The trend towards more eco-conscious home design continues to grow in popularity in London, with people increasingly looking for ways to reduce their impact on the environment without sacrificing on the quality or reliability of their builds.
Buildings consume an extraordinary amount of our finite natural resources during their construction and operation, and so choosing more sustainable materials where possible can significantly reduce a project’s environmental impact.
Here are five sustainable materials to consider for your next construction project, whether that is a new extension, a basement conversion, or an entirely new property.
Woodcrete / Timbercrete
According to the IPCC, 18% of building emissions are “embodied” in the production of steel and cement, which are used for construction. As such, alternative materials or methods of sourcing for these materials can significantly reduce the environmental impact of any construction project.
Woodcrete (also known as timbercrete) is one concrete alternative that is gaining in popularity for its green credentials, as it replaces some of the more energy-intensive components of traditional concrete with recycled wood. It can be used as a direct replacement of normal concrete or used to create CF (Insulated Concrete Framework) bricks, which are used like any other hollow concrete block in the construction of walls.
As wood is a renewable resource, woodcrete is a sustainable alternative to concrete, and the low energy manufacturing process means that their manufacture is also more eco-friendly and cheaper than traditional building materials. Their thermal efficiency also outpaces that of traditional concrete, which should help bring down your heating bills, and as they are manufactured in the UK, shipping should be cheaper and greener than many other alternatives.
Recycled steel
Steel can be recycled indefinitely without losing strength, and so choosing recycled steel whenever possible can mean enjoying exactly the same benefits as new steel, but without the energy and environmental costs from mining and manufacture. According to to one recent report from the EU, recycling steel saves 72% of the energy needed for primary production (ie. 4,697 kWh per tonne), with one tonne of recycled steel also saving 1.4 tonnes of iron ore, 0.8 tonnes of coal, 0.3 tonnes of limestone and additives, and 1.67 tonnes of CO2.
Hempcrete
Despite the name, hempcrete is not a concrete alternative, but a sustainable and bio-composite material that provides durable and efficient insulation. It is lightweight and critically carbon-negative, which means that it absorbs more carbon dioxide (CO2) than it emits during its lifecycle.
Hempcrete is a combination of hemp fibres and lime, and buildings constructed with the material benefit from improved indoor air quality due to the material’s vapour-permeable and hygroscopic qualities alongside its sustainable credentials.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a hugely versatile material that is already popular in the UK as an option for use for flooring, kitchen surfaces, and doors. It is a fast growing grass that can grow up to 3.8 centimetres per day and absorbs more CO2 than trees, which makes it an impressively sustainable resource.
Certain species of bamboo, such as Moso, Asper and Guadua, have long been used as a construction material in Asia, where some architects have described it as “the green steel of the 21st century“. However, it is only recently becoming more popular in Europe as it does not naturally grow in the European climate. Nonetheless, one recent study has shown that even when imported, bamboo products can be carbon neutral or even carbon negative.
Cork
Cork is lightweight, waterproof, fire-retardant, and has fantastic insulation properties, so has numerous more applications than just as a material for wine stoppers and pinboards. The material itself comes from the bark of the “cork oak” tree, and unlike wood can be harvested every year from the same trees, which makes it one of the most sustainable resources available.
Cork is already starting to become a popular choice for insulation and cladding, and with its neutral tones and aesthetically-pleasing appearance, it is becoming a hit with architects and interior designers as a choice of flooring and panelling.
If you are looking to build an extension or basement conversion, or just rebuild your kitchen, and would like to discuss your options to use more sustainable building materials then call Good London Builders today.
