Keeping up with all the new building materials on the market can make anyone’s head spin. Every day new products are being introduced that claim to be better for the environment. Some are, and some aren’t. Here are a few things to look out for:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

This jingle from the environmental movement applies to building materials as well as everyday products.

Reduce the amount of materials needed. This can be accomplished by eliminating unnecessary products. For example, by staining and polishing a concrete floor, materials for floor coverings are conserved. Look for opportunities to reduce the amount of waste created in the building process.

This may include adjusting wall heights and lengths to fit standard size materials (like 4’x8’ sheets of plywood), reducing the amount that needs to be trimmed off. It is amazing what can be saved by making walls even lengths and heights.

Reuse salvaged materials from demolition stages or from salvage yards. A great place to get reused materials, and help a good cause, is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. These stores often have hard to find materials, all in good condition.

Recycle as much construction and demolition waste as possible. This is relatively easy these days, as most disposal carriers offer free consultations on what containers will be needed, and they will accept a wide range of building materials. Space is a concern here, as several drop boxes will take up a lot of room on site, so be sure that they are sized properly and make arrangements for regular pickups. Many products that form the backbone of any construction project contain a large amount of recycled content. Steel, drywall, carpet and ceiling tiles are a few examples. Concrete can be made with up to 50% fly ash, which is a byproduct of burning coal, and is usually harvested from the chimneys of coal-burning power plants.

Fly ash takes the place of Portland cement, and does not harm the integrity of the concrete.

Concrete with fly ash does take a bit longer to cure, however. Check with a structural engineer to see if it is right for the specific application.

Make it a point to look for products with higher levels of recycled content.

Natural Sources

Materials made from natural materials (linoleum, wool carpet, bamboo flooring and veneer, cork flooring) are better for the interior environment of the building. These products contain little or no toxic chemicals, so they will not be released into the building once installed.

Chemicals and VOC's

Watch for these in places you would least expect them! VOC's, or volatile organic compounds, are chemicals that off-gas, or go into the air, and can cause respiratory problems for many people. They are responsible for the “new car” and “new house” smell that we all love. Major areas to watch are in adhesives and sealants, paints, stains, primers, carpets, and composite wood materials.

Luckily, there are low or no VOC alternatives to all of these

Renewable Sources

As was mentioned above under Natural Resources, materials that come direct from nature are best. Even better are materials that are “rapidly renewable,” or have a short harvest period. Materials are considered rapidly renewable if they can be planted and harvested within a seven year period.

All of the products listed in the Natural Resources section meet this criterion, and they also do not harm the environment or their sources when harvested.

Local Sources

One of the largest contributors to the global warming issue is carbon emissions from vehicles. By purchasing products that are harvested and manufactured locally, these emissions can be reduced. Not all project locations are ideal for the local sourcing of materials, and there are some materials that may only come from one area of the country. However, by paying attention to where materials come from, and trying to purchase as local as possible, not only are emissions reduced, but the local economy is stimulated.