Sustainable building materials are more than just reused or recycled materials. The energy consumed during harvesting, transporting and processing of the material should decide if it is truly sustainable. Local materials are commonly considered sustainable due to its huge reduction of energy needed to transport them.
Price also plays a major role in considering a material sustainable. However, the most important consideration is the health and environmental impact of these materials.
Using sustainable materials promote a cleaner, healthier and better home and there are many benefits to designing spaces using sustainable products. Sustainable building materials are adobe, straw, cork, bamboo and clay. They have low emission rates and possess energy conservation qualities. These materials are all-natural and can be used to build greener homes. Recycled materials include granite, steel or polyurethane.
The adobe for instance, can be used to construct all types of buildings. There is very little or almost no energy used in transporting it and the material is found everywhere. Most people simply use the adobe found there on the site of their building. You would need a frame as support, but the adobe is very durable and the home will be naturally insulated due to the thickness of the walls and density of the adobe. A home built in adobe will have lower electricity bills and less consumption of energy.
Building a home to standard measurement cuts back on waste and requires less trimming. Whatever material you have decided to use, it will be sustainable if it can be reused, recycled or can be easily decomposed without causing harmful toxins to the environment.
Sealants, paints and glues can release harmful emissions eventually. That is why it is preferable to use low VOC options, which are more environmentally friendly and healthier to the people.
Water saving plumbing and faucets are definitely part of the sustainable materials and part of the green movement are techniques in landscaping such as drip systems that use very little water.
Using sustainable or green materials for your home gives many advantages to both you and the family and to nature as well. These materials help reduce the amount of energy required to power your home.
Remember that the use of sustainable materials can greatly help in nature preservation. It helps protect the natural law resources such as water, forests and clean air. Study shows that over three billion tons of raw materials are consumed every year for remodelling and constructing homes and buildings. Using sustainable materials help lessen the tool of this consumption.
Sustainable architecture and sustainable building methods are smart ways to build for the future. Not only is it more environmentally responsible to do so but it is also a great way to a most economical option in the years to come. Keep in mind that these days, with the ozone layer destroyed, global warming effect is already felt; the need to protect our Mother Earth should be our priority. Never forget that we only have one planet to live that is why it is of utmost importance that we should do everything in our capacity to protect and preserve it for our children and our children’s children.