What sustainable materials can you use to create energy-efficient buildings?

Yes indeed, but be careful where and how you use/choose biobased materials. A test report I saw recently found the highest level of PFAS found in any food packaging were the sugar cane baggasse derived clam shell containers!!!! Also the biggest issues with cellulose, wool and other natural fibre insulations is how to both fireproof them and make them unattractive to vermin. Both issues for all those materials have in the past led them to be preserved with chemicals like Borax (now a scheduled endocrine disruptor) and Fluorinated or Brominated fire retardants that are carcinogenic. So you have to ask what preservatives and insect repellents they are using to make sure they are safe. BTW I am a proponent of all those materials,

It is important to consider the human health impacts of all building materials, including insulation. Many insulation products are made with toxic materials including PFAS and petrochemical-based materials that are harmful to our health, especially if they burn. Biobased materials like wool, earth, wood and other fibers are ideal from this perspective.

When insulating a building, addressing thermal bridging is indeed crucial. Thermal bridging occurs when there is a break in, or penetration of, the insulation layer by a material with higher thermal conductivity. This allows heat to flow more easily through the barrier, reducing the overall effectiveness of the insulation. Ensure that insulation is continuous across all building elements. This may involve adding insulation on the exterior or using insulated sheathing to cover framing members and other potential bridges.

When aiming for energy-efficient buildings, selecting sustainable insulation materials is paramount. Sheep's wool, cellulose, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) offer effective solutions. Sheep's wool provides natural moisture resistance and is ideal for humid environments, albeit at a higher cost. Cellulose, derived from recycled paper, is eco-friendly and fire-resistant. EPS foam insulation boasts high thermal resistance, making it suitable for various climates. These materials contribute significantly to reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainable construction practices.

By incorporating these sustainable materials such as (recycled steel and aluminium, responsibly sourced timber, insulation made from recycled denim or cellulose, low-E windows with insulated frames, and bamboo for flooring and finishes.) into construction practices, buildings can achieve higher energy efficiency while reducing their environmental footprint.

We need to look at the life cycle assessment. Steel studs made from recycled steel is very energy intensive. Bamboo may grow like weed but it's structural capacity is more brittle than wood. Also, where is bamboo sourced from? Who monitors the environmental impact of where it's grown, how it's harvest, managed? Majority of the wood in North Americs, comes from sustainability managed forest and is renewable. It has a long history of success and through innovations/advances in wood technology, is expanding how and where wood can be used throughout the world.

Bamboo is emerging as a rapidly growing alternative in the construction industry. Recently, I encountered a range of products that offer replacements for traditional materials such as RCC columns and plywood. The T2 terminal in Bangalore serves as a live demonstration of bamboo's versatility and effectiveness, seamlessly blending structural functionality with design aesthetics.

To create energy-efficient buildings, the first step is to use locally sourced materials that can be reclaimed or reused, avoiding the need for extracting new raw materials. Next, select raw materials from sources as close as possible to minimize transportation and reduce resource exploitation. After these criteria are met, consider other sustainable(green) options such as bamboo, recycled steel, and similar green materials.

Bamboo has always been a good choice for sustainability. However, more research is needed for its wider scope of application in every phase of building construction.

Sustainability in building material starts by using locally available material which not only ensures energy efficiency but also reduces the carbon footprint .

Let me tell you, double-glazed windows are a game-changer. In our office, we've got this amazing wide view that floods the space with natural light, but it used also to bring in a lot of heat from the sun, making things uncomfortable. That's where these windows stepped in. Even when I'm right up close, I can't feel the sun's heat coming through. It's amazing. We still get all the benefits of the view, but now it's without the discomfort of the heat. Plus, it's saving us money on our energy bills, which is always a win. These windows have really made our office a more pleasant place to be. It's amazing how something as simple as better windows can make such a big difference.

In my experience the high tech laminated glass is just fantastic. We went for low glare, minimal heat transferal and noise suppressing. We live in the inner west and we watch the planes takeoff and land, but we don’t hear them! It certainly works. And having multiple benefits you get great value out of the investment. They are as good as double glazing without the bulkiness.

Here's What I think in the present scenario when we have not progressed enough to let natural light pass thorough without any amount of heat, we have the double and triple glazed windows that are simple yet marvelous products. They significantly have helped enhance the energy efficiency of structures but have also allowed architects to design functional and practical glass shroud buildings that gather our attentions from the outside while keeping a panoramic view and inside spaces lit while allowing just a fraction of heat.

