Different Eco-Friendly Construction Materials

The industrial age brought many technological advancements to the forefront of our society. However, not all the changes were positive. The ozone layer is thinning because of our exploitative use of coal and gas. Carbon emissions are at an all-time high. The sea levels have been rising for the past 20 years at an exponential rate. It may seem like a hopeless cause and less important for our current age. However, taking care of the environment should be a priority for our children, who will reap the consequences of our inaction. We have to ask what we can do from a construction standpoint to help save the environment. It’s simpler than you might expect. Here are several different eco-friendly construction materials to use in your next project.

The Durability of Rammed Earth

There are a lot of things to consider when searching for the right construction materials. However, in our efforts to exploit the environment, it seems we’ve ignored the one material that has a never-ending supply. Rammed earth is a form of compacted material made of dirt, gravel, or limestone. It’s used as flooring, and its weather resistance makes it ideal for exterior walls. Its durability echoes throughout history—it was most notably used to create the Great Wall of China, a portion of which still stands as a testament to the ages. It’s multi-useful and naturally adjusts to seasonal changes. This means that on hot summer days, it’s slow to heat up, and during cold nights, the heat it traps lets you stay warm.

The Wonders of Bamboo

Bamboo is a member of the grass family and grows at a much faster rate than trees. It’s harvested every three years and can grow up to three feet in length per day, making it a durable alternative to conventional wood. In comparison, traditional wood is only harvested every 20 to 25 years. This makes it unsustainable in the long run, as we tend to cut down on far more wood than bamboo. Given that bamboo has the same durability as wood and can sometimes cost less, it makes sense to use this as a building material in place of trees.

The Insulation of Sheared Wool

Most people immediately envision rolls or batts of pink fiberglass when they think of insulation. However, did you know that wool has better insulating properties than fiberglass options? Wool insulation holds 15 percent more heat than traditional forms of insulation in the winter months. It can also improve your air quality by pulling nitrous oxide and other volatile organic compounds out of the air. The installation process is also safer. Inhaling fiberglass can damage your respiratory system, but wool doesn’t require any special suits or gas masks. Finally, it’s combustible at the end of life, making it safe for the environment.

In short, saving our planet is more important now than ever before. If we want our children to inherit a clean, safe environment, we need to use these different eco-friendly construction materials. In this way, generations to come can benefit from our choices.

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