There is a surprising number of construction applications that can benefit from the use of reclaimed materials. When an old house is torn down to make way for a new building, some of its concrete elements can be ground and utilized as gravel or other fill material for the construction site. Plastic containers or even old newspapers can be appropriated as insulation for walls. Bricks and timber can be recycled, as well.

Most Parts of an Old Building Can Be Reclaimed

Old wood or concrete sound like obvious choices for recycling, but what about household finishings? Items such as old countertops and tiles may lose their shine and color over time, but they are hard and durable, so perhaps they can still be useful after they stop serving their original purpose?

It turns out that this is certainly the case. One company that has had significant success in this area is Armstrong World Industries, a manufacturer of acoustical ceiling systems. It has been reusing old tiles for over a decade and has recently expanded its initiative called Armstrong Ceiling Recycling Program. With the help from environmental solutions company Waste Management, it will enhance its collection of mineral fiber and fiberglass ceiling tiles from commercial renovation and demolition projects in order to use them to manufacture new tiles under the label of Ceiling-t-Ceiling™.

Jim Halter, Vice President of Construction Solutions for Waste Management, said that “the program expands the ways we’re supporting our goal of finding more value in materials we collect.” He added that the initiative will help builders and architects reach their green goals.

Since 1999, Armstrong has recycled more than 123 million square feet of old ceiling tiles. In its estimation, reusing one ton of tiles saves 11 tons of raw materials, 1,892 gallons of potable water, and enough electricity to power a home for 1.4 months.
Builders who participate in The Ceiling Recycling Program at both ends – i.e. those who send old tiles for processing and those who use tiles with post-consumer content – can earn LEED points.

Individuals Can Help, Too

This initiative also serves as a reminder to businesses and homeowners of the many options they have to finish and furnish their offices and homes while minimizing their environmental impact.

In addition to tiles that were manufactured using old tiles or recycled glass, the website LivingSmarter.org recommends using reclaimed wood for flooring that is made from old timber, siding, flooring or logs. Buying carpets that were produced with natural fibers like wool and jute, or recycled materials such as plastics, can also pay off through better indoor air quality and lower allergy risk, in addition to environmental benefits.

LEED green building certification system, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, is a preeminent guide for the design, construction and operation of environmentally friendly buildings. In order to qualify, buildings have to demonstrate efficient use of energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, which saves money for owners, occupants and taxpayers, and the environment for all.
The new hotel’s designers and builders were able to achieve this by implementing a plan that relied on the use of recycled and regionally-sourced materials, and they utilized a construction process that minimized pollution and water usage.

Some of the sustainable methods and materials used during the construction of Omni Dallas include:

• Reclaimed timber and brick for the interior of the hotel’s restaurant, Texas Spice
• Certified wood to encourage environmentally responsible forest management
• A 25,000-gallon cistern to capture water for irrigation
• A rain garden designed to reduce the amount of storm water run-off
• A water softener system tied to the cooling tower to reduce water and chemical usage
• Roof materials with solar reflective indexes to help with heat island effects
• Guest rooms equipped with a key switching system for lighting and HVAC control

Originally, the project was mandated by the City of Dallas to achieve LEED Silver status, but the end result exceeded expectations. Dallas Mayor Michael S. Rawlings congratulated the entire team for its superior performance. He was also keen to stress the economic benefits of building environmentally friendly commercial spaces, saying that “we promised to create a hotel that added to downtown development and brought in more convention business all in a sustainable manner.”

His comments reflect the growing awareness among Americans – both inside and outside of the construction industry – of the importance of eco-friendly solutions that lessen the impact of everyday human activities. In fact, few cities in the U.S. are in need of improved environmental conditions than Dallas, which does not meet the federal guidelines for acceptable levels of ozone, according to North Central Texas Council of Government.

The organization stated that vehicle traffic, electricity generating utilities and construction equipment are major sources of ozone-causing emissions.

The private residence of David and Thuy Smith is a prototype that is expected to chart the path for sustainable building in the coming years, as it draws on the latest practices in environmentally friendly construction both in the U.S. and in Europe, while preserving the architectural style that is in harmony with its historic Midwestern location.

First of Its Kind in America

Also known as Active House USA, the house is billed as the first residential space in the United States to incorporate the leading green and sustainable building practices from around the world. It was designed based on the specifications of Active House Alliance, a project launched in 2010 in Denmark. Since then, the alliance has been involved in the construction of many environmentally friendly homes globally, before finally arriving in America. Its principles include high performance goals for durable homes, responsible management of resources, and a focus on energy efficiency to reduce energy and water use as much as possible.

