Materials:
Environmental impacts compared

Embodied energy
As the amount of energy used in the running of a building (operational energy) shrinks, the energy used in its construction becomes more significant.
Bricks
Though more-often consuming large quantities of energy in their production, this most traditional of English building materials offers strength, durability and a high capacity for reclamation.
Blocks
Blocks are becoming available in a more diverse range of materials including clay, concrete and wood. Careful specification can exploit each material's unique qualities.
Insulation materials are used to enhance the thermal performance of construction elements. The wide range of products available reflects the variety of applications, materials, environmental concerns and performance.
  Insulation - introduction
Plant / animal derived insulation
Mineral insulation
Oil-derived insulation
Pitched roof coverings
The roof is arguably the component of a building most exposed to the elements. The specification of roofing materials often involves the trading-off of enviromental impacts with durability.
Flat roof coverings
In general, flat roofs should be avoided - but where pitched roof options are unavailable, a variety of roofing membranes are available that offer different qualitiles of durabiltiy and environmental impact.
Window frames
Though the heat lost through a window frame is likely to have more of an environmental impact through the product's life cycle - much debate continues around the materials frames are made from.
Rainwater goods
Specifying rainwater goods is not as straight-forward as it might seem. The environmentally-conscious designer must be aware of the, often complex, equation of durability, sourcing, embodied energy and recycled content.
Composite boards
Composite boards can offer material and structural efficiency, but concerns remain about wood sourcing and potentially toxic binding agents.
Joinery paints and stains
Paint has a relatively poor environmental reputation, flush as many products are in embodied energy and VOC solvents. However, these concerns are motivating a new generation of products which include more natural and friendly ingredients.
Wall paints
New, greener, ranges of wall paints are becoming available to replace the high-VOC synthetic varieties currently specified.

 

 

 Commercial carpet tiles Part 1: Materials
The specification of contract carpet tiles whilst minimising their environmental impact involves a detailed understanding of the materials involved and their manufacturing processes.
Commercial carpet tiles Part 2: Performance & treatments
Ensuring that a carpet performs well, avoids toxic treatments and endures wear and tear can mean the difference between a long life and a premature committment to landfill.
Smooth flooring
The flooring market has become associated with the dominance of synthetic, particularly PVC, materials - but more traditional and natural materials such as linoleum, cork and rubber are staging a renaissance.
The chemistry of plastics manufacturing
In the 100 years since the invention of Bakelite, plastics have grown in the roles they play. This is particularly true in the case of construction where a spectrum of plastics are employed in a wide number of applications. However, some are less benign than others....
The REACH Regulation - and what it means
It can be argued that the recently introduced European REACH regulation will have a far-reaching influence on the constituents of common procucts, including those used in construction: some products will likely change whilst others could disappear.