Thanks to rapid technological advancements, the construction industry is now offering innovative energy efficient building materials that reduce waste, minimize environmental impact, and offer cost savings and improved indoor comfort.
Examples include Oriented Strand Board and plywood with insulation, structural insulated panels (SIPs), and straw bales, which are made of the byproducts of grain production. These materials also help to reduce air pollution and combat climate change.
Reduced Energy Consumption
Building materials that are designed for energy efficiency can help reduce a building’s energy consumption and lower utility bills. This can make businesses more competitive and save homeowners money. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps to protect the environment.
Energy-efficient building materials can be made from a variety of different materials. However, some of the most popular are recycled materials like steel. This material is highly durable and has excellent thermal performance, reducing the need for heating and cooling. It also requires less maintenance than other types of building materials. In addition, it takes much less energy to produce metal from recycled scrap than it does to mine new raw materials.
Another type of energy-efficient building material is rammed earth, which uses the natural insulation of compressed layers of earth to reduce reliance on mechanical heating and cooling systems. It can also be combined with other energy-efficient features to maximize savings.
Other energy-efficient building materials include low-VOC paints, which reduce the release of harmful chemicals into the air. These can lead to a more comfortable indoor environment and improve occupant health. They can also help to control moisture and prevent the growth of mold, which can cause respiratory issues. Finally, many of these materials are designed with sound-insulating properties, which can create quieter indoor environments.
Lower Utility Bills
Investing in energy-efficient materials will reduce your home or building’s energy consumption throughout its lifespan. This in turn cuts down on your energy costs and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, sustainable materials with an increased lifespan will require less maintenance and replacements over time, further reducing your energy bills.
Traditional building materials have a high embodied energy due to their mining, processing, and disposal processes. For example, the production of concrete requires a substantial amount of water resources. Similarly, steel and brick production contributes to deforestation, pollution, and other environmental harm.
On the other hand, sustainable and recycled building materials have a much lower embodied energy. Using wood composite lumber, for instance, reduces the demand for timber and helps conserve forests and biodiversity. In addition, it has an insulating property that helps keep indoor temperatures stable, thereby cutting down on the need for artificial heating and cooling.
Another material that is increasingly becoming popular for energy-efficient construction is hemp. This durable material is both fire-resistant and moisture-resistant, allowing it to be used for roofing, flooring, walls, and interior finishes. It also has a low thermal conductivity, making it a good choice for insulation. Other insulation options include fiberglass, cellulose, and spray foam.
Additionally, opting for window frames with low-emission glass can enhance the energy performance of a building. These windows have a microscopically thin coating that regulates the flow of heat while maintaining transparency. Another innovation is photovoltaic glass, which incorporates solar cells into transparent building materials to generate clean electricity.
Increased Lifespan
Energy-efficient building materials are able to significantly extend the lifespan of a structure. This can reduce the need for replacements and maintenance, which in turn reduces operational energy usage. This results in lower energy bills for occupants, saving them hundreds of dollars over the life of their home.
Using sustainable building materials can also save on water consumption. The construction industry consumes large amounts of water during its various processes, which can put a strain on local water supplies and ecosystems. This can be addressed by choosing low-water building materials, such as reclaimed wood and recycled steel.
Recycled steel, a common building material, is made from steel scrap and requires less energy to produce than traditional raw materials. It can also offer excellent insulation, reducing the need for heating and cooling systems.
Other eco-friendly construction materials include bamboo, which is a fast-growing grass that reduces the need to harvest virgin timber. This not only cuts down on carbon emissions, but also conserves forests and biodiversity. Bamboo is also an organic insulator, helping to regulate indoor temperatures and reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling.
Environmentally Friendly
Sustainability often has a negative connotation, but it is surprisingly cost-effective. It reduces waste, which in turn means fewer resources need to be produced and used. This saves money on the project and allows companies to offer their services at a lower rate.
Eco-friendly building materials are also more beneficial to the environment. They are non-toxic and do not emit harmful chemicals that negatively affect indoor air quality. They are typically made from recycled content and can be easily disposed of at the end of their lifespan.
Some sustainable building materials have low energy usage during the manufacturing process, and this is a good way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They also require less energy to install, and their durability can reduce the need for replacement over time. For example, engineered wood, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), has the strength of concrete but requires significantly less energy to manufacture.
Other green construction techniques can include reusing materials from the previous project or using materials that do not need to be treated. For instance, reusing old bricks as insulation in walls and ceilings saves money on new supplies and reduces landfill waste. Similarly, a building material made from papercrete and hempcrete can be just as strong as concrete but uses aggregates like gravel or clay that are not as damaging to the environment.