There are numerous environmental advantages of using the
system in the construction
industry.
The majority of home owners have not been made aware of the embodied energy in building
materials. The embodied energy of a building material, such as brick, refers to
the energy that is used or expended during the life cycle of a material. This would
include the cost to produce, transport, build and maintain the material during its
life cycle.
Building materials should be not be evaluated by their function, cost and aesthetic
value alone. The environmental consequences associated with the selection and use
of building materials should be considered a crucial aspect in ascertaining the
viability of a project.
The calculation of the embodied energy in building materials, or their life-cycle
assessment, takes into account the following aspects;
1. The extraction and processing of raw materials
2. The manufacturing, packaging and transportation of the product
3. The maintenance of such a product after installation or positioning
4. The possibility of the recycling and reuse of the product
5. The final disposal of the product
The results for the embodied energy in common building materials, published by the
American Institute of Architects, are as follows;
| MATERIAL |
ENERGY CONTENT KJ/kg |
| Sand & Gravel |
41.878 |
| Wood |
430.31 |
| Lightweight concrete |
2 186.44 |
| Gypsum board |
4 256.58 |
| Brickwork |
5 117.20 |
| Cement |
9 536.60 |
| Glass |
25 818.60 |
| Plastic |
43 031.00 |
| Steel |
44 659.20 |
| Lead |
60 243.40 |
| Copper |
68 849.60 |
| Aluminum |
240 741.00 |
makes use of lower energy materials, such as sand, gravel and lightweight
concrete within the local community. Plastic, the material used for the
formwork,
has a higher energy content, but conserves energy and resources due to the fact
that it is reused, recycled, is lightweight and long lasting, which requires very
little maintenance.
The following points are key points to consider in achieving the most sustainable
outcome with regards to building projects;
- Reduce building materials through more efficient layout and use of spaces
- Reduce construction waste
- Specify products that use raw materials more efficiently
- Substitute plentiful resources for scarce resources
- Reuse building materials from demolished buildings
- Rehabilitate existing buildings for new uses
- Recycle new products from old