SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

GROUP 4
DEFINITION
Sustainable materials are materials that dont deplete non-renewable resources
during their manufacturing or construction and without disrupting the established
steady-state equilibrium of the environment and key natural resource systems.
Sustainable materials are also called green materials because they are good for
environment.
Using locally produced building materials shortens transport distances, thus
reducing air pollution produced by vehicles.
Often, local materials are better suited to climatic conditions, and these purchases
support area economies.

WHY DO WE NEED TO USE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS ?
Building and construction activities worldwide consume 3 billion tons of raw
materials each year or 40 percent of total global use.
Using green building materials and products promotes conservation of dwindling
non renewable resources internationally. In addition, integrating green building
materials into building projects can help reduce the environmental impacts
associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse,
recycling, and disposal of these building industry source materials.

INTRODUCTION
PROPERTIES OF SUSTAINABLE
MATERIALS
Pollution Prevention Measures in Manufacturing
Waste Reduction Measures in Manufacturing
Embodied Energy Reduction
Reduction of Construction Waste
Readily recyclable or reusable when no longer needed
Sustainably harvested from renewable resources
Can be salvaged for reuse, refurbished, remanufactured, or recycled
Manufactured from waste material such as straw or fly ash or waste- reducing
process
Minimally packaged and/ or wrapped with recyclable packaging
Locally extracted and processes
Energy efficient in use
Less energy used in extraction, processing, and transport to the job site
Generates renewable energy
Water efficient


A materials life cycle can be organized into three phases: Pre-Building;
Building; and Post-Building.
These stages parallel the life cycle phases of the building .The evaluation of
building materials environmental impact at each stage gives us the overall
impact of the building on the environment.
Important terms related to sustainable
materials-
U value A U value is a measure of heat loss or heat
gain through a building element such as a wall, floor
or roof. It can also be referred to as an overall heat
transfer co-efficient and measures how well parts
of a building transfer heat. They are useful as it is a
way of predicting the performance of an entire
building.

Embodied Energy : The embodied energy of a
material refers to the total energy required to
produce that material, including the collection of
raw materials. This energy typically comes from the
burning of fossil fuels, which are a limited, non-
renewable resource. The combustion of fossil fuels
also has severe environmental consequences, from
localized smog to acid rain. The greater a materials
embodied energy, the greater the amount of
energy required to produce it, implying more
severe ecological consequences


Portland Cement 94 lb sack
381,624 BTU
Lime, hydrated 100 lb sack
440,619 BTU
Common brick 1 block
13,570 BTU
Concrete block 1 block
29,018 BTU
Earth (Adobe) block 1 block
2,500 BTU

Volatile Organic Compounds : Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a large
group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature.
While most people can smell high levels of some VOCs, other VOCs have no
odor. Odor does not indicate the level of risk from inhalation of this group of
chemicals. There are thousands of different VOCs produced and used in our
daily lives. Some common examples include:
Acetone
Benzene
Ethylene glycol
Formaldehyde
Methylene chloride
Perchloroethylene
Toluene
Low-emitting materials are products that do not release significant pollutants
into the indoor environment. These products contain zero- and low-volatile
organic compounds (VOCs).

GREEN RATING SYSTEMS
LEED : The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating
System represents the U.S. Green Building Councils effort to provide a national
standard for what constitutes a green building. Through its use as a design
guideline and third-party certification tool, it aims to improve occupant well-being,
environmental performance and economic returns of buildings using established
and innovative practices, standards and technologies.
This Rating System document states the basic intent, requirements and
documentation submittals that are necessary to achieve each prerequisite and
voluntary credit. All prerequisites must be achieved in order to qualify for
certification. Points add up to a final score that relates to one of four possible levels
of certification.
GRIHA : Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment GRIHA attempts to
minimize a buildings resource consumption, waste generation, and overall
ecological impact to within certain nationally acceptable limits / benchmarks.
It evaluates the environmental performance of a building holistically over its entire
life cycle, thereby providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a green
building
The rating system, based on accepted energy and environmental principles, will
seek to strike a balance between the established practices and emerging concepts,
both national and international.

