Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an existing one, there are several eco-friendly home building materials that can help you save money on your construction costs. You can use these materials to build various components of a house like Composite Balustrades. Here are five of the most common.
Stone
Choosing natural building stone is one of the greenest ways to build a home. Not only does it reduce your environmental impact, but it also makes your home look beautiful.
Natural stone is a material that lasts. It is durable, and it is easy to clean. It is also fire resistant. It doesn’t rot, mildew, or disintegrate.
Stone is also recyclable. In fact, almost all of it can be recycled, saving resources.
When choosing stone, you should also consider where it’s sourced. If it’s quarried locally, you can avoid the carbon footprint of transportation. You’ll also reduce the carbon emissions of your building.
There are many different types of stone, including limestone, granite, and travertine. You can even choose a stone that fits your needs. For instance, you may choose a stone that’s fire resistant, which will help you avoid costly repairs.
You can also choose a natural stone that will last longer than other building materials. Natural stone has the potential to last over 50 years. You can also opt for reclaimed stone, which will prevent you from adding new materials to your home.
Natural stone also has an interesting list of attributes. For example, it has nine credits in the LEED system. Those credits include energy performance, building reuse, and regional materials.
Stone is also more affordable than you may think. Many governments offer rebates for environmentally friendly building materials.
You can also avoid toxic chemicals when cleaning your stone surfaces. In fact, you may not need to use any chemicals to clean your stone, making it one of the most eco-friendly materials on the market.
In addition to its performance credentials, natural stone also has social acceptability. Most of the stone you buy is quarried in one country.
Straw bales
Using straw bales for your home construction is a wonderful way to reduce your environmental impact. These are natural, renewable building materials that provide excellent insulation values. They can also help you save on fuel costs.
Straw bales are usually stacked on a concrete foundation. The walls are then carved with a chainsaw or a knife. They are then interlocked to make a stronger and more stable wall.
The plaster layer is also important for keeping the straw bale house dry. The outside plaster varies in thickness, ranging from cement stucco to clay-based earth plaster. It is re-applied as needed to maintain its durability.
Straw bale walls are usually 18-20 inches thick. The window frames are flush with the wall to improve day lighting and allow deep interior sills. Almost any kind of window can be set into a straw wall.
Some of the interior fibers are hemp. These fibers are similar to wood and can be compressed with lime. This helps them to bond together. In fact, hemp fibers can be used to make concrete-like blocks.
In order to make a straw bale house, you will need to follow a set of building codes. These may vary from your local jurisdiction to another, and may require more work on your part. You may also need to seek help from local experts.
You may need to install electrical and plumbing conduits. This will depend on your design. You will also need to obtain a building permit and hire a structural engineer.
You will also need to ensure that the bales are watertight and insulated. This will help keep your home comfortable in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Bricks
Choosing eco-friendly home building materials like brick can help you lower your energy bills. Bricks are made from clay, which is an abundant resource that is found naturally under the Earth’s surface.
Brick is durable and can be reused, resulting in lower maintenance costs. It also helps to lower your energy bill, as it is energy efficient.
Bricks can help you keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They are also durable and resistant to mould and fungus.
Bricks are also resistant to fire, which helps to keep your home safe. It is also durable and easy to maintain. Bricks are available in different colours and textures. Bricks are also recyclable.
Eco-friendly bricks also reduce your energy bill, making them a great investment for your home. They are also safe for your children and pets. They are also safe for the environment and have a long lifespan. Bricks are a great way to create an architectural focal point.
Bricks are also recyclable and can be reused indefinitely. Bricks can be re-used to create new buildings and structures.
Bricks have been used for almost 10,000 years and have a long life cycle. They can be used in almost any architectural style. They are also durable, which means that they are unlikely to break or weather. They are also very resistant to insects and pests.
Bricks can be used for landscaping, which helps reduce the use of chemicals for fertilization. They can also be recycled and can be reused for landscaping. The latest brick manufacturing units have reduced the resources needed to create bricks, making them more eco-friendly.
When buying bricks, be sure to select the right kind for your home. They come in many different colours, textures, and shapes.
Cork insulation
Using cork insulation is an effective way to reduce energy bills and improve the efficiency of your home. In addition, cork is a green construction material that is 100% renewable and biodegradable.
The material is sourced from cork oak trees. Cork insulation is used to reduce heat loss and maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Its cellular construction reduces radiation by reflecting the cell walls. It also helps to reduce noise.
Cork is also a fire-resistant material. This makes it ideal for use in homes. It can be used in the exterior of homes, as well as the interior.
Cork insulation has a high thermal resistance, which keeps your home warm during the winter and cool during the summer. It also protects it from water damage.
Cork insulation has a relatively high density, which makes it more resistant to compression than foam. It also has an airtight cell structure. It has an R-value of between 3.4 and four per inch, depending on its density. This is a good value for an insulation material.
The insulation is also fire-resistant. It is designed to resist burning through for at least 60 to 90 minutes.
Cork insulation is also highly flexible. Cork cells are filled with millions of closed cells, which prevent convection. This keeps the walls dry and prevents mold and mildew growth.
Another benefit of cork insulation is that it is 100% natural. It is not inflammable and it does not release toxic gases when burned. It also has a low thermal conductivity.
In addition, cork has excellent vibration control capacities. It is used in many different applications, including flooring and acoustic walls. This allows you to design a more comfortable home.
Hempcrete
Despite being a green building material, hempcrete has some downsides when used for building. For example, it is not as strong as concrete and may have poor load bearing capacities. It also needs to be cured for a significant amount of time.
One of the most important benefits of using hempcrete is its carbon footprint. Its carbon sequestration properties mean it’s more environmentally friendly than concrete. Concrete is responsible for 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, hempcrete’s carbon footprint is largely reduced during its production process.
It also makes a good insulation material. While fiberglass is an excellent insulator, it may also contain human carcinogens.
Its small footprint means that it can be used on the exterior surface of a building. It is also fire resistant and mold resistant. It can also be used to retrofit older buildings.
Its low carbon footprint means it’s great for reducing fossil fuel inputs. Hempcrete can also be recycled after demolition.
It’s also an efficient thermal insulator, which means it can regulate temperature and humidity. It also helps prevent mold and mildew.
It’s also good for reducing emissions because it’s a natural plant material. The plant itself sequesters more CO2 than any other commercial crop.
It can be used in combination with other insulation materials. It can also be used for cladding exteriors. It’s also an excellent insulator, so it can help keep homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
It’s also easy to construct a hemp house. You can build it brick by brick or use a timber frame. You can also buy prefabricated hemp blocks. If you’re a mason, you don’t need to learn a new technique. It’s also easier to shape than concrete.