| As the green movement started to develop, they | | | | living in a home made from adobe once you see how |
| have encouraged more and more people to build | | | | much money you were able to save due to its |
| environment-friendly homes. Their members have | | | | insulating properties. |
| started to educate people about the different health | | | | Renewability and Reusability |
| hazards that toxic building materials could bring. They | | | | Other important characteristics of eco friendly |
| have also explained how the irresponsible use of | | | | construction materials are renewability and reusability. |
| these harmful materials could actually become a big | | | | Renewability pertains to their capacity to renew |
| threat to our environment. | | | | themselves after a period of harvest. Unlike |
| If you do not want to have a home filled with toxic | | | | nonrenewable products such as oil, renewable |
| and harmful building materials, you should think of a | | | | materials are not susceptible to depletion or complete |
| way to find environment-friendly supplies that you | | | | exhaustion. |
| could use to construct your home. Here are some | | | | On the other hand, reusability pertains to its potential |
| characteristics of sustainable building materials that | | | | to be used for other purposes or for future |
| you should watch out for while canvassing for the | | | | construction plans. Another example of a material |
| best construction products. | | | | that fits these qualities is adobe. Its ability to |
| Minimal energy needs | | | | withstand almost any temperature makes it possess |
| One of the most important characteristics of | | | | a long shelf life. Once you were not able to use up all |
| sustainable building materials is their minimal energy | | | | your adobe supplies for your home, you could still |
| needs. This means that they do not need to | | | | safely reseal them and use them for other future |
| consume a lot of energy while they are being | | | | projects. A few mixing and stirring would make it |
| processed, harvested, or delivered to your location. | | | | come back to its elastic and flexible form. |
| Local materials that could be immediately located in | | | | Absence of toxic emissions |
| your local area possess this characteristic. Since they | | | | As previously mentioned, more and more modern |
| are found in almost any corner of your area, they | | | | homes have been relying on materials that emit toxic |
| would have less need for transportation and | | | | chemicals to our surroundings. Examples of such |
| nonrenewable oil. | | | | products are chemicals found in paint, sealants, and |
| A perfect example of a local material that fits these | | | | glues. Once their harmful chemicals are released into |
| characteristics is adobe. Since it is found almost | | | | the air, any person who accidentally ingests such |
| anywhere in neighborhoods, it has minimal energy | | | | toxins through his nose and mouth would experience |
| needs for transportation. In addition, it could also | | | | health risks and problems. |
| serve as an insulator that could reduce intense heat | | | | Always remember these qualities when looking for |
| and cold inside your home. Hence, its thick nature | | | | sustainable building materials. Keep in mind that your |
| would allow you to minimize the need for using air | | | | green home would never be complete once you fail |
| conditioners during summer and furnaces during | | | | to find the best sustainable building materials that suit |
| winter. You would definitely feel the difference of | | | | your budget, needs, and noble goals. |