MATERIAL SELECTION
To evaluate a product, begin with its life cycle. Consider the source of the product
and the effects of its extraction or manufacture. Ask yourself how it will be
transported to the building site (and from what distance), how long the product will
last, and what you will do with the material at the end of its useful life. By evaluating
materials in this manner, you will be able to clearly identify concerns
The evaluation of a materials greenness is also based on whether the material is
renewable and resource-efficient all aspects.
Whether the material supports the health and wellbeing of occupants, construction
personnel, the public, and the environment.

EMBODIED ENERGIES
OF SOME MATERIALS
CLASSIFICATION OF SUSTAINABLE
MATERIALS
SUSTAINABLE
MATERIALS
NATURAL
SYNTHETIC
WASTE
GENERATED
NATURAL
Anything naturally occurring and accessible to
people in a certain area makes the material natural
Mud, stone and clay are among the most basic
natural building materials used to create shelters
and other structures to suit their local weather
conditions.
Generally lower in embodied energy provided they
have not been imported from far away areas
Less processing required and ecofriendly
When Locally available natural materials are
incorporated into building products, the products
become more sustainable.

STONE

In many areas, indigenous stone is available from the local region, such as
limestone, marble, granite, and sandstone.
It may be cut in quarries or removed from the surface of the ground (flag and
fieldstone).
Ideally, stone from the building site can be utilized. Depending on the stone type,
it can be used for structural block, facing block, pavers, and crushed stone.
Stone is recyclable.


ADVANTAGES : Using natural stone bypasses the initial carbon impact
associated with the production of materials such as steel and brick since it is a
natural material.
Stone is recyclable. When a stone structure is torn down, the stone can be
used to build another durable structure
DISADVANTAGES: Imported stone causes one of the greatest cost in terms of
environmental impact.
Also, the process of quarrying involves a lot of energy and causes site
degradation.
WOOD
Wood is considered a sustainable building material because it is derived from a
renewable source and has low embodied energy. This reflects the minimal non-
renewable energy used in the production of timber and its application in
construction.
ADVANTAGES
It also has sound thermal properties, meaning that timber structures rely less on
carbon-emitting heating and cooling appliances than buildings constructed of
other materials
Wood can also be recycled, which is important in terms of storing carbon through
the life of a product and its transformation.


DIADVANTAGES
Major disadvantage of using
wood as a building material is
that it involves cutting of
trees
BAMBOO

The delicate grain of bamboo, whether natural or amber-toned, make it a
distinctive, elegant, and subtle material for fine furniture and flooring.
ADVANTAGES:
Bamboo is a kind of grass. This means that it grows a lot faster than trees that may
take decades to become a renewable or profitable source of building material.
Farmed bamboo stabilizes the earth with its roots, preventing erosion.
Bamboo absorbs, during its growth and life until harvest, a relative big amount of
CO2 from the atmosphere

DISADVANTAGES:
One disadvantage to bamboo is that it
loses over half its strength when wet for
long periods of time, so dry it quickly after
you take it out of the washer.
Also transportation of bamboo over long
distances reduces its efficiency as a
sustainable material

BRICK

Scarcity is one of the concerns at the core of
sustainability. However, the primary ingredients of
brick are clay and shale, which can be found in every
region of the world making brick one of the most
widely used building material
ADVANTAGES
Brick plants today make use of non-fossil fuel
resources, such as
burning methane captured from landfills, sawdust and
agricultural waste products.
Areas that are mined for clay and shale can be
reclaimed to a natural state, or even turned into small
lakes and parks for recreational uses.
Brick provides an energy-efficient envelope for a
building that reduces the amount of energy necessary
to heat or cool the interior. Because of its durability,
brick also all but eliminates the need for exterior
maintenance.
It does not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
including Chlorofluorocarbons, hydro
chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting
substances.
Minimized waste, Efficient transportation
EARTH MATERIALS

Rammed earth is more often considered for use in walls, although it can also be used for
floors. Rammed earth and caliche block can be used for structural walls, and offer great
potential as low-cost material alternatives with low embodied energy. In addition, such
materials are fireproof.
Caliche block and rammed earth can be produced on-site.
In addition, brick seconds or brick that is damaged can be crushed and recycled and either
returned to the manufacturing process to make more brick, or used as a landscaping material in
its crushed form.
The end product has much embodied energy but is also very long-lasting.
Double wall construction can greatly enhance insulation value.