However, industry insiders stress that these principles are only guidelines, and that the premise of the Active House Alliance is that these specifications can and should be modified to suit specific geographical and climactic conditions of each building site in order to maximize green benefits.

Construction Techniques Involve Extensive Use of Local Building Materials

The project’s builders and designers have employed numerous green construction techniques that they expect will make the house eligible for prestigious North American sustainable building certifications like Energy Star, EPA Indoor Air Plus, Building America Builder’s Challenge and ANSI ICC-700 (also known as the National Green Building Standard). According to builder Kim Hibbs, these techniques include:

• Recycling of materials from the original home on the site. For example, the team ground the concrete foundation of the old house to use as gravel for the new construction
• Extensive use of VELUX No Leak skylights for natural light and passive ventilation
• Solar panels for water heating and geothermal wells for a substantial part of the energy requirements

Moreover, some 80 percent of the materials from the deconstructed house – after removal of potentially toxic substances such as asbestos – have been donated for reuse to organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Re-Source St. Louis.

Look of The Past, Goals of The Future

Despite its unassuming look – the owners expressly stated that they didn’t want a “funky” house that would feel out-of-place in the almost 100-year-old neighborhood – the goals of the two-story structure are ambitious, including negligible utility costs, better indoor air quality and minimal impact on the surrounding environment . To that end, its energy use data will be monitored by The University of Missouri Columbia Center for Sustainable Design for one year.

“[This type of house illustrates] the concept of the interaction between homes and their occupants and why it is important for sustainability that all elements of design work together,” said Stephan Moyon of VELUX America. “It’s a message that is being conveyed to architects and builders throughout the country.”

According to GPIC website, the highlights of the first year include producing reports on the size of the regional commercial retrofit market and the potential economic benefits of retrofit projects, as well as awarding $1.3 million to seven energy efficient building projects through the Opportunity Research Fund.

Residents, Economy Stand To Benefit, But The Right Approach Is Key

One of these reports, prepared by Econsult Corporation, found that almost half of all commercial buildings in the Greater Philadelphia area can benefit from energy-efficiency retrofits. Moreover, the organization estimated that these actions could contribute to more than $600 million in additional local spending and create more than 23,000 local jobs.

Explaining the benefits of an integrated approach to reducing energy consumption of commercial buildings, Paul Hallacher, a Penn State official and GPIC’s co-director for management and administration, said that “for too long, the building industry has been fragmented, resulting in inefficient buildings that waste money and energy,” as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Hallacher added that the aim of GPIC is to “identify and deploy technology, policy, financial, and workforce solutions that can apply to the general marketplace and help stimulate the regional economy.”

Green Design Agenda For 2012 Is Extensive

Among the new initiatives in which GPIC has participated so far this year is The Electricity Price Ticker Partnership. The ticker is a tool that tracks the real time wholesale electricity price for the PECO area. Its goal is to influence consumer behavior by raising public awareness of the connection between the wholesale price of electricity and people’s electricity bills in order to illustrate how energy use patterns affect these costs.

This year’s goals for the GPIC initiative, which is headquartered in Philadelphia’s Navy Yard, include demonstration projects that will test a number of energy efficient building systems and tools.

Multiple Agencies Promote Energy Efficiency

Most of GPIC $130 million budget comes from the U.S. Department of Energy, but this is not the only federal agency that is actively promoting improved energy performance of American buildings. For example, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) runs its Energy Star Leaders program, which recognizes organizations that track and submit energy performance data for all buildings and fuel sources. In turn, the agency provides them with energy management advice, which includes ongoing performance measurements and whole-building improvement.

“With help from EPA’s Energy Star program, these [companies] are benefitting their bottom lines while protecting our health and the environment,” said Lisa P. Jackson, EPA Administrator. She added that energy efficient buildings are one of the best ways for businesses, governments and other entities to save money and reduce pollution.

Using key insights from special education experts, Chelsey King focuses on meeting autistic students’ unique educational and social needs. These include the availability of secluded spaces where the children can take refuge from sensory overstimulation, as typical school grounds tend to be open and noisy.

“Most children spend seven to nine hours per weekday in school settings,” says Katie Kingery-Page, assistant professor of landscape architecture at KSU and King’s advisor. “Designing schoolyards that are educational, richly experiential, with potentially restorative nature contact for children should be a community concern.”

In addition to the secluded alcoves, several other aspects of the design allow space for educational activities that promote cognitive development as well as communication and motor skills that are otherwise taught in classrooms. One way in which King achieves that is through the inclusion of green areas, such as a music garden.