The entire window is the Achilles’ heel for energy efficiency of the entire building envelope, not just the glass. Yes, glass technology has greatly improved energy efficiency however the energy efficiency of the entire window is measured in R-Value and U-Value, also take that into consideration. Also keep in mind that laminated glass used as impact resistant glass in areas of high wind zones will also increase the energy efficiency of glass. Different architectural designs such as overhangs above windows can shade sun in the summer when the sun is high, decreasing heat gain and decreasing demand on air conditioning. It allows sun in when it is low on the horizon increasing heat gain and decreasing demand on the heating system.

Essas janelas economizadoras de energia podem diminuir substancialmente a quantidade de energia necessária para aquecer ou resfriar um espa?o, resultando em contas de servi?os públicos mais baixas e em um ambiente de vida ou trabalho mais confortável. Além disso, a utiliza??o de vidro de baixa emissividade e janelas com vidros duplos ou triplos também contribui para a sustentabilidade geral do edifício, reduzindo a pegada de carbono e promovendo um uso mais eficiente dos recursos energéticos.

Green vegetation roofs are really good insulators which not only help lower the indoor temperature but also help manage the runoff from roofs. What’s particularly impressive about green roofs is that they need not to be constructed with the buildings and can easily be retrofitted afterwards, and Research has indicated that these retrofitted green roofs are completely functional and easy to construct. This implies that green roofs can not only benefit new constructions but also extend the lifespan of existing structures as well, thereby enhancing their sustainability.

Uma das op??es mais populares é o telhado verde, que é coberto com vegeta??o. Esses telhados atuam como isolantes naturais, ajudando a manter a temperatura interna estável ao longo do ano. No ver?o, a vegeta??o absorve o calor, enquanto no inverno ela oferece uma camada de isolamento extra, reduzindo a necessidade de aquecimento. Além disso, os telhados verdes ajudam a gerenciar o escoamento das águas pluviais, absorvendo a água da chuva e reduzindo a carga sobre os sistemas de drenagem urbana. Eles também melhoram a qualidade do ar e promovem a biodiversidade, criando habitats para plantas e animais.

Las opciones de techado sostenibles son esenciales para crear edificios energéticamente eficientes. Los techos verdes, que incorporan vegetación, mejoran el aislamiento térmico y acústico, reducen el efecto isla de calor urbano y gestionan las aguas pluviales. Los techos de metal reciclado, como el acero y el aluminio, son duraderos, reflectan el calor y son reciclables al final de su vida útil. Las tejas solares integran paneles solares en el dise?o del techo, generando energía renovable sin comprometer la estética. El techado de madera certificada de bosques sostenibles proporciona un buen aislamiento y es biodegradable.

Slate is a strong and durable material that has been used for centuries to cover the roofs of buildings. It's also beautiful, with various colors and patterns possible. slate roofs are made from natural stone. Add that to the fact that slate roofs may last more than 100 years. When the slate roofs are finally replaced, they will not have any negative effects on the environment.

Roofing choices can, in particular, affect a lot of the heating load of the building, especially if the building is a low-rise building (i.e. high roof-to-wall area ratio). Thus as a reason in many cases, insulation with additional asphalt layering is often used widely.

Climate smart wood (i.e. wood that is harvested in line with regenerative principles) is also a great choice for sustainable flooring.

Sustainable flooring not only helps save energy use by limiting the inter-floor heat transfer of the buildings, but nature-organise-based flooring also provides an aesthetic element to the buildings. Traditonally, villages in India used cow-dung based flooring and lime flooring widely, but modern construction has also expanded a wide variety of materials that can be used for flooring.

In our self-built Aardehuis (Earthship) home in Olst (Netherlands) we have earthen flooring, made out of the very soil and sand of the building site. The technique is very old but more or less forgotten about in the Netherlands, so we had to revert to books and instruction videos from the internet. Hardening and waterproofing the surface can be achieved by applying several layers of linseed oil. Obviously, the big advantage of an earthen floor is its direct temperature transporting capacity. Less known but to my experience at least as important, is the fact that it looks beautful and above all feels realy nice (uncomparable to any other material) when you walk on it bare footed.

Bamboo for interior floor covering is hardwearing and fast growing, sequestering carbon, or for benchtops avoiding use of engineered stone.