Sun Dried Adobe, Compressed Earth Block are the 2 ways of using earth as a
construction material.
Because thermal mass equates to insulation in soil block a minimum of 12
inches is needed for a comfortable abode.
Plasters
Soil blocks are typically stuccoed or plastered to prevent them from getting
wet, however, any veneer or siding can be used on Pressed Earth Block as
they can hold a nail or staple. Interior finishes are normally plaster
(structolite) or earth plasters that are simple to apply and maintain.
Fully stabilized structures do not require any exterior finish unless desired
for aesthetics.
Block size can be varied easily to accommodate a variety of designs. Walls
can be sculptured, rounded, or formed into keystone arches to create custom
effects.
Relatively unskilled labor can be utilized in construction with compressed
earth block.
Earth Buildings as old as 400 years have been known to exist.




Earth material walls are not especially good insulators The firing process can take
hours or even days and requires a large amount of energy. They also have low R-
values.
The use of earth as building materials is inexpensive for materials costs, but
emphasizes labor in construction methods. The right equipment and coordinated labor
are important in the soil material construction process.
Even a small structure may require at least 15 tons of earth. This material must be
moved and handled at least twice.
Clay and adobe soil must also be mined.Water flow and moisture control is critical to
protect structural walls,openings and roofs.
A large flat area with good drainage is necessary for handling and processing the
materials as well as making the blocks. The building footprint should also be
accessible by truck for rammed earth construction.
Rammed earth walls have low tensile strength, and should be reinforced by
providing a bond or collar beam.



DISADVANTAGES OF EARTH MATERIALS
COMMERCIAL STATUS
TECHNOLOGY:
Rammed earth and caliche block construction are not well known by most builders and
architects today, although there are some architects and builders who are experienced with
these materials.
SUPPLIERS:
There are numerous suppliers of indigenous stone and local brick in many regions. Caliche block
and rammed earth are not available commercially, but can be created on site
COST:
Brick: approximately Rs100.00 per square foot (4 inch material) and up depending on thickness.
Stone: Rs200.00 to Rs300.00 per square foot (material) depending on type. Compressed soil
block: approximately Rs70 per square foot (9 inches thick).

IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
FINANCING:
Stone and brick materials do not pose a problem for lending institutions, and are often valued
positively for increased property value and fire rating. Rammed earth, compressed soil block,
and caliche block may pose problems for traditional financing.
PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE:
Stone and brick construction are considered desirable, although their use for interior thermal
mass is not common in many areas. Rammed earth and caliche block are little known, and may
not currently receive wide public acceptance.

SYNTHETIC
Are made in industrial settings after considerable human manipulations;
they include plastics and petroleum-based paints.
Plastic is an excellent example.
It covers a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic condensation or
polymerization products that can be molded or extruded into objects,
films, or fibres.
Synthetic materials can be custom-made to suit the requirements of site
and climate.
The u-value, or heat transmittance rate is relatively higher.
The consequent embodied energy is also high considering the
manufacturing, transport, etc.

