As concerns regarding climate change accelerate, the need for sustainable building practices becomes increasingly urgent. Traditional construction materials like steel and concrete considerably contribute to global carbon emissions. Hence, many modern builders are turning to new, sustainable alternatives that can help lower the carbon footprint of their building projects. As per Joe Cianciotto, the use of sustainable construction materials often makes buildings more energy-efficient and less expensive to complete.
Joe Cianciotto underlines a few of the most common sustainable building materials
The use and popularity of sustainable building materials are steadily increasing owing to their reduced carbon footprint and low environmental impact. Such materials are designed to minimize energy consumption, reduce waste and conserve natural resources.
Here are a few common sustainable building materials:
- Bamboo: Bamboo is a renewable and versatile building material. Even though bamboo is a type of grass, it has strength similar to wood. It is also a fast-growing grass that can reach maturity in just 3-5 years. Construction projects tend to utilize bamboo in several applications, including supporting concrete, scaffolding, and roofing. Being a strong, flexible and lightweight material, bamboo is ideal for building structures and furnishings.
- Hempcrete: Hempcrete is an eco-friendly construction material made from woody inner fibers from hemp plants. The fibers are mixed and bind with lime, in order to form light and strong concrete-like blocks. Hempcrete is durable, fire-resistant and has thermal insulation qualities, which makes them a good construction material.
- Cork: Cork comes from the cork oak tree. This material is harvested from the bark of the tree, and does not require killing the tree. Cork is a renewable and recyclable resource. It is hypoallergenic, fire-resistant and a strong insulator, which makes it an attractive material for building structures and furnishings.
- Reclaimed wood: Wood has been a widely used construction material for generations due to its durability, ease of use and natural beauty. But a lot of it tends to go to waste during a deconstruction project. Fortunately, with reclaimed wood technology, it is possible to deconstruct lumber from older structures while preserving its integrity. Reclaimed wood is sourced from old buildings and barns, and subsequently repurposed into new structures.
- Recycled steel: Steel is a material that can be recycled endlessly without losing its strength. Recycled steel basically is the steel that has been reprocessed from scrap metal instead of being produced from raw materials like iron ore. Recycled steel is a durable and fire-resistant sustainable construction material.
- Rammed earth: Rammed earth is an ancient construction technique that involves the use of soil, clay, and sand in order to build durable and sturdy structures. Rammed earth structures have excellent thermal mass and are energy-efficient. They are considered to be ideal for passive solar design.
- Recycled glass: Recycled glass is generally produced from old jars and bottles. It is a good choice for flooring, countertops, and other building applications owing to its durability and low environmental impact.
As Joe Cianciotto mentions, that the use of sustainable building materials like the ones discussed above is a pathway towards environmentally responsible construction practices. They help promote resource conservation and reduce carbon emissions.
