When it comes to green construction, sourcing materials locally is not just a good idea. In fact, it can improve a project’s bottom line and boost its sustainability credentials.
Locally sourced building materials are those that have been produced within a certain distance of your construction site. The specific definition of this varies between certification programs.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Buying local means that the materials you choose for your building will not have to be transported across long distances. This is a big deal, as transportation requires energy to move the material and results in harmful emissions. The green build movement has a strong commitment to only using building materials that are sourced locally or are manufactured within 500 miles of the project site (as the crow flies).
This means you can avoid the use of cheap plastics, engineered stone products, and other foreign materials that have a high embodied energy footprint. It also means that you can look to nontraditional building materials such as mud and straw, which have their own sustainability component. Straw can be used in bale form and placed in gaps between timber joists or stacked on top of each other to support a roof structure.
These materials can be found at many local suppliers that offer sustainable products. They often practice responsible forestry and quarrying practices, and they understand the importance of keeping their communities healthy. Many of these suppliers can be found on online classified websites, such as Craigslist or Backpage. Some can even work with you to develop a waste diversion plan for LEED certification or to meet your municipality’s landfill restrictions. In addition, they can help you select the best local materials for your project.
Supports Local Economy
When choosing building materials, it is important to consider the source. Locally sourced materials support the local economy and reduce the carbon footprint of a building by reducing transportation costs and emissions. They also help to promote vernacular design styles and connect occupants with the impact of their building choices.
Locally sourcing of construction materials also helps to reduce the amount of raw material extraction and processing required to create the building. This translates into lower embodied and whole life carbon emissions for the building.
For example, when a building is constructed with locally sourced wood, the resulting material has less of an environmental impact than plywood that is sawn, dried, and thermally modified overseas. Locally sourced materials can also be used to satisfy the Living Building Challenge waste diversion requirement for LEED certification or compliance with local waste diversion regulations.
Many local suppliers use sustainable practices, such as replanting trees in forests or responsibly sourcing stone. They often feel a sense of responsibility for the community in which they operate. In addition, local suppliers often provide better customer service as they have a closer relationship with their customers and are able to understand the needs of each project. This can result in more efficient communication and faster delivery times, saving the building project time and money.
Reduced Transportation Costs
Using local building materials can reduce the amount of energy that is required to transport them. This is because the materials will not have to travel as far, thereby cutting down on carbon emissions and other environmental impacts associated with transportation. By choosing to use locally sourced building materials, you can help to make a positive impact on the environment while also supporting your community.
Many people are aware of the importance of buying food that has been grown or produced locally, in order to reduce the number of “food miles” that it takes for it to reach a supermarket. However, not as many people are aware of the need to apply this same principle to the construction industry, when it comes to using local building materials.
If you are looking to build with local materials, you will need to be creative in the design process. This may mean seeking out products that are not traditionally used in a building project, such as mud or straw. However, these are often very sustainable materials and can provide an aesthetic that is unique to the project.
Another option is to find a local farmer or forester who is committed to the ethical practice of sustainable forestry. If you tell them that you are planning a building project, they can plan ahead and reserve trees to ensure that their forests are kept at an optimum level of sustainability.
Environmentally Friendly
Many people are concerned about climate change and are making efforts to live sustainably. For example, some consumers check the ‘food miles’ of the food they buy to see how far it has traveled before reaching a store shelf. Construction professionals can take a similar approach to find materials that are locally sourced.
In addition to considering the impact of transportation emissions, builders should consider the environmental impacts of a material throughout its lifecycle. This includes pre-consumption, current use and post-consumption. For example, reclaimed wood is more sustainable than new lumber since it minimizes deforestation. It also helps preserve the atmosphere by limiting greenhouse gas emissions, as a single tree can absorb and filter 48 pounds of carbon per year.
Using local materials can also help reduce the overall ’embodied energy’ of a structure. For example, using wood harvested within a 100-mile radius of a project site cuts down on the ‘energy embodied’ that it takes to transport the material from its source to the building site. This can have a big impact when it comes to high-rise buildings that require massive amounts of materials.
It’s important to communicate with local suppliers about your needs and expectations. They may not be used to dealing with a client who wants to use only local materials but once they understand you are looking to maximize the sustainability of your project they can help.