FLOORING

Treatments of Commercial carpeting and textiles may help prolong a products life,
but the long-term health and environmental impacts of those chemicals are
unknown, and in some cases may be cause for concern.
Is your flooring still green if you install it with a less-than-green adhesive? Many
flooring products, from linoleum to cork to bamboo to carpet tile, have long
burnished their green credentials, while flooring adhesives remained an
afterthought left to the contractor.
Project specifications today frequently require low volatile organic compound
(VOC) levels for flooring adhesives, and low-VOC choices abound as the industry has
shifted from solvent-based to water-based products. Many of these meet multiple
standards for emissions.
Ideally artificial flooring or its treatment should be chlorine-free.
Using some percentage of pre-consumer recycled flooring from the trimming
process that has melted back into the base is one way to make eco-friendly flooring.
After Chemical treatment of carpet pads, the waste water is highly toxic.
Sustainable insulation with Polystyrene Foam
Polystyrene foams are durable materials, designed to offer superior, constant insulation
performance over their entire service life of more than 50 years.
Recent studies have demonstrated that building insulation is the most cost-effective way to
significantly alleviate the global warming effect of greenhouse gases by drastically reducing
CO2 emissions.
Buildings insulated with polystyrene foam boards achieve optimum levels of energy efficiency,
meeting the most stringent pieces of relevant legislation, including the EU Directive
2002/91/EC on the Energy Performance of Buildings.
The use of polystyrene foam reduces significantly heat losses and related CO2 emissions from
heating and/or air conditioning, thus contributing strongly to mitigate the effects of global
warming. Polystyrene foam boards have no Global Warming Potential: they contain no ozone-
depleting substances, and deliver optimal energy efficiency at an affordable price.
Recycling Polystyrene Foam boards
Polystyrene is already one of the most recycled plastics. This optimizes costs and
reduces the need for virgin material.
Polystyrene has a long life time in buildings and so there is little current need for
recycling this material.
Stored energy can be recovered from polystyrene foam.
Since polystyrene foam does not degrade or deteriorate, it can be readily recycled in
several ways at the end of its useful lifetime:
Added back into new polystyrene foam insulation boards
Moulded into new applications such as plant pots, coat hangers, park benches or
fence posts
Environmental performance
Stable and durable (no degradation by moisture, rotting, or mould)
Low environmental impact during production and installation
Easily and completely recyclable/recoverable, mechanically (EPS) or thermally (EPS
and XPS)



ADHESIVES, FINISHES AND SEALANTS
TYPICAL VOC LIMITS REQUIRED :
SEALANTS AND ADHESIVES, both enhance the durability of surfaces and structure, although they
do so at a cost as they are often hazardous in manufacture and application. Many construction
adhesive formulas contain more than 30% volatile petroleum derived solvents to maintain
liquidity until application which can be hazardous to both occupants and workers.
TYPICAL VOC LIMITS REQUIRED :
ALTERNATIVE
Water-based adhesives are available from a number of manufacturers. Industry tests
indicate that these products work as well as or better than solvent based adhesives and
are available at comparable costs.
Also when such adhesives are purchased in bulk the containers can often be returned to
vendors for refill.
Stains and Sealants also normally emit potentially toxic volatile organic compounds into
the air. The most efficient method to manage this is to employ materials that do not
require additional sealing such as stone, ceramic and glass tile clay plasters etc.
Environmentally preferable cleaning methods and products can reduce indoor air pollution
and waste generation.
Biodegradability is also a key factor.
PAINTS AND COATS
The USGBC requires that paints and coatings applied
on site and used in interiors comply with the standards
given in the table
Most paint, even water based LATEX is derived from
petroleum. Its manufacture requires substantial energy
and water and creates air pollution and solid and liquid
waste.
Also VOCs emitted from paints are often associated
with eye, lung, skin irritation, headaches, nausea,
kidney liver damage etc .
ALTERNATIVE
Silicate paints are and alternative type of paint that is
solvent free and may be used on stucco, concrete and
stone

