ECOFRIENDLY / SUSTAINABLE

BUILDING MATERIALS

Sustainable materials or ecofriendly materials are materials that dont

deplete non-renewable resources during their manufacturing or
construction and without disrupting the established steady-state
equilibrium of the environment and key natural resource systems.
They are also called green materials because they are good for
environment.
Using locally produced building materials shortens transport distances,
thus reducing air pollution produced by vehicles.
Often, local materials are better suited to climatic conditions, and these
purchases support area economies.

WHY DO WE NEED TO USE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS ?

Building and construction activities worldwide consume 3 billion tons of

raw materials each year or 40 percent of total global use.
Using green building materials and products promotes conservation of
dwindling non renewable resources internationally.
In addition, integrating green building materials into building projects can
help reduce the environmental impacts associated with the extraction,
transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal
of these building industry source materials.

PROPERTIES OF SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

Pollution Prevention Measures in Manufacturing

Waste Reduction Measures in Manufacturing
Embodied Energy Reduction
Reduction of Construction Waste
Readily recyclable or reusable when no longer needed
Sustainably harvested from renewable resources
Can be salvaged for reuse, refurbished, remanufactured, or recycled
Manufactured from waste material such as straw or fly ash or waste- reducing
process
Minimally packaged and/ or wrapped with recyclable packaging
Locally extracted and processes
Energy efficient in use
Less energy used in extraction, processing, and transport to the job site
Generates renewable energy
Water efficient

A materials life cycle can be organized into three phases: Pre-Building;

Building; and Post-Building.
These stages parallel the life cycle phases of the building .The evaluation of
building materials environmental impact at each stage gives us the overall
impact of the building on the environment.

Important terms related to sustainable materials

U value
A U value is a measure of heat loss or
heat gain through a building element
such as a wall, floor or roof.
It can also be referred to as an overall
heat transfer co-efficient and measures
how well parts of a building transfer
heat.
They are useful as it is a way of
predicting the performance of an entire
building.

Important terms related to sustainable materials

Embodied Energy
The embodied energy of a material
refers to the total energy required to
produce that material, including the
collection of raw materials.
This energy typically comes from the
burning of fossil fuels, which are a
limited, non-renewable resource.

Portland Cement
sack 381,624 BTU
Lime, hydrated
sack 440,619 BTU
Common brick
13,570 BTU
Concrete block
29,018 BTU
Earth (Adobe) block
2,500 BTU

94 lb

100 lb
1 block
1 block
1 block

The combustion of fossil fuels also has severe environmental consequences,

from localized smog to acid rain.
The greater a materials embodied energy, the greater the amount of energy
required to produce it, implying more severe ecological consequences

Important terms related to sustainable materials

Volatile organic compounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
are a large group of carbon-based
chemicals that easily evaporate at room
temperature.
There are thousands of different VOCs
produced and used in our daily lives.
Some common examples include:

Acetone
Benzene
Ethylene glycol
Formaldehyde
Methylene chloride
Perchloroethylene
Toluene

Low-emitting materials
They are products that do not release
significant pollutants into the indoor
environment. These products contain
zero- and low-volatile organic
compounds (vocs).

GREEN RATING SYSTEMS

LEED : The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building

Rating System represents the U.S. Green Building Councils effort to provide a
national standard for what constitutes a green building. Through its use
as a design guideline and third-party certification tool, it aims to improve
occupant well-being, environmental performance and economic returns of
buildings using established and innovative practices, standards and
technologies.
This Rating System document states the basic intent, requirements and
documentation submittals that are necessary to achieve each prerequisite and
voluntary credit. All prerequisites must be achieved in order to qualify for
certification. Points add up to a final score that relates to one of four possible
levels of certification.
GRIHA : Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment GRIHA attempts to
minimize a buildings resource consumption, waste generation, and overall
ecological impact to within certain nationally acceptable limits / benchmarks.
It evaluates the environmental performance of a building holistically over its
entire life cycle, thereby providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a
green building
The rating system, based on accepted energy and environmental principles, will
seek to strike a balance between the established practices and emerging
concepts, both national and international.