This approach also makes possible a secondary benefit of the design, namely its environmental friendliness. That’s because the playground’s blueprint envisions a greenhouse that facilitates horticulture therapy and hands-on interaction with nature, as well as a quiet butterfly garden that helps the children appreciate the value of nature.

Although they are not intended for this particular function in Chelsey King’s design, urban gardens – especially when integrated into a building as rooftop gardens – can contribute significantly to sustainable construction. They can reduce storm water runoff, filter out pollutants and boost energy efficiency by lowering heating and cooling costs.

In April 2012, the work began on a temporary cathedral designed by renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. What makes this project particularly interesting is that the building – all 8,611 square feet of it – will be created entirely out of cardboard tubes and metal shipping containers. Supporting elements will be made of timber, steel and concrete.

Sustainable From Floor to Ceiling

This is a great example of a growing trend in sustainable architecture of using recycled materials not just as an afterthought or for finishings, but for significant elements of the structure. In recent years, we have seen examples of walls made of reclaimed plastics or effective insulation made of old newspapers. In another bow to sustainability, the design provides for small gaps between the tubes to allow natural light to filter through.

The building’s frame is triangular in cross-section, which Ban called “the most fundamental shape for shelter because it forms the walls and roof at the same time,” as quoted by Architectural Record. The A-frame of timber beams and steel will provide structural support for the lightweight materials.

Moreover, the project emphasizes the importance of considering material transportation costs and their impact on the environment. In fact, Ban sourced his cardboard locally from a Christchurch fabricator.

I could have shipped bigger tubes from Australia, but it was more important to me to use local materials – Shigeru Ban told the Record.

The 79 feet tall, 700-seat “Cardboard Cathedral” is expected to serve as a place of worship for 10 years as a new permanent church is built nearby.

Symbol of Hope, Magnet for Tourists

Richard Gray from the Transitional Cathedral Group said that the shrine is “a symbol of hope for the future of this city as well as being sustainable and affordable.” He expressed confidence that it would attract visitors to Christchurch from New Zealand and around the world.

The building is expected to cost around $4 million and open in time for Christmas 2012. In addition to religious functions it will also be used for concerts, exhibitions and community events, according to the cathedral’s website.

Shigeru Ban is internationally known for designing structures – including temporary housing and bridges – made of paper tubes and other non-traditional building materials around the world.

In fact, there is a whole new dimension to sustainable building, one that can affect each and every person on an individual level.

When Building Is About More Than Just Aesthetics

On April 10, 2012, architects from MASS Design Group, a not-for-profit company, gave a presentation at the Boston Architectural College titled “Buildings that Heal. Towards an Architecture (of Impact).” The lecture, and the accompanying exhibition, focused on an approach to building that puts the economic and physical health of the local community at the heart of the creative process.

Using the example of the Butaro District Hospital in Burera, Rwanda, which the team started in 2006, co-founders Michael Murphy and Alan Ricks discussed the goals they had set out to accomplish, which can be divided into economic and health-oriented. Given Rwanda’s tragic modern history, both of these goals are intended to have a healing effect.

Rwanda’s civil war, which lasted from the early to the mid-1990s and included one of the largest acts of genocide of the 20th century, left the country’s infrastructure, resources and human capital in tatters. Today, this Central African nation of nearly 12 million ranks 166th out of 187 nations on the UN’s Human Development Index scale, meaning it is one of the poorest in the world.

New Hospital Design Heals Patients And Restores Communities

In light of this statistic, it may be easier to see the importance of this construction project to the people of Burera. Murphy and Ricks defined the central concept behind the hospital’s design as revolving around the 3Es: Employment, Environment and Education. By using volcanic rock that is abundant in northern Rwanda as the main material, and having it hand-cut on the site, the designers allowed the local community to earn much-needed income. But the economic benefits don’t end there. The multi-year project will help previously uneducated individuals gain valuable skills as masons and other craftsmen that will allow them to find employment for years to come. Moreover, the project is being used as a training ground for a new generation of local architects in a country that has experienced a significant brain drain in recent decades.

The environmental benefits of the Butaro Hospital include natural ventilation systems that take advantage of the mild climate and particular local air circulation patterns. Crucially, this approach has a dual benefit of also contributing to a reduction in infectious disease rates, by making it impossible for any area of the hospital to trap hot air that would facilitate the survival and transmission of pathogens to patients and staff. One of such pathogens is the bacterium that causes multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, a major public health issue in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Another key element of designing this hospital to be a truly healing place was the decision to do away with hallways, and instead allowing patient access directly from the outside. The idea behind this approach stems from the simple observation that crowding sick individuals in waiting rooms can create a breeding ground for disease to spread.

