It is a practice of increasing efficiency with which buildings use resources-energy, water and materials while

reducing building impact on human health and the environment.

INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAIBLE MATERIALS

Green building materials are composed of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources. Green materials are

environmentally responsible because impacts are considered over the life of the product. Depending upon

project-specific goals, an assessment of green materials may involve an evaluation of one or more of the criteria

listed below.

Sustainable materials are materials used throughout our consumer and industrial economy that can be produced

in required volumes without depleting non-renewable resources and without disrupting the established steady-

state equilibrium of the environment and key natural resource systems. Such materials vary enormously and

may range from bio-based polymers derived from polysaccharides, or highly recyclable materials such as glass

that can be reprocessed an indefinite number of times without requiring additional mineral resources.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY

Materials are the stuff of economic life in our industrial world. They include the resource inputs and the product

outputs of industrial production. How we handle them is a major determinant of true economic efficiency, real

prosperity, social justice, our Personal health, and the health of the natural environment. Materials are,

moreover, far more than resources or products. They are gifts of nature, and substances of Gaias Body. How

we relate to materials in their production and their consumption is one of the best barometers of our

fundamental relationship to that which gives us life. Not Coincidentally, it reflects our relationship to ourselves,

our creativity, our work and possibilities for self-actualization and community development.

This dissertation is about building materials: about how we use them now, how they might be used more

appropriately, and the process of getting from here to there. Our current use of materials is running down

natural systems, destroying community, debasing work, and suppressing all kinds of possibilities for real

development. To remedy this, we need to conserve materials, reduce their unnecessary use, produce them

more benignly, make them last longer, and recycle and reuse them. We also need to Develop community

consumer initiatives and regulatory processes to support these Reforms.

AIM

Aim of this dissertation is to study materials for sustainable construction and make an eco-friendly environment.

OBJECTIVES

1. To study about the different type of sustainable building materials.

2. To study about how to make a building sustainable.

3. To study the Material selection criteria.

4. To study how to make a building environment friendly.

DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY BRIEFLY

More and more of us are convinced that we would have to do something else on the field of architecture to

provide our environment. But what and how should we build? According to our current attitude, the task of an

architect is to display demands of society in space but they should not specify such demands. As architects, due

to our multifarious skills, we can have an overview on the creation and maintenance of a built environment as a

whole. In the designing part of architectural process, when we should get to know different fields of life. We

need to look into everything related to our project, to create a suitable, functionally relevant space. Nice to

notice the relationship between a well- designed building and its surroundings, whether old or new building is to

be considered.

"A building is not just a place to be. It is a way to be," and another quote Each building must respond to

Nature, and every building must have its own Nature. (Frank Lloyd Wright )

Sustainable architecture means a new attitude, it uses research results about the environment, the biology and

human ecology and it tries to use these results in the construction technology. Sustainability is based on a

simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and feeling of comfort, either directly or indirectly, is

in our natural environment, humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permits fulfilling the

social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations. Along these points, sustainability

and the sustainable development itself have three important pillars( economy, environment, society) which

together form a unit and create the essential of sustainability.

Few words in the building design and in the construction process have been so poorly used as that of sustainable

design and green architecture, that it has created barriers to make sense this expression. In the dictionary the

word sustainable is defined that something maintained, but it doesn't indicate its relation to the natural world.

According to major part of the literature, the house-man-environment connection points are the following:

architectural formation, location, materials, construction techniques, energy and material flows.

"The building structures of sustainable architecture are made according to theoretical exigences of sustainability

and support the construction-ecological and construction biological-operation during its whole life cycle. "

This is a definition of the sustainable materials and structures according to Lnyi Erzsbet. Along with this

philosophy outlined, that building structures can be fitted to the built framework of sustainable philosophy if:

they are made of in-situ, local materials

renewable, recyclable, non-toxic materials

they require "closed" production technologies built upon circular processes, and gentle

implementation and maintenance techniques also involving human resources

they can economize with energy use and air moisture content

they are able to increase and utilize environmental resources

ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY BUILDING DESIGN- USING SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

The building design is a process of assembling different materials, whenever you buy them as a product, grow

them, find them on site or dig them. We have many technologies and possibilities for the best decision of the

existing situation, but first of all, besides the prices and the other management things, we should consider how

our way of choosing impacts our environment. A modern green building has to be a low construction impact

while being energy efficient, long lasing, non toxic and aesthetics. Sometimes the mass-produced materials

seem to be the right choice to serve these goals, but also we have to take into consideration, how and where they

are produced, and how it is after the building's life cycle. For the environmentally-friendly buildings it is also a

demand, that they should not pollute their surroundings after using. In the vernacular architecture for instance, it

was a common practice, that after the death or moving out of the inhabitants, the walls (from clay, or other

natural materials) just left alone, and it got back slowly to the nature. That means, its materials can be integrated

to the environment.

Further the designing part, we should support the environmentally-friendly attitude by our choosing as well.

During the construction of buildings, the architects should think holistically about the materials and the whole

structure too. Sustainable design is an approach to design , a holistic approach looking all elements as a part of a

bigger whole. A building is as strong as its weakest component, then for instance strong walls and weak

foundation add up weak walls. A most important thing about a structure, trumping material choices and

aesthetics, is that they must work together as a unit. Besides considering the properties the cost of the materials

are also important for the constructor and for the consumer as well by choosing. We can find a paradox, that the

originally cheap materials could be more expensive on the market. Although the regional products are the most

economic and cheap ones, they are appeared much more expensive, than the usual ones, however they have

significantly higher energy content, they are often not so healthy or not re-used. Sustainable building Materials

Energy MJ/kg Density kg /m3 Concrete (in-situ- structure) 11.1 2400 Brick (common) 3.0 1700 Clay bricks

2.5 Insulation (Rockwool) 16.80 24 Expanded Polystyrene Insulation 88.6 15-30 Polyurethane insulation 101.5

30 Wool insulation 20.9 25 Clay tile 6.5 1280 Straw bale 0.91 100-110 Rammed earth 0.7 1540 Rammed earth

(no added cement) 0.45 1460 Chart 1_Embodied energy can be cheaper and sometimes slightly more expensive,

it has no or just a low hidden costs (the sustainable buildings would not have any hidden-costs according to its

definition). For the first time we would chosen just the well-known and so-called modern products, however,

the sell prize does not contain the other costs (energy, transportation, environmental deterioration and other

effects). This is non-renewable energy which is used for new materials production, extraction, transportation

and manufacturing, is called embodied energy. Depending on the material, it may be very different. It has

become a popular practice to regard the embodied energy as summary of the cradle-to-gate, which includes all

energy (in primary form) until the product leaves the factory gate, and the cradle-to-site, which includes all of

the energy consumed until the product has reached the building site. Another point which we should bear in

mind by choosing, the studies of the historical techniques.

Humans have been building strong structures since ancient times. Rewinding back in time, everyone knew how

to build a house, as houses were built from local materials, adopting parents and grandparent experiences. Many

solutions have been already worked out also for myriad climatic situations and material combinations.

Unfortunately those experiences are wrapped into the most of the past, because it does not help in developing of

modern materials and the developing industry is pushing out the natural materials from the construction markets

with their easy and fast mounting. But it seems the occurring of damaging processes in the environment

(climate change, green house effect, oil crisis, smog in the developed cities and so on) In the last century people

have used more non-renewable energy resources than over all the thousands of years since its earliest

beginnings. These reasons made people think, take certain measures and they tend to be more and more

enthusiastic about doing something to protect our Earth.

WHAT IS A GREEN BUILDING?

Green building, or sustainable design, is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their

sites use energy, water, and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment over

the entire life cycle of the building. Green building concepts extend beyond the walls of buildings and can

include site planning, community and land use planning issues as well.

Green building materials offer specific benefits to the building owner and building occupants:

Reduced maintenance/replacement costs over the life of the building.

Energy conservation.

Improved occupant health and productivity.

