Concerned about protecting the environment, real estate developers use environmentally friendly building materials during construction. Read on to learn about the sustainable building materials used when building green structures.
Recycled steel
The wooden beams for the houses lead to the felling of many trees. This causes significant damage to the environment. Recycled steel not only makes the house more resistant to earthquakes and storms, but also reduces the consumption of other essential resources. One tonne of recycled steel saves almost 1.5 tonnes of iron ore and 0.5 tonnes of coal. It is also less expensive than normal steel and is one of the most efficient green house building materials.
Super ecological bricks
Made from wool and seaweed, these super bricks are more nature-friendly than their predecessors. These bricks are more durable than their traditional clay counterparts and offer excellent thermal performance. Lightweight, these blocks reduce heat loss and are weather resistant. They allow fast and reliable construction.
Insulating concrete forms
One of the oldest green building materials, ICFs can be made using any of the following materials:
· Aerated concrete
polystyrene foam
cement bonded wood fiber
Polyurethane foam
Cement bonded polystyrene beads
The formwork provides excellent insulation of the building and saves nearly 20% of energy. Due to its low impact on nature, these forms are an excellent alternative to wood in terms of masonry of the structure. They not only provide thermal insulation, but also improve indoor air quality.
Eco-friendly paints
Conventional paints contain lead and other harmful chemicals. The solvents in these paints are volatile organic compounds. Volatile organic compounds and other air pollutants create smog and deteriorate indoor air quality. This danger has propelled the demand for environmentally friendly paints that have reduced levels of volatile organic compounds. Green paints are free of vinyl and other plasticizers.
Wool blend carpet
Although wool is expensive, it is still one of the softest, luxurious and eco-friendly carpet fibers. Wool blend rugs are biodegradable and stain resistant. These rugs also enhance the overall decoration of the room.
Low-e windows
By nature, window glasses are highly thermal emissive. Thin film coatings on windows reduce their emissivity. These windows keep the heat in during the winter and out during the summer. Although windows are expensive, they still save a lot of energy.
Straw
Easy availability and high insulation value have made straw an environmentally friendly building material. A renewable natural material, straw absorbs carbon dioxide. Several studies have shown that straw bale construction is a sustainable construction method.