A Blueprint For The Future Of Healthcare Construction?

The Butaro project, based on the insight that some buildings can make us sicker and that smart design can neutralize this effect, or even contribute to the healing process, has garnered significant attention. Among those who have recognized the groundbreaking nature of this approach is the United States Agency for International Development, which teamed up with MASS Design Group to produce a USAID primer on building innovative health facilities around the world.

In conclusion of the presentation, Murphy stated that these types of projects are not just about metrics but qualitative measurements as well. He sees the true impact of today’s architecture in its ability to deliver buildings that, throughout their life cycle, improve the economic, environmental and physical health of their occupants.

There are a few renewable sources of energy that almost everybody has heard of – like solar and wind – but there are other ways to harness natural processes for the purpose of generating electricity or heat.

First, though, let’s take a look at the most popular renewable energy techniques and how they can benefit sustainable construction.

-Solar panels. These distinct-looking devices can be seen on more and more roofs these days, both on private residences and on commercial buildings. They have even started appearing along city streets, where they help produce electricity to power streetlights and road signs.

Solar panels are a collection of photovoltaic cells that are capable of converting light energy of the sun into electricity. For this reason, solar panels perform best in areas that receive sufficient sunlight during the year, and they have to be properly oriented (angled towards the sun) for best results. According to some estimates, up to a quarter of a building’s electricity can be generated this way, which does not leave behind the air pollution associated with coal or oil burning.

-Wind turbines. Many people are familiar with the tall, slim, windmill-like structures that cover open plains in some areas of the U.S. They are wind turbines, which convert the motion energy of the wind into mechanical power. In turn, mechanical energy can be used to create electricity. Similarly to solar panels, turbines produce in no direct CO2 emissions, though there are some efficiency concerns. Perhaps for this reason, wind turbines are more popular on offshore farms, where they can benefit from higher and more sustained winds.

-Hydropower. This term refers to the production of electricity using the gravitational force of water. Globally, it is the oldest and most widely used form of renewable energy, amounting to some 16 percent of electricity production in the world (just over 6 percent in the U.S.). The most common form of hydroelectricity generation is through dams, which are river walls that retain water and use the pressure of its accumulated volume and the difference in water height between the two sides of the dam to extract power.

Although the process of building a dam is still associated with environmental costs, once it is in operation, it produces no direct waste, and its CO2 emissions are lower than those of fossil fuel-burning power plants.

Some of the less known, but equally valuable methods of renewable energy production include:

-Geothermal pumps. The idea behind geothermal pumps is to use the heat-storing capacity of the ground to warm or cool the interior of buildings. For this reason, they are also known as ground heat pumps. In wintertime, the pumps extract the heat from the earth and transfer it indoors, while in the summer they do the opposite, using the ground as a place to channel and dissipate heat. Consumer Energy Center stresses these devices’ efficiency due to the earth’s constant and predictable temperature. It also cites data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that suggest that users of ground heat pumps save between 30 and 40 percent on their energy bills.

-Anaerobic digestion (AD). Biologically speaking, this term refers to the process in which bacteria break down organic matter (such as food or yard waste) without the use of oxygen. The process releases gases like methane and carbon dioxide, which is where sustainable energy generation comes in. Simply put, the energy of these gases can be used to power gas engines for combined heat and power, or as fuel for steam generation. Facilities that make such use of their waste benefit twofold – they generate their own renewable energy and save on the costs of waste disposal. As an added bonus, byproducts of anaerobic digestion can be used as a natural fertilizer in place of toxic chemicals.

Finally, any renewable energy discussion has to include a mention of advances that have been made in sustainable powering of motor vehicles.

-Biofuels. These are clean-burning fuels made from organic materials that come from a variety of sources, including corn, sugar, soybeans, feedstock as well as vegetable oils and animal fats.

Bioethanol and biodiesel are commonly used biofuels. Although they are typically produced on an industrial scale, it is possible for individuals to make their own biofuels from locally grown crops, which can strengthen local economies. According to Worldwatch Institute, global biofuel production rose by 17 percent in 2010, reaching 105 billion liters, up from 90 billion liters the year before.

Vehicles that use biofuels – as well as those that run on electricity or hybrids – are the fundamental elements of sustainable transport, as their use minimizes carbon dioxide and other particulate matter emissions. In the construction industry, a combination of sustainable transportation, renewable energy appliances, and the use of local building materials that require shorter hauling to the construction site can significantly minimize the industry’s impact on the environment.