Lower costs associated with changing space configurations.

Greater design flexibility.

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

nonrenewable 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.

WHY GREEN BUILDING IS IMPORTANT

The growth and development of our communities has a large impact on our natural environment. The

manufacturing, design, construction, and operation of the buildings in which we live and work are responsible

for the consumption of many of our natural resources.

The importance of this is it lessen the consume of energy and the pollution as well because the more we use

nonrenewable energy the higher the risk of pollution.

Environmental Benefits

Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems

Improve air and water quality

Reduce waste streams

Conserve and restore natural resources

Economic Benefits

Reduce operating costs

Improve occupant productivity

Enhance asset value and profits

Optimize life-cycle economic performance

Social Benefits

Enhance occupant health and comfort

Improve indoor air quality

Minimize strain on local utility infrastructure

Improve overall quality of life

Goals of Green Building

Energy efficiency

Green buildings often include measures to reduce energy consumption both the embodied energy required to

extract, process, transport and install building materials and operating energy to provide services such as

heating and power for equipment.

As high-performance buildings use less operating energy, embodied energy has assumed much greater

importance and may make up as much as 30% of the overall life cycle energy consumption. Studies such as

the U.S. LCI Database Project show buildings built primarily with wood will have a lower embodied energy

than those built primarily with brick, concrete, or steel.

To reduce operating energy use, designers use details that reduce air leakage through the building envelope (the

barrier between conditioned and unconditioned space). They also specify high-performance windows and extra

insulation in walls, ceilings, and floors. Another strategy, passive solar building design, is often implemented in

low-energy homes. Designers orient windows and walls and place awnings, porches, and trees to shade

windows and roofs during the summer while maximizing solar gain in the winter. In addition, effective window

placement (day lighting) can provide more natural light and lessen the need for electric lighting during the

day. Solar water heating further reduces energy costs.

Onsite generation of renewable energy through solar power, wind power, hydro power, or biomass can

significantly reduce the environmental impact of the building. Power generation is generally the most expensive

feature to add to a building.

Water efficiency

Reducing water consumption and protecting water quality are key objectives in sustainable building. One

critical issue of water consumption is that in many areas, the demands on the supplying aquifer exceed its

ability to replenish itself. To the maximum extent feasible, facilities should increase their dependence on water

that is collected, used, purified, and reused on-site. The protection and conservation of water throughout the life

of a building may be accomplished by designing for dual plumbing that recycles water in toilet flushing or by

using water for washing of the cars. Waste-water may be minimized by utilizing water conserving fixtures such

as ultra-low flush toilets and low-flow shower heads. Bidets help eliminate the use of toilet paper, reducing

sewer traffic and increasing possibilities of re-using water on-site. Point of use water treatment and heating

improves both water quality and energy efficiency while reducing the amount of water in circulation. The use of

non-sewage and greywater for on-site use such as site-irrigation will minimize demands on the local aquifer.

Materials efficiency

Building materials typically considered to be 'green' include lumber from forests that have been certified to a

third-party forest standard, rapidly renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw, dimension stone, recycled

stone, recycled metal (see: copper sustainability and recyclability), and other products that are non-toxic,

reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable. For concrete a high performance or Roman self-healing concrete is

available. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) also suggests using recycled industrial goods, such as

coal combustion products, foundry sand, and demolition debris in construction projects. Energy efficient

building materials and appliances are promoted in the United States through energy rebate programs.

Operations and maintenance optimization

No matter how sustainable a building may have been in its design and construction, it can only remain so if it is

operated responsibly and maintained properly. Ensuring operations and maintenance(O&M) personnel are part

of the project's planning and development process will help retain the green criteria designed at the onset of the

project.Every aspect of green building is integrated into the O&M phase of a building's life. The addition of

new green technologies also falls on the O&M staff. Although the goal of waste reduction may be applied

during the design, construction and demolition phases of a building's life-cycle, it is in the O&M phase that

green practices such as recycling and air quality enhancement take place.

Waste reduction

Green architecture also seeks to reduce waste of energy, water and materials used during construction. For

example, in California nearly 60% of the state's waste comes from commercial buildings[40] During the

construction phase, one goal should be to reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Well-designed

buildings also help reduce the amount of waste generated by the occupants as well, by providing on-site

solutions such as compost bins to reduce matter going to landfills.

To reduce the amount of wood that goes to landfill, Neutral Alliance (a coalition of government, NGOs and the

forest industry) created the website dontwastewood.com. The site includes a variety of resources for regulators,

municipalities, developers, contractors, owner/operators and individuals/homeowners looking for information

on wood recycling.

When buildings reach the end of their useful life, they are typically demolished and hauled to landfills.

Deconstruction is a method of harvesting what is commonly considered "waste" and reclaiming it into useful

building material. Extending the useful life of a structure also reduces waste building materials such as wood

that are light and easy to work with make renovations easier.

To reduce the impact on wells or water treatment plants, several options exist. "Greywater", wastewater from

sources such as dishwashing or washing machines, can be used for subsurface irrigation, or if treated, for non-

potable purposes, e.g., to flush toilets and wash cars. Rainwater collectors are used for similar purposes.

Centralized wastewater treatment systems can be costly and use a lot of energy. An alternative to this process is

converting waste and wastewater into fertilizer, which avoids these costs and shows other benefits. By

collecting human waste at the source and running it to a semi-centralized biogas plant with other biological

waste, liquid fertilizer can be produced. This concept was demonstrated by a settlement in Lubeck Germany in

the late 1990s. Practices like these provide soil with organic nutrients and create carbon sinksthat remove

carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, offsetting greenhouse gas emission. Producing artificial fertilizer is also

more costly in energy than this process.

CONCEPT

The Green Building building concept is gaining importance in various countries, including India. These are

the buildings that ensure that waste is minimized at every stage during the construction and operation of the

building, resulting in low costs, according to the experts in the technology.

The technique associate with the Green Building include measures to prevent erosion of soil, rainwater

harvesting, use of solar energy, preparation of usages of water, recycling of waste water and use of world class

energy efficient practices. A similar concept is natural building, which is usually on smaller scale and tends to

focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally.

MATERIAL/PRODUCT SELECTION PROCESS

Before understanding the process of material/product selection, it is important to know the entire process of a

construction project. As indicated in figure, any project of this kind mainly contains seven phases. In the first

programming phase, the project has just started to be planned and the owner has only a general concept about

the project. Also all potential participants have to decide whether to join in this project and get ready for

bidding. In the second phase, schematic design, the project is handed to the architects and, with the assistance of

the owner the architects finish the schematic design of the project. Then, in the third phase, the architects detail

the design drawings and provide enough information needed for the construction phase. Afterwards, the

architects are responsible for detailing all their works in documents, which is handed out to the contractors.

Then, according to the documents, contractors prepare bids for their work and present them to the owner. Once

a contractor is selected and is being awarded for the construction work the construction of the project begins.

After the successful construction, the project can be occupied by the users.

The most important decisions on material/product selection are always made in the schematic design phase.

This process continues to a lesser extent in the following phases. Usually, there are three steps of

material/product selection: research, evaluation and selection. All of the technical information of materials such

as geometric properties, LEED features and testing results is collected in the first step. And learning technical

information of different materials becomes crucial in this step. The second step involves confirmation of the

technical information and more importantly compare different materials/products with the same functions. The

final step selection often involves the use of individual criteria including the LEED rating system to make the

final decision. The architect should be the one who makes the final decision about every product, including

green products and the one who takes the most responsibility for material selection. In reality, the leading

architect teams up with the specification writer and other architects like interior architects. The leading architect

mainly concerns the visual design of the entire building. Since many green products are relatively new, only the

architect can perform significant research or find verification that the product is suitable and code-compliant.