CLASSIFICATION OF SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

SUSTAINABLE
MATERIALS

NATURAL

SYNTHETIC

WASTE
GENERATED

NATURAL
Anything naturally occurring and accessible to
people in a certain area makes the material
natural
Mud, stone and clay are among the most basic
natural building materials used to create shelters
and other structures to suit their local weather
conditions.
Generally lower in embodied energy provided
they have not been imported from far away areas
Less processing required and ecofriendly
When Locally available natural materials are
incorporated into building products, the products
become more sustainable.

STONE
In many areas, indigenous stone is available from the local region, such as
limestone, marble, granite, and sandstone.
It may be cut in quarries or removed from the surface of the ground (flag and
fieldstone).
Ideally, stone from the building site can be utilized. Depending on the stone
type, it can be used for structural block, facing block, pavers, and crushed
stone.

STONE
ADVANTAGES:
Using natural stone bypasses the initial carbon impact associated with the
production of materials such as steel and brick since it is a natural material.
Stone is recyclable. When a stone structure is torn down, the stone can be used
to build another durable structure.

DISADVANTAGES:
Imported stone causes one of the greatest cost in terms of environmental
impact.
Also, the process of quarrying involves a lot of energy and causes site
degradation.

WOOD
Wood is considered a sustainable building material because it is derived from a
renewable source and has low embodied energy. This reflects the minimal nonrenewable energy used in the production of timber and its application in
construction.
ADVANTAGES
It also has sound thermal properties, meaning that timber structures rely less
on carbon-emitting heating and cooling appliances than buildings constructed
of other materials
Wood can also be recycled, which is important in terms of storing carbon
through the life of a product and its transformation.
DISADVANTAGES
Major disadvantage of using wood as a building material is that it involves
cutting of trees

BAMBOO
The delicate grain of bamboo, whether natural or amber-toned, make it a
distinctive, elegant, and subtle material for fine furniture and flooring.
ADVANTAGES:
Bamboo is a kind of grass. This means that it grows a lot faster than trees that
may take decades to become a renewable or profitable source of building
material.
Farmed bamboo stabilizes the earth with its roots, preventing erosion.
Bamboo absorbs, during its growth and life until harvest, a relative big amount
of CO2 from the atmosphere

DISADVANTAGES
It loses half of its strength when it is wet for
longer periods of time.
Transportation of bamboo over long distances
reduces its efficiency as a sustainable material.

BRICK
Brick plants today make use of non-fossil fuel resources, such as
burning methane captured from landfills, sawdust and agricultural waste
products.
Areas that are mined for clay and shale can be reclaimed to a natural state, or
even turned into small lakes and parks for recreational uses.
Brick provides an energy-efficient envelope for a building that reduces the
amount of energy necessary to heat or cool the interior. Because of its
durability, brick also all but eliminates the need for exterior maintenance.
It does not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including
Chlorofluorocarbons, hydro chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting
substances.
Minimized waste, Efficient transportation.

EARTH MATERIALS
Rammed earth is more often considered for use in walls, although it can also
be used for floors. Rammed earth and caliche block can be used for
structural walls, and offer great potential as low-cost material alternatives
with low embodied energy. In addition, such materials are fireproof. Caliche
block and rammed earth can be produced on-site.
In addition, brick seconds or brick that is damaged can be crushed and
recycled and either returned to the manufacturing process to make more
brick, or used as a landscaping material in its crushed form.
The end product has much embodied energy but is also very long-lasting.
Double wall construction can greatly
enhance insulation value.

