Green Building Material: Low-Emitting Wall and Floor Choices
Selecting low-VOC (volatile organic compound) emitting materials for interior finishes like flooring, wallboard, and paints ensures excellent indoor air quality. VOC emissions are linked to health issues like asthma and other respiratory problems. Some sustainable options include linoleum, cork, and bamboo for flooring since they don't use odor-emitting glues and finishes in production. Natural clay or mineral-based paints and washes are healthy choices for walls that won't off-gas over time. Formaldehyde-free fiberboard is a better choice than regular drywall for interior wall substrate, further reducing emissions. Green label certified or NAUF (no added urea-formaldehyde) pressed wood products should always be specified.
Energy-Efficient Insulation Green Building Materials
Maximizing a building's insulation is essential for lowering energy costs and carbon footprint. Sustainable options for walls, attics, basements and crawlspaces include denim insulation made from recycled jeans, blown-in cellulose crafted from recycled newspaper, and spray foam produced using renewable soy or plant-based chemicals. Fiberglass and mineral wool batts manufactured with recycled content work well too. Insulation with higher R-values provides superior performance. Cellulose, denim, and spray foams are also mold- and pest-resistant. Properly installed rigid foam board sheathing on exterior walls increases a home's overall R-value and helps prevent thermal bridging. Green Building Materials boost energy efficiency for a warmer, cozier building.
Durable Sustainable Concrete and Masonry Units
For structural and durable building elements like foundation walls and floors, green alternatives to conventional concrete include limecrete made using lime and natural aggregates, and hempcrete composed partly of hemp shiv. Both are lightweight yet strong. Fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, can replace up to 30% of Portland cement used in concrete. This diverts waste from landfills. Recycled glass and crushed porcelain can also supplement natural aggregates. For masonry walls, local sustainable clay bricks require less embodied energy than concrete blocks to manufacture. Fired at lower temperatures, clay bricks can incorporate crop byproducts to further reduce their carbon footprint. These eco-options are long-lasting materials for the construction of stable, solid structures.
Renewably-Harvested Wood for Structures and Finishings
Wood selected from sustainably-managed forests is a renewable natural material suited for structures, trim, decking, and flooring. Certified wood verifies responsible harvesting practices that promote biodiversity and replanting. For load-bearing elements, glulam beams are strong, durable, and can be manufactured from smaller certified wood pieces. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) offers an alternative to steel for multi-story construction by using laminated panels of wood for walls, floors, and roofs. Many flooring products are also available made from FSC-certified or reclaimed wood that provides aesthetic appeal alongside renewability. Properly maintaining certified wood over time keeps it sequestering carbon from the atmosphere long-term.
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