are added to earth. Even today, structures built with adobe or cob can be seen in some remote areas. Fig 1: Adobe made Structure. Fig 2: Engineered Wood Board over Solid Wood Board. Fig 3: Bamboo Structure. Fig 4: Structural Insulated Panel SIP. Fig 5: Insulated Concrete Forms. Fig 6: Cordwood Wall.

Fig 7: Straw Bale Wall. Fig 8: Earth Bag Walls. Fig 9: Slate Roofing. Fig Steel Roofing. Fig Thatch Roofing. Fig Composite Roof Panels. Fig Cotton Insulation.

Fig Polyurethane Foam Spray. Fig Fibreglass batt. Fig Installing Cellulose Insulation. Fig Installing Cork Boards. Fig Installation of Polystyrene Foam Sheets. Fig Natural Clay Plastered Wall.

Fig Non-VOC Paint. Fig Natural Fiber Flooring Rugs. Fig Exterior Siding with Fiber Cement Boards. Fig Natural Stone Wall. But unfortunately, traditional material such as concrete used for building construction has harmful effects on the environment and human health. This is why Eco-friendly building materials are promoted daily for various benefits such as environmental improvement, cost-effectiveness, social benefits, etc.

When we talk about the components or elements of a green building, it has seven main components that play a major role in its construction. These components help in increasing the sustainability of green buildings.

The components of green buildings are;. One of the main goals of green building is to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. The term energy efficiency refers to using less energy to provide services, comfort, and functionality that are the same or better than before.

A building can be made more energy efficient through:. The term renewable energy refers to energy sources that are continually replenished by natural processes, such as energy from the sun, wind, water, geothermal, and biomass sources.

In order to accomplish this, renewable energy systems can be incorporated into the building design, such as photovoltaic panels, solar water heaters, solar thermal systems, and wind turbines. Essentially, this component aims to make homes, buildings, and a variety of appliances and building components more energy-efficient.

Also, wind turbines and solar panels are encouraged. Water efficiency means reducing water consumption while providing the same or better services, comfort, and functionality. This can be achieved by:. The purpose of this component is to promote and enhance the market for water-efficient products and services.

A performance criterion for water-efficient products and services is also developed. A third component of green building is to minimize the environmental impact of building products and materials throughout their life cycle.

A sustainable building material is one that is environmentally friendly. Natural and renewable resources are used to make these materials.

Moreover, they are localized to minimize transport costs. It is not only Eco-friendly, but also energy-efficient, and durable, and reduces landfill waste. Building materials and specifications that are environmentally friendly are those with a low carbon footprint, toxicity, waste generation, and resource depletion.

Utilizing recycled, reclaimed, renewable, biodegradable, and locally sourced materials can help achieve this goal.

Also, it can help avoid harmful substances, such as volatile organic compounds VOCs , formaldehyde, asbestos, and lead.

Also, assuring that materials are certified by third parties such as Energy Star, Green Seal, and the Forest Stewardship Council; and using life cycle analysis tools to compare the environmental impact of different options. A fourth component of green building is to minimize waste generated during the construction, operation, and demolition of buildings.

This accounts for a significant portion of our overall waste, which is disposed of in landfills, incinerated, and contaminated. Reducing waste means minimizing its quantity and improving its quality. This can be achieved by applying:.

A fifth component of green building is to protect building occupants and workers from toxic substances that can harm them. This can be achieved by the following:. A sixth component of green building is to make buildings healthier, more comfortable, and more productive by improving the quality of indoor air.

A quality indoor environment includes maintaining acceptable levels of temperature, humidity, ventilation, lighting, and noise. Also, inspecting for contaminants. A seventh and final component of green building is encouraging smart growth and sustainable community development.

Smart growth aims to foster compact, mixed-use, walk-able, and accessible communities while preserving land, protecting natural resources , and enhancing social equity. In sustainable development, present needs are met without compromising the needs of future generations.

