INTD 51 human environments key issues—materials The best friend on earth of man is the tree. When we use the tree respectfully and economically, we have one of the greatest resources on the earth. --Frank Lloyd Wright

materials area of most influence for interior designers materials we choose can aggravate: resource depletion climate change water scarcity biodiversity loss waste even our health also can cause pollution during production

impacts of materials resource depletion—natural materials are finite; plastics, metal, stone wood is renewable, but replenished slowly forests need to be managed—deforestation leads to: loss of habitat for wildlife topsoil erosion diminished capacity to absorb carbon dioxide

impacts of materials the embodied energy of materials indirectly impacts climate energy necessary to obtain, process, manufacture, transport, install, maintain, demolish & dispose of a material stone: blasted from quarry driven to factory cut & honed into panels driven to building site fixed into position fuel is used at every stage once in use: cleaned, repaired, replaced dismantled transported for reuse, recycle, or disposal

impacts of materials generally, natural materials need less intensive processing & lower embodied energy than man- made alternatives

impacts of materials materials have embodied water as well—used at most stages of a materials life cycle natural materials are likely to use less—cotton is the exception; accounts for 3% of entire global water use

impacts of materials major impact on waste—putting pressure on land use & triggering pollution caused by demolition of existing buildings and spaces over-ordering of new materials inefficient manufacturing processes failure to design standard modules

impacts of materials materials selected can affect our own health and well-being asthma & sick building syndrome associated with: off-gassing VOCs from many finishes, adhesives, & furnishings dust & mold aggravated by certain materials & conditions

approaching sustainable specification must reduce consumption & consume wisely priorities: first reduce second reuse third recycle ensure that any new materials used are renewable consider environmental impacts at every life cycle stage rigorous research can help designers navigate greenwash

approaching sustainable specification project type, location & budget guide decisions renovation—reuse existing materials new-build—pioneer innovative, environmentally sound materials site location dictates local use of materials, products & skills

approaching sustainable specification temporary— what happens after demolition?—select reusable, or recyclable materials materials should be used sparingly & perhaps be prefabricated to lessen waste flexible— materials or products should serve more than one function durable, low-maintenance materials essential to withstand wear & tear from frequent rearrangement

approaching sustainable specification long-term— may be able to justify some materials with higher embodied energy—if offer enhanced durability or thermal performance EXAMPLE: concrete (high embodied energy) contributes thermal mass to passive solar design durability & performance are critical consider frequency & method of cleaning and maintenance over lifetime of product (water, chemicals, energy) air quality should be major concern

specification checklist it is helpful to use a specification checklist to ensure you are considering all the environmental impacts associated with a material throughout its life cycle Is the material needed? Is it reused or reclaimed? Is it sourced & processed near the site? Is it from a renewable source? Does it have low embodied energy & water? Does its production have low environmental impact? Does it have recycled content?

specification checklist Does it have minimal or recyclable packaging? Is it nontoxic and low-emitting during installation & use? Does it improve the building’s performance? Do its application, treatment, and finishes have low environmental impact? Does it require little maintenance or cleaning, and by nontoxic methods? Can it be reused or recycled at the end of the project? the designer should aim to be able to answer yes to most of the questions

reduce seek to reduce materials used & their negative effects reduce amount of raw materials as well as: waste packaging embodied energy & water transportation air pollution ensure materials are hard-wearing & seldom require maintenance natural, biodegradable materials avoid creating a long-term landfill problem

reuse includes salvaging demolition waste using reclaimed materials ensuring specified materials can be reused at end of project prevents existing materials going to waste & saves on embodied energy and water used to produce new materials reusing is more effective than recycling because of extra energy, water & transportation needed for recycling process

reuse if existing materials cannot be reused in the project, can they be: recycled donated to local salvage yards or flea markets given to charities advertised for sale

recycle distinct from reusing—existing materials are reprocessed into a new form diverts waste materials from landfill & reduces amount of virgin resources needed to make new products check that materials selected are recyclable Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) & Rematerialise websites include databases of recycled-content materials provide storage space for recycling once interior is occupied

renewables when using virgin materials is unavoidable, take care to specify ones that originate from renewable sources valid for both natural & synthetic materials natural plentiful, fast-growing & self- replenishing materials (ash, larch, bamboo, hemp, wool & alpaca, cork) insist that wood & rubber come from a certified renewable source

renewables man-made be aware of raw ingredients & environmental impact EXAMPLE: plastics derive from finite fossil fuels; recycled plastics much better option

materials assessment materials can be evaluated in a number of different ways by a number of different organizations

client binder Section 4—Green Design Specification research 7-10 “green” products/materials that can be used throughout the residence include a cut sheet with an image as well as a brief description of how each will be used