Green Building: How Green Building: How Chemistry aids in the Chemistry aids in the

production of an Energy production of an Energy Efficient HomeEfficient Home

Juan GonzalezJuan Gonzalez

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Green BuildingGreen Building

• Green or “sustainable” building accounts Green or “sustainable” building accounts for the environmental impact of all for the environmental impact of all products throughout a commercial of products throughout a commercial of residential building’s life cycle. residential building’s life cycle.

Green BuildingGreen Building

This includes processes at different This includes processes at different stages that help to diminish long stages that help to diminish long

term costs and maximize efficiency:term costs and maximize efficiency:• ExtractionExtraction• Processing of raw materialsProcessing of raw materials• Manufacturing and transportationManufacturing and transportation• And the disposal and reuse of such materials.And the disposal and reuse of such materials.

SustainabilitySustainability

• While the purpose of green building While the purpose of green building is to achieve a balance between is to achieve a balance between construction and the sustainable construction and the sustainable environment, such an objective environment, such an objective would not be fulfilled without would not be fulfilled without products of modern chemistry.products of modern chemistry.

SustainabilitySustainability

A few of those products provided by modern A few of those products provided by modern chemistry are:chemistry are:

• Polymer roofing membranesPolymer roofing membranes• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other plastic piping systemsPolyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other plastic piping systems• Thermal foam insulationThermal foam insulation• Polycarbonate windows and vinyl framed windows, etc.Polycarbonate windows and vinyl framed windows, etc.

Water EfficiencyWater Efficiency

• The use of PVC and ABS piping systems for The use of PVC and ABS piping systems for plumbing is significantly beneficial.plumbing is significantly beneficial.

- Plastic piping offers great fusion - Plastic piping offers great fusion integrityintegrity

- Eliminates potential leak points- Eliminates potential leak points

Energy EfficiencyEnergy Efficiency

• Insulation is an important material Insulation is an important material that is necessary for reducing energy that is necessary for reducing energy costs.costs.

• Many chemical advances are making Many chemical advances are making different kinds of insulation, such as different kinds of insulation, such as polyisocyanurate insulation and polyisocyanurate insulation and expanded polystyrene, widely expanded polystyrene, widely available to the consumer.available to the consumer.

Energy EfficiencyEnergy Efficiency

• In addition, doors and windows also play a In addition, doors and windows also play a role in the amount of energy that is lost.role in the amount of energy that is lost.

- vinyl doors & windows have - vinyl doors & windows have great great insulating properties that can insulating properties that can

maintain maintain an even temperaturean even temperature

- polycarbonate, an alternative to - polycarbonate, an alternative to glass, windows have low thermal glass, windows have low thermal conductivity and also help reduce conductivity and also help reduce heating and cooling costs heating and cooling costs

Recycling Recycling

• The recycling of materials such as The recycling of materials such as wood, sawdust, and fiber composites wood, sawdust, and fiber composites are being blended with plastics in are being blended with plastics in order to be used in new construction order to be used in new construction projects. The recycled plastics are projects. The recycled plastics are used for fencing, the manufacturing used for fencing, the manufacturing of decks, and siding are a few of the of decks, and siding are a few of the ingenious ideas that chemistry is a ingenious ideas that chemistry is a part of.part of.

Green BuildingGreen Building

• Thanks from the help of modern Thanks from the help of modern chemistry, construction has become a chemistry, construction has become a more environmentally conscious business.more environmentally conscious business.

Works CitedWorks Cited

American Chemistry.comAmerican Chemistry.com 2007. American Chemistry 2007. American Chemistry Council, Inc. 15 April 2007 Council, Inc. 15 April 2007 <http://americanchemistry.com/><http://americanchemistry.com/>