Sustainable building materials and green construction methods are the quickest way to cut back on environmental impacts. For example, straw bale is a great insulator that can be harvested without harming the animal.
It also reduces indoor air pollution by lowering volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. To help affordable housing developers find safer products, TFF, Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects, and HDC created the Healthy Materials Matrix.
Sheep’s Wool Insulation
Sheep’s wool insulation is made of natural fibers that trap millions of tiny air pockets, which helps protect homes from extreme temperatures. It also absorbs harmful contaminants and neutralizes them, making it a great air purifier. The material is also flame-resistant, and can prevent mold from forming in homes.
Sheep wool is a more environmentally friendly option than other types of insulation such as mineral rock wool or foam board insulation. This is because sheep wool is a renewable resource that is fully recyclable, and it doesn’t produce any greenhouse gasses during the manufacturing process.
Unlike spray foam, pure wool insulation is a sustainable and environmentally friendly option for historical preservation projects. It can be installed without damaging the original structure, and it will keep a home warm and energy efficient. It is also breathable, which helps reduce moisture and humidity. It also reduces Formaldehyde levels to below 0.05ppm, which is the World Health Organization’s recommended level.
Pollution-Absorbing Brick
Also known as “breath bricks,” these blocks use a system of filtration to separate dust and other pollutants from the air inside a building. The air then gets pushed through the walls, where it can be cleaned and distributed throughout the structure.
Air pollution is a serious health concern, especially for people with breathing issues such as allergies. It’s estimated that breathing in polluted air can cause a variety of problems, including heart disease and lung infections.
The global market for pollution-absorbing bricks is growing because of a rise in government initiatives that promote green building practices. Additionally, advances in technology make it easier to manufacture these bricks and reduce environmental damage caused by brick kilns. In 2022, North America led the global market for pollution-absorbing bricks. This was mainly due to rapid urbanization and infrastructure development projects in this region. However, the LAMEA region is expected to grow faster during the forecast period.
Mudbrick
Mud brick is an ancient building material that requires little to no energy to produce. It can be made by mixing earth with water and fillers such as straw, placing it in a mould and waiting for it to dry. The process is simple and cheap, which makes it an excellent choice for environmentally responsible homes.
Muddy walls are highly durable and perform well acoustically and thermally. However, the walls need to be well-insulated to provide warmth and prevent drafts. Earth is also fire and pest-resistant, but you may need to have a bushfire attack level rating if you live in a bushfire-prone area.
Mud bricks can be reinforced with a variety of innovative mixtures, including nano-kaolin and silica fume, to improve their structural properties. These mixtures have been used successfully in the restoration of historic earthen buildings. They also reduce the risk of water leakage and enhance the longevity of mud bricks.
Ashcrete
Ashcrete is an eco-friendly concrete alternative that uses fly ash from coal combustion. The ash is combined with lime and water to create a durable construction material. This material is used in a variety of applications including road construction and marine structures.
The pozzolanic properties of fly ash reduce the permeability of concrete and increase its strength. This material is also more cost-effective than traditional cement. It has a lower carbon content and requires less water to mix. It also has the added benefit of being less prone to shrinking and expansion.
However, the production of fly ash is not sustainable in the long-term and it contributes to air pollution when inhaled. In addition, the material contains a chlorine compound that is harmful to human health. Researchers are working to find a replacement for this chemical.
Recycled Tires
Recycled tires are a valuable resource for communities focused on reuse. From acoustic walls to playground turf, and rubber asphalt, there are many uses for the millions of tires discarded every year. This innovative method allows car manufacturers to close the loop on their tires and eliminates the need for disposal in landfills and natural areas.
In addition, shredded tires can be used for several civil engineering applications including backfill for road landslide repair and as vibration-reducing material for railroad lines. They are also a great substitute for sand in construction of retaining walls.
However, a number of studies indicate that tire and roadway wear particles (TRWPs) may pose health risks. Currently, the chemical manufacturer Lanxess does not have a drop-in replacement for 6PPD but it plans to make its functional tire additive Vulkanox HS using a mass-balance approach to include a percentage of renewable raw materials.
Newspaper Wood
While many old newspapers end up in landfills, others are used for nontoxic building materials. One such material is Newspaper Wood, a material that was developed by Mieke Meijer and the Dutch design label Vij5. It reverses the traditional production process by turning paper back into wood.
The material is made by coating sheets of paper with glue and rolling them tightly. The resulting logs look like the lines of a wood grain or tree rings and closely resemble the aesthetic of real wood. They can also be cut, milled and sanded, making them easy to use for various projects.
Meijer notes that her work is not meant to be a large scale alternative to wood, but rather to show how paper waste can be used for something more valuable. Other sustainable construction techniques include using sandbags filled with recycled plastic for insulation and creating rubber masonry blocks from reclaimed tires.