Smart Tech doesn't have to be fancy. Even integrating LED lights with Alexa (or another home control app) can maximize design options and bring exceptional savings to your energy bills. Homes with smart technology (fixed within the structure) can also deliver top dollar once property is on the market. This bonus is currently coveted in many new listings - and an even hot commodity for those willing to pay top dollar for it! Leaving new property owners the how-to manuals and materials will empower them to promote smart tech benefits to their friends and clients.

A integra??o dessas tecnologias inteligentes resulta em um edifício que n?o apenas consome menos energia, mas também oferece maior controle e conforto aos seus ocupantes. Termostatos inteligentes, sistemas de ilumina??o automatizados e monitores de energia contribuem significativamente para a sustentabilidade, reduzindo a pegada de carbono e os custos operacionais. Além disso, essas tecnologias aumentam a vida útil dos sistemas de aquecimento, ventila??o e ar-condicionado (HVAC) e dos sistemas de ilumina??o, pois s?o utilizados de maneira mais eficiente e menos intensiva.

Com a tecnologia cada vez mais presente nos edifícios e, atualmente, com o rápido crescimento da IA, temos um grande aliado para potencializar as práticas sustentáveis. Como por exemplo, a otimiza??o do gasto energético, seja pelas lampadas ou pela seguran?a de desligar um aparelho, ou ainda, por exemplo, sistemas inteligentes que se adaptam à incidência solar durante o dia, controlando elementos como ar-condicionado, cortinas ou brises. Além disso, o consumo de água também pode ser programado, evitando gastos desnecessários para tarefas diárias e regas de jardins e hortas.

Smart Tech Integration need not be integrated, or technologically smart to "optimize energy usage" in the built environment. Use common sense to avoid excess electric energy usage. Examples: Don't turn lights on unless truly necessary; don't leave indoor & outdoor lights on all night (our society is over-lighted); use cold water for laundry & hang utilitarian laundry items on a clothes line (outside or inside); take quick/cooler showers; walk or ride a bicycle to get those couple of things you forgot (outdoor exercise is important); wear a light sweater/slippers during cold weather, don't crank the heat; embrace warm weather, exercise & wear light-reflective clothing; don't leave TV on as white noise, music/audio-books/podcasts are awesome!

Let us begin with something that most of us could relate to, the most smart tech that almost all of us would have experienced are our smart phones, I hope we all enjoy the seamless experiences with our smartphones ones we've configured them to perform certain actions triggered by something such as location, time, a physical cue, etc. However, we may not always realize how these automation help us not only have a smoother experience but also increases the battery efficiency as well as help your devices last longer. This is analogous to how automation of buildings could no doubt help save energy and help enhance the user experience. By making a building more efficient and user-friendly, we eventually contribute to its sustainability.

Insulation materials & Recycled or reclaimed materials. Installing energy-efficient windows with low-emissivity coatings & triple glazing can improve insulation and reduce heat transfer, leading to energy savings. Sustainable concrete alternatives: Traditional concrete production is resource-intensive and contributes to carbon emissions. It can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of construction. Renewable energy systems: Integrating renewable energy systems such as solar panels, wind turbines, or geothermal systems can help generate clean energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Green roofs and walls: involve planting vegetation on building surfaces, can provide insulation, reduce stormwater runoff, and improve air quality.

Without question it is most sustainable to renovate an existing building or to develop an infill property within an existing municipal infrastructure. Capitalizing on existing utilities, roadways, bridges and labor force proximity, the sustainable solution is also the best practice for urban vitality. To be clear, I recommend urban infill and adaptive reuse over greenfield development.

It is important to consider all aspects in detail, but it is even more crucial to look at the long-term and overall impact of using any material. The best practice when choosing sustainable materials is to prioritize those that are locally sourced. Remember, less is more, and simplicity is key.

It is important to consider all aspects in detail, but it is even more crucial to look at the long-term and overall impact of using any material. The best practice when choosing sustainable materials is to prioritize those that are locally sourced. Remember, less is more, and simplicity is key.

Thermal mass helps stabilise comfort levels in many climates. Concrete and bricks are the common choices, but unfired clay bricks can be used internally with about 15% of the embodies energy (bath university) and additionally are hygroscopic, reducing indoor humidity levels. But in five to ten years, energy costs will be minimal due to manufacturing cost reductions (Tony Seba, energy disruption), so producing concrete and brick at zero marginal cost power will permit their use as domestic energy "batteries".