Building materials have a significant impact on wildlife. They need a lot of natural resources and can cause habitat destruction and species loss. Industry honchos need to focus on drawing up construction plans in a way that minimizes the damage.
The production of some materials like concrete and steel requires a huge amount of energy and fossil fuels. This can cause air pollution and greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming.
Eco-friendly
Building materials that are environmentally friendly are those that have minimal impact on ecosystems and that are made from renewable resources. They also have to be durable and reusable, contain recyclable materials in their composition and come from local sources. This type of construction material is typically made from recycled or non-biodegradable waste, such as sawdust and plastic, or natural materials like adobe, mud bricks, straw, cork and wood. They should also not be spoiled by cold, heat or humidity. Historically, people have used a wide range of natural materials to build their homes. However, the current housing crises and climate change have encouraged many architects and builders to look for alternatives. Some of these include cob, a mixture of subsoil, clay and fibrous organic material (typically long straw) with lime or another binder. Hempcrete, which is a form of concrete, is also popular as it uses no toxic chemicals and is carbon negative. Other eco-friendly building materials include adobe, straw bales and bamboo.
When investigating grown materials, consideration should be given to their impacts on ecosystem services, including nutrient cycling, carbon storage and biodiversity impacts of plantation growing [25]. This requires a shift in mindset away from first considering financial cost of materials, which is usually a major part of decision-making. It will also require education on the part of materials specifiers and designers; resources directed at this aspect of continuing professional development and at students currently in architecture schools and educational facilities of related disciplines; and possibly legislative penalties or incentives to help to shift behavior.
Recyclable
As building materials become more and more eco-friendly, the need for sustainable construction is growing. This is because the buildings sector contributes a large percentage of the world’s occupied greenhouse gas emissions, and they consume significant amounts of energy in their manufacturing and use.
One way to reduce the embodied energy of a build is by using recycled materials. Reused building supplies are not only affordable, but they also reduce the environmental footprint of a project. In addition, many of these materials are available locally, reducing the need to ship in heavy and expensive materials.
There are several types of recycled materials that can be used in construction. These include reclaimed materials, such as bricks that are reused from existing builds or tear-downs, and salvaged wood and cork. These materials are often cheaper and more durable than new materials. They also require less energy to produce.
Other green materials include recycled glass, which can be made into windows and mosaics. In addition, paper waste can be used to make adobe and cellulose insulation. Another material is bamboo, which grows quickly and can be used for both structural and decorative purposes. In fact, charitable foundations have even used plastic two-liter soda bottles to build schools in impoverished areas.
The most common recycled building material is steel, which can be recycled multiple times. Almost all of the steel in nonresidential buildings is recycled at some point, and the process saves iron, coal, and limestone, not to mention energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Reusable
The building materials used in a construction project can have a major impact on the environment. Generally, the production of building materials produces significant pollution and waste. This can be attributed to the extraction of raw materials, processing and manufacturing the products, and the transporting and installing the finished buildings. Moreover, the demolition and disposal of buildings creates a huge amount of waste. A circular economy in the construction industry would reduce this waste by promoting reuse, repair, and refurbishment.
Steel is a popular material for modern construction because it is strong without being extremely heavy. It can also withstand moisture, termites and fire. Additionally, it is flexible and allows for more complex designs than traditional masonry. This makes it ideal for multistory commercial and industrial structures.
Concrete is another popular building material. It can be made from recycled, aggregate and virgin materials. However, it requires a large amount of water, energy and fossil fuels to produce. The construction process can also contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, it is one of the most recycled building materials.
Other sustainable building materials include recycled glass, aluminum and timber. To find out if your city accepts these types of materials, visit the Recycle Coach website and type in your municipality. The site will list all the recycling locations in your area.
Humane
A humane building is one that uses non-toxic and sustainable materials. It also aims to support people in the community and is environmentally friendly in every aspect. For example, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and supports local biodiversity. It also considers the social costs of global building material production and distribution, such as injury to workers and loss of traditional skills and self-sufficiency.
The use of raw materials in buildings has long been a critical topic of environmental concern. Approximately 40% of all the harvested, dug up, mined, or processed materials on the planet are used for construction purposes. The vast amount of energy required for the operation and embodied energy of buildings is a major cause of global ecological degradation.
It is possible to build humane and sustainable buildings with the help of innovative technologies. These technologies allow for more precise planning and more sustainable use of building materials. In addition, they can also increase efficiency and make the building process more humane for workers.
To minimize negative impact on ecosystems, it is essential to understand how different building materials interact with a wide range of ecosystem services. For this purpose, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach has proven to be an efficient method for investigating these interactions. However, LCA results only provide a snapshot of impacts and may be too coarse to capture complex relationships. To assist in addressing these issues, the following tables show sample ecosystem service matrices for three generic building materials.