The Interior architect makes interior design and selects materials for interior use. The specification writer often

helps architects with materials selection by collecting and classifying the information of materials. When the

green product is suitable to use, the specification writer can incorporate that product in master specification and

use it on other projects. Whenever possible and based on the contractual project arrangement, the contractor can

give suggestions/recommendations to help architect when he or she didnt have enough information or

experience about the materials and products. Moreover, because of the contractors professional experiences

about construction, it is possible for them to check whether the products are used for the right purpose. Also,

during the process of material/product selection, the expert of materials characteristics must be the product

manufacturers. To assist the architect, specification writer, or contractor with all their knowledge about

materials.

Overall material/product selection criteria:

Resource efficiency

Indoor air quality

Energy efficiency

Water conservation

Affordability

Resource Efficiency can be accomplished by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria:

Recycled Content: Products with identifiable recycled content, including postindustrial content with a

preference for postconsumer content.

Natural, plentiful or renewable: Materials harvested from sustainably managed sources and preferably

have an independent certification (e.g., certified wood) and are certified by an independent third party.

Resource efficient manufacturing process: Products manufactured with resource-efficient processes

including reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste (recycled, recyclable and or source reduced

product packaging), and reducing greenhouse gases.

Locally available: Building materials, components, and systems found locally or regionally saving energy

and resources in transportation to the project site.

Salvaged, refurbished, or remanufactured: Includes saving a material from disposal and renovating,

repairing, restoring, or generally improving the appearance, performance, quality, functionality, or value of a

product.

Reusable or recyclable: Select materials that can be easily dismantled and reused or recycled at the end of

their useful life.

Recycled or recyclable product packaging: Products enclosed in recycled content or recyclable packaging.

Durable: Materials that are longer lasting or are comparable to conventional products with long life

expectancies.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is enhanced by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria:

Low or non-toxic: Materials that emit few or no carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, or irritants as

demonstrated by the manufacturer through appropriate testing.

Minimal chemical emissions: Products that have minimal emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds

(VOCs). Products that also maximize resource and energy efficiency while reducing chemical emissions.

Low-VOC assembly: Materials installed with minimal VOC-producing compounds, or no-VOC mechanical

attachment methods and minimal hazards.

Moisture resistant: Products and systems that resist moisture or inhibit the growth of biological

contaminants in buildings.

Healthfully maintained: Materials, components, and systems that require only simple, non-toxic, or low-

VOC methods of cleaning.

Systems or equipment: Products that promote healthy IAQ by identifying indoor air pollutants or

enhancing the air quality.

Energy Efficiency can be maximized by utilizing materials and systems that meet the following criteria:

Materials, components, and systems that help reduce energy consumption in buildings and facilities.

Water Conservation can be obtained by utilizing materials and systems that meet the following criteria:

Products and systems that help reduce water consumption in buildings and conserve water in landscaped

areas.

Affordability can be considered when building product life-cycle costs are comparable to conventional

materials or as a whole, are within a project-defined percentage of the overall budget.

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

WOOL BRICK

SUSTAINABLE CONCRETE

SOLAR TILES

PAPER INSULATION

TRIPLE-GLAZED WINDOWS

BAMBOO

ADOBE

CLAY

CORK

RECYCLED RUBBER

STRAW

FLYASH BRICKS

WOOL BRICKS

Wool bricks reinforced with wool to obtain a composite that is more sustainable, non-toxic, using abundant

local materials, and that mechanically improve the bricks' strength.

The wool fibers were added to the clay material used in the bricks, using alginate conglomerate, a natural

polymer found in the cell walls of seaweed. The mechanical tests carried out showed the compound to be 37%

stronger than other bricks made using unfired stabilized earth.

Advantages of environmentally-friendly bricks

The researchers studied the effect of reinforcing various soil types with sheep's wool, and arrived at various

conclusions. "These fibres improve the strength of compressed bricks, reduce the formation of fissures and

deformities as a result of contraction, reduce drying time and increase the bricks' resistance to flexion."

This piece of research is one of the initiatives involved in efforts to promote the development of increasingly

sustainable construction materials. These kinds of bricks can be manufactured without firing, which contributes

to energy savings. According to the authors: "This is a more sustainable and healthy alternative to conventional

building materials such as baked earth bricks and concrete blocks."

SUSTAINABLE CONCRETE

Concrete is a friend of the environment in all stages of its life span, from raw material production to demolition,

making it a natural choice for sustainable home construction. Here are some of the reasons why, according to

the Portland Cement Association and the Environmental Council of Concrete Organizations:

Resource efficiency. The predominant raw material for the cement in concrete is limestone, the most abundant

mineral on earth. Concrete can also be made with fly ash, slag cement, and silica fume, all waste byproducts

from power plants, steel mills, and other manufacturing facilities.

Durability. Concrete builds durable, long-lasting structures that will not rust, rot, or burn. Life spans for

concrete building products can be double or triple those of other common building materials.

Thermal mass. Homes built with concrete walls, foundations, and floors are highly energy efficient because

they take advantage of concretes inherent thermal massor ability to absorb and retain heat. This means

homeowners can significantly cut their heating and cooling bills and install smaller-capacity HVAC equipment.

Reflectivity. Concrete minimizes the effects that produce urban heat islands. Light-colored concrete pavements

and roofs absorb less heat and reflect more solar radiation than dark-colored materials, such as asphalt, reducing

air conditioning demands in the summer.

Minimal waste. Concrete can be produced in the quantities needed for each project, reducing waste. After a

concrete structure has served its original purpose, the concrete can be crushed and recycled into aggregate for

use in new concrete pavements or as backfill or road base.

Concrete

SOLAR SHINGLES

Solar Shingles, also called photovoltaic shingles, are solar cells designed to look like conventional slate

or asphalt shingles. There are several varieties of solar shingles, including shingle-sized solid panels that take

the place of a number of conventional shingles in a strip, semi-rigid designs containing several silicon solar

cells that are sized more like conventional shingles, and newer systems using various thin film solar

cell technologies that match conventional shingles both in size and flexibility. Solar shingles are manufactured

by several companies, but the two main manufacturers of solar roof shingles are Dow and CertainTeed.

Solar shingles are photovoltaic cells, capturing sunlight and transforming it into electricity. Most solar shingles

are 12 by 86 inches (300 by 2,180 mm) and can be stapled directly to the roofing cloth. When applied they have

a 5 by 86 inches (130 by 2,180 mm) strip of exposed surface. Different models of shingles have different

mounting requirements. Some can be applied directly onto roofing felt intermixed with regular asphalt shingles

while others may need special installation.

Solar shingled roofs have a deep, dark, purplish-blue color, and therefore look similar to other roofs in most

situations. Homeowners may prefer solar shingles because they avoid having large panels on their roofs.

COST

Older solar shingle designs were more expensive to install than traditional PV panels, but new, more efficient

designs such as thin-film copper indium gallium selenide (CuInxGa(1-x)Se2) cells can be installed in 10 hours,

compared with the 22 to 30 hours required for the installation of traditional panels. The lower cost of

installation dramatically reduces the cost of solar power implementation.[1]

All photovoltaic power is produced in the form of direct current (DC). The standard in homes is alternating

current (AC). Therefore part of the cost of installation of solar shingles is the price of an inverter to convert DC

to AC.

The most inexpensive way to install solar shingles is to use the grid as a backup source of electricity. Backup

storage, in the form of batteries, is expensive, adds complexity to the installation, and is uneconomic in any

large scale. Battery backup units require an array of additional hardware. This includes batteries, battery

enclosures, battery charge controllers, and separate sub panels for critical load circuits. However, grid power is

only useful as a backup system if it is available when solar power is not.

SOLAR TILES

PAPER/CELLULOSE INSULATION

The word cellulose comes from the French word for a living cellule and glucose, which is sugar. Building

insulation is low-thermal-conductivity material used to reduce building heat loss and gain, and reduce noise

transmission. Cellulose insulation is plant fiber used in wall and roof cavities to insulate, draught proof and

reduce noise.

There are several types of insulation that can be used in walls, floors, and ceilings.

