a good way for them to:
Straw is:
It is a natural and eco-friendly material that can be regrown quickly.
Wool is an exceptional home insulator. For example, it can be used in the ceiling, walls or attics. Aside from purifying indoor air regulating moisture, it is:
Sourcing and using alternative sustainable materials, for the products you use in construction, is good for protecting the planet. It is also part of your environmental responsibility, and it helps to prioritize a profit-driven business innovation.
A focus on sustainability helps you to:
You will be able to:
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