Sun Dried Adobe, Compressed Earth Block are the 2 ways of using earth as a
construction material.
Because thermal mass equates to insulation in soil block a minimum of 12
inches is needed for a comfortable abode.
Plasters
Soil blocks are typically stuccoed or plastered to prevent them from getting
wet, however, any veneer or siding can be used on Pressed Earth Block as
they can hold a nail or staple. Interior finishes are normally plaster (structolite)
or earth plasters that are simple to apply and maintain.
Fully stabilized structures do not require any exterior finish unless desired for
aesthetics.
Block size can be varied easily to accommodate a variety of designs. Walls
can be sculptured, rounded, or formed into keystone arches to create custom
effects.
Relatively unskilled labor can be utilized in construction with compressed earth
block.
Earth Buildings as old as 400 years have been known to exist.

DISADVANTAGES OF EARTH MATERIALS

Earth material walls are not especially good insulators The firing process can
take hours or even days and requires a large amount of energy. They also have
low R-values.
The use of earth as building materials is inexpensive for materials costs, but
emphasizes labor in construction methods. The right equipment and
coordinated labor are important in the soil material construction process.
Even a small structure may require at least 15 tons of earth. This material
must be moved and handled at least twice.
Clay and adobe soil must also be mined.Water flow and moisture control is
critical to protect structural walls, openings and roofs.
A large flat area with good drainage is necessary for handling and processing
the materials as well as making the blocks. The building footprint should also be
accessible by truck for rammed earth construction.
Rammed earth walls have low tensile strength, and should be reinforced by
providing a bond or collar beam.

COMMERCIAL STATUS
TECHNOLOGY:
Rammed earth and caliche block construction are not well known by most builders and
architects today, although there are some architects and builders who are experienced
with these materials.
SUPPLIERS:
There are numerous suppliers of indigenous stone and local brick in many regions.
Caliche block and rammed earth are not available commercially, but can be created on
site
COST:
Brick: approximately Rs100.00 per square foot (4 inch material) and up depending on
thickness. Stone: Rs200.00 to Rs300.00 per square foot (material) depending on type.
Compressed soil block: approximately Rs70 per square foot (9 inches thick).
IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
FINANCING:
Stone and brick materials do not pose a problem for lending institutions, and are often
valued positively for increased property value and fire rating. Rammed earth,
compressed soil block, and caliche block may pose problems for traditional financing.
PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE:
Stone and brick construction are considered desirable, although their use for interior
thermal mass is not common in many areas. Rammed earth and caliche block are little
known, and may not currently receive wide public acceptance.

SYNTHETIC
Are made in industrial settings after considerable human
manipulations; they include plastics and petroleum-based paints.
Plastic is an excellent example.
It covers a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic
condensation or polymerization products that can be molded or
extruded into objects, films, or fibers.
Synthetic materials can be custom-made to suit the requirements of
site and climate.
The u-value, or heat transmittance rate is relatively higher.
The consequent embodied energy is also high considering the
manufacturing, transport, etc.

FLOORING
Treatments of Commercial carpeting and textiles may help prolong a products
life, but the long-term health and environmental impacts of those chemicals are
unknown, and in some cases may be cause for concern.
Project specifications today frequently require low volatile organic compound
(VOC) levels for flooring adhesives, and low-VOC choices abound as the
industry has shifted from solvent-based to water-based products. Many of these
meet multiple standards for emissions.
Ideally artificial flooring or its treatment should be chlorine-free.
Using some percentage of pre-consumer recycled flooring from the trimming
process that has melted back into the base is one way to make eco-friendly
flooring.

After Chemical treatment of carpet pads, the waste water is highly toxic.

Sustainable insulation with Polystyrene Foam

Polystyrene foams are durable materials, designed to offer superior, constant
insulation performance over their entire service life of more than 50 years.
Recent studies have demonstrated that building insulation is the most costeffective way to significantly alleviate the global warming effect of greenhouse
gases by drastically reducing CO2 emissions.
Buildings insulated with polystyrene foam boards achieve optimum levels of
energy efficiency, meeting the most stringent pieces of relevant legislation,
including the EU Directive 2002/91/EC on the Energy Performance of Buildings.
The use of polystyrene foam reduces significantly heat losses and related CO2
emissions from heating and/or air conditioning, thus contributing strongly to
mitigate the effects of global warming. Polystyrene foam boards have no Global
Warming Potential: they contain no ozone-depleting substances, and deliver
optimal energy efficiency at an affordable price.