Insulation materials play a primary role in achieving high energy efficiencies in buildings. There has been

concern over the health impacts of the material constituents of insulation ever since the problems associated

with asbestos became apparent, followed by the banning of urea formaldehyde based insulation. Some health

concerns have spread to potential inhalation of fiberglass and cellulose insulation fibers and dust.

HISTORY

Cellulose is among the oldest types of building insulation material. Many types of cellulosic materials have

been used, including newspaper, cardboard, cotton, straw, sawdust, hemp and corncob. Monticello was

insulated with a form of cellulose. Modern cellulose insulation, made with recycled newspaper using grinding

and dust removing machines and adding a fire retardant, began in the 1950s and came into general use in the US

during the 1970s.

PAPER INSULATION PANELS

Made from recycled newspapers and cardboard, paper-based insulation is a superior alternative to chemical

foams. Both insect resistant and fire-retardant thanks to the inclusion of borax, boric acid, and calcium

carbonate (all completely natural materials that have no associations with health problems), paper insulation can

be blown into cavity walls, filling every crack and creating an almost draft-free space.

PRODUCTS

Four major types of loose-fill cellulose products have been developed under a variety of brand names. These are

generally characterized as dry cellulose, spray applied cellulose, stabilized cellulose, and low dust cellulose.

These types are used in different parts of a building and for different reasons.

Dry cellulose (loose fill)

Dry cellulose is used in retrofitting old homes by blowing the cellulose into holes drilled into the tops of the

walls. It can also be blown into a new wall construction by using temporary retainers or netting that is clamped

in place then removed once the cellulose has reached the appropriate density. This form of application does

settle as much as 20% but the stated R-value of the cellulose is accurate after settling occurs. In addition, a

dense-pack option can be used to reduce settling and further minimize air gaps. Dense-pack places pressure on

the cavity, and should be done by an experienced installer.

Loose fill in walls is an antiquated technique of using cellulose in wall cavities. The home performance industry

and its accrediting bodies support the dense-pack standard of insulating wall cavities, which does not settle.

This method stops the stack effect and convective loops in wall cavities.

Spray-applied cellulose (wet-spray cellulose)

Spray-applied cellulose is used for applying cellulose to new wall construction. The differences are the addition

of water to the cellulose while spraying as well as adding some kind of moisture retardant such as chlorine to

prevent mold cultures. In some cases the insulation might also mix in a very small percentage of adhesive or

activate a dry adhesive present in the cellulose. Wet-spray allows application without the need for a temporary

retainer. In addition, wet-spray allows for an even better seal of the insulated cavity against air infiltration and

eliminates settling problems. Wet-spray installation requires that the wall be allowed to dry for a minimum of

24 hours (or until maximum of 25% moisture is reached) before being covered.

Stabilized cellulose

Stabilized cellulose is used most often in attic/roof insulation. It is applied with a very small amount of water to

activate an adhesive of some kind. This reduces settling and decreases the amount of cellulose needed. This can

prove advantageous at reducing the overall weight of the product on the ceiling drywall helping prevent

possible sag. This application is ideal for sloped roofs and has been approved for 5:12 (41.66%) slopes.

Low-dust cellulose

The last major type of cellulose insulation on the market is low-dust variety. Nuisance levels of dust are created

during application of most types of dry insulation causing the need for simple dust masks to be worn during

installation. This kind of cellulose has a small percentage of oil or similar dust dampener added. This may also

be appropriate to homes where people are sensitive to newsprint or paper dust (though new dust will not be

created after installation).

ADVANTAGE OF PAPER INSULATION

Thermal performance

The thermal performance of loose filled cellulose compares favorably to other types of low cost insulation, but

is lower than that of polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams. The thermal conductivity of loose-fill cellulose

is approximately 40 mW/mK (an R-value of 3.8 per inch) which is about the same as or slightly better than

glass wool or rock wool. This doesnt represent the whole picture of thermal performance. Other important

aspects are how well the building envelope is seals from air infiltration, convective airflows, and thermal

bridging.

Cellulose is very good at fitting around items in walls like pipes and wiring, leaving few air pockets that can

reduce the overall efficiency of the wall. Dense pack cellulose can seal walls from air infiltration while

providing the density to limit convection, when installed properly. The University of Colorado School of

Architecture and Planning did a study that compared two seemingly identical test structures, one insulated with

cellulose and the other with fiberglass. The cellulose insulation lost 26.4% less heat energy over time compared

to the fiberglass insulation. It also was shown to tighten the structure more than 30%. Subsequent real world

surveys have cellulose performing 20-30% better at reducing energy used for heating than fiberglass.

Compared to closed cell, Polyurethane foam insulation (R=5.5 to 6.5 per inch), cellulose has a lower R-value

per inch, but is much less expensive; foam has a higher cost per equivalent R-value.

Long-term cost savings

Annual savings from insulating vary widely and depend on several factors, including insulation thickness,

original wall performance, local climate, heating/cooling use, airtightness of other building elements and so on.

One installer claims cellulose insulation "can save homeowners 20 to 50 percent on their utility bills".

Sound insulation

Insulation reduces sound travelling through walls and between floor levels. Cellulose provides mass and

damping. This reduces noise in 2 ways, it reduces the lateral movement of sheetrock and attenuates the passage

of sound along cavities. Cellulose is approximately three times denser than fiberglass, providing a slight

improvement in sound reduction.

Mold and pest control

The borates in cellulose insulation provide added control against mold. Installations have shown that even

several months of water saturation and improper installation did not result in mold.

It is a common misconception that the mere presence of crude borates in cellulose insulation provides pest

control properties to the product. While boric acid itself does kill self-grooming insects if ingested, it must be

presented to an insect in both sufficient concentration and in an ingestible form in order to achieve insect

fatality. Proper testing of products containing borates must be performed in order to determine whether dosage

and presentation are sufficient to kill insects. Once tested, registration with the EPA as a pesticide is required

before a product may be touted as having pesticidal capabilities in the USA.

Fire retardation

The borate treatment also gives cellulose the highest (Class I) fire safety rating. Many cellulose companies use a

blend of ammonium sulfate and borate.

Vapor barrier

A vapor barrier may not be needed with cellulose insulation. For example, recent studies have shown that air

movement is the primary method by which excessive moisture can accumulate in mild marine climate such as

Portland, OR, USA. An insulation that fills the wall cavity completely (such as cellulose or foam) can help

prevent moisture problems. Recommendations against using vapor barriers with cellulose insulation are

supported by studies, even though they classify cellulose as vapor permeable.

In addition, cellulose acts to distribute moisture throughout the cavity, preventing the buildup of moisture in one

area and helping to dry the moisture more quickly. Cellulose manufacturers do not recommend the installation

of a vapor barrier with cellulose.

Most US city codes will require a vapor barrier for any external wall. Most US cities will consider an appeal of

the requirement if proper reasoning is provided. In March 2008 The US city of Portland, Oregon, approved an

appeal to waive the requirement for a vapor barrier/retarder when using cellulose insulation. The appeal can be

viewed in the Portland Bureau of Development Services search form by searching for appeal ID 4996.

Fundamental to any appeal is mentioning that recent studies show air movement is the primary problem for

vapor, that cellulose is an effective barrier to air movement, and that cellulose acts to diffuse vapor.

DISADVANTAGES

Cellulose has a few disadvantages. As compared to other insulation options, the R-value of 3.6 to 3.8 per inch is

good but not the best. Cost per R-value is good. Spray foam has many of the same benefits as wet-spray

cellulose (such as sealing the cavity), while having advantages in R-value and rigidity and air sealing. Many

spray foams utilize an environmentally harmful blowing agent, such as Enovate HFC, cellulose does not.

Dust

Cellulose contains some small particles which can be blown into the house through inadequate seals around

fixtures or minute holes.

Installation expertise and building codes

In some areas it can be difficult to locate installers that are experienced with cellulose. An experienced installer

understands how to correctly dense-pack loose fill dry cellulose, how to best apply stabilized (partly wet)

cellulose on sloped surfaces, and the proper time required for wet-spray cellulose to dry.

