The construction industry accounts for approximately 40 percent of total global CO₂ emissions. This is an incredibly high proportion. Partly due to the prevalent building materials used, especially concrete. This popular building material consumes a lot of energy during production and is not easily recycled. The latter also applies to synthetic insulation materials. They are difficult to recycle because they often stick together with other materials; hence, pure separation is almost impossible.
Sustainable construction materials, on the other hand, are generally recyclable and have a longer lifespan. One of the best things about such materials that everyone loves is they can be reused multiple times. And some of them unlimited times. So, they help improve the construction industry’s ecological footprint. Read this detailed blog to know what they are, why they are gaining popularity, and a list of sustainable materials in construction.
But before we begin, if you’re someone who loves to keep tabs on what’s happening in the world of construction and infrastructure, keep visiting NYGGS. You’ll also get informative blogs on how the latest technologies, such as construction ERP software, AI/ML, robotics, or drones, are transforming this industry.
Let’s start from the top!
What are Sustainable Construction Materials?
Sustainable building materials are an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional building materials such as concrete. They are not made from synthetic materials but from renewable resources such as wood, straw, or clay.
If not found naturally, such materials can be produced with low energy consumption. It is ideal if these environmentally friendly construction materials can be sourced locally, as the transport of such materials also harms the environment.
Why Should Sustainable Construction Materials Be Used?
In ecology, a holistic approach is often taken to assess the environmental impact of a construction project. This involves considering the entire life cycle of a building and its building materials, from planning through use to reuse.
Conventional building materials such as concrete, steel, or plastic require a high level of energy to produce and thus generate high CO₂ emissions. The same applies to composite building materials such as reinforced concrete or plywood, which are frequently used in practice. After the building is demolished, they first end up in landfills and, ultimately, usually, in an incinerator, which also emits CO2. This leads to negative environmental impacts and a poor ecological balance—and this is something that needs to be counteracted.
Conversely, sustainable construction materials do not require complex production; they are often already available, such as wood, straw, clay, or hemp. Both their processing and disposal produce only a comparatively small amount of CO₂.. They can often also be recycled. Hemp also has the advantage that almost all parts of the plant can be used, and a large amount of biomass is produced in the process.
So to conclude, ‘Sustainability in construction isn’t just about materials; social and economic factors matter too.’
List of Sustainable Materials in Construction
Listing some natually found sustainable construction materials:
1. Wood
This sustainable building material is becoming increasingly popular. Wood grows back and is easily recycled, provided it hasn’t been painted. It’s a building material that has always been part of the natural cycle. Furthermore, it offers good thermal insulation, which leads to lower energy costs for wooden buildings.
In addition, wood binds CO2. Since a wooden structure often stands for decades, the carbon remains bound until the wood is either burned or rots. This way, the climate-damaging gas can be kept out of the atmosphere for a long time.
Furthermore, wood is permeable to diffusion and ensures a pleasant indoor climate, as it naturally regulates the humidity level in the air. As soon as the humidity rises above 30 percent, it absorbs moisture and releases it again when the humidity rises.
2. Clay
Clay consists of clay, fine and regular sand, as well as gravel or stones. The proportion of the individual components varies depending on the location. Like wood, clay also creates a pleasant indoor climate. This increasingly popular building material absorbs moisture from the room air and releases it only slowly.
The material also scores highly in terms of fire protection. Since it consists only of mineral materials, it is non-flammable. Furthermore, living in a house made of clay is very healthy when compared to other sustainable construction materials. The reason: Clay contains no chemical additives and has a neutral pH value. This is ideal for allergy sufferers.
3. Bricks
Admittedly, firing bricks consumes a lot of energy. But in the long run, they are a sustainable building material. Bricks are both strong and durable. Once assembled into a wall, they require no maintenance and will last for hundreds of years.
The extraction of the clay or loam needed for bricks has comparatively little impact on the environment, as both are found far above the surface. The resulting pits are often filled with water, creating new biotopes.
Furthermore, after a building is dismantled, the individual bricks can often be reused, or they can be ground into brick dust and used on sports fields or airports.
Read more: Types of Walls in Construction
4. Straw
Straw is a byproduct of grain harvesting and was used for insulation for centuries, but fell into disuse when synthetic insulation materials came onto the market. However, straw bales are excellent among sustainable construction materials for several reasons. Firstly, straw insulates well because it retains heat very well. Heat loss to the outside is very low. It also offers good sound insulation and is permeable to diffusion, meaning it absorbs moisture from the living space well. This contributes to a pleasant indoor climate.
