The PIN Magazine February 2017

Page 58

GREEN

BUILDING MATERIALS

SUPERIOR TO CONCRETE

D

espite its low sustainability ratings, concrete remains the most commonly used material in the construction industry. Made of cement, it is an environmentally hazardous material both during construction and throughout a building’s life. According to data released by the Sustainable Development Commission, building materials based on cement account for as much as 5%-10% of all carbon dioxide emissions. For comparison, CO2 emissions originating from the aviation industry constitute barely 4%. Finding a greener alternative to this useful but harmfully polluting material has been the focus of much industry research in recent years, and the findings offer a bright outlook for the future of sustainable construction. The building materials listed below are just some of the alternatives which can successfully replace concrete.

The PIN Magazine | Februar y 2017

Limestone Obtained through mining, limestone is used for the production of a whole range of building materials. Lime-based cement is the main alternative to traditional cement due to the abundance of this natural resource throughout the world. The material is durable, breathable, and its production process non-intensive.

Wool Bricks Wool bricks are created by simply adding wool and natural polymers obtained from seaweed to a traditional brick clay. The advantages of this alternative are improved strength, non-toxicity, and higher resistance to cold and water. On top of that, wool bricks do not require firing like traditional bricks.

58


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
The PIN Magazine February 2017 by The Power Is Now Media Inc. - Issuu