As with other non-batt insulation, US city and regional/state building codes may not be updated for cellulose

insulation. Homeowners should call the city to verify that the insulation will be approved, and it may be

necessary to provide product specifications to the city. This is not difficult, and the installer and the

manufacturer should both be willing to handle this process, saving the homeowner any true effort.

Slumping

If improperly installed, loose fill cellulose could settle after application. In some situations this could leave

areas of wall uninsulated. With correct training in installation methods and quality control techniques this is

ruled out by installing to tested densities preventing any future settlement.

Weight

For a given R-value, loose cellulose weighs roughly three times as much per square foot as loose

fiberglass. Ceiling structures should be inspected for signs of weakness before choosing a material for insulating

the ceilings of existing structures.

Offgassing

Many cellulose companies use a blend of ammonium sulfate and borate for fire retardation. Although

ammonium sulfate is normally odorless, unexplained emission of ammonia and a resulting ammonia smell has

been found in some cases.

Mold

There is some evidence of increased mold infestation inside buildings insulated with wet spray dense pack

cellulose especially when used with a vapor barrier.

ENVIORMENTAL PROPERTIES

Recycled content

Cellulose is composed of 75-85% recycled paper fiber, usually post-consumer waste newsprint. The other 15%

is a fire retardant such as boric acid or ammonium sulphate. Cellulose has the highest recycled content of any

insulation available. For example, fiberglass has a maximum amount of 50% recycled content.

Low toxicity and environmental impact of raw materials

The non-recycled components of cellulose insulation are still environmentally preferable to the raw materials of

most other insulation types. Unlike foam insulations, many of which use HFC or HCFC blowing agents which

have global warming potential higher than that of carbon dioxide, cellulose does not produce significant

gaseous emissions.

Toxicity of the raw materials of insulation types is typically highest during manufacture or installation. Neither

is a significant issue with cellulose.

OSHA states that cellulose is a dust nuisance, requiring a dust mask during installation. This compares very

favorably to the potential NIOSH cancer risk of fiberglass.

Embodied energy

The embodied energy of cellulose insulation is the lowest of the popular insulation types. It requires 20 to 40

times as much energy to produce furnace-made insulation materials compared to cellulose. Cellulose is made by

electrically powered machines while mineral insulation is made in fuel powered furnaces, reducing this

advantage to a degree, as electricity generation is less than 50% efficient. If electricity is sourced from

renewable energy sources, the efficiency of electric production does not matter as efficiency is not a

precondition for sustainability. Cellulose is made with locally available paper, while mineral insulation factories

ship materials and products over greater distances.

Cellulose insulation uses borates for fire retardation. Borates are a non-renewable mined product.

Insulation is green

All insulation helps make buildings more energy efficient. Using cellulose insulation can contribute to obtaining

LEED credits in the US Green Building Council certification program. It can earn credit in two categories: the

Energy and Atmosphere energy performance category and the Materials and Resources recycled content

category.

PRODUCT SAFETY

Cellulose insulation can be very dusty during installation and it is recommended that a standard dust mask be

worn while working. There is slight concern over the off gassing of ink from the newspapers but the material is

sealed behind walls, and no studies have shown this as an issue.

TRIPLE GLAZED WINDOWS

Triple glazing is today standard for energy efficient windows. The difference between double glazing is vast,

particularly because of the extra air gap between the panes. Triple glazing is the solution for large windows, that

used to mean major heat loss in winter. Triple glazed windows now make it possible to build with light and

space, which is widely used in modern homes.

The rough and ready method of comparing the energy performance of windows is to use the U value

measurement, just as we do with walls, floors and roofs. Traditional windows, with a single pane of glass in

them, have a U value in excess of 5. Double glazing used to score over 3, but, over the years, the manufacturing

process has undergone a number of improvements and currently the Building Regulations insist that any

window you install today should have a U value no worse than 1.6.

Triple glazing is widely used in cold climate countries like Sweden and Norway, and the ultra-low energy

PassivHaus standard requires triple glazed windows with a U value of no more than 0.8. To get a window with

such a low U value, you have to not only switch to triple glazing but also insulate the frame itself, as well as

using more expensive manufacturing techniques the gas krypton tends to be used, instead of argon.

The key benefits are really to do with comfort. If you insulate the walls, roof and floor of a house, and you

ignore the glazing, you end up with cold spots surrounding the windows at night, which cause draughts, draw

heat away from you if you sit next to them, and result in streams of condensation running down the panes. So,

in essence, the standard of glazing has to match the standard of the insulation elsewhere in the house, so that the

warm wrapping around the house performs consistently.

Which is where triple glazing comes in. Because if double glazing makes a modern house more comfortable to

live in, triple glazing makes it even more so.

The physics involved here have been worked out in Germany by the PassivHaus Institute. It has shown what

happens to surface temperatures on various forms of glazing when it gets really cold outside, and the internal air

temperature is designed to be at 21C:

Next to a single glazed window, the internal surface temperature is around 1C.

Next to a double glazed window (2000 vintage), the surface temperature is around 11C.

Next to a modern, energy-efficient double glazed window, the surface temperature is 16C.

Next to a triple glazed window, with a Centre-pane U value of just 0.65, the temperature is 18C.

So you can see that whilst a double glazed window is perfectly adequate, a triple glazed one is just that much

more comfortable, because it hangs onto heat just that little bit better.

Benefits of Triple Glazed Windows

Offer a more rigid and strength window

Great selection on extreme weather

Excellent resistance to condensation problems

Helps reduce sound transmission

Better energy saver than regular and double glazed windows

Triple glazed windows can decrease relativeheat loss

Increases thermal comfort inside the building

A combination of double glazed windows and triple glazed windows can be used with the building

orientation to obtain excellent results.

Insulated hollow frames can increase triple glazed windows performance.

Cons of Triple Glazed Windows

The weight of triple glazed windows can be a problem with weaker sash materials.

Triple glazed casements have width limitations

Slightly higher prices than double glazed window

Some casement type windows could have a restriction when opened.

If an existing structure has little or no wall insulation, triple glazed windows are not recommended.

ADOBE

Adobe is probably one of the most sustainable elements that can be used to construct buildings. It is made from

clay and dirt, which are abundant in the earth and do not require a lot of processing in order to harvest. Other

natural materials, such as straw or even dung, can be added to the clay in order to harden and insulate it better.

Although adobe is not necessarily something that can be taken out of the ground, it is a very simple process that

makes it even more useful for an environmentally friendly building. In order to make adobe bricks one must

mix water with the clay and other items until it can be shaped into a solid block. Rather than using the concrete

red bricks, adobe is an awesome alternative that will be the exact thing that your house needs to be more energy

efficient and sustainable.

INSULATION WITH ADOBE

For people who are a little more worried about using adobe to build their constructs, it can also be used for

insulation. Many parts of traditionally built houses are poorly insulated, which leaves them susceptible to

energy inefficiencies. Spending more money on energy costs can be avoided by simply using adobe for

insulation in the house.

In addition to saving money, this is also beneficial for the planet. It is a sustainable practice to cut the usage of

fossil fuels and other energy sources that are bad for the environment. For this reason, using adobe as insulation

is not only cheap and cost effective, but it is also great for the environment. These are both things that anyone

involved in the sustainable movement would appreciate.

Nonetheless, many people do not use adobe because it seems like a primitive way to insulate or construct a

building. This mindset is outdated and should be quickly reversed in society. Thankfully, the sustainable

movement has made great strides in the past few decades to help people overcome their prejudices to many

environmentally friendly materials.

CLAY

A material that many people use in order to promote sustainable building is clay. This is one of the most, if

not the most, sustainable material that anyone can use for a construction project. The best part about the clay

is the lack of processing that is required to get it out of the ground and then on to your home. This saves

energy, emissions, and makes it a material that is worthwhile for use in any sustainable construction project.

Below is an introduction to clay and the uses that are possible for your building project.