No one needs to fear fires either: Baled straw has moderate flammability. Only loose straw catches fire quickly. Straw bales offer another advantage: By compressing the bales, much of the moisture is squeezed out, leaving little chance for mold and pests to spread.
5. Cork
Cork, which is obtained from the bark of the cork tree, is also a popular alternative to synthetic building or insulation materials. For production, the bark is shredded and processed in various steps into either agglomerated cork or baked cork. Three steps are necessary to produce agglomerated cork: First, the cork is ground into granules, then binding agents are mixed in, and the mixture must then harden. The resulting agglomerated cork can then be sawn into panels, which can be used for thermal insulation in walls and impact sound insulation in floors.
Furthermore, corks are sustainable construction materials that have small cavities that contain air. These allow it to retain heat and also provide good sound insulation. It is therefore particularly popular as impact sound insulation for floors. No one needs to fear rot and mold, either, as cork can absorb, temporarily store, and then release moisture. It is also so resistant to mold because it contains a high amount of tannins.
Tannins are plant-based tannins that prevent oxidation.
6. Flax
When people think of flax, they immediately associate it with clothing. Before the rise of cotton, clothing was often made from flax. The fact that it can also be used to insulate interior walls is a relatively new development and is partly due to the fashion industry’s rediscovery of flax. The long fibers of the plant are used for clothing, while the short fibers are left over. However, these can be used to make insulating products such as insulation boards or blown-in insulation. Furthermore, processing the fibers requires very little energy.
Flax insulation offers several advantages. For example, flax is a master at regulating the humidity of indoor air. It absorbs up to 35 percent of the air humidity and continually exchanges it with the room air. This provides cooling on hot days and more warmth in the room on colder days. It is precisely because of these moisture-regulating properties that flax is often used in the renovation of old buildings. Furthermore, flax is a very good sound insulator, which is why it is also often used in noisy environments. If flax is processed without additives such as polyester fibers, it can be easily recycled or composted, making it yet another sustainable product.
Sustainable Construction Materials in Modern Buildings
Conclusion
What has long been forgotten can provide crucial impetus for solving today’s environmental problems.
After all, building with sustainable construction materials such as wood, straw, and bamboo worked excellently in the past. Back then, it was completely normal, and no one even knew the term “ecological.”
Admittedly, a sustainable house is not yet a sure thing. Anyone who wants to build ecologically needs to gather information, find specialists with the appropriate expertise, and calculate precisely when sustainable construction will be financially worthwhile.
On the one hand, ecological building materials cost more. On the other hand, there are funding programs for sustainable construction, and operating costs are also lower with this type of construction due to its improved energy efficiency. In conclusion, you’ll improve your ecological footprint and make a significant contribution to environmental protection.
FAQs
Q. Are ecological building materials more expensive?
Currently, builders have to dig deeper into their pockets for sustainable building materials than for conventional ones. This is partly due to the fact that demand is not yet high enough. After centuries of use, ecological materials for construction and insulation disappeared from the market for decades. They have yet to reestablish themselves. But it can still be worthwhile to focus on sustainability. Additionally, sustainable construction materials can bring long-term cost savings because they have a longer lifespan and are more energy-efficient than conventional building materials such as concrete.
Q. Are sustainable building materials suitable for the renovation of old buildings?
Renovating old buildings with sustainable construction materials is not only possible but also makes a lot of sense. After all, one of the core principles of sustainable construction is to build on what already exists rather than erect a new one. It’s better to utilize the entire lifespan of a building wisely than to demolish it and build a new one.
There are a few rules for the sustainable renovation of old buildings:
- The existing structure of a building should be changed as little as possible. Too much fuss can lead to structural damage.
- All existing components must be protected during construction, for example, by covering them.
- Where possible, dry construction methods should be preferred. Moisture can damage the structure.
Q. How frequently are sustainable building materials used in India?
In recent years, demand for sustainable construction materials has increased in India, but their share of the overall market remains relatively small. Their use depends on various factors, such as local conditions, energy efficiency requirements, and financial resources. However, the use of bamboo as a building material has increased significantly in India in recent years due to its favorable ecological properties, as well as its availability and cost-effectiveness. Overall, the use of sustainable building materials is on the rise in India, but there is still considerable potential for further progress in this area.