Everything You Need To Know About Sustainable Materials And Technology
Learn how you can build and finish your home the eco-friendly way from floor to roof
If you think that vehicles are the only culprits in consuming energy and contributing to the metro’s pollution, think again. In fact, buildings and homes, static as they are, consume 20-50% of physical resources, depending on their environment. The building and construction trade itself is a huge consumer of natural resources. Wood, stone, metals, minerals and water all take a hit with the construction of every new building or home. Once completed, buildings do not cease to become contributors of pollution. Think of all the emissions produced within them and their impact. “The most sustainable way is to not make things. The second most sustainable way is to make something very useful, to solve a problem that hasn’t been solved,” Danish designer, Thomas Sigsgaard, is known to have expressed.
As of yet, cities, the movers and shakers behind them have not stopped planning on building the newest, shiniest edifice to grace the skyline. Hence, it seems that as a community, we will have to contend with addressing sustainability in all phases of designing our buildings. What are the solutions that will help our environment while we’re at it.
For starters, we can engage in green construction or sustainable construction where environmentally-responsible processes are used to ensure the resource-efficiency of the building through its lifetime. This means that the design, maintenance, repairs and demolition on the building will be performed with the least harm on the environment. Human health, along with the efficient use of energy and resources are the focus of sustainability, as well as water preservation and reduction of pollution and wastage.
How exactly is this done?
Use the gallery below as your comprehensive guide to eco-friendly building materials and finishes:
Build An Eco-Friendly Home, From Floor To Roof
Build An Eco-Friendly Home, From Floor To Roof
Eco-Friendly Flooring Options: Bamboo
Bamboo- Essentially a grass, this material takes only five years to mature, and grows abundantly in Asia. It is a good alternative for hardwood floor, with colors that mimic a range from blonde wood to walnut.
Photo Credit: @modernbamboo
FSC-Certified Wood
“FSC” means “Forest Stewardship Council.” They encourage preservation of biodiversity, ecologically and socially responsible forestry and respect for the rights of an indigenous community.
Photo Credit: @pfifpampanga143
Carpets Made From Natural Fiber
Jute, Coire and Sisal are all biodegradable. They are also nontoxic and renewable. These are best for stairs, bedrooms and living rooms.
Photo Credit: @simorabaca
Eco-Friendly Wall Materials: Blocks Made Of Cement Mixed With Volcanic Ash
Semi-load bearing breeze blocks are made locally of concrete mixed with volcanic ash.
Photo Credit: @romyolconcrete
Reclaimed Bricks
The use of recycled bricks reduce the energy involved in manufacturing new ones.
Photo Credit: @cerastribley
Cellulose Insulation And Mineral Wool
Cellulose Insulation are made of shredded newspaper, as well as fire-retardant, damp cellulose, while mineral wool are made of basalt rock and recycled slag. Pests and fire resist this material that also has sound-absorbing properties.
Photo Credit: @rodrustic
Cotton Insulation
Who knew your denims can be recycled as a building material? Cotton insulation is made of recycled jeans and cotton fiber. This low chemical content material provides insulation, and has low chemical content.
Photo Credit: @yshomebuildersinc
Corn, Soybean and Sugarcane Insulation
Corn isn't just for cereal anymore! Along with soybean and sugarcane, these agri products have been known to be biodegradable components of eco-friendly rigid board and spray foam.
Photo Credit: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/50068
Greensulate
Mushrooms have also made their way into the building industry! Customized to fit your walls, this insulation option is also blended with agricultural by-products.
Photo Credit: https://www.buildinggreen.com/blog/greensulate---fungus-based-insulation-material-thats-grown-rather-manufactured
Milk Paints
These contain zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) that contribute to the pollution of the atmosphere. They are made with raw, organic materials, and as their name suggests, render a soft, milky texture on surfaces they are painted with.
Photo Credit: @cornishmilkmineralpaint
Water-Based Latex Paints
hese are known to contain far less VOC than their oil-based counterparts. In general, make sure you are consuming a paint product that contains less than 50 g/L of VOC. Paints are considered zero-VOC when they are less than 5 g/L. In general, flat paint sheen and lighter colors are known to have less VOC in them, as lighter colors use less tint in their manufacturing.
Photo Credit: @visionsqualitycoatings
Green Roof
Green Roofs are covered with living vegetation. This can be achieved in a number of ways, including planting in trays filled with plants, vegetables and fruits. This is a non-permanent and relatively inexpensive way to provide an extra layer of insulation to your building, extending its life. It also absorbs rainwater and reduces its runoff.
Photo Credit: @stefanoboeriarchitetti
Solar Roof
Solar systems which can harness the energy of the sun to run the home on solar energy can be installed as shingles. This option is costly in the beginning, but will pay off over time.
Photo Credit: @solar24news
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