Clay Harvest

One reason that clay is such a great sustainable material is because of the harvesting method that makes it so

easy to produce. Taking clay out of the ground is one of the main steps and probably the most processing that

goes on throughout the entire system. Once the clay has been taken out of the earth one can add water in order

to shape the clay into bricks or even add a few other sustainable materials, such as straw or sand, in order to

strengthen the actual material.

Nonetheless, much of the reason that sustainable is good for the environment is because it is a product of earth

that should be utilized when constructing out buildings. More importantly, the lack of processing required to get

the clay out of the ground is an indicator of the energy efficiency that many sustainable products are capable of

providing.

Building with Sustainable Clay

As mentioned previously, clay is one of the best materials that one can use in order to build a sustainable

construction. The clay is usually added to straw, sand, and then water in order to make bricks that are used as

walls. These walls are not subject to becoming moist and breaking apart as there are still homes in Wales that

maintain their structure after hundreds of years of rain.

In addition to using as a solid building material, it is also acceptable to use clay as an insulator to the weather.

This will allow homes to maintain their heat during the winter months and maintain the comfortable

temperatures during the summer months. More importantly, it is a natural way to provide energy efficiency so

buildings are not using too much in order to maintain the proper temperature.

Clay is a sustainable construction material that has been used by humans for centuries. It is so easy to excavate

from the ground that there is little processing that is required, which means that energy and many time-

consuming processes are spared. As a construction material, the clay acts as a perfect brick for building

outdoors no matter where you live. Additionally, the bricks can be used for insulation in order to save money on

many traditional methods. Saving money on the energy bill is also a possibility given that buildings will be

much more energy efficient with this kind of insulator. It is obvious that the sustainable construction movement

is on the right track.

CORK

Like hemp and rubber, cork is another sustainable material that has been used in the United Kingdom and the

rest of the world to build sustainably constructed structures for many years. Cork is a unique material that is

harvested mainly in Portugal for a number of things. However, within recent years many people in the

sustainable movement have found uses for cork in building projects.

Cork is a great insulating material. It keeps warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The energy

efficiency aids in cutting energy bills in the winter. It is much more energy efficient than either Armstrong

laminate flooring or discount wood flooring. Cork is also good for sound insulation.

Cork as Bricks

There are a number of sources of sustainable bricks to choose from. Some people use larger brick options, such

as straw, which can be placed in bales and stacked into walls. However, other people use adobe, which is a clay

and straw mixture with water in order to seal their homes or buildings. These two forms of bricks have a long

history and humans have been using them for many centuries. However, new research and technology has

allowed people to build certain buildings with cork.

It is no surprise that the sustainable movement has gained so much traction over the past few years. Within only

a short period of time they have been able to introduce completely new materials that are not only

environmentally friendly, but also cost efficient. One of the biggest problems with the environmental movement

is that it is seen as inefficient for building cheaply. However, this has been proven false time and time again.

Cork is yet another material that can be used instead of the unsustainable materials that are currently being

utilized for construction projects.

Harvesting of Cork

One great aspect of cork is that it is so easy to harvest and is in great abundance. Most uses for cork are not very

substantial, such as wine stoppers. There are many hectares of cork in the world, which makes it an abundant

resource that will regenerate far faster than humans can use it for construction projects. At the current rate there

is too much cork in Portugal and many other places in the world, which is unlike many other products, like

timber.

Timber is usually commercially cut in huge swathes which disrupt the ecosystem and contribute to deforesting

on a large scale. It is unfortunate that these events happen, but the sustainable community has started using cork

in greater quantities in order to reverse this trend.

PROPERTIES AND USE

Cork's elasticity combined with its near-impermeability makes it suitable as a material for stoppers.

Cork's bubble-form structure and natural fire retardant make it suitable for acoustic and thermal insulation in

house walls, floors, ceilings and facades. The by-product of more lucrative stopper production, corkboard is

gaining popularity as a non-allergenic, easy-to-handle and safe alternative to petrochemical-based insulation

products which are flammable and emit highly toxic fumes when burned.

Sheets of cork, also often the by-product of stopper production, are used to make bulletin boards as well as floor

and wall tiles.

Granules of cork can also be mixed into concrete. The composites made by mixing cork granules and cement

have lower thermal conductivity, lower density and good energy absorption. Some of the property ranges of the

composites are density (4001500 kg/m), compressive strength (126 MPa) and flexural strength (0.5

4.0 MPa).

STRAW

For many years straw has always been a bi-product that was not used effectively. Due to the popularity of the

sustainable movement there have been great strides to utilise straw as a building material for people all over the

United Kingdom and the rest of the world. There are uses for straw for construction purposes and insulation,

which makes it a versatile option in comparison with fibreglass and many other materials that are not

sustainable. Additionally, straw is an incredibly cheap option for people who want to build their homes on a

budget. There is nothing better than maintaining a budget and still helping the environment tremendously as

well.

Straw Bales Construction

In many cases straw bales are created in order to provide construction materials for certain projects. Simple

homes can be created with straw bales and even more sophisticated buildings can use the bales for some areas.

Although the strength is lacking in comparison with some other materials, if made correctly, the bales of straw

can actually provide great protection against the elements. More importantly, they can provide the necessary

construction benefits with sustainable methods rather than using out of date products that are harmful to the

environment and the overall goals of sustainability.

There are a number of homes, including upper-scale buildings, that have been built purely with straw bales.

There is a higher susceptibility to rot when using straw as a sustainable material, but the availability, cost, and

renewable resource all make it worth the effort and risk.

Straw as Insulation

While construction is certainly possible on some smaller scales, it is often a good idea to use straw as insulation

at the very least. Compared with many different forms of insulation that are currently used, straw is much more

effective because it can be packed much tighter than others. Nonetheless, it has not received the level of praise

that it should, given the unique capability to seriously enhance the energy efficiency of a home.

Sustainable materials are an important aspect of constructing in a responsible manner, but so is energy

efficiency. People who have homes build out of sustainable materials are not helping if they must spend large

amounts of energy in order to heat or cool buildings. Instead, using straw can provide a great insulation that will

make the goals of sustainability easier to realize.

Sustainable Material Straw

There are many reasons to use sustainable materials in order to build your home. Using straw to build the home

completely will save you a lot of money, but will also offer you the ability to protect the environment and

embark on the task of maintaining sustainability in your life. However, for those who would like to take less

risk and use straw for insulation over traditional methods, then that is a great alternative as well.

The insulation is perfect because it can increase the sustainability of a home while also working on energy

efficiency. Protecting the earth and environment are the ultimate goals of sustainability, which is why straw is

so useful.

THERMAL PROPERTIES

Compressed straw bales have a wide range of documented R-value. R-value is a measurement of a materials

insulating quality, higher the number the more insulating. The reported R-value ranges from 17-55 depending

on the study, differing wall designs could be responsible for wide range in R-value. Bale walls are typically

coated with a thick layer of plaster, which provides a well-distributed thermal mass, active on a short-term

(diurnal) cycle. The combination of insulation and mass provide an excellent platform for passive solar building

design for winter and summer.

Compressed and plastered straw bale walls are also resistant to fire.

METOD

Straw bale building typically consists of stacking rows of bales on a raised footing or foundation, with a

moisture barrier or capillary break between the bales and their supporting platform. There are two types of

straw-bales commonly used, those bound together with two strings and those with three. The three string bale is

the larger in all three dimensions. Bale walls can be tied together with pins of bamboo, rebar, or wood (internal

to the bales or on their faces), or with surface wire meshes, and then plastered, either with a cement-based mix,

lime-based formulation, or earth/clay render. The bales may actually provide the structural support for the

building ("load-bearing" or "Nebraska-style" technique), as was the case in the original examples from the late

19th century. The plastered bale assembly also can be designed to provide lateral and shear support for wind

and seismic loads.

