It’s impossible to deny we’re in the middle of a climate crisis. For the most part, construction needs to do better – with a third of all waste produced coming from the building sector. So, what’s the solution for a greener, more sustainable trade industry?
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Part of the answer is using eco-friendly building materials. Here’s what you need to know to get a head start.
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As the world becomes more environmentally aware, there’s pressure on the construction industry to up its eco game. Tradespeople are getting on board, and sustainable building materials are having their moment (which we suspect, will be here to stay).
The UK has announced its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this, there’s been a focus on energy efficiency in homes, pushing homeowners and tradespeople to think more sustainably. And the UK has already made headway:
It’s clear that Britons are getting on board the sustainability train, and it’s time for your trade business to jump on too. The British Assessment Bureau has some good ideas on how construction could be more sustainable in the UK – like using renewable energy, sustainable materials, and recycled plastic.
The construction industry in the US is upping its game in sustainability, with many factors being considered for change:
Tradespeople in the US, one of the world’s most powerful countries, should start acting on these ideas now and become leaders in US sustainable construction.
The Aussies are on board with sustainability too, making huge progress in recent years:
There are plenty of online resources available to help builders on the sustainability path – check out The Australian Building Sustainability Association, the Green Building Council Australia and Positive Footprints.
In a country that tries to keep its environment as green as the mountains that run through it, it’s no surprise New Zealand is already gaining ground in eco-building:
These small steps are just the beginning for NZ, so it’s a smart move to up your knowledge and become a leader in NZ sustainable construction.
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To achieve a more eco-friendly industry, we need to look at the materials we’re using. The energy required for production, reusability and longevity of materials comes into play. Ideally, we’d also source more materials locally or closer to home, to reduce the effect that freight and transportation have on the planet.
Sustainable building materials are resource-efficient and environmentally responsible, using less water and lowering the carbon footprint of a home. The global green building materials market is projected to grow from $422.27 billion in 2023 to $951.15 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 12.3%. That’s good news for tradespeople wanting to establish sustainable practices, but you’ll need some insight before you start sourcing.
When choosing sustainable building materials, tradespeople should ask themselves questions like:
A versatile material that can be used for everything from making furniture to building entire homes. Pine trees grow in the UK, US, Australia, and New Zealand, so they’re easily accessible for local projects.
It’s strong, durable and can last for hundreds of years when taken care of. But it should be wood that’s been sourced sustainably, so you need to choose wisely. When responsibly sourced, wood has a very low carbon footprint. New planting will replace trees that have been cut down, aiding oxygen generation and removing carbon from the atmosphere.
Beeswax is a natural and renewable product that helps prevent rust. You can coat materials in it to make them last longer. Plus, you can coat your nails and screws to prevent them from splitting wood. Beeswax can also be used as a lubricant for wood and furniture.
Clay has been used in construction for centuries, and a huge number of the world’s buildings have clay in their structure. It’s a natural resource that’s durable and long-lasting – making it a great sustainable option.
When cork is harvested from a living tree, the tree is unharmed and continues to grow and produce more cork. Even when cork is bent and moved, it will revert to its original shape. Cork can also be used as a thermal insulator.
Straw is a natural material that’s easy to harvest and replant with minimal environmental impact. With great insulation and sound-proofing properties, straw bales can be used in frameworks such as walls and ceilings. Straw is also an eco-friendly solution for binding concrete or clay.
One of the most versatile and beneficial plants on earth, hemp can be used for nutrition, textiles and fuel. Now, hempcrete is gaining popularity in the construction industry. It’s waterproof and fireproof with insulating properties, making it an impressive eco-friendly alternative to concrete. Hempcrete is also CO2 negative, absorbing more CO2 than it releases.
Despite the advancements in fabrication techniques that yield increasingly innovative building materials, wood continues to be a favorite option for both customers and contractors alike. The problem is that wood is not a very sustainable material, as it requires extensive processing to get construction-ready and leads to deforestation, as the cycle to get a tree ready to produce timber can take decades in some cases.