Sustainable insulation with Polystyrene Foam

Recycling Polystyrene Foam boards
Polystyrene is already one of the most recycled plastics. This optimizes costs
and reduces the need for virgin material.
Polystyrene has a long life time in buildings and so there is little current need
for recycling this material.
Stored energy can be recovered from polystyrene foam.
Since polystyrene foam does not degrade or deteriorate, it can be readily
recycled in several ways at the end of its useful lifetime:
Added back into new polystyrene foam insulation boards
Moulded into new applications such as plant pots, coat hangers, park
benches or fence posts
Environmental performance
Stable and durable (no degradation by moisture, rotting, or mould)
Low environmental impact during production and installation
Easily and completely recyclable/recoverable, mechanically (EPS) or
thermally (EPS and XPS)

ADHESIVES, FINISHES AND SEALANTS

TYPICAL VOC LIMITS REQUIRED

SEALANTS AND ADHESIVES, both enhance the durability of surfaces and structure, although they
do so at a cost as they are often hazardous in manufacture and application. Many construction
adhesive formulas contain more than 30% volatile petroleum derived solvents to maintain liquidity
until application which can be hazardous to both occupants and workers.

ALTERNATIVE

Water-based adhesives are available from a number of manufacturers. Industry

tests indicate that these products work as well as or better than solvent based
adhesives and are available at comparable costs.
Also when such adhesives are purchased in bulk the containers can often be
returned to vendors for refill.
Stains and Sealants also normally emit potentially toxic volatile organic
compounds into the air. The most efficient method to manage this is to employ
materials that do not require additional sealing such as stone, ceramic and glass tile
clay plasters etc.
Environmentally preferable cleaning methods and products can reduce indoor air
pollution and waste generation.
Biodegradability is also a key factor.

PAINTS AND COATS

The USGBC requires that paints and
coatings applied on site and used in interiors
comply with the standards given in the table
Most paint, even water based LATEX is
derived from petroleum. Its manufacture
requires substantial energy and water and
creates air pollution and solid and liquid
waste.
Also VOCs emitted from paints are often
associated with eye, lung, skin irritation,
headaches, nausea, kidney liver damage etc .
ALTERNATIVE
Silicate paints are and alternative type of
paint that is solvent free and may be used on
stucco, concrete and stone.

GLASS
Windows are an essential element in construction because they provide ventilation,
light, views etc. The fabrication of windows, whether made of wood, aluminum,
plastic or steel, as any other manufactured product, will require energy and will
likely to generate pollution.
Energy efficiency is one of the main consideration in reducing the environmental
impacts of a window.
Windows are available in variety of glazing options. Each option offers a different
thermal resistance or R- Value.
1. Single glazing and acrylic single glazing are
similar; R = 1.0
2. Single glazing with storm window and
double glazing are similar; R = 2.0
3. Double glazing with a low E-coating and
triple glazing are similar; R = 3.0
4. Triple glazing with a low E-coating; R= 4.0
By comparison, for a conventional insulated stud
wall R = 14.

WASTE GENERATED
Most common building materials today have recyclable alternatives.
The reuse of recycled materials is beginning to stand out as an
innovative, highly effective, and artistic expression of sustainable
design.
Reusing materials from existing on site and nearby site elements
such as trees, structures, and paving is becoming a trend in the built
environment, however more unorthodox materials such as soda cans
and tires are being discovered as recyclable building materials.
Another popular trend regarding recycled building materials is the
use of site provided materials.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT

The broad intent of construction waste management credit is to avoid materials
going to landfills during construction by diverting the construction waste,
demolition and land clearing debris from landfill disposal, redirecting recyclable
recovered resources back to the manufacturing process and redirecting reusable
materials to appropriate sites.
Develop and implement a construction waste management plan that a minimum
identifies and quantifies the materials generated during construction that is to be
recycled or diverted from disposal and notes whether such materials will be sorted
on site or comingled.
Typical items would include brick debris, concrete, steel, ductwork, clean
dimensional wood paper-board and plastic used in packing..Etc.
As the contractor is responsible for the construction waste management he/she will
generally be responsible for completing the required LEED documentation.