Alternatively, bale buildings can have a structural frame of other materials, usually lumber or timber-frame,

with bales simply serving as insulation and plaster substrate, ("infill" or "non-loadbearing" technique), which is

most often required in northern regions and/or in wet climates. In northern regions

OVERVIEW

Straw is a renewable resource that acts as excellent insulation and is fairly easy to build with. Care must be

taken to assure that the straw is kept dry, or it will eventually rot. For this reason it is generally best to allow a

straw bale wall to remain breathable; any moisture barrier will invite condensation to collect and undermine the

structure. Other possible concerns with straw bale walls are infestation of rodents or insects, so the skin on the

straw should resist these critters. There are two major categories of building with straw bales: load-bearing and

non-load bearing. A post and beam framework that supports the basic structure of the building, with the bales of

straw used as infill, is the most common non-load bearing approach. This is also the only way that many

building authorities will allow. While there are many load- bearing straw bale buildings that are standing just

fine, care must be taken to consider the possible settling of the straw bales as the weight of the roof, etc.

compresses them. Erecting bale walls can go amazingly quickly, and does not take a lot of skill, but then the

rest of the creation of the building is similar to any other wood framed house.

In fact straw bale houses typically only save about 15% of the wood used in a conventionally framed house. The

cost of finishing a straw bale house can often exceed that of standard construction, because of the specialized

work that goes into plastering both sides of the walls. The result is often worth it though, because of the superior

insulation and wall depth that is achieved

.

RECYCLED RUBBER

There are many uses for rubber and none of them are more apparent than in sustainable construction. Although

many people think of rubber as a synthetic product, it is actually harvested from the rubber tree, which

obviously a renewable resource. Recycled rubber is even more useful because it does not require additional

harvesting of rubber, but instead just builds upon already used materials. Even though rubber in itself is already

a renewable resource that can be sustainable, using rubber is one of the best ways to complete any construction

project in an environmentally conscious way.

Rubber Effectiveness and Sustainability

Unlike many other types of trees, the rubber tree provides a great product that can be used in a number of ways.

Although in construction there are limits to how rubber can be used, the tree nonetheless provides an effective

and sustainable material for building.

Rubber is easy to install as flooring for buildings, which makes it a great alternative to other types of materials

that are not sustainable or efficient for the home. The quality is what makes the product so fascinating for your

home. The rubber is resistant to fading in comparison to many other types of flooring and people who smoke

will find the cigarette burn resistance even more compelling.

Overall, one of the most effective types of flooring that can be used in the modern age is rubber. In the United

Kingdom many building projects have already converted to the material in an effort to become more efficient,

long lasting, and sustainable.

Recycled Rubber

Another reason to use rubber in the home is that it can be recycled for consumption. Whereas many other types

of sustainable resources are just produced naturally with a moral regenerative mindset, the rubber is actually

recycled so that you do not have to worry about how it is harvested from the tree. There are no trees that get

tapped or harvested when recycled rubber is used.

For people who are truly trying to build a sustainable home, there is nothing better than using recycled

materials. There are types of aluminum and others that are recycled for use in the home, but using natural

products multiple times is one of the best ways to build a sustainable construction.

TIRE PYROLYSIS

The pyrolysis method for recycling used tires is a technique which heats whole or shredded tires in a reactor

vessel containing an oxygen-free atmosphere. In the reactor the rubber is softened after which the rubber

polymers break down into smaller molecules. These smaller molecules vaporize and exit from the reactor.

These vapors can be burned directly to produce power or condensed into an oily type liquid, generally used as a

fuel. Some molecules are too small to condense. They remain as a gas which can be burned as fuel. The

minerals that were part of the tire, about 40% by weight, are removed as a solid. When performed well a tire

pyrolysis process is a very clean operation and has nearly no emissions or waste.

The properties of the gas, liquid, and solid output are determined by the type of feedstock used and the process

conditions. For instance whole tires contain fibers and steel. Shredded tires have most of the steel and

sometimes most of the fiber removed. Processes can be either batch or continuous. The energy required to drive

the decomposition of the rubber include using directly fired fuel (like a gas oven), electrical induction (like an

electrically heated oven) or by microwaves (like a microwave oven). Sometimes a catalyst is used to accelerate

the decomposition. The choice of feedstock and process can affect the value of the finished products.

TIRE-DERIVES PRODUCTS

Tires can be reused in many ways, although again, most used tires are burnt for their fuel value. In a 2003 report

cited by the U.S. EPA, it is stated that markets ("both recycling and beneficial use") existed for 80.4% of scrap

tires, about 233 million tires per year. Assuming 22.5 lbs per tire, the 2003 report predicts a total weight of

about 2.62 million tons from tires.

One stage of tire recycling involves the production of alternate products for sale. New products derived from

waste tires generate more economic activity than combustion or other low multiplier production, while reducing

waste stream without generating excessive pollution and emissions from recycling operations.

Construction materials. Entire homes can be built with whole tires by ramming them full of earth and

covering them with concrete, known as Earthships. They are used in civil engineering applications such as

sub-grade fill and embankments, backfill for walls and bridge abutments, sub-grade insulation for roads,

landfill projects, and septic system drain fields. Tires are also bound together and used as different types of

barriers such as: collision reduction, erosion control, rainwater runoff, wave action that protects piers and

marshes, and sound barriers between roadways and residences.

Artificial reefs are built using tires that are bonded together in groups, there is some controversy on how

effective tires are as an artificial reef system, an example is The Osborne Reef Project which has become an

environmental nightmare that will cost millions of dollars to rectify.

The process of stamping and cutting tires is used in some apparel products, such as sandals and as a road

sub-base, by connecting together the cut sidewalls to form a flexible net.

Shredded tires, known as Tire Derived Aggregate (TDA), have many civil engineering applications. TDA

can be used as a backfill for retaining walls, fill for landfill gas trench collection wells, backfill for roadway

landslide repair projects as well as a vibration damping material for railway lines.

Ground and crumb rubber, also known as size-reduced rubber, can be used in both paving type projects and

in moldable products. These types of paving are: Rubber Modified Asphalt (RMA), Rubber Modified

Concrete, and as a substitution for an aggregate. Examples of rubber-molded products are carpet padding

or underlay, flooring materials, dock bumpers, patio decks, railroad crossing blocks, livestock mats,

sidewalks, rubber tiles and bricks, moveable speed bumps, and curbing/edging. The rubber can be molded

with plastic for products like pallets and railroad ties. Athletic and recreational areas can also be paved with

the shock absorbing rubber-molded material. Rubber from tires is sometimes ground into medium-sized

chunks and used as rubber mulch. Rubber crumb can also be used as an infill, alone or blended with coarse

sand, as in infill for grass-like synthetic turf products such as FieldTurf.

ENVIROMENTAL CONCERNS

Due to their heavy metal and other pollutant content, tires pose a risk for the (leaching) of toxins into the

groundwater when placed in wet soils. Research has shown that very little leaching occurs when shredded tires

are used as light fill material; however, limitations have been put on use of this material; each site should be

individually assessed determining if this product is appropriate for given conditions.

FLY ASH BRICKS

The Fly Ash Bricks are promoted as an alternative to burnt clay bricks with in the construction sector in India .

Fly-Ash Bricks are an environment friendly cost saving building product. These bricks are three times stronger

than conventional bricks with consistent strength. These bricks are ideally suited for internal, external, load

bearing and non-load bearing walls. These Bricks with higher strength/weight ratio (about 3 to 4 times that of

burnt clay bricks) aid in designing stronger, yet more economic structures.

Fly Ash Bricks are Durable, have Low water absorption, Less consumption of mortar, Economical & eco-

friendly, Low energy consumption and No emission of green house gases. These bricks are not affected by

environmental conditions and remain static thus ensuring longer life of the building. Also, the savings with

regard to wastages in fly ash bricks are considerable during unloading and construction due to true shape and

size, consistency in quality, and the workability of the fly ash bricks unlike traditional clay bricks. These bricks

are very economical / cost effective, nil wastage while transporting and handling.