As a more sustainable alternative, contractors are considering the benefits of bamboo plywood. When finished, bamboo veneer offers an appearance that is nearly indistinguishable from natural wood products, making it a great choice for flooring, cabinetry, and shelving. However, bamboo--which is classified as a grass--has a much higher yield per acre than timber, and a plant can be harvest-ready in as little as three years, making it the much more sustainable choice.
There’s nothing more sustainable than using second-hand building materials that already exist. Repurposing old wood saves cutting down trees and reduces wood waste going to landfill. With most of the benefits of new wood, and the added advantage of being more durable (and wider in some cases), reclaimed wood is a great solution for flooring, cabinetry and structural framing.
Plastic is one of the world’s biggest polluters, and often it’s unnecessary to create new plastic. People all over the world are putting their ingenuity into recycling plastic, turning old plastic bags into fences and face masks into roads. Recycled plastic can be used for a range of construction needs from making furniture to roofs, floors and fences.
Highly versatile and able to withstand even earthquakes, steel is an obvious choice for a lot of projects. But it’s not always necessary to source new steel. It’s 100% recyclable and can be used over and over without losing its strength or durability. It won’t burn, it’s long-lasting and can be used for anything from structural to decorative work.
Although there are a host of reasons to choose ICF when framing a building, its elite sustainability is the primary driver of its burgeoning popularity for new construction projects.
A study performed by CLEB Laboratories was able to quantify the thermal mass effect of ICF structures, with thermal mass described as a material’s ability to control unwanted heat transfer between a building’s interior and exterior to create a stable interior temperature. Their findings revealed that an ICF-framed wall had 60% less energy loss than a typical wood-framed structure.
In addition to energy conservation, some other sustainable features of ICF framing include:
To create a truly durable building envelope, pairing ICF framing with innovative steel plank siding is a particularly strong choice. Although metal siding has traditionally gotten a bad rap for its utilitarian appearance and limited style selection, modern products are fabricated in a wide array of colors and designs that not only maximize durability but help ensure the curb appeal of any type of building.
In addition to its elite durability that will help it last the life of the building without requiring replacement, modern steel siding offers the following sustainability features:
It takes a special kind of roofing to adequately protect the flat roofs that distinguish most commercial buildings. In addition to being under constant bombardment from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays, commercial roofs will also see increased foot traffic compared to residential roofs due to factors such as:
When all of these factors are considered, many contemporary contractors continue to turn to EPDM roofing membrane to service new construction in commercial buildings. Known for its elasticity and toughness, EPDM is a synthetic rubber compound fabricated from natural gas and oil that stands up extremely well in the face of foot traffic and UV exposure to make it a sustainable, long-term roofing solution.
To further solidify the roof and make the most efficient building envelope possible, it is a good idea to install flat roof insulation with an EPDM roofing membrane. As snow and ice tend to linger a bit longer on flat than pitched roofs, the stable, long-term R-value of flat roofing insulation can help ensure that interior temperatures in commercial buildings remain consistent regardless of the weather conditions. Other attractive features of rooftop insulation include:
One prevalent trend in modern construction is to build multi-purpose facilities that are equipped with ample flex space. These types of structures have few interior walls or permanent fixtures, allowing for easy rearrangement of spaces to set up for special occasions or switch between tenants. Among the sustainability benefits of these open-floor facilities include fewer resources required for renovation and greater flow of natural light to reduce dependence on electricity.
Despite the many benefits of building more diverse, multi-purpose facilities, one concern for architects is how to prevent the unwanted transfer of sound in the absence of walls. To remedy this problem, new construction facilities are increasingly turning to acoustic ceiling clouds. In addition to dampening sound volume, reducing echoes, and swallowing up background noise, contemporary acoustic ceiling clouds can create visual breaks in large, open spaces that are not possible with more utilitarian drop-ceiling insulation.