Many building materials are available in recycled form:

Metals - Steel and aluminium building elements are highly recyclable. Between 50 to
70 percent of the energy and pollution caused by steel production can be avoided by
recycling steel. Remitting aluminium avoids up to 85 percent of the energy and
pollution of aluminium manufacturing.
Heavy timber - Salvaged and re-sawed, heavy timber can be recycled.
Plastics - Although most plastics are recyclable, the process is often difficult to
accomplish. Different types of plastic must be separated, an expensive and laborintensive task. Plastic recycling is not yet a viable option for building materials, since
they are usually combined with additives, coatings, and colorants. Companies are
working to solve the problem, however, and more plastic may be reused in the future.
Glass - Remelting glass offers few energy and pollution savings. As a result, little
recycling of glass building products occurs.
Masonry products and ceramics - Recycling concrete, clay, and other similar
materials is difficult, but it can be done. Masonry products are often crushed and then
reused for granular fill in roads and sidewalks.

BUILDING AND MATERIAL REUSE

Maintain existing walls, roofs and floorsThe LEED intend is to protect virgin resources by reusing building materials
And products thereby reducing impacts associated with extraction and processing and
to extend the life cycle of existing building stock, conserve resources, retain cultural
resources, reduce wasteland reduce environmental impacts of new buildings as they
relate to materials manufacturing and transport.
Interior non structural elementsConsider the use of salvaged, refurbished or reused materials from previously occupied
buildings, including structure envelop and elements.
Remove elements that pose contamination risk to building occupants and upgrade
components that would improve energy and water efficiency, such as windows,
mechanical system and plumbing fixtures.
Mechanical , electrical, plumbing or specialty components and items should not be
included.
Windows, doors and similar assemblies may be excluded.
There is a potential to lower building costs and provide a mix of desirable building
characteristics.

BUILDING AND MATERIAL REUSE

However the reuse of existing structural elements depends on many factors not least of
which are fire safety, energy efficiency, and regulatory requirements.
Salvaged materials such as beams and posts, flooring paneling. Doors and frames,
cabinetry and furniture brick and decorative items should be considered.
Reuse is essentially the salvage and reinstallation of materials in there original form.
Recycling is the collection and remanufacture of materials into a new material or
product, typically different from the original.
It should be noted that some materials should not be reused at all.
For example materials contaminated by hazardous substances such as asbestos, arsenic
and lead paint must be treated and/or disposed properly.
The owner/developer must provide a report prepared by a suitably qualified person
outlining to the extent to which major building elements from a previous building were
incorporated into the existing building.
The report should include preconstruction and post construction details
Highlighting and quantifying the reused elements, be it foundations, structural
elements or facades.

Insulated Concrete Forms

Preformed blocks made with expanded polystyrene (EPS) and metal rebar (can
be stacked to build frame); filled with concrete to create an insulated and
exceptionally strong wall

Benefits of Insulated Concrete Forms

Ease of Use - building blocks are very easy to use; require less crew and
take significantly less time to build than a traditional house
Energy Efficiency - insulation properties of polystyrene + high thermal
mass of concrete reduce the internal temperature fluctuations for
efficient/comfortable indoor environment
Noise Reduction - reduction of noise transmission
Fire-resistance - highly rated for fire-resistance (four hour resistance rating)
Strength - exceptionally strong (built to hurricane/seismic standards)
Mildew/Rot - will not support the growth of mildew and mold
excellent structural choice for those exposed to severe weather such as
hurricanes and tornadoes; blocks are made of concrete (does raise some
environmental concerns)