Sustainable building materials
Every year on a global scale a construction industries consume 3 billion tons of raw material.
This is no longer sustainable since non renewable material have led to damaging environmental impacts.
Instead builders are looking at some alternative solutions to concrete.
What you can do
Consider using the following new products in your construction
Recycled Plastic – with a lifespan of 30-50 years it's durable as a long-lasting building material.
Hempcrete – durable and long-lasting material made from hempwood, water and lime.
Grasscrete - involves layering concrete flooring which allows grass and plants to grow. This makes a bio-filter and improves storm water absorption.
Sustainably sourced wood - absorbs CO2 and takes less energy in processing materials.
Bamboo - since this is cheap and easy to grow quickly bamboo is considered as a durable and sustainable material.
What others have done
Try new building materials
Papercrete – a type of industrial strength papier mache made with waste paper and cardboard, using course or fine aggregate like sand and cement with water to bind and strengthen papercrete.
It is inexpensive, requires low tech, and is good for heat and sound insulation. Since it is a new product using waste materials this is still experimental and does have limitations used alone.
A checklist
Research green building materials
Call for change
When constructing or refurbishing buildings think about what makes them "green" and "sustainable" - challenge yourself and your builders to use a "building fabric first approach".