Concrete is made from natural materials, but a lot of waste can be involved in the process. Precast concrete is rated higher on the sustainability scale because it requires less water and energy to produce and use. It’s premixed so the measurements are tighter and more precise, creating less waste overall.
Also known as earth masonry, these clay bricks aren’t fired like conventional bricks. Instead, they’re air-dried, which improves their strength, prevents shrinkage and emits fewer toxins. The natural properties of unfired clay masonry make it a robust and fire-resistant material.
Ferrock (ferrous rock) is a strong and flexible alternative to cement. It’s created from steel dust waste that would otherwise be discarded. When ground glass is added, it creates iron carbonate, which binds carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the ferrock. The benefits of ferrock are huge – it absorbs more carbon than it emits, and it’s usually a cheaper alternative, given it’s a by-product of waste.
Timbercrete is an Australian invention that uses a blend of sand, cement, sawmill waste binders and a non-toxic deflocculating additive. Using renewable energy from the sun and wind, the mixture is cured into a building material, then converted into bricks, panels, pavers and blocks.
With a few awards under its belt now, Timbercrete is quickly gaining popularity for its thermal insulation, flexibility and durability. Timbercrete products are also typically lighter and larger than other building materials, and it’s now being used in residential and commercial properties and landscape projects.
A pristine parking lot can make any new building truly stand out. However, the asphalt and concrete lots adjoining most new construction projects tend to degrade much faster than the building itself. Asphalt is notorious for developing cracks and potholes that must be continually repaved, while concrete is readily stained by leaking car fluids, requiring meticulous cleaning efforts to restore to a presentable condition.
As a result, stabilized gravel is the superior choice when designing low maintenance parking lots. While loose gravel lots have traditionally had issues with rutting and clumping, innovative permeable pavers use a grid-lock underlayment that holds the gravel in place. Gravel parking lots are impervious to the effects of inclement weather and can be easily touched up to ensure optimal aesthetics, making them a durable, sustainable choice to pair with any new commercial project.
In the UK, poorly insulated homes could be more of a threat to the climate than petrol cars, in part due to gas heating. If we want to create more eco-friendly homes globally, it’s vital something changes – now. These small changes will make a huge difference:
Part of the issue is homes aren’t properly insulated. Efficient insulation using sustainable materials is the first big step towards creating eco-friendly homes.
If you’re building a house, the most obvious solution is to position it to benefit from the sun. This will keep the house warmer, and solar panels on the roof can generate hot water and power.
Heat pumps take their heat from the ground and the air outside, making them a more eco-friendly solution than gas boilers or home fires.
Water efficiency is a crucial part of making a home more sustainable. The easy solution? Install showerheads and taps that restrict water usage.
The UN’s most recent climate crisis report makes it clear the world needs to be more environmentally conscious. The demand for eco-friendly solutions is ever-increasing in construction and sustainable practices will soon be the norm, so you’ll have a good head start if you get on board now. Materials aside, here are a few easy changes you can make that will be good for the planet, and your business too.
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Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t try to change everything overnight. Put some sustainability goals in place, share them with your staff and ensure you take active steps to achieve them.
If you’ve got employees, get them on board with your sustainability efforts. Involve them in the process of switching to more eco-friendly alternatives, so everyone’s up to speed on the eco-front.
What may seem like a big expense at the beginning is sure to pay off long-term, both for your pocket and the planet. Next time you need new tools or equipment, invest in some that are durable and made to last. Or you might want to consider purchasing second-hand.
Instead of throwing waste into the bin, think of how you could reuse or repurpose it. If there’s no way it can be reused, recycle as much as you can, so it doesn’t end up in a landfill.
With governments in the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand tightening up their goals for the planet, there’s never been a better time for change in the construction industry. The world’s going green, and tradespeople need to as well. There’s some good news – a few easy swaps to eco-friendly materials will give you a head start towards building a sustainable trade business and doing your part to fight the climate crisis.
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This article was written in collaboration with Sam Willis, a contributor to Innovative Building Materials. Sam is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that increase property value, maximize energy savings, and turn houses into homes.