THE RAW MATERIALS

The raw materials for fly ash Acc Blocks are:

Material Mass

Fly Ash 45%

Sand/Stone Dust 40%

Lime 10

Gypsum 5%

Fly ash bricks are lighter than clay bricks.

AAC (Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) was invented in the mid-1920s by the Swedish architect and inventor

Johan Axel Eriksson. AAC is one of the major achievements of the 20th century in the field of construction. It

is a lightweight, precast building material that simultaneously provides structure, insulation, and fire and mold

resistance. AAC Blocks is a unique and excellent type of building materials due to its superb heat, fire and

sound resistance. AAC block is lightweight and offers ultimate workability, flexibility and durability.

Main ingredients include fly ash, water, quicklime, cement, aluminum powder and gypsum. The block hardness

is being achieved by cement strength, and instant curing mechanism by autoclaving. Gypsum acts as a long

term strength gainer. The chemical reaction due to the aluminum paste provides AAC its distinct porous

structure, lightness, and insulation properties, completely different compared to other lightweight concrete

materials. The finished product is a 2.5 times lighter Block compared to conventional Bricks, while providing

the similar strengths. The specific gravity stays around 0.6 to 0.65. This is one single most USP of the AAC

blocks, because by using these blocks in structural buildings, the builder saves around 30 to 35 % of structural

steel, and concrete, as these blocks reduce the dead load on the building significantly.

How to Make Fly Ash Bricks

Most modern common bricks use a mixture of clay, sand, water and lime. This mixture is pressed into molds

and then heated, or fired in a kiln at very hot (1000+ degree C) temperatures.

Fly ash bricks replace the clay with fly ash, and some manufacturing processes use pressure instead of heat to

cure the bricks, reducing the amount of energy required to manufacture.

Fly ash has been used for years around in the world in bricks. In fact, volcano ash (very similar to coal fly ash)

had been successfully used in the production of bricks all the way back in the Roman ages.

As long as the fly ash brick is manufactured to and passes the same testing standards as modern clay bricks used

in structures (ASTM C62), I dont see any drawbacks to using fly ash bricks in facility construction.

FLY ASH BRICKS MACHIE

Quality of fly ash bricks depends on 3 factors

Input material and ratio of mixing

Process of compaction and machinery

Training of personnel to ensure consistency

Brick moulds are available in the following sizes

Size 250 X 120 x 75 mm Standard

Size 230 x 110 x 75 mm Standard

Size 230 x 110 x 75 mm Chamfered

Size 200 x 100 x 100 mm Standard

Is Fly Ash Safe?

There is currently a debate in the green building community on just how safe fly ash bricks are, since fly ash is

composed of chemicals that are considered toxic, including arsenic, lead, mercury, barium, boron, selenium,

chromium and others.However, many of these elements (in these concentrations) are found in regular

unpolluted soil, so it is difficult to say exactly how safe or unsafe they are when used in fly ash bricks.

Fly Ash Bricks and LEED

There is a specific benefit to using fly ash bricks for green building and LEED projects because they are

considered a recycled material. This will help earn points in Materials & Resources (MR) Credit 4, Recycled

Materials.

Using fly ash bricks also reduces the amount of energy used to produce regular clay bricks, and the reduction of

CO2 emissions due to the energy intensive process to produce those bricks in a 1000 degree C kiln.

Other benefits include the reduction of fly ash waste going to landfills or being stored in a retention pond, which

can be hazardous and potentially dangerous.

All in all, I think that the direct and indirect benefits of using fly ash bricks outweigh the potential

consequences, and that their use will help a construction project to be more sustainable.

ADVANTAGES

1. High Fire Insulation

2. Due to high strength, practically no breakage during transport and use.

3. Due to uniform size of bricks mortar required for joints and plaster reduces almost by 50%.

4. Due to lower water penetration seepage of water through bricks is considerably reduced.

5. Gypsum plaster (plaster of Paris) can be directly applied on these bricks without a backing coat of lime

plaster.

6. These bricks do not require soaking in water for 24 hours. Sprinkling of water before use is enough.

DISADVANTAGES

1. Mechanical strength is weak. But this can be rectified by adding marble waste, or Mortar between

blocks.

2. Limitation of size. Only modular size can be produced. Large size will have more breakages.

The basic chemistry and technology based on which FLY-ASH Bricks is manufactured has been

successfully applied in major construction project across the globe , namely:-

a) Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Japan

b) Hungry House Dam USA

c) Euro Tunnel United Kingdom/ France

QUALITY OF FLY ASH BRICKS

1. FLY-ASH Bricks are eco friendly as it protects environment though Conservation of top soil and

utilization of waste products of coal or lignite based Thermal Power Plants.

2. It plays a vital role in the abetment of carbon-die-oxide a harmful green house gas mass emission of

which is threatening to throw the earths atmosphere out of balance.

3. It is three times stronger then the conventional burnt clay bricks.

4. Its size of 250 x120 x 75 mm is derived from the modular concept giving perfect finish to both faces,

whereby up to 30%cement mortar can be saved during laying and plastering thus reducing the cost

of construction.

5. As no clay is used in the manufacture of FLY-ASH Bricks the scope of efflorescence is negligible.

6. It continues gaining strength on watering ever after installation.

7. Loss-due to breakage under standard working condition is less then one percent.

8. Use of FLY-ash Bricks results in 100RFT -8.33sq ft each side, which enhances valuation of built up

property.

9. Fly-Ash Bricks is lighter than the conventional clay bricks as it weight around 3 to 3.2 Kgs per

bricks.

Comparison between Clay brick and Fly ash Brick

Fly Ash Brick Clay Brick

Uniform pleasing colour like cement Varying colour as per soil

Uniform in shape and smooth in finish Uneven shape as hand made

Dense composition Lightly bonded

No plastering required Plastering required

Lighter in weight Heavier in weight

Compressive strength is around 100 Kg/Cm2 Compressive strength is around 35 Kg/Cm2

Less porous More porous

Thermal conductivity

0.90-1.05 W/m2 C

Thermal conductivity

1.25 1.35 W/m2 C

Water absorption 6-12% Water absorption 20-25%

Present Scenario On Fly Ash In India

Over 75% of the total installed power generation is coal-based

230 - 250 million MT coal is being used every year

High ash contents varying from 30 to 50%

More than 110 million MT of ash generated every year

Ash generation likely to reach 170 million MT by 2010

Presently 65,000 acres of land occupied by ash ponds

Presently as per the Ministry Of Environment & Forest Figures, 30% of Ash Is being used in Fillings,

embankments, construction, block & tiles, etc.

Building made of fly ash bricks

BAMBOO

When youre considering potential building materials for home construction as a society we tend to focus on

two or three commonly utilized and widely accepted building materials: wood, stone or concrete. What you may

not realize is that bamboo solutions can be used for much more than just food, musical instruments, medicine,

paper and textiles. Uses for bamboo can also include building construction, both in exterior and interior design

elements.

Widely used in Asian, Pacific Islander and Central and Southern American cultures, bamboo is a sustainable

and sturdy building material. Unlike wood, bamboo (a member of the grass family) regenerates very quickly. It

is, in-fact, one of the fastest growing plants in the world, with the fastest growth rate reaching 100cm in a 24-hr

period1.

In contrast to tree harvesting, there is simply no comparison to the replenishment rate of growing bamboo.

Bamboo can be harvested every three to six years for construction purposes (depending on the species); whereas

trees range from 25 years (for softwoods) to 50 years (for hardwoods). It is important to harvest the bamboo at

the right time to maximize strength and minimize damage brought on by pests.

Making more use of bamboo for common building practices would allow forests to regenerate and help to

prevent future deforestation efforts.

Bamboo is a very fast growing, renewable and easy-to-grow resource. There are over 1000 species of bamboo.

Bamboo grows in tropical and temperate environments and is very hardy, not needing pesticides or herbicides

to grow well. It is a type of grass and grows from it's roots, when it is cut it quickly grows back. Most species

mature in 4-5 years. It sequesters carbon dioxide and is carbon