GLASS
Windows are an essential element in construction because they provide
ventilation, light, views etc. The fabrication of windows, whether made of
wood, aluminum, plastic or steel, as any other manufactured product, will
require energy and will likely to generate pollution.
Energy efficiency is one of the main consideration in reducing the
environmental impacts of a window.
Windows are available in variety of glazing options. Each option offers a
different thermal resistance or R- Value.
1. Single glazing and acrylic single glazing are
similar; R = 1.0
2. Single glazing with storm window and
double glazing are similar; R = 2.0
3 . Double glazing with a low E-coating and
triple glazing are similar; R = 3.0
Triple glazing with a low E-coating; R= 4.0
By comparison, for a conventional insulated
stud wall R = 14.
WASTE GENERATED
Most common building materials today have recyclable alternatives.
The reuse of recycled materials is beginning to stand out as an innovative,
highly effective, and artistic expression of sustainable design.
Reusing materials from existing on site and nearby site elements such as
trees, structures, and paving is becoming a trend in the built environment,
however more unorthodox materials such as soda cans and tires are being
discovered as recyclable building materials.
Another popular trend regarding recycled building materials is the use of
site provided materials.


CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT
The broad intent of construction waste management credit is to avoid materials
going to landfills during construction by diverting the construction waste,
demolition and land clearing debris from landfill disposal, redirecting recyclable
recovered resources back to the manufacturing process and redirecting reusable
materials to appropriate sites.
Develop and implement a construction waste management plan that a minimum
identifies and quantifies the materials generated during construction that is to be
recycled or diverted from disposal and notes whether such materials will be sorted
on site or comingled.
Typical items would include brick debris, concrete, steel, ductwork, clean
dimensional wood paper-board and plastic used in packing..Etc.
As the contractor is responsible for the construction waste management he/she
will generally be responsible for completing the required LEED documentation.
Many building materials are available in recycled form:
Metals - Steel and aluminum building elements are highly recyclable. Between
50 to 70 percent of the energy and pollution caused by steel production can be
avoided by recycling steel. Remelting aluminum avoids up to 85 percent of the
energy and pollution of aluminum manufacturing.
Heavy timber - Salvaged and resawed, heavy timber can be recycled.
Plastics - Although most plastics are recyclable, the process is often difficult to
accomplish. Different types of plastic must be separated, an expensive and
labor-intensive task. Plastic recycling is not yet a viable option for building
materials, since they are usually combined with additives, coatings, and
colorants. Companies are working to solve the problem, however, and more
plastic may be reused in the future.
Glass - Remelting glass offers few energy and pollution savings. As a result, little
recycling of glass building products occurs.
Masonry products and ceramics - Recycling concrete, clay, and other similar
materials is difficult, but it can be done. Masonry products are often crushed
and then reused for granular fill in roads and sidewalks.
BUILDING AND MATERIAL REUSE
Maintain existing walls, roofs and floors-
The LEED intend is to protect virgin resources by reusing building materials
And products thereby reducing impacts associated with extraction and
processing and to extend the life cycle of existing building stock, conserve
resources, retain cultural resources, reduce wasteland reduce environmental
impacts of new buildings as they relate to materials manufacturing and
transport.
Interior non structural elements-
Consider the use of salvaged, refurbished or reused materials from previously
occupied buildings, including structure envelop and elements.
Remove elements that pose contamination risk to building occupants and
upgrade components that would improve energy and water efficiency, such as
windows, mechanical system and plumbing fixtures.
Mechanical , electrical, plumbing or specialty components and items should not
be included.
Windows, doors and similar assemblies may be excluded.
There is a potential to lower building costs and provide a mix of desirable
building characteristics.

However the reuse of existing structural elements depends on many factors
not least of which are fire safety, energy efficiency, and regulatory
requirements.
Salvaged materials such as beams and posts, flooring paneling. Doors and
frames, cabinetry and furniture brick and decorative items should be
considered.
Reuse is essentially the salvage and reinstallation of materials in there original
form. Recycling is the collection and remanufacture of materials into a new
material or product, typically different from the original.
It should be noted that some materials should not be reused at all.
For example materials contaminated by hazardous substances such as
asbestos, arsenic and lead paint must be treated and/or disposed properly.
The owner/developer must provide a report prepared by a suitably qualified
person outlining to the extent to which major building elements from a
previous building were incorporated into the existing building.
The report should include preconstruction and post construction details
Highlighting and quantifying the reused elements, be it foundations, structural
elements or facades.



THANK YOU !