Local materials are commonly defined as those that have been harvested or produced within the radius of 500 miles of the construction site. This, by itself, does not necessarily make them eco-friendly: imagine a wall panel that was made at a nearby factory that releases pollutants into the river that flows by. However, purchasing local materials has significant benefits in that their shipment reduces transportation costs, and they support local economies.

By contrast, the term “green building materials” refers strictly to products that have been made using sustainable practices, are non-toxic or biodegradable. It is important to keep in mind that many local building materials will also have these characteristics. Let’s take look at the most common categories of green building products.

One obvious example are inputs that are responsibly harvested from sources that are abundant or can renew themselves easily. These include bamboo for flooring, as this plant grows much faster than trees, cork (also for flooring), since it can be collected off trees without cutting them down, and straw for insulation. Sand and rocks for mortar are also in this category due to their abundance.
An interesting recent phenomenon is the creation of sustainable versions of materials that have historically been depleted, such as timber. Over the last few centuries, the area of forests has dramatically diminished, raising concerns about global climactic and ecological stability. However, there are now sustainable forests around the United States – most notably in Minnesota – that are managed in a way that ensures a steady replacement of felled trees with seedlings, thus preserving the balance and continuity of these ecosystems.

Another broad category of green building materials are recycled products. In this area, the sustainability trend has led to perhaps the greatest creativity among designers and manufacturers. For example, Curiosity.com reported on a house whose walls and carpets were made out of recycled plastic water bottles. While this may seem somewhat avant-garde, there are many more ways to use reclaimed materials. These include insulation made of recycled paper, or concrete that includes fly ash rather than Portland cement as an ingredient. Fly ash is a byproduct of coal burning, and given the amount of fossil fuel utilization in America, its use in construction is a great example of reclaiming what would otherwise end up on a landfill.

For those who would like to make their buildings both local and green, adobe is a great choice of material. It’s made from abundant resources such as clay, sand and water, mixed with organic materials like straw or manure, which are shaped into bricks and dried in the sun. The product can be used for walls, floors and other structures. The Green Home Building blog reports that soil that is composed of 20 to 30 percent clay is good for adobe, and that this type of soil can be found in many parts of the U.S.

Finally, substances with low volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions can also be considered green building materials. These include organic paints and coatings, as well as cellulose for insulation.

So what qualifies as a local building material and why are they so important? And what are the best ways to search for such products?

There is no hard and fast definition of a local building material, but Architect Magazine states that LEED – which is the standard that every green building aspires to – accepts products made within a 500-mile radius of the construction site, which translates into some 800,000 square miles. Of course, the closer the better; in fact, the magazine stresses that, historically, most buildings were built from materials that originated as little as 500 yards from their location.

To see why, it’s enough to list just a few materials that are in abundance in many parts of the country, and can be easily employed locally. Wood for flooring, clay for structural support, straw for insulation, as well as rocks and sand for mortar and reinforcement are only some of them (stone is another obvious choice, and it’s type will vary depending on the region).

There are many ways to search for local building materials, and some of them may be as simple as exploring the area surrounding your planned construction project on foot. Other channels include talking to local residents who may know someone who does carpentry on the side, or has a small shop that makes countertops using locally sourced stone. This is also a great way to find out about local artisans whose works may provide wonderful decorations for your home.

Other sources of information about local products include the Yellow Pages, and – for those who don’t want the distraction of the listings of all the other products and services under the sun – Various Monks!

A word of caution here: the fact that a product is sold locally doesn’t mean it originated in the region, so those who are truly interested in sustainable building should inquire about each product’s supply chain.

A discussion of local building materials wouldn’t be complete without listing the numerous benefits that their use brings. Firstly, they help protect the environment by minimizing transportation pollution and road damage, reducing CO2 emissions, and making buildings healthier overall. But they also have a significant impact on local economies. That’s because their use stimulates job creation and professional skills development at the local level, builds supply chains that are resistant to global market shocks, and strengthens social cohesion.

Moreover, local building materials can help support affordable housing. According to Ashoka Changemakers, an online community that provides tools to those who are interested in contributing to a better world, globally traded building materials’ prices are dependent on international market forces, and any spike can render low-income housing unaffordable. Moreover, they may not be appropriate given local climactic conditions, especially where features such as resistance to erosion or pest infestation are important.

Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that local building materials are great both for new construction as well as retrofitting of existing buildings.