Green Building Materials

Materials with good thermal performance can save energy in the building envelope

Recycled Materials Require less virgin resources Use less energy and chemicals to process Good to design using recycled materials and design your constructions to be recycled Concrete, can recycle fly ash from coal fired power plants Steel, contains various amounts of recycled content

Recycled Materials Separate from different kinds of materials easily Using as few materials as possible Use undoable fasteners Use larger assemblies

Reused Materials Even more beneficial than recycled materials – Save resources and require less manufacturing

Sustainably Harvested Materials Harvesting a resource no faster than it can grow so there is no net depletion Sustainable forestry for wood –

Rapidly Renewable Materials Materials that grow back very quickly Sustainably harvested at a high rate Bamboo Cork trees Often used for interior finishes but bamboo has been used for structural elements as well

Non-Toxic Materials Published in the materials safety data sheet (MSDS) Substances to avoid – Asbestos, cadium, chlorinated polyethylene and chlorosulfonated polyethlene, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Chloroprene (neoprene), Formaldehyde, Halogenated Flame Retardants, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), Lead, Mercury, Petrochemical Fertilizers and Pesticides, Phthalates, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), wood treatments containing Creosote, Arsenic, or Pentachlorophenol

Non Toxic Materials Usually not advertised in produces but can be present as fire retardants, adhesives, stabilizers, refrigerant gases, or other ingredients Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – slowly “off-gas” which can cause health risks if the building isn’t ventilated properly

Local materials Any kind of material grown or manufactured within a certain radius of the building site Regional materials – 500 mile radius Avoids the ecological impact of transportation Support local companies

Other Considerations High structural performance, strong but lightweight High durability, gives the building a long life High acoustical performance, absorbing/blocking sound for better comfort