Overall, this component promotes sustainable development practices to reduce environmental impact. An Eco-friendly building focuses on energy efficiency, environmental responsibility, and health and well-being.

Here are some key features of green buildings:. The use of concrete in construction no doubt builds strong huge buildings. Still, if we think from an environmental point of view, its effect is quite hazardous to the environment.

Commercial concrete emits a huge amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during production, leading to climate change. We all need to find a way out of this situation.

You can use Eco-friendly green building materials instead of concrete to tackle this situation. The primary purpose of using these building materials is to build energy-efficient constructions. Before you choose any material for construction, you must know the properties of these materials.

The following list of materials will help you choose the best environmentally friendly materials for construction:. Bamboo is an environmentally friendly building material. It is a durable material to use for construction, giving the structure the most elegant look. Bamboo can grow in any climatic condition which makes it cost-effective as well.

Bamboo is a material with a renewable property that can be used as an alternative to concrete. In the previous era, straw bales were used as building materials, since they are very renewable. Even today they are usable. Straw bales have natural insulation properties to protect against heat or cold climates outside.

Straw bales can be used to build house walls, instead of concrete. But they need careful design and installation to prevent moisture damage, pest infestations, and structural failure. Ashcrete is used as a green building material instead of concrete.

It is made up of fly ash. Fly ash is actually a by-product of coal released when coal gets burnt. Fly ash is generally disposed of in landfills or ponds, where it can pollute groundwater and release greenhouse gases.

By using fly ash, the traditional components available in concrete can be replaced with fly ash. Plastic researchers create recycled Eco-friendly plastic building materials.

The process of recycling plastic involves collecting, cleaning, and reprocessing waste plastic products, such as bags, bottles, and packaging, into new products.

Recycling plastic can be used to manufacture roofing tiles, decking, fencing, pipes, and furniture. This reduces the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills or oceans.

Recycled plastic is also durable, weather-resistant, and easy to maintain, making it an ideal building material. Grasscrete is a green building material specially used to create walkways or driveway floors. The grasscrete is built in such a manner that there are open spaces in between. These open spaces allow grass to grow and replace the overall use of concrete to create a floor.

These open spaces also help in absorbing the rainwater. Because it requires less watering, fertilizing, and grass cutting than regular lawns, it lowers maintenance costs.

Timbercrete is actually a mixture of sawdust, concrete, and water, so it is much lighter than traditional concrete. It can be created in different shapes, such as bricks, slabs, etc. The advantages of timbercrete over conventional concrete include a lower carbon footprint , better thermal insulating properties, lighter weight, and easier work-ability.

It is an Eco-friendly building material that further reduces transportation emissions and is also an energy-efficient alternative to concrete. A stack of sand bags can be arranged and stacked to form walls, foundations, or domes.

The advantages of sandbags include low costs, easy transportation and installation, durability, fire resistance, and versatile application.

You can even furnish an entire house with eco-friendly products. Buying products for your green home remodel can be a challenge: how can you distinguish the genuinely eco-friendly building materials from those that are green only in name?

The eco-friendly building products on this list are either sourced from renewable materials or from recycled content. Some products, notably Forest Stewardship Council FSC lumber, are sourced responsibly and the supply chain is transparent. Other products like low- or no-VOC paints and coatings are healthier than their chemical-laden counterparts.

Bamboo is not a wood, but a fast-growing grass that is harvested under cultivated conditions as a cash crop. Bamboo grows to harvestable maturity in only about five years, making it a very eco-friendly building material. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council, a non-profit organization that seeks to make sure timber is harvested in an environmentally sustainable way that is also socially beneficial.

When you buy flooring products labeled as FSC certified, you can be assured that it has been harvested with the best interests of both forests and citizens in mind. Old wood planks salvaged from demolition jobs can make great material for floors, lending them an antique charm.

Salvage yards and architectural antique stores may stock large quantities of salvaged solid wood flooring and other wood planks. Used ceramic tile may be available from salvage companies and architectural antique stores. The styles are often very unique.

No product is percent eco-friendly; there are only varying degrees of green. Plus, there is no single standard for eco-friendliness. LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification is the closest to a category-wide system, but even LEED ignores nuances and critics view it as a way of gaming the system.

Not only that but a lot of green building materials are labeled green as a marketing gesture even though their environmental friendliness might be questionable. As an alternative to vinyl tiles and sheet flooring, linoleum is a more eco-friendly choice.

Linoleum is manufactured from linseed oil resins mixed with wood and cork particles. Linoleum is easy to recycle, as well. As long as the linoleum is free of adhesives, it can even be composted. Cork is a renewable material harvested from Mediterranean cork oak trees.

The bark renews itself rather quickly after it is stripped from the trunks of the trees. Cork is an important renewable cash crop in some Mediterranean nations, so its use is both eco-friendly and economy-friendly.

Cork is the only flooring that doesn't require the source material to be extracted or cut down. New cork is stripped from trees that remain in place. Other cork is sourced from recycled wine stoppers. A great many carpeting products are made from synthetic fibers made from chemicals, but there are also natural-fiber carpets available, including wool, seagrass, coir, jute, and sisal.

Salvage companies may also carry moderately worn carpeting from demolition jobs. A variety of flooring materials are available that are fabricated from recycled rubber products, such as old tires. Rubber flooring tiles or rubber sheet flooring can be a great choice for recreation or workshop spaces.

Recycle rubber underlayment padding is also available for use under carpeting. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds, referring to organic chemicals such as formaldehyde, which can outgas into the air.

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I was impressed with their knowledge of all the products I was considering and really appreciated their good advice. They help reduce stormwater runoff, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and improve air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Additionally, green roofs offer natural insulation, reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling.

Embracing eco-friendly building materials and sustainable construction practices can put architects, interior designers, and construction companies ahead of the market and make a lasting, positive impact on the environment.

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Forgot Password Lost your password? Ask A Question. Earthen Materials Earthen materials like adobe, cob, and rammed earth are being used for construction purposes since yore.

For good strength and durability- chopped straw, grass and other fibrous materials etc. are added to earth. Even today, structures built with adobe or cob can be seen in some remote areas. Fig 1: Adobe made Structure. Fig 2: Engineered Wood Board over Solid Wood Board.

Fig 3: Bamboo Structure. Fig 4: Structural Insulated Panel SIP. Fig 5: Insulated Concrete Forms. Fig 6: Cordwood Wall. Fig 7: Straw Bale Wall. Fig 8: Earth Bag Walls. Fig 9: Slate Roofing. Fig Steel Roofing. Fig Thatch Roofing.

Fig Composite Roof Panels. Fig Cotton Insulation. Fig Polyurethane Foam Spray. Fig Fibreglass batt. Fig Installing Cellulose Insulation.

Fig Installing Cork Boards. Fig Installation of Polystyrene Foam Sheets. Fig Natural Clay Plastered Wall. Resource efficient manufacturing process — Manufacturers who are efficient in their manufacturing process by using less energy, outputting less greenhouse gases and producing less waste than conventional manufacturers.

Any systems, materials and components that reduce energy consumption using renewable energy , such as:. Low or non-toxic — Materials that emit little or no carcinogens, irritants or reproductive toxicants. Moisture resistant — By resisting moisture, products inhibit biological growth such as mould and last longer.

Healthfully maintained — Materials that can be cleaned using non-toxic or low-VOC cleaning products. Health-promoting technology — Devices that assess the indoor environmental quality IEQ and enhance air quality, such as monitoring instruments.

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The Construction Specifications Institute , an authority on the topic of construction specifications, has classified green building materials as follows: Resource Efficiency Renewable, natural or plentiful — Natural materials that require no or minimal processing; materials that grow rapidly; renewable resources; sustainably harvested materials—certified by a third-party such as Forest Stewardship Council.

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