As environmental awareness increases so does the demand for greener building materials. The right sustainable materials can help keep construction workers healthy during new construction homes and reduce the amount of toxins in your home.
Many traditional building materials emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which can cause a variety of health issues like eye and nose irritation, headaches and respiratory problems. These toxic chemicals are often strongest during the installation stage.
Recycled Steel
Steel has a high recycling rate and can be recycled an unlimited number of times without loss of quality. This makes it one of the most sustainable materials in existence. Recycled steel is used to create a wide range of building structures, from walls and beams to windows and doors.
The recycling process starts with specialized machines that crash and shred scrap metals into small pieces. This reduces their volume and allows for faster melting. This also cuts down on energy costs and emissions.
Then, heat and pressure are used to reshape the scrap into moldable metal that can be shaped into new products. For instance, an old car can become a building frame while the body becomes a sink or refrigerator. The same goes for other types of scrap metals.
Ferrock
Ferrock is an incredibly durable and sustainable building material that is made from recycled steel dust byproducts. It is five times stronger than concrete and is able to withstand more pressure and weight without cracking.
It is also resistant to rot, corrosion, chemicals, oxidation and UV damage. This material is ideal for construction in marine environments because it becomes stronger when exposed to salt water, unlike concrete which erodes in this environment.
This material is created by fusing waste steel dust with silica from ground-up glass and carbon dioxide, which it absorbs during its hardening process. Around 95% of its constituents are recycled materials, and it is a green alternative to concrete. It sets fast, and only needs around a week to reach its ultimate strength.
Rigid Foam
Rigid foam insulation can significantly reduce a home’s energy costs, saving homeowners money on heating and cooling. This insulation also prevents the transfer of heat between indoor and outdoor environments, reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment.
Foam plastics such as expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), and polyisocyanurate (PIR) are used for rigid panel insulation. They can be found at lumberyards, hardware stores, and home improvement centers.
Rigid foam insulation has higher R-values than fiberglass, cotton or cellulose. However, many varieties are petroleum-based and emit toxins during manufacturing. The blowing agents — like CFCs and urea formaldehyde — that are used to make these plastics leak out, damaging the ozone layer and contributing to global warming. Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a competitive, environmentally friendly alternative made without these harmful chemicals.
Sheep’s Wool
Sheep’s wool is a natural, sustainable building material that can be used for insulation. It is breathable, fireproof and mold resistant. It also helps reduce air pollution by absorbing harmful VOCs.
The crimped nature of the wool fibers makes it a great thermal insulator, keeping a home warm in winter and cool in summer. It also cuts energy bills and prevents the over-firing of coal, reducing CO2 emissions.
Sheep’s wool also has excellent acoustic properties, as it minimises noise absorption far better than other conventional insulators. It is naturally flame retardant and only chars in the event of a fire, meaning it doesn’t release toxic gases. It is also a renewable resource that can be harvested without harming the sheep. It is often made from the remnants of shearing, which would otherwise be thrown away.
Pollution-Absorbing Brick
In many parts of the world, brick kilns produce significant amounts of pollution, which can cause respiratory problems and other health issues in residents. MIT students have developed a new type of brick that can reduce the amount of pollution produced by these kilns.
The bricks have a coating that collects and neutralizes air pollutants, making them useful in a variety of applications. They are also cheaper than mechanical filtration systems, which can make them more appealing to builders.
Many governments and regulatory bodies are implementing policies and initiatives to promote green building practices, including the use of sustainable materials. This has led to a growth in the global pollution-absorbing brick market. The market is segmented by material type, application, end user, and region.
Recycled Tires
The United States’ landfills are quickly reaching capacity, so diverting discarded tires from the waste stream is an urgent need. Fortunately, recycling technologies are making it possible to turn tires into an environmentally friendly building material.
Tires can be recycled into nontoxic building materials that provide durability and flexibility. They also offer insulation, lowering heating and cooling costs for apartment tenants.
One method is to use them as a soil amendment that helps retain water and reduce erosion. Another is to use them as mulch in landscaping. Unlike wood mulch, tire chips don’t float away during rainstorms or attract termites. Tires can also be shredded and used to make nontoxic flooring in apartments or homes. The resulting mats are less prone to cracking than concrete.
Newspaper Wood
Newspaper Wood is a cutting-edge material that reverses the traditional paper production process, turning paper into “wood.” The designers, Mieke Meijer and Arjan van Raadshooven, use a solvent-free glue to layer sheets of recycled newspaper together, which are then tightly rolled into logs. The logs then resemble the lines of a wood grain or tree rings and can be cut, milled, sanded, and treated like traditional wood.
This unique non-toxic building material has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slash waste, while also creating healthier, greener homes for billions of people worldwide. As an added bonus, it’s cheap to produce. And it helps build a sense of environmental responsibility among building owners and occupants. It also enables companies to differentiate themselves in terms of